<p>I am a junior and I know this is kind of early but I keep trying to decide where I want to apply early. My two top picks are Penn and Yale, so I would either apply ED to Penn or EA to Yale. I really like them both equally. I am looking to major in Classics. My first thought was to apply EA to Yale and RD to Penn, but then I was thinking that I had a better chance at Penn if I did ED. Can anybody offer any insights?</p>
<p>I'd say that the superior chances of being admitted are outweighed by the binding nature of ED -- it's better to keep your options open.</p>
<p>Do not apply ED to Penn unless you are absolutely sure you want to go there. If you are applying just for the boosted chances, don't do it. I totally agree with Begoner. I had a friend who applied ED to Penn, got in, and was miserable and transferred after a year. The binding agreement is really a killer.</p>
<p>Although what the above posters have said is true, you really have to ask yourself if you think you can get into Penn RD. There's like a 20-something percent difference between acceptance rates for ED and RD at Penn, so it definitely helps.</p>
<p>Yeah, see, my problem is that I would be REALLY happy to attend either school, and my best option for getting into either of them is ED to Penn, so I'm thinking that I should do that because otherwise I might not get in EA to Yale or RD to Penn.</p>
<p>If you'd be happy with both schools, it's really a probabilistic question of maximizing potential gains versus minimizing potential losses. Would you prefer a 30% chance of going to Yale and a 30% chance of going to Penn or a 80% chance of going to Penn? The variables to take into consideration are the strength of your attachment to each college and your relative chance of getting into Penn ED and RD. For example, if you are accepted into Penn's ED, are you going to regret not trying for Yale?</p>
<p>if you know you would be really happy at penn, apply there ed. However, make sure you would have no regrets if you got in, and visit both schools.</p>
<p>You can do both, but if you do get into Penn, you have to go. If you're completely sure you would be happy at Penn, apply ED to Penn and EA to Yale</p>
<p>i dont' think you can do that, yale is single choice early action, so you wouldn't be able to apply to penn also.</p>
<p>jrm is right.</p>
<p>Try to get more familiar with the schools before you commit to one.</p>
<p>You might want to consider doing RD for both, and if you don't get into either one, take a gap year, do something interesting, and then you can reapply ED to Penn. :)</p>
<p>never constrict yourself with a binding ED. What is you get a poor financial package? Or a full ride at an equal school? Yale is not binding.</p>
<p>I say go with ED to Penn if you are sure you will be happy there. Yale is near impossible to get in, and ea doesn't help a ton there, while Penn, ED does help a good bit, and while still extremely difficult is much more possible to get in.</p>
<p>Thanks for your help guys! I am thinking that I'm going to apply ED to Penn because I would really be happy at either school and I have a better shot at Penn ED than Yale EA. But, of course, I still have a few months to make up my mind! I have already visited both schools and spent extensive time at Yale for Model UN, so I feel like I know enough about them. I might go to see Penn one more time this summer.</p>
<p>Cool...hope it works out for you!</p>
<p>also check out Penn</a> Connects : — Home for an idea of what the campus is going to start to look like by the time you get there...</p>