3.54/170 ED vs. RD to Penn Forum

[thenewguy]

Hey guys,

This is my first post here, I am looking for some feedback. After reading over this board for the past few days, I believe my 170/3.54 status makes me a "splitter." I am just about to start the apps process and have heard very mixed reviews about ED vs. RD. I am from the suburbs right outside of philly so UPENN would be a dream come true, I was wondering if I would fare significantly better applying ED vs. RD. I have taken the LSAT 1 time, UG is U of Michigan and I am first generation in my fam to get an undergrad degree (does this help?). I am not an URM.

Would appreciate any input. Thanks.

[RetakeFrenzy]

RD:



ED:



Basically, with RD, Penn waitlists a bunch of applicants with your stats but you can expect money from lower T14s.

Unless you are dead set on Penn, you don't need to apply ED.

[thenewguy]

Thank you for this.

[RetakeFrenzy]

Thank you for this.

Congrats on your 170! I've always wanted to reach that high

[SportsFan]

I had nearly identical numbers (I had a 171). If you're ok with sticker at Penn (you likely won't get scholarship money in the T14 anyway), apply ED and enjoy Penn.

[elterrible78]

This might be worth taking a look at, too:

http://admissionsbythenumbers.blogspot. ... el-in.html

For purposes of my analysis, I defined splitter as applicants who were below a school's 25th percentile GPA but above their 75th LSAT. It's as good a definition as any, I think. You're just below last cycle's 25th GPA (by .01 of a point), but also below their 75th LSAT, so you wouldn't have been considered a splitter in this data.

[thenewguy]

This might be worth taking a look at, too:

http://admissionsbythenumbers.blogspot. ... el-in.html

For purposes of my analysis, I defined splitter as applicants who were below a school's 25th percentile GPA but above their 75th LSAT. It's as good a definition as any, I think. You're just below last cycle's 25th GPA (by .01 of a point), but also below their 75th LSAT, so you wouldn't have been considered a splitter in this data.

Thank you for this, it is extremely helpful. I understand that definition of a splitter, makes alot of sense.

[thenewguy]

also wondering if the following 2 factors count for anything as softs:

-pa residency, specifically phillyburb area
-first generation undergrad degree in family

thanks guys

[intlsplitr]

I had nearly identical numbers (I had a 171). If you're ok with sticker at Penn (you likely won't get scholarship money in the T14 anyway), apply ED and enjoy Penn.

The bolded is wrong; I had identical stats for this cycle. Lower T14 schools will be offering $$, but you wont get any from Penn.

[SportsFan]

also wondering if the following 2 factors count for anything as softs:

-pa residency, specifically phillyburb area
-first generation undergrad degree in family

thanks guys

Practically, it won't mean anything.

I had nearly identical numbers (I had a 171). If you're ok with sticker at Penn (you likely won't get scholarship money in the T14 anyway), apply ED and enjoy Penn.

The bolded is wrong; I had identical stats for this cycle. Lower T14 schools will be offering $$, but you wont get any from Penn.

Really? Maybe this cycle was different than last (only school I remember having any shot at getting money from was Michigan).

[intlsplitr]

Really? Maybe this cycle was different than last (only school I remember having any shot at getting money from was Michigan).

Yeah, I had $$ at Gtown, Northwestern, and Duke this cycle.

[thenewguy]

Really? Maybe this cycle was different than last (only school I remember having any shot at getting money from was Michigan).

Yeah, I had $$ at Gtown, Northwestern, and Duke this cycle.

Would you mind elaborating on the schools you applied to, the money they gave, and your thought process of choosing? That is if you don't mind of course. Figured I would take advantage of talking to someone with identical stats. Thanks!

[whatsthat]

I had nearly identical numbers (I had a 171). If you're ok with sticker at Penn (you likely won't get scholarship money in the T14 anyway), apply ED and enjoy Penn.

The bolded is wrong; I had identical stats for this cycle. Lower T14 schools will be offering $$, but you wont get any from Penn.

Did either of you try leveraging your scholarship offers or just asking the financial aid office if they could do anything for you? just asking because I applied previous cycle with not identical but very similar numbers and got money up to Chicago doing so (which ended up being my highest acceptance as I did not wait out the Columbia WL and didn't apply higher). Not very much money, but better than 0....

[kiyoku]

ED at Penn. The number shown above for lsn stats (for ED is very small sample so take it for what it is).