<p>I'm a rising senior and I'm seriously considering my decision options to reduce as much stress as possible for next year. I know it's early, but I'm debating whether to apply to Penn ED. Specifically, I want to apply to a selective dual degree program, with Wharton as my "second choice". I wouldn't hesitate to go to the dual degree program, but I'm not so sure about Wharton.</p>
<p>I'd be happy to go to Wharton, but a nagging part of me says that I can get in without the help of ED, and that I should shoot for like Princeton or Harvard or Yale (LOL). Right now, the only reason I don't want to apply ED to Wharton is perhaps my ego, my financial situation, and the fact that I want to compare my options (hopefully I'll have a few). </p>
<p>But I really really don't want to give up the advantage of ED to Wharton. Is this a confidence issue or am I just planning ahead? Thanks!</p>
<p>Well, if it’s any consolation, you’re not alone. I was just debating the same thing for a different school. In situations like these, it might help to thing about it pragmatically. In truth, the “help” that you think your getting by applying ED is really not that much – well – helpful. A good number of ED applicants are athletes; the numbers are so much higher because the schools are recruiting. Still, many non-athletes apply early and are happily accepted. Also, early applicants (especially non-athlete ones) have to have this almost burning passion about the school. You have to know that you know that you know that the Wharton School in UPenn is the place you want to spend the next four years of your life, and then let that jump off the pages of your application. </p>
<p>But to answer your question, I don’t think it’s a confidence issue, and I guess you can call it planning ahead on your part, even though that’s kind of what the whole early program is about. Even the most confident applicants lose at least some of it during the college admissions process. And I, too, like the idea of having options. But like I said, you have to know without a shadow of a doubt that you want this, especially since ED is BINDING.</p>
<p>I hope I helped :)</p>
<p>Thanks! That was quite insightful. I really really really really like Penn, especially the dual degree program. It’s just so hard to decide! On one hand, you get the bragging rights and street credit of a school like Harvard, but I really don’t think it’s where I actually want to be. </p>
<p>And you’re right: there probably isn’t much of an advantage to ED since so many great applicants do it. But the statistics are fairly significant, since for Penn, the acceptance rate for ED is like 25%.</p>
<p>It’s a lack of certainty that is causing hesitation.</p>
<p>That is normal. You are not expected to know exactly what you want at such a young age. ED/EA are for the kids who know with certainty what they want. Only about 10% of total applicants apply ED/EA so you are far from alone in your thinking.</p>
<p>Consider:</p>
<p>(1) 50% of UPenn’s class are accepted ED.
(2) Contrary to mantis’s point about “athletes”, UPenn is not an athletic powerhouse and it is quite doubtful that the number of athletes accepted early changes the advantage of ED.
(3) Your “passion” is implicit in choosing to apply ED.
(4) The Regular decision acceptance rate is under 10%.</p>
<p>@fogcity: That’s interesting! It’s nice to see all the advantages of ED listed out. It makes me feel even less secure about my potential decision, though.</p>
<p>“you have to know without a shadow of a doubt that you want this, especially since ED is BINDING.”</p>
<p>When you (hopefully!) get the ED financial aid offer, you must take it or leave it, without being able to compare offers from other schools. But don’t avoid ED out of fear that you could be financially trapped; if they don’t offer enough, you decline the offer and apply RD elsewhere.</p>
<p>Hopefully the financial aid package won’t be too bad, but remember if you’re looking at HYP, try give the best financial aid. I would apply to one of those ED and do wharton rd</p>
<p>@Roxy: the only thing about applying to Harvard (for example) is that is single choice early ACTION so I really don’t think there’s much advantage to applying early. It might actually be a disadvantage because the applicant pool is so large. I like UPenn which is why I’m considering ED, but I also feel that I need the extra boost to my application. On that note, does anyone think applying SCEA to Harvard/Princeton/Yale has any benefit/anti-benefit?</p>
<p>Even when there’s no advantage in applying early, there’s a huge benefit if you’re accepted: You’re done and can relax.</p>
<p>I see what you mean
But remember it’s SCEA, not EA
So you can’t apply EA or ED anywhere else which counts for something.
But do some research. Visit the schools if you can, pick which one you feel like you actually can imagine yourself at (not just because it’s an awesome school)</p>
<p>I didn’t apply early anywhere because I wanted the choices, as well. I love Penn. I do recommend evaluating your future career goals carefully when considering the dual degree programs. Most of the people who do that go straight into some type of consulting. If you want to do some type of graduate school, having two undergraduate degrees is entirely pointless to your future career. You can take plenty of those classes and learn the same stuff without having two bachelor’s degrees.</p>
<p>Although the data is not officially released (as far as I know), rumor has it that Wharton’s ED vs RD acceptance rate is practically negligible, despite Penn’s overall ED/RD discrepancy. With a 9% overall acceptance rate, from what I’ve read on CC, it’s projected that the ED acceptance rate is ~11% while RD is ~7%… not much of a significant difference. If you are what Wharton wants I doubt ED/RD will change their decision. Also if you have any hesitation at all, I would suggest not applying ED. Good luck. :)</p>
<p>
Don’t know where those numbers came from, but lets assume its true. They imply over 1/3rd of those accepted ED would not have been accepted RD. Seems significant to me…</p>
<p>Penn is the only school I am aware of at this level that comes out and says applying ED gives an advantage. Yes, you don’t really get bragging rights at Penn because so many people are unaware that it is not a state school. But its a great school. My daughter graduates in May and she absolutely loves it there. The financial aid is great too. She will have debt when she graduates but she has only incurred it in the past two years - so she made it through the first two years without accumulating any. I’m pretty happy about that.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that the applicant pools are different. Every ED applicant wants to attend and submits only one ED app, but many RD applicants prefer to attend elsewhere and submit many apps. Schools like applicants who like the schools. Exceptions are ultra-selective schools.</p>