My daughter got into Penn ED with a 34 ACT and I would say really good essays. For her main common app essay she wrote about volunteering at our local children’s hospital, but her story was about teaching a sibling in the sibling daycare her colors. Penn also requires an essay about why nursing, a thank you note, and a why Penn essay. I’d say if she’s willing to get her ACT up another point and work really hard on her essays, you never know! No need for a car at Penn, if clinicals are not right at Penn they pay for the Ubers to other hospitals.
Apply to Pitt ASAP when the rolling app comes out, my daughter applied in August and was accepted end of September. It was nice because then she could eliminate any of the schools she wouldn’t consider over Pitt. Most of the clinicals seemed to be nearby.