Columbia or Penn?

[Anonymous]

If he likes Columbia, tour U Chicago too.
They have the core curriculum as well.
Beautiful campus in Hyde park, 20 minutes from downtown, and slightly easier to get in than Columbia.

[Anonymous]

Penn has the special program where you can get an undergrad and grad degree in engineering in 5 years, forgot what it was called.

I don't think I would spend the money on either school though given how much bad press they have gotten.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both are good schools.

I would not pay for my DC to attend ColumbiaU, but *only* because the Columbia campus is surrounded by unsafe areas of NYC. Very unlucky if one’s car were to get a flat tire in that part of NYC.

The area around Penn is not ideal from a safety perspective, but it is visibly safer than just outside Columbia. This is partly because Penn is buying up adjacent off-campus land and redeveloping it, which pushes some of the violent crime a few blocks further away.

Very few students drive in NYC. Students get around by subways, buses, Ubers, bikes...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Penn has the special program where you can get an undergrad and grad degree in engineering in 5 years, forgot what it was called.

I don't think I would spend the money on either school though given how much bad press they have gotten.

Many parents would drink the poison to get their kids in at Columbia.

[Anonymous]

They both have nice campuses and are excellent schools. If your kid has the stats to get in, have them do some research and select one based on perceived fit. They are similar in some ways but also very different. Most people either love or hate the idea of NYC.

[Anonymous]

I went to law school at Penn, so I didn’t have the undergrad experience, but the campus is lovely and University City is vibrant and safe. Drexel is immediately adjacent so lots of students around at all times. Philly is also a fun (and affordable!) place to be a student. If your son is interested in an urban campus, I don’t think there are many places that are better in that respect.

I now live in NYC and don’t have any connection to Columbia, but from what I know I’d pick Penn if you have a choice. Columbia’s location is okay (also safe, I wouldn’t worry about that) but the whole experience seems kind of sad. I wouldn’t mind it for grad school, but there are more fun places to be an undergrad. Penn included.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to law school at Penn, so I didn’t have the undergrad experience, but the campus is lovely and University City is vibrant and safe. Drexel is immediately adjacent so lots of students around at all times. Philly is also a fun (and affordable!) place to be a student. If your son is interested in an urban campus, I don’t think there are many places that are better in that respect.

I now live in NYC and don’t have any connection to Columbia, but from what I know I’d pick Penn if you have a choice. Columbia’s location is okay (also safe, I wouldn’t worry about that) but the whole experience seems kind of sad. I wouldn’t mind it for grad school, but there are more fun places to be an undergrad. Penn included.

Why do you think it is a sad experience? I went to Columbia and loved it. It was intense but I enjoyed all 4 years.

[Anonymous]

Columbia diplomas are devalued by all the admits from the general studies college program and the excessive masters programs that will admit virtually anyone. They have ruined the brand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Columbia diplomas are devalued by all the admits from the general studies college program and the excessive masters programs that will admit virtually anyone. They have ruined the brand.

As opposed to Penn’s most famous graduate: Donald J Trump.

“Columbia admits adults” gives the game away, does anyone really believe the true measure of a school is how picky they are about which 17 year olds attend and nothing else matters?

Really this all comes down to “do you want to live in Philly or NYC” and “is the Core Curriculum for you.” They are both excellent schools with strong alumni networks.

I for sure would love to meet the student who is supremely confident they can get into both of these schools that admit 5% of applicants and thinks they actually get to choose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Columbia diplomas are devalued by all the admits from the general studies college program and the excessive masters programs that will admit virtually anyone. They have ruined the brand.

Why don’t you try and convince The NY Times, NPR, Wash Post, CNN, etc of this because they seem to use Columbia faculty all the time as experts? They don’t seem to be aware that the brand has been ruined

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Columbia diplomas are devalued by all the admits from the general studies college program and the excessive masters programs that will admit virtually anyone. They have ruined the brand.

Columbia isn't for everyone. PP is better off at Harvard that's headed by a cheating scoundrel who took corrupt Harvard to the whole new level.

[Anonymous]

Two of my closest friends from law school went to Columbia for undergrad. They're both kind, down to earth, smart and funny as hell. That said, as a Williams alum, I've got to encourage you and your DC to take a look at SLACs. They offer so much, both academically and socially, and are filled with kids who are intellectually engaged, friendly, and open-minded.