UPenn vs. Princeton

I’m applying early decision next year and I am stuck between UPenn and Princeton. I got a 33 on the ACT with a 10 on writing and my GPA is a 3.9 (unweighted) and 4.5 (weighted). Additionally, I have already taken college courses at a decent university around me, receiving As in the courses. Princeton is my dream school and it has a good dance program. I know multiple dancers that got in there with the help of dance, but I’m not sure of how far dance will carry me through the admissions process. However, I am a legacy to Penn (the majority of my family attended there). The admissions rate for legacies is very high in ED and I’m not sure if I could get into Princeton EA. I dance in at a pre-professional ballet school as well as participate in many clubs at my high school. I was wondering what my chances of Princeton are and if I should risk potentially getting Princeton EA or apply ED to Penn, knowing I have a good chance of acceptance?

I am going to assume that you are reasonably familiar with Penn, since so many close to you have attended. If that familiarity doesn’t make you stoked about attending, then my advice would be not to apply (and I’m a Penn alum). Why apply ED to a place you don’t really love? Princeton is the place you love, you have a reasonable (not great, but reasonable) chance to get in, so apply EA and then you won’t spend the rest of your life wondering “what if?”. I realize that not applying ED to Penn essentially kills your admissions chances there, but how upset does that make you? Is there another school, maybe with a great dance program but not quite the prestige, that you would like better than Penn? Whatever you do, don’t let family pressure make you attend a school that isn’t right for you!

My D20 sounds similar. She’s got a 1420 sat now with a couple of tries left to go. A 4.5 weighted out of 5, and a 4.0 unweighted. She’s a double legacy at Penn. She is also a competitive dancer with 13 years of experience. She will also be looking at Princeton. She really liked Penn when she visited. Good luck on your college journey!

How serious are you about dance? You might let that guide you in your process.

@hw1102 Do you have any ideas about possible major?

You are weighing two potential leverage advantages for admission - dance for Princeton and legacy for Penn (which requires an ED commitment to carry weight). However, It sounds like you strongly prefer Princeton and are considering Penn because of family connections. Is there anything else about Penn that draws you other than legacy and prestige?

You could try the old flip a coin trick. Heads is Princeton, Tails is Penn. When you see the result, are you happy or disappointed?

Also, I’m sure you know that there are lots of strong studios near Penn where you could continue to dance at a high level off campus. You may not want to split your life in that way. But the option is there.

Good luck!

@RockySoil Thank you for your advice! Just wondering, what do you think my chances are EA or ED?

@mamaedefamilia Im thinking either biology or engineering which both schools have great programs for. I like Penn and I think I would be happy there, but Princeton has everything I want (class size, suburb, dance, and great academics).

Your legacy card is use it or loose ED at Penn. They specifically encourage alumni to have their kids apply early if they want consideration as a legacy.

Without much greater visibility into your application it is anyone’s guess as to your chances at a Princeton. Practical reality is your ACT from other thread makes it a real reach at best (31 in math and science). So the question should be if you don’t get into Princeton (dream school), how upset will you be getting rejected at Penn RD?

You have a good shot at Penn ED. The popular advice will be follow your heart, reach for your dream, go for it. Reality is you have an advantage at Penn that will be squandered if not used to pursue what is a very long shot.

Your call but know the decision will have consequences and could result of you winding up at a non Ivy. Not making it all about prestige names but between your posts you seem very Ivy focused. If Princeton passes you are in an RD applicant pool that experiences 5%ish acceptance across Penn, Brown, and Columbia (other post target names) with no hook. How good do you feel about beating out 19 other kids? If it where me I take my best shot at Penn unless I really had an aversion to the school assuming my goal was an Ivy admit (which it appears is your target).

Good luck with a tough decision.

I don’t want to make any assumptions so are you male or female? If you are male then I would think the dance would be a bigger boost and could definitely improve your chances at Princeton though it’s still a long shot. If you are female then you might like some of the LACs with strong dance programs including some women’s colleges like Mt Holyoke and Smith which I think will have a similar feel to Princeton as far as suburban location and UG focused academics and less vocational than Penn. These could be some good match schools in case you don’t get into Princeton.

Bottom line if you aren’t feeling Penn for whatever reason don’t get hung up on prestige as even if you don’t get into any reach schools I’m sure you’ll get into a great match school which will prepare you well.

Apply where you want to go.

Honestly, unless you are told dance will help you get into Princeton, I would ED at Penn. You already said you liked Penn and your chances their are significantly greater than Princeton. I have had several friends kids face this very choice. They are legacy at Penn and ED at another Ivy - they did not get into the other Ivy and all regret not EDing at Penn. Good luck.