theworriedguy

Which has a lower acceptance rate?? CAS or SEAS?

CrazyPluto

They are similar enough that I don't think it should affect which school you apply to. Choose based on other factors

dfree124

^ I thought SEAS was thought to have a slightly higher acceptance rate?

Nonetheless I agree with the above post, choose which school to apply to based on other factors.

GoldOwl

For RD, CAS is around 9% (just slightly under the overall RD acceptance rate) while engineering is just under 20% I believe. I agree that you should choose schools based on your interests. HOWEVER, at Penn, it is extremely easy to transfer from engineering to the college. I know many people who have done so either b/c they are not interested in engineering anymore or b/c they find the curriculum to be too rigorous. I guess my point is that if you are a strong math-science person and feel that you are a stronger engineering applicant on paper, it might be a good strategic move to apply for engineering and then transfer to the college. Freshmen year, engineers take many intro classes so it's entirely possible to transfer.

Ethereality3

I believe SEAS has an overall higher percentage, but that doesn't mean anything. The types of students that apply to the different schools are, well, different. You should just apply to the school you WANT to attend.

laodicean

SEAS has a more self-selective pool, meaning that those who apply are generally more internally competitive. I wouldn't say SEAS is easier to get into just because it has a higher acceptance rate. As others above have said, apply to the school you feel best suits you.

kayb92

I agree that SEAS is more self-selective. It might have a higher acceptance rate but do consider the type of people who generally apply to SEAS. You might actually end up being a lot less competitive if you apply there.

Just apply for what you honestly feel like you want to do and are qualified to do.

bluesmiles08

As the above 2 posters have commented I do believe that SEAS is more self selective which in the end counterbalances the higher acceptance rate it has.

I personally was accepted into SEAS this year and although I had no intentions of manipulating the system I now realize engineering is likely not for me and will transfer to the College (which as it has previously been mentioned, is a seemingly easy process). I actually spoke with the regional admissions officer that considered my application and she said specifically that she found my application intriguing because she thinks there aren't enough female engineers.

Now obviously my experience is arbitrary but I can tell you that I have a strong feeling that although I plan on ending up in the College at Penn I would not have gotten in had that been the school to which I applied originally.

Every persons experience in this process is individual and thus anticipating trends in college admissions is a useless act. So many factors will influence your admissions decision that are beyond calculable (like considering the opinions of the regional rep who will first review your application) so don't go in expecting to be able to con the system in your favor.

That being said, if you feel your app would be stronger in the SEAS pool than in the College I say go for it. Your efforts may make no difference in the end but at least you went with what you felt must comfortable with. Maybe you can allow yourself to stand out more in one situation than in the other in which case by all means. (As I was able to do as a female applying to the engineering school).
Just food for thought! Good luck!