by Darina Shtrakhman, The Daily Pennsylvanian – theDP.com
Penn received 17 percent more early decision applications this year, according to Dean of Admissions Eric Furda.
This brings the total to approximately 4,500 — up from 3,851 last fall.
Furda attributed this increase to Penn’s no-loan aid policy and commitment to research and civic leadership.
“This is a generation that sees the need to make a difference in society and these applicants recognize how the resources of Penn and the city of Philadelphia can help them make an impact,” Furda said in a statement.
The University typically fills half of the incoming freshman class with early decision applicants by accepting around 1,200 students, all of whom are committed to attending Penn because the early decision program is binding.
If Penn were to accept 1,200 of the applicants from the current pool, the early decision acceptance rate would be 26.6 percent — an all-time low.
For the Penn class of 2014, the University saw a 6-percent increase in early decision applications. Of those, 31.2 percent were accepted under early decision. An additional 1,186 were deferred, and 119 of them were admitted under regular decision.
Early decision applicants to Penn will be notified of their admissions decisions in mid-December.
