Penn-Wharton vs Columbia

[Anonymous]

DC interested in economics and finance. How do the schools compare for undergrad training/opportunities/social life. Dc is a serious student but also wants to move past the HS grind a bit and breathe a bit easier in College (ideally).

[Anonymous]

Kid this year was accepted to Penn and Columbia for economics but Duke is the front runner right now, for similar reasons of balance between great academics and life quality. No final decision yet.

[Anonymous]

Penn is much more fun. Much more of your classic college vibe.

[Anonymous]

Wharton is #1 in finance in the USA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Penn is much more fun. Much more of your classic college vibe.

+1. Columbia gives you better opportunities for work experience during the academic year, but you also have the rest of your life for that.

[Anonymous]

What did your kids do to get into Wharton? Start a business? Exceptional summer program? Research?

[Anonymous]

Columbia less of a grind and right there in NYC.

[Anonymous]

Op again. Thanks everyone. DC is indeed looking for more of the "classic college vibe". I don't know much about either school, but is there anything to the pre-professionalism of Penn? Does it make it a bad environment for a happy and not aggressively competitive kid? Leaning towards Penn -- but worried about this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What did your kids do to get into Wharton? Start a business? Exceptional summer program? Research?

None of the above. Nothing along the business/startup lines, TBH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kid this year was accepted to Penn and Columbia for economics but Duke is the front runner right now, for similar reasons of balance between great academics and life quality. No final decision yet.

If Duke is in the mix, there would be very strong reasons to prefer that experience for a kid interested in a socially solid college experience.

[Anonymous]

Are you serious? Wharton!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op again. Thanks everyone. DC is indeed looking for more of the "classic college vibe". I don't know much about either school, but is there anything to the pre-professionalism of Penn? Does it make it a bad environment for a happy and not aggressively competitive kid? Leaning towards Penn -- but worried about this point.

Not aggressively competitive kid would be miserable at Wharton, but happier at Penn College of Arts & Science.

[Anonymous]

Penn is the social Ivy. Also very wealthy. Culture on weekends is going out to dinner, expensive clubs.

The social scene isn't your typical college dorm party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Penn is the social Ivy. Also very wealthy. Culture on weekends is going out to dinner, expensive clubs.

The social scene isn't your typical college dorm party.

My kid is at Penn, and I know several other students there too. This isn't their experience at all! Definitely much more of a typical college experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Penn is the social Ivy. Also very wealthy. Culture on weekends is going out to dinner, expensive clubs.

The social scene isn't your typical college dorm party.

My kid is at Penn, and I know several other students there too. This isn't their experience at all! Definitely much more of a typical college experience.

Is it mostly a competitive culture to a level that inhibits friendships etc?