<p>I'm really really interested in UPenn but am not sure if I should ED or not. From my school almost everyone who EDs gets in (literally all except 1 person 4 years ago). Although I have no doubts that I would be happy there, I also am considering Cornell Brown Columbia & Duke.
Basically I'm wondering if I should ED and make it a lot more likely that I get into a great school, or if i should RD, risking admissions to UPenn and perhaps not get into any of my other top choice schools?</p>
<p>Penn is a very selective school. Stories abound about how everyone of a certain type gets into this or that Ivy or top 10 college. How and where students apply and whether or not they get in is rarely public.</p>
<p>There is no guarantee that if you apply ED you’ll get in. But from your post it’s clear that Penn is not your top choice. Come April 2014 you want to review your list of acceptances and “choose”. That’s understandable. So you shouldn’t apply ED.</p>
<p>You cannot “game” the college application process. ED should be used to declare a school as your first choice, not to aid in admission. You don’t want to “win” and be accepted, and then regret going to your ED school for the rest of your life. If Penn is your first choice, apply ED. If there is a chance you would rather go somewhere besides Penn, do not apply ED. It’s that simple.</p>
<p>Okay thank you so much! Since I have a sliver of doubt, although penn is definitely one of my favorites, I suppose I won’t ED. I hope this risk will be worth it and I still get into at least one (if not more) of my favorites!</p>
<p>Is it feasible for you to visit all of those schools now and try to choose? If so your chances are better. If you put it off you will (if accepted to all four schools) be in the same boat in April.</p>
<p>Perhaps you should consider if you want to be in an urban campus or not. Duke is in a rather small town, Penn is in a bustling city, etc. Which would you prefer??</p>
<p>ED is the best choice for u to get into ur top list, at least i think so:)</p>
<p>Do you guys know whether it’s true that if you apply ED+ financial aid as an international applicant, you’ll be deferred to the regular pool?</p>