A change in admissions deans notwithstanding, Penn continues to maintain that early decision is here to stay.
After Harvard and Princeton universities announced last fall that they were both dropping their early-admissions programs, many expected Penn and the other Ivies to follow suit.
But almost a year later, each of the six other Ivy League schools are still continuing their early admissions programs, and Penn President Amy Gutmann said that the departure of Dean of Admissions Lee Stetson won't change the University's stance.
While interim dean Eric Kaplan can make certain recommendations to Gutmann about Penn's admissions policies, Kaplan said the final decision lies with Gutmann.
"At most institutions, the dean of admissions certainly has significant say with regard to policy development, but other stakeholders are involved as well," said Barmak Nassirian, spokesman for the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.
"Fundamental policy changes would require general consensus and cannot be unilateral," he added.
Many expected the nation's top schools to reverse course following the announcements made by Harvard and Princeton, which were made because those schools felt early decision was unfair to financially disadvantaged students.
But Penn and other schools have instead focused on improving their financial aid packages while keeping early admission policies in tow.
Early decision "is consistent with improving financial aid and improving the diversity of our student body," Gutmann said.
Harvard and Princeton are "trying to figure out the best programs for them," Kaplan added. "But here at Penn, we have already figured it out. It makes sense to continue business as usual."
Admissions experts also feel that early decision is a wise step for Penn in that it attracts a greater pool of students who might otherwise apply to Penn's peer institutions.
"Penn has always had difficulty with overlaps with certain other members of the Ivy League," said private admissions consultant Steven Goodman. "Early decision enables Penn to level the playing field."
Early decision also encourages students who might not have considered Penn their first choice to apply.
"It's sort of the old 'Bird in hand versus two in the bush"' dilemma," said Sally Rubenstone of College Confidential, the popular admissions Web site. "Do I apply to Penn early, give myself a better chance of acceptance from an Ivy, and have it all behind me by Christmas? [Or] do I hold out for Harvard and then find myself with a mailbox full of thin letters in April?"
