Penn Tops Ivy League in Early Decision Applications with Extended Test-Optional Policy

Penn received over 9,500 early decision applications this year, setting a new record that experts attribute to the continuation of its test-optional admissions policy. This increase represents the highest number of reported applications among Ivy League schools to date. Penn is one of four Ivy League institutions that maintained a test-optional policy this year, while the remaining four reinstated standardized testing requirements for future admissions cycles.

The test-optional policy, initially introduced during the 2020-21 admissions cycle in response to COVID-19 disruptions, allowed all Ivy League schools at the time to waive standardized testing requirements. Currently, Harvard University, Brown University, and Dartmouth College require SAT or ACT scores, while Yale University has adopted a test-flexible approach, accepting alternative assessments like Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate test scores.

Brian Taylor, managing partner of Ivy Coach, linked Penn’s test-optional policy to its application surge, noting that the flexibility provides a competitive edge. Laurie Kopp Weingarten, president of One-Step College Counseling, observed a decline in applications at schools reinstating test requirements, citing Brown and Yale as examples.

Yale followed Penn with 6,729 early action applications, trailed by Columbia University with 5,872, Brown with 5,048, and Dartmouth with 3,550. Dartmouth’s steady application numbers, despite reinstating testing requirements, may be attributed to its favorable handling of campus activism related to the Israel-Hamas War, according to Weingarten. She and Taylor both noted that other schools’ responses to on-campus activism might have deterred some applicants, particularly Jewish students.

In line with a trend among Ivy League schools, Penn has released limited admissions data, noting only a record-breaking application volume and an increased number of QuestBridge Match scholars. This shift reflects a broader decline in transparency, with schools such as Dartmouth and Columbia providing selective statistics while others, like Harvard, Princeton, and Cornell, have opted not to share admissions data. Critics like Taylor argue that withholding data allows schools to selectively highlight favorable metrics and obscure downturns in applications.

Weingarten called for greater transparency, emphasizing that withholding key information adds to the already stressful admissions process for students and parents. She argued that open communication is vital, particularly during the early decision cycle, to alleviate uncertainty and foster trust in the process.