How selective are Amherst and UPenn admissions compared with each other?

In a broad sense, Amherst and Penn are both extremely selective, but Penn is usually viewed as slightly harder to get into overall because it draws a much larger applicant pool while still admitting only a small fraction of students. Amherst is also exceptionally competitive, with a very small class size and an admissions process that can feel just as tough for individual applicants. So the practical answer is that both are reaches for almost everyone, with Penn often looking a bit more selective in raw admissions terms.

The main difference is scale and applicant behavior. Penn gets a very large, globally recognizable applicant pool across its undergraduate schools, which pushes overall selectivity down. Amherst, as a small liberal arts college, enrolls far fewer students and attracts a somewhat narrower self-selecting pool, though that pool is still very strong academically.

Another difference is institutional profile. Penn is a large research university with multiple undergraduate divisions, preprofessional appeal, and especially heavy interest in programs like Wharton. Amherst is a top liberal arts college with a more intimate academic environment, open curriculum, and strong appeal to students who specifically want close faculty interaction and a residential college experience.

For an individual applicant, one may feel harder than the other depending on fit. A student with a clear interest in liberal arts learning, discussion-based classes, and a smaller campus may be more compelling at Amherst. A student whose profile aligns with Penn’s broader university setting, interdisciplinary options, or business-oriented interests may come across more strongly there.