Although UPenn doesn’t give specific figures for deferred applicants, the Regular Decision cohort as a whole had only a 4 percent acceptance rate. 4% acceptance rate in 2020-21 compared to an 15% during the ED cycle
UPenn Early Decision Acceptance Rate
Most recently, UPenn accepted 15.6% of 7,795 early decision applicants into the class of 2026 – slightly up from the previous year’s historic low of 15%.
Of the 1,218 accepted applicants, 14% are considered first-generation college students
Notably, 24% of those admitted through the early decision program did not submit their standardized test scores.
The middle 50% of accepted early decision applicants who submitted ACT scores ranged between 34-35 on the ACT
UPenn Early Decision Decision Date
Early decision applicants will receive a decision from UPenn by mid-December: admit, defer, or deny. UPenn’s early decision program is binding, so those who are accepted are expected to enroll at UPenn.
Early decision applicants should terminate any ongoing applications with other colleges as soon as they are informed they have been accepted to UPenn.
Accepted early decision candidates have until January 5 to confirm their enrollment at UPenn.
An early decision applicant would have until May 2 to confirm their decision if they were moved to the regular decision applicant pool.
UPenn Early Decision Deadline
Early decision applicants must submit their materials to UPenn by November 1 – the process of applying for early decision is no different than that of regular decision candidates.
Any U.S. citizens or permanent residents should plan on submitting their financial aid materials by November 2 for the early decision cycle.
These documents include the FAFSA, CSS Profile, Penn Financial Aid Supplement, and the parent’s and student’s federal tax returns.
The Non-Tax Filer Form should still be submitted by the student even if they do not file taxes.
Does UPenn Have Early Decision 2?
UPenn has a single early decision round. If an applicant is not accepted in the early decision evaluation period, their application will either be deferred or denied.
Deferred applications transition to the regular decision application pool at that point, and should they be admitted, they are no longer required to attend UPenn.
For the remainder of the cycle year, students whose applications are rejected will not be permitted to reapply.
UPenn ED Deferral Rate
While UPenn does not share the percentage of early decision applicants who are deferred or denied, recent statistics indicate that the admissions selection committee accepted 16% of students who were deferred to the regular decision pool.
If deferred, applicants can take a number of actions to provide more information about themselves.
If their standardized test scores are competitive, they may also submit those results or an additional letter of recommendation.
How to Apply to UPenn for Early Decision
The first thing applicants should do when applying to UPenn is to complete the Common Application, Coalition Application, or QuestBridge Application – it costs $75 to apply to UPenn, though those who qualify can have the fee waived.
All applicants are asked to select among one of four undergraduate schools or programs at UPenn: the College of Arts and Sciences, Penn Engineering, the Wharton School, or the School of Nursing.
What the UPenn Office of Admission seeks in applicants for each program is disclosed on their website. UPenn seeks applicants with a demonstrated aptitude for the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences; the ability to apply classroom learning to real-world situations; and rigorous preparation through college preparatory courses for its most prestigious school, the College of Arts and Sciences.
Candidates for the Penn Engineering program should demonstrate aptitude in physics and mathematics, especially calculus. Their application ought to demonstrate how they value creativity, design, and the use of scientific principles.
Candidates for nursing schools should demonstrate a dedication to patient care, an interest in healthcare issues, and a solid background in the sciences (especially chemistry).
Candidates for the Wharton School should exhibit exceptional leadership skills, solid calculus preparation, and a sincere desire to improve the socioeconomic standing of people around the world.
After early decision applicants have chosen the school to which they are applying, there are seven more necessary parts of the application, the first of which is an essay specifically about Penn.
An official high school transcript and a School Report (typically completed by a school official and sent on the applicant’s behalf) are the next two items.
The fourth requirement consists of three letters of recommendation, and early decision applicants can go about the process in one of two ways.
They can submit recommendations from two teachers and two high school counselors as their first choice, or they can submit recommendations from a high school counselor, a teacher, and another adult who can speak to the applicant’s interests, skills, and personality.
Teachers who have instructed the applicant in core courses during their junior or senior years (such as science, social studies, math, English, or a foreign language), or in a subject related to their academic interests, are the best candidates to write recommendation letters. Sending two letters from instructors in the same subject area is not advised, per UPenn.
A second recommender for the second option could be a boss, mentor, coach, extracurricular instructors, spiritual leader, or cultural leader. During early decision and regular decision admission, UPenn does hold workshops.
The Early Decision Agreement (EDA), Mid-Year Report, and Final Report are the final three items. The EDA is a document that applicants sign promising to enroll once they are accepted to the university.
The official fall semester grades for a candidate’s senior year are shared in the Mid-Year Report, which must be submitted by February 15 in the event of a student deferment.
The Final Report completes the same task for the results of the spring semester and is necessary for students who are registering for UPenn in June.
Now let’s examine some of the optional elements of an early decision application, beginning with test results. Standardized test results will no longer be required as of the 2021–2022 application cycle. The final SAT and ACT submission deadlines are in November and October, respectively, for those who choose to do so.
SAT scores submitted to UPenn are typically highly competitive.
For the incoming class of 2021, which accepted 6% of 56,332 applicants, the middle 50% of accepted students scored between 720-770 on the Critical Reading and Writing section of the SAT, while the same group scored between 760-800 on the Math section – these ranges represent near-perfect scores!
Of those who were admitted to UPenn (regular and early decision), 93% were ranked in the top 10% of their high school graduating classes
Early decision applicants also have an opportunity to participate in a (virtual) alumni interview between mid-October and early December. Over 90% of applicants receive an invitation for an interview, depending on the availability of alumni volunteers.
UPenn shares helpful advice in regard to preparing for interviews.
The most important thing is for students to arrive prepared to talk about themselves, what’s important to them, their current interests and activities in school and outside of it, why they’re applying to UPenn, and their future plans.
Interviewees should prepare questions to ask the interviewers, dress as they would for a school presentation, and refrain from researching their interviewers.
Early decision applicants for specific programs may need to submit portfolios or additional materials.
Any student wishing to pursue a career in architecture, digital media design, music, or fine arts and design is typically required to submit a variety of recent pieces showcasing their aesthetic sensibilities.
Although it is optional, applicants for the fine arts should submit a nearly 300-word artist statement. These supplements are due ten days after the application deadline.
Early decision applicants accepted to UPenn will experience a diverse, energizing, and intellectually demanding college experience at one of the best universities in the country.
While admitted students should continue earning excellent grades in their senior year courses, receiving an early decision admission can be very comforting to high school seniors in the college application process.
What to do after you get deferred & how I got accepted after deferral – story time | UPenn
FAQ
How likely is it to get accepted after being deferred?
According to the university, about 15% of deferred applicants gain admission in the Regular Decision round Deferral statistics can also be impacted by yearly trends and modifications to the admissions procedure.
What percent of deferred students are accepted at Upenn?
We do know, however, that approximately 16% of those deferred applications are eventually accepted Therefore, if you were deferred, your chances of being admitted are actually higher than those of applicants who received a regular decision.
Do deferred students have a higher chance?
Don’t worry if it happens to you; data shows you have a higher likelihood of being rejected from a college than accepted. You and many other early decision applicants are in the same situation. Georgetown University is one school that defers all early decision applicants who are rejected.
Is it harder to get accepted after being deferred?
Your chances of acceptance after being deferred may be the same as, lower than, or higher than the applicant pool for Regular Decision. The school you applied to and what you do after being deferred will both affect your chances after deferral. Let’s look at MIT, for example.