Yes, please start a new thread! When did your daughter hear about the interview? My son applied ED and has not heard anything. He is not a legacy, and we are pretty sure he is the only one from his large public high school who applied. There may be one or two ED applications from the private school though.
First point is an ED doesn’t help unless you’re what they’re looking for. Same for legacy. I know it looks like a boost, but those are kids who match. Plenty of those to compete with. Then throw in athletes.
OP, your first question to yourself should be, “Do I match?” As others have said, that’s more than stats. And not in-your-face clear. But you try. It means solid, relevant ECs, essay, and supp. Showing them, in your record and what you choose to write about.
@SlowLorises, I have opened a new thread about this topic and do not want to hijack OPs thread. Yes, D received an email over the weekend about the interview…Let’s see how it goes. I am sure yours will be scheduled soon too …although I have read that interviews are not mandatory.
OP…regarding your original question…I believe the legacy status is given some consideration …But looks like it doesn’t really make up for anything…even legacies with very strong resumes don’t get in 2 out of 3 times.
I’m curious to know how legacy applicants are sorted. My understanding is the general applicant pool is sorted by geographic region. When applying ED as a legacy, are legacies sorted by region or are they all grouped together? Would a legacy from Missouri, for example, have an edge over a legacy from Pennsylvania or New Jersey?
@GoldPenn I don’t know why it should matter where the legacy is from…unless it messes with.their bigger pool stats…but isn’t ED too early to worry about all that?
From the little I have gathered listening to AOs on college tour…it seems like each AO is assigned to handle all applications from their region. This suggests all applications from a region are handled together by that AO…and each applicant’s own specifics are taken into consideration by that AO to select their list of yes, and no and may be. There is discussion between AOs to come up with the final list,
My son applied in 2016, double legacy and my husband and I were very active alumni and he was deferred and then rejected. 4.0 UW and 4.9W, great SAT, top debater for state, 3 season captain, etc. He was devastated and we were mad. He’s now doing great at another university and is graduating this year. I spoke to a few other alumni who had the same experience. I was later told that being legacy in the NYC area doesn’t really help that much since there are so many. I agree with the poster who said to apply EA where you can and have other apps ready to go. My son had a miserable holiday Vacation!
@whizmom that must have been so disappointing! We are trying not to be too hopeful…but it is really hard. D has applied to some other universities where it was possible to do, and is working on other applications. ED results are not coming out until the 16th, that leaves even less time for the remaining applications.
From my DD’s HS (NJ)for 2024, 1 legacy/sibling rejected ED, 1 non legacy (URM) admitted
D was accepted at Wharton ED
We were prepared to take whatever was the decision, and she had already applied to several other schools (where it was possible) had this not worked out. She is very excited, of course, but doing this made her realize even more…how many great choices are there…if it had gone the other way.
Good luck to all, where ever you go!
It’s important to note the different impact legacy has when applying ED versus RD at penn specifically. Penn makes it clear at info sessions and elsewhere that your legacy will only help you if you apply ED. They justify it by saying if you want us to give you priority, then we want you to give us priority (which is petty but also fair). It’s rumored however that if you’re a legacy and you apply RD, it actually hurts your chances. Ex: I’m a legacy, I was well qualified, I applied ED and got in. One of my best friends was an even bigger legacy than me, came from the same school, took the same classes, just as qualified maybe had a little less extracurriculars, applied RD and got rejected. I am certain that if he applied ED he would have gotten in.