UPENN

[Anonymous]

So absolutely no answers for OP in the 13 responses so far.

I don't have a kid there, but to just focus on stats is to misunderstand the admissions process. Stats have to be near the top or the top to be considered. (Think in terms of your HS and area as well as overall). But, there are so many students like that, it is not enough. So, essays, ECs, awards, recs are all very important. It will come down to what the university wants in their next class and whether your kid offers that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is a grad student and loves it. I know you are looking for undergrad so not too helpful.

This is PP. DS usually says “UPenn” because when he says Penn, the other person always says: “you mean Penn State?”

Now they are probably just messing with him, but happens all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Penn is Penn State. Same thing.

No. Penn is Univ of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

Penn State is Pennsylvania State University in State College Pennsylvania.

[Anonymous]

I live in Philadelphia, and I hear people use UPenn and Penn interchangeably.

[Anonymous]

I have heard mixed things. It's on my child's list so they have researched it fairly well. It sounds like it has both a "work hard play hard" and "social Ivy" reputation, and also a grind, grind, grind reputation. My kid sent me a link purporting to show that Penn has some of the worst mental health outcomes around. So I'm concerned about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Penn is Penn State. Same thing.

No. Penn is Univ of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

Penn State is Pennsylvania State University in State College Pennsylvania.

U Penn is an Ivy with incredibly low acceptance rate; ranked #6 in the US. Acceptance rate 7%.
Penn State is a large public state univ. #60 in the US. Acceptance rate 55%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Penn is Penn State. Same thing.

No. Penn is Univ of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

Penn State is Pennsylvania State University in State College Pennsylvania.

I have always heard the two distinguished that way as well.

Every Penn State alum I know says I went to "Penn State'.

Every U Penn grad I know says I went to "Penn".

Perhaps, there are some that want others to believe they went to an Ivy so use 'Penn'.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one says U Penn. It is “Penn.”

This is BS. Many say U Penn.

[Anonymous]

My high stats DC applied to Penn on a lark. I don't have high hopes, but you never know.

Anyhow, if you're applying to Wharton, my impression is that you need HYPSM-level credentials--i.e., immaculate stats, national awards, major hooks, and great fortune. For the other Penn programs, students may be admitted with marginally lower credentials, but it's still a crap shoot.

As mentioned above, Penn has a reputation for (a) "work hard play hard" culture, (b) competitive students, and (c) preprofessional focus, although this will vary from student to student and program to program. Two or three decades ago, Penn had a reputation for being extremely graduate-focused to the neglect of its undergraduate programs. But I think Penn has largely corrected that perception.

For my kid, I'm wondering if Penn's competitive reputation extends to Penn's humanities and art programs. I went to a T20 school with a reputation for competitive intensity, but whatever the premeds, engineers, and CS students experienced at my school, I never felt any competition as an English major.

Incidentally, the University of Pennsylvania itself prefers "Penn" instead of "UPenn." I know because I looked it up to make sure that DC's supplemental essay used the preferred term. That said, enough people use the term "UPenn" that I couldn't say it's wrong. See https://thepenngazette.com/penn-v-upenn/.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My high stats DC applied to Penn on a lark. I don't have high hopes, but you never know.

Anyhow, if you're applying to Wharton, my impression is that you need HYPSM-level credentials--i.e., immaculate stats, national awards, major hooks, and great fortune. For the other Penn programs, students may be admitted with marginally lower credentials, but it's still a crap shoot.

As mentioned above, Penn has a reputation for (a) "work hard play hard" culture, (b) competitive students, and (c) preprofessional focus, although this will vary from student to student and program to program. Two or three decades ago, Penn had a reputation for being extremely graduate-focused to the neglect of its undergraduate programs. But I think Penn has largely corrected that perception.

For my kid, I'm wondering if Penn's competitive reputation extends to Penn's humanities and art programs. I went to a T20 school with a reputation for competitive intensity, but whatever the premeds, engineers, and CS students experienced at my school, I never felt any competition as an English major.

Incidentally, the University of Pennsylvania itself prefers "Penn" instead of "UPenn." I know because I looked it up to make sure that DC's supplemental essay used the preferred term. That said, enough people use the term "UPenn" that I couldn't say it's wrong. See https://thepenngazette.com/penn-v-upenn/.

I'm wondering this, too. If it's a very different vibe for humanities people than for business/enginerring/pre-med types.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have heard mixed things. It's on my child's list so they have researched it fairly well. It sounds like it has both a "work hard play hard" and "social Ivy" reputation, and also a grind, grind, grind reputation. My kid sent me a link purporting to show that Penn has some of the worst mental health outcomes around. So I'm concerned about it.

We were also concerned about this. My kid chose Dartmouth over Penn for this reason -- wanted a more relaxed and collaborative atmosphere.

[Anonymous]

Have a kid there. Kid is very happy. Says there are some super intense classmates but not most. Says some kids are super stressed, but not friend group. Was also concerned about the stress and suicide occurrences. So far, so good. It is a nice campus and safer than it used to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have a kid there. Kid is very happy. Says there are some super intense classmates but not most. Says some kids are super stressed, but not friend group. Was also concerned about the stress and suicide occurrences. So far, so good. It is a nice campus and safer than it used to be.

Please elaborate if you know how it is safer now? One of our top concerns.

[Anonymous]

I’m an alum. Things have filled in between Penn and Drexel. The west side just off campus has improved greatly. It didn’t use to be safe much past 40th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have a kid there. Kid is very happy. Says there are some super intense classmates but not most. Says some kids are super stressed, but not friend group. Was also concerned about the stress and suicide occurrences. So far, so good. It is a nice campus and safer than it used to be.

What’s your kid studying? Humanities? Business?