Should I apply early decision where my parents want me to go to college?

My parents have donated about $60,000 to the University of Pennsylvania. My dad went there. If I apply early decision, I will have a 40-50% chance of getting in, and I will be legally bound to go there if I get in. If I apply regular decision, I will only have an 18% chance of getting in. This is not my first choice school. I live in Philadelphia and I do not want to stay here. I want to apply to Georgetown early action; however, I also don't want to upset my parents, and I don't want all that money to go to waste. Should I apply where I want to go or where my parents have spent so much money for me to go?
Answer:

You have to go where you'll be happy. You can't do something just because your parents want you to. You have to live for you and it might upset them a little, but they'll get over it. Apply to the college you want to go to but also apply to the one your parents want you to go to. If you get into both go to the one you want to, but if you only get into the one your parents want you to, go to that one. And vice versa for the one you want. But just remember this will effect your whole life so choose wisely :)

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Other answers

To be honest, it's unlikely that $60k would be enough to influence Penn's decision re: your admission. Maybe if they'd donated millions, but $60k? I don't think so. It's not enough. Not for a school with an endowment of this size. And are you *sure* that your parents donated that money to help your admissions, or are you assuming that? Normally, alumni donate money because they themselves went there, and they want to support the mission of the university. Did your parents actually tell you they were donating so you'd get in? If they didn't specifically donate this money for your admissions, then the conversation you have with them might be just a bit easier, because you might not feel quite as guilty - that's why I'm asking. It makes no sense to me that you'd apply binding early decision to a school you don't want to go to. If you *must* apply to Penn, apply to Penn during the regular admissions cycle, and also apply to other universities. As you've said, this decreases your chances for admissions to Penn, which is in your favor. And even if you do get in, it gives you other options. I think you really need to sit and talk to your parents. Find out why they want you to go to Penn so badly, and explain why you want to go someplace a bit further from home.

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