<p>If I were actually accepted to UPenn, I might have a mini-heartattack. It is most definitely my number one choice. </p>
<p>This being said, my actually chances of being accepted are rather slim. Basically, I don't have a perfect SAT or any really good ECs. I'm not a URM, though I do have a slight low-income, disadvantaged background hook. Very slight.</p>
<p>Anyway, I know and accept the reality of my small chances. This being said, should I apply early decision? Would it raise my chances at all?</p>
<p>What's even worse, I plan to take my SAT IIs in October, and the SAT again in November. So if I did apply ED, I'd have to rush my SAT score. Does this look bad?</p>
<p>Only apply ED if 1) you love the school and will go there no matter what if you are accepted and 2) ED will give you a detectable boost. So, if ED raises your chances at UPenn from 5% to 6%, it’s probably not a great idea. If it raises your chances from 15% to 30%, then it could be a great idea. If you look at the UPenn site , you can probably find the numbers for ED versus RD - and your college counselor may know something as well.</p>
<p>^How can you tell if ED gives you a ‘detectable’ boost? You can’t go by admit rates; they are always significantly higher for ED than RD for pretty much every top school.</p>
<p>If you do choose ED, remember that you won’t be able to compare financial aid packages from other schools, which might give you much more. From what you wrote before, your parents aren’t in a position to help with money. Borrowing a huge amount would not be smart. I wrote about LPS, which gives you exactly the same degree as SAS. (Though your transcript says LPS, nobody is likely to see or care.) Please think carefully about this.</p>
<p>If you’re low income financial aid shouldn’t be a problem. Cornell and Penn offered me almost the exact same package, both very generous. We might have different interpretations of “low income” but if you really want to go there money shouldn’t be a huge problem.</p>
<p>Hm… thank you everyone.
And thank you, Woodworker, I am still considering LPS. Being a senior and all, I’m of course anxious to start college now. I do need to keep my head cool and consider that option.</p>
<p>From everything I’ve read, though, Penn basically states that there will be no loans in my finaid package and it should mostly be covered by grants and work study. Of course, I don’t have any real way to know if that is the actual case…</p>
<p>iirc under 60k a year, you don’t pay a cent (or was this another school? about the same anyhow). I’m doubtful money will be a problem. If you really don’t get enough FA, it is reasonable grounds to violate an ED agreement (talk it out with the school tho first). Detectable ED boosts are mostly for hooked applicants, most especially for legacies, although I believe recruited athletes are required to apply for early? URMs tend to be accepted in larger numbers too at most schools although most uni’s official policy won’t state it as such (it may be just that most URMs like to apply ED for w/e reason). </p>
<p>That said, without more detailed info, can’t really give any more input.</p>
