Selectivity re Penn CAS undersubscribed major vs Cornell

[Anonymous]

Mapping out this year’s ED strategy. Penn will reinstate test requirement for the 2026 cycle, I reviewed the most recent test-required year: roughly 19% acceptance rate of ED applicants in 2020. If this cycle resembles 2020, a comparable ED admit rate seems plausible. For an undersubscribed major, it seems applying ED makes sense if they want to fill those majors early on.

That ED admit rate is roughly the same as Cornell’s, DC is weighing which option—Penn or Cornell—offers the stronger ED advantage.

[Anonymous]

Cornell reduced the amount they took in ED last cycle, no clue what the comparisons are. Ivies have clearly said the ED applicants are stronger and you also have to factor in legacies, athletes and hooked. I don’t personally think there is much of an advantage beyond maybe a 1-2% swing from regular decision. They say, if you wouldn't be admitted in regular then you won’t be admitted in ED.

I know there is a real advantage at other less selective schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mapping out this year’s ED strategy. Penn will reinstate test requirement for the 2026 cycle, I reviewed the most recent test-required year: roughly 19% acceptance rate of ED applicants in 2020. If this cycle resembles 2020, a comparable ED admit rate seems plausible. For an undersubscribed major, it seems applying ED makes sense if they want to fill those majors early on.

That ED admit rate is roughly the same as Cornell’s, DC is weighing which option—Penn or Cornell—offers the stronger ED advantage.

Penn and Cornell are very different colleges - which does your DC actually prefer? Are you treating them as interchangeable just because they are both members of the ivy league sports conference? ED should always be your DC's absolute 1st choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mapping out this year’s ED strategy. Penn will reinstate test requirement for the 2026 cycle, I reviewed the most recent test-required year: roughly 19% acceptance rate of ED applicants in 2020. If this cycle resembles 2020, a comparable ED admit rate seems plausible. For an undersubscribed major, it seems applying ED makes sense if they want to fill those majors early on.

That ED admit rate is roughly the same as Cornell’s, DC is weighing which option—Penn or Cornell—offers the stronger ED advantage.

Penn and Cornell are very different colleges - which does your DC actually prefer? Are you treating them as interchangeable just because they are both members of the ivy league sports conference? ED should always be your DC's absolute 1st choice.

This. I am from a Cornell family although that's not where I went. Penn and Cornell are very different places. I applied to both for grad school.

Cornell's app is very tailored to "Why Cornell". If your kid doesn't have real reasons for this, then your family is just going for "best chance at an Ivy".

There actually are a lot of Cornell haters on this site, so take a look at their laundry list of complaints and make sure those don't apply to your family.

[Anonymous]

My Cornell kid (RD admit) never applied to Penn. Not the fit DC was looking for.

Make sure the fit is there for Cornell. What major in arts & sciences?

[Anonymous]

Apply to the one he wants to attend more. The case he makes for “why” and the competition at his high school matter more than any tiny statistic advantage. They are different experiences. I don’t think there’s much evidence that schools try to fill “undersubscribed majors” in ED—if anything, anecdotally, I think they sometimes wait and do that at the end of RD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Apply to the one he wants to attend more. The case he makes for “why” and the competition at his high school matter more than any tiny statistic advantage. They are different experiences. I don’t think there’s much evidence that schools try to fill “undersubscribed majors” in ED—if anything, anecdotally, I think they sometimes wait and do that at the end of RD.

Agree with that point on undersubscribed majors. Those kids are the ones with multiple T20 private admits in RD (from our private).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mapping out this year’s ED strategy. Penn will reinstate test requirement for the 2026 cycle, I reviewed the most recent test-required year: roughly 19% acceptance rate of ED applicants in 2020. If this cycle resembles 2020, a comparable ED admit rate seems plausible. For an undersubscribed major, it seems applying ED makes sense if they want to fill those majors early on.

That ED admit rate is roughly the same as Cornell’s, DC is weighing which option—Penn or Cornell—offers the stronger ED advantage.

Honey, let me be frank. If all DC got is an undersubscribed major, going to either is a complete waste of your money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mapping out this year’s ED strategy. Penn will reinstate test requirement for the 2026 cycle, I reviewed the most recent test-required year: roughly 19% acceptance rate of ED applicants in 2020. If this cycle resembles 2020, a comparable ED admit rate seems plausible. For an undersubscribed major, it seems applying ED makes sense if they want to fill those majors early on.

That ED admit rate is roughly the same as Cornell’s, DC is weighing which option—Penn or Cornell—offers the stronger ED advantage.

Honey, let me be frank. If all DC got is an undersubscribed major, going to either is a complete waste of your money.

We need more plumbers, not environmental science major who couldn’t find jobs upon ivy graduation. Consider trade school as a serious option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mapping out this year’s ED strategy. Penn will reinstate test requirement for the 2026 cycle, I reviewed the most recent test-required year: roughly 19% acceptance rate of ED applicants in 2020. If this cycle resembles 2020, a comparable ED admit rate seems plausible. For an undersubscribed major, it seems applying ED makes sense if they want to fill those majors early on.

That ED admit rate is roughly the same as Cornell’s, DC is weighing which option—Penn or Cornell—offers the stronger ED advantage.

Honey, let me be frank. If all DC got is an undersubscribed major, going to either is a complete waste of your money.

Agree. Need to make sure you have some regional/national recognition in this niche area….and leadership.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mapping out this year’s ED strategy. Penn will reinstate test requirement for the 2026 cycle, I reviewed the most recent test-required year: roughly 19% acceptance rate of ED applicants in 2020. If this cycle resembles 2020, a comparable ED admit rate seems plausible. For an undersubscribed major, it seems applying ED makes sense if they want to fill those majors early on.

That ED admit rate is roughly the same as Cornell’s, DC is weighing which option—Penn or Cornell—offers the stronger ED advantage.

Honey, let me be frank. If all DC got is an undersubscribed major, going to either is a complete waste of your money.

Agree. Need to make sure you have some regional/national recognition in this niche area….and leadership.

Application fee is nothing. Admitted and studying this undersubscribed major at Penn or Cornell is the biggest waste of money.

Forget about Ivy, just go to UMD and study something useful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mapping out this year’s ED strategy. Penn will reinstate test requirement for the 2026 cycle, I reviewed the most recent test-required year: roughly 19% acceptance rate of ED applicants in 2020. If this cycle resembles 2020, a comparable ED admit rate seems plausible. For an undersubscribed major, it seems applying ED makes sense if they want to fill those majors early on.

That ED admit rate is roughly the same as Cornell’s, DC is weighing which option—Penn or Cornell—offers the stronger ED advantage.

Honey, let me be frank. If all DC got is an undersubscribed major, going to either is a complete waste of your money.

Agree. Need to make sure you have some regional/national recognition in this niche area….and leadership.

Application fee is nothing. Admitted and studying this undersubscribed major at Penn or Cornell is the biggest waste of money.

Forget about Ivy, just go to UMD and study something useful.

Nah.
Lots of consulting gigs for these softer majors.
Btdt.

[Anonymous]

Penn admits by school, not major, so your plan doesn't make sense.

[Anonymous]

Cornell offers sophomore admission to people on the waitlist sometimes. I think it helps if you’re from NY, legacy, or ED applicant. Just something to keep in mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Penn admits by school, not major, so your plan doesn't make sense.

Wharton, SEAS, and Nursing are super competitive. CAS on the other hand is easier to get accepted, to a certain extent.
With an overall ED acceptance rate of 19%, CAS's acceptance rate should be higher. Penn did not disclose ED acceptance rates by school, my estimate is around 24%.