This should make some folks here happy. Just got this from the office of Eric Furda:
The recent clarification of the University of Pennsylvania’s Early Decision Program (EDP) has led to insightful dialogue among segments of the counseling community concerning Penn’s EDP policy and practices at other institutions. Although the language of Penn’s policy is similar to Single Choice Early Action, the conversations with counselors, community-based organizations, and other educators revealed that students interested in Penn feel most supported when they are also able to apply to other institutions under non-binding admissions plans. Since the aim of our policies is, first and foremost, to help students make informed decisions, and not to produce additional concern around the application process, Penn will continue the practice of allowing Early Decision applicants to also apply to other institutions through their respective non-binding admission processes, as we have in years past. I appreciate the opportunity for further dialogue with our colleagues on both sides of the desk about this topic.
Interesting. Just went to their website, and as far as I can see there was no longer a sign of that restrictive ED. They must have gotten some pretty negative feedback and realized it wasn’t worth the trouble.
Adding one more to the chorus confirming that SCEA schools will not permit an applicant to apply to another school’s ED program. Generally, the SCEA schools will not permit an applicant to apply to a private school’s EA program.
@ballofstress123 – if you were so inclined, you could apply ED to Penn and then EA to Chicago and MIT, plus EA to Michigan and GT. BUT…if you are admitted to Penn, you are obligated to attend Penn, even if admitted to all of the others.
@yonceonhismouth --yes, you are absolutely correct. USC is a private that falls under that category. Their app is due 12/1 in order to be considered for scholarships, but they do not render their decisions until later in the winter. So, early app deadline, but no early communication of decision.
Yes to all the above: apply EA to Chicago and ED to Penn. If you get into Penn, everything else goes away, and you must commit to Penn.
SCEA= SINGLE choice early action, named so for a reason, except in the case of schools that have early deadlines for scholarships. So no, you cannot apply SCEA/REA (restricted early action, in the case of Stanford) and to other EA schools such as Chicago, MIT, etc.
In the case of USC, it’s not a true EA school, as mentioned, because you don’t find out until after the new year.