<p>Hello!
I am a rising senior and I am planning to apply to both Penn and Yale, and I was previously planning on applying SCEA to Yale and RD to Penn. But now I'm considering the fact that I will likely not get into Yale because the acceptance rate is just so small, and people say your chances are much greater to Penn if you apply ED. I know I shouldn't apply to my 2nd choice school based on chances of getting in, but now I'm wondering if I'm overlooking Penn. So does anyone have an opinion one way or another? I really love Yale, and I know I like Penn, but the whole early thing is messing with me. </p>
<p>So maybe to help me...
Which school has a better surrounding area?
Which one would be better for engineering (I am interested possibly in environmental at Yale and the new Market & Systems one at Penn...)
Which one do people have more fun at?
Which one has a better theater program? (for non-theater majors who are just interested in behind the scenes work)</p>
<p>I posted this also in the Penn thread but I have to consider biased points of view :)</p>
<p>Penn has a much higher acceptance rate ED. On a visit there I was told by an admissions officer that the typical acceptance rate for ED is 20%, which is double that of RD. Though I haven’t been to Yale, Penn is vibrant, right in the city, and the campus really resonated with me. Locust Walk is incredible, and Penn has much more of an Urban feel, but it’s coupled with Ivy-League Academics.
So, to answer your questions the best I can:
Penn has a better surrounding area in terms of vibrancy and opportunities, but it does matter what your preferences are.
Also, I would take the Market and Systems program at Penn over Yale because of the flexibility and options. Again, none of this is a knock on Yale, but Penn truly has great opportunities. I’m unsure of the exact answer to your question regarding theater, but I know that Penn has the opportunities to get involved. I’m sure Yale has the same type of thing, but I am not too familiar with it.</p>
<p>Also, do you prefer living in a larger city or do you want a social life largely centered on campus? Neither is better, some people just have specific preferences. If you don’t you will likely be happy at either of these schools</p>
<p>^ More than a housing guarantee, it is typical for Penn students to live off campus in rowhouses in west Phildaelphia as upperclassmen. This gives a very different feel than Yale’s residential college system. This can be less costly and more flexible but opinion will vary as to whether this is a plus or minus. Both schools have challenged urban areas close to campus but Penn students are more likely to venture into those areas. Engineering is stronger at Penn. Both schools have excellent undergraduate theater opportunities.</p>
<p>Hi there, I am very interested in UPenn and Yale too!! Sadly I don’t have the money or time to fly from California to UPenn so I’ve never visited… But I have briefly been to Yale twice I will throw in what I know </p>
<p>Which school has a better surrounding area?
Yale is in New Haven, CT and it’s urban, but not the type of city that I’m used to (Los Angeles). The Yale campus is amazing and beautiful. Near the campus you can shop at J Crew or visit the Grove Street Cemetary with Eli Whitney’s grave. But if you go a little out into the city there’s a bit of crime and poverty. So you would need to be careful at night, don’t go out alone at midnight carrying your laptop and your iPod in your ears. The weather is more humid than CA but it rains a lot more. Both times I have been there in summer and the weather was always overcast. It’s nice, I like it, but can get so cold and snowy in winter, like 20 degrees at times I think. My brother showed me around some of the nice restaurants, but overall he was unhappy with the New Haven food, especially the Asian places.</p>
<p>Which one would be better for engineering
I went to a Brown University summer environmental program in which one of the instructors graduated Yale in environmental studies. I hadn’t asked her for specifics about the programs there. I don’t have enough experience to answer this question tho my brother studies Applied Physics at Yale (difficult). Not too knowledgeable about Penn either but I’m sure their programs are VERY solid. Lol sorry.</p>
<p>Which one do people have more fun at?
Um, not sure. Try searching up on YouTube for candid videos of dorms and campus life. As for Yale all I know is that people like to drink and party like at other schools. So the social life (if that’s your idea of one) is definitely there. My brother is one of those people who are more devoted to schoolwork, but he finds his own fun by taking occasional trips to NYC.</p>
<p>Which one has a better theater program?
My brother’s first dorm roommate was very involved in theater and even wrote his own play recently. I’m assuming that it is very good. Don’t remember what my brother specifically said about the theater program.</p>
<p>If you apply to Penn ED, it is binding. So the question you should ask yourself is whether you love Penn enough to be locked in. </p>
<p>If somebody has to answer all these questions for you, you are not ready for ED, at any school. Whether you can an admission at either school is an entirely different question.</p>
<p>Well, both schools have great campuses and not that great surrounding areas</p>
<p>Penn is considerably stronger in engineering for sure- probably doesn’t matter much as an undergraduate except your classes will have more people at Penn and there will be more upper level electives to choose from.</p>
<p>I would think Yale has some of the best theater opportunities around, even for non-majors. If you want to pursue an entertainment or journalism career in LA or NY, I can’t think of a better place to be from than Yale in terms of alumni network.</p>
<p>Admissions- since Penn admissions people have frankly said ED applicants get a meaningful boost, if you are borderline at both schools, you should consider ED at Penn. If you think you can get in RD and like Yale more, try SCEA. Both solid options for whatever you want to do professionally.</p>
Sadly I don’t have the money or time to fly from California to UPenn so I’ve never visited… But I have briefly been to Yale twice