ED or RD better for Penn?

jdcsam
Sun, 25 Nov 2007 19:34:28 +0000

Hi. I am a

White male, PA, large public school in school improvement

GPA is 99.9, rank 9/800

AP US History = 4

Taking AP Eng, AP Chem, Honors Engineering Science, Art History, Honors Govt, Honors Calculus I (couldn’t take the AP version in addition to other APs)

SAT highest CR 770 M 750 W 800
PSAT CR 80 M 67 W 68
Have taken ACT w/ writing and SAT Subject (don’t have much confidence in these scores, though) - scores were 32 ACT, and Subject Tests were 620 Math I, 650 Chem, 500 Spanish w. Listening

Governor’s School for Health Care
Two Firsts and One Second Place - Let’s Get Real International Research Competition
Medalist, Science Olympiad
Scholastic Scrimmage
National Merit Semifinalist (so far)
Student Council (officer one year)
Cross Country (two years)
Track and Field (two years)
Chamber of Commerce Student Board of Directors
Partners in Education (liaison to board – communication organization to explain local career opportunities to students)
Junior Leadership (local organization that helps nonprofit groups raise $ and distribute to United Way – a decision-making board of students)
Science Club
Volunteer at nursing home Alzheimer’s Unit (assist with music and memory retention activities for elderly affected by disease)
Church lector and youth volunteer
Local Civic Organization volunteer for fundraising and other activities

I work at a supermarket roughly 20 hours per week. Have worked pretty steadily throughout high school. Some summers only, but average 15-20 hours per week for the most part.

Raised by single dad all my life. Pretty quiet and reserved; not too outgoing; good musician, too.

QUESTION:

Do you think my chances were so much more improved by going ED to Penn, or do you think I could get in going Regular Decision? I understand the financial aid is actually better if you apply regular rather than early since they think you can pay for it since you are applying ED?

Therefore, I’m wondering if my chances would be the same if I were to apply to Columbia, Dartmouth, Cornell.

Any ideas on this advantage of ED over RD? How much lower (or higher)could my profile be if my decision were changed?

Thanks.