Two cycles of admissions at University of Pennsylvania

[ruchin_33]

Hi,

Is there a difference between the two admission cycles at upenn, one being 15th November and the other being 15th March. I have heard that graduate applications in the latter cycle are more and hence there is more competition. Does that mean if I apply in the nov 15 deadline cycle I will have a better chance of getting admission.

[juilletmercredi]

We don't know. The best people to ask would be UPenn's EE department.

However, what you said seems to make sense. Since both admissions cycles are for fall 2016 but the people who apply November 15 seem to find out their status earlier than the people who apply March 15, there are by definition fewer slots left over by March 15. There also may be increased competition - people who decide later in the game to apply, people who didn't have all their stuff together in mid-November, etc.

That doesn't necessarily mean that you'll have a better chance of admission. If you are already an outstanding candidate it probably doesn't matter when you apply. Conversely, if you are not a qualified candidate, it also doesn't matter. When it probably matters if if you are borderline; the department may be more willing to admit a borderline candidate in November when presumably have fewer people to compare you to, and less likely to admit a borderline candidate in March with they have fewer slots available. However, the flip side of that could be that they are less likely to admit a borderline candidate in November in the hopes that they get better candidates in March, and more likely to admit you then once they have already admitted all their best candidates and still have spots leftover.

Which is all just a longer way of saying we don't know, and you should ask Penn's EE department if you want to know.