****OFFICIAL University of Pennsyvlania CLASS OF 2019 ED Applicants Discussion Thread****

<p>How do we sign up for an interview?</p>

<p>@puzzled123‌ you don’t. If I interpreted the website correctly the interviewer or regional admissions rep will contact you once you send in your application provided that interviews are available in your area.</p>

<p>I know the website says not to send 3 letters of recommendation but would it be okay if I had a recent Penn Alumni write one for me?</p>

<p>@justinn76 I’m also sending in a third letter of recommendation from my coach because she will be able to write things that academic teachers don’t know or qualities not found in the classroom! If your Penn Alumni knows you personally and can write new things about you that your other two teacher recs don’t mention and make you stand out, then I think it’s totally fine to have a 3rd rec letter! </p>

<p>@NewportHSSenior she said she is mostly going to explain how perfect I am SPECIFICALLY for Penn and how enthusiastic I am about Penn. Therefore, I think it’s pretty beneficial but I was just looking for some feedback. </p>

<p>@justinn76: unless that alumna directly oversaw your classwork, research or employment, her attestation about your Penn enthusiasm is worthless to Penn. This is exactly the kind of 3rd rec letter Penn does not want to be bothered with. It’s not WHO writes the LOR – it’s WHAT is said about you. Have a look here for great LOR content:</p>

<p><a href=“How to write good letters of recommendation | MIT Admissions”>http://mitadmissions.org/apply/prepare/writingrecs&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Drop the alumna LOR. It will dilute your application’s strength. You think it’s unique? Do you how many glowing alumni interview reports will be submitted to Penn this year? Don’t do it.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.admissions.upenn.edu/apply/freshman-admission/teacher-evaluations”>http://www.admissions.upenn.edu/apply/freshman-admission/teacher-evaluations&lt;/a&gt;
You can have a third letter of recommendation according to Penn’s admissions website.
Though I do agree with the above comment. You probably shouldn’t include a letter from an alum unless the alum oversaw some of the work that you did during high school. But it is your decision! I am not an admissions’ officer so I don’t know for sure. I am just a high school senior stuck in the same situation as you. Include it if you really really really think it will strengthen your application! Though I do not think that it will. Good luck!</p>

<p>Hey guys</p>

<p>Where can we find more information with regards to the programme and research opportunity available in uPenn, for example the economics major? (For supplement) >< </p>

<p>literally google upenn economics and you get this link (<a href=“http://economics.sas.upenn.edu/”>http://economics.sas.upenn.edu/&lt;/a&gt;)</p>

<p>Guys I need help in choosing whether to apply for Wharton or CAS!</p>

<p>So, I’m really interested in financial mathematics and I have done some research in this area. I feel like, since Wharton emphasizes math a lot and it also has lots of math courses, I should probably apply for Wharton. However, I don’t really have strong ECs (dance, debate, community service, probably that’s all). Actually, most of my ECs are not business related…except that I do research in financial math. My counselor says applying to the Math Department in CAS would be better for me since math is not the most emphasized part in Wharton admission. I have no idea. Wharton places a very high value on academics, right? Can’t I just indicate to Wharton that I love mathematical business?</p>

<p>So how much does legacy really help?</p>

<p>Will a recommendation from a Penn Professor from a summer class be beneficial? </p>

<p>Penn is pretty upfront that legacy is a significant boost to an otherwise qualified candidate – if the legacy applies ED.</p>

<p>“Early Decision involves submitting the application by November 1 and making a binding commitment to attend Penn if accepted. The percentage of alumni legacy kids (which, in Penn’s relatively broad definition, means having parents or grandparents who attended any of the University’s schools) applying ED who are admitted runs in the mid-to-high 40s. Not a sure thing by any means, but a lot better than the 10 percent overall admit rate for Penn’s incoming Class of 2018.”</p>

<p><a href=“http://thepenngazette.com/five-is-four-cs-
and-the-right-road-to-college/”>http://thepenngazette.com/five-is-four-cs-
and-the-right-road-to-college/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>How much will it matter if 12 kids are applying early decision from my school? Last year penn accepted 6 from my school and 5 were legacies. To my knowledge I am one of 5 legacies from that group of 12 and I believe I am the best applicant of those 5 legacies. However, two kids from that group of twelve are amazing applicants. 7 of those 12 are applying to wharton like me and two other are legacies. Just try to add a few more details.</p>

<p>If Penn is your first choice, apply ED to maximize your legacy status. Like the article notes, there are no guarantees but I think 5 out of 6 accepted is illustrative of the bump and not mere coincidence. </p>

<p>@RuffRuff999 it really depends what kind of work you did at the summer camp and how close you were with the professor. Did you conduct research at Penn? I’m sure it wouldn’t hurt, though. </p>

<p>It was an actual penn class with college students. I talked the most in the class, got the best grade, and she offered to write the letter.</p>

<p>So can anyone please help me make the decision?</p>

<p>Do regular (unhooked) applicants really have no boost in early decision? I’m first generation but also a Canadian applicant…</p>

<p>@HvePassion No ED will definitely help you but it will help you even more if you are a legacy. If Penn is your first choice, you should definitely apply ED. Btw anyone know what Penn thinks about the full ib diploma? And what kind of score you would need?</p>