<p>They cut off an essay.</p>
<p>[Admit</a> office changes application essays - News](<a href=“http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/2009/09/22/News/Admit.Office.Changes.Application.Essays-3778593.shtml]Admit”>http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/2009/09/22/News/Admit.Office.Changes.Application.Essays-3778593.shtml)</p>
<p>Shameless ploy to attract applicants => lower acceptance rate => raise yield => stay at or increase rank in USNR</p>
<p>Not that I mind or disagree, just amusingly transparent.</p>
<p>Possibly. 150 words really isn’t such a big deal, though.</p>
<p>If they had cut off the entire supplement - THAT would have been a shameless ploy. Maybe they should. Let’s be realistic - none of these kids know anything about Penn - or the true nature of college in general. Since Penn will still be relying on ED applications - applicants who most likely do their homework before applying - why bother with the supplement? I think they can be reasonably sure they’re still getting students who are passionate about the university.</p>