Anonymous
Post 04/03/2024 11:06     Subject: Penn-Wharton vs Columbia

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?
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2024 10:55     Subject: Penn-Wharton vs Columbia

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
Post 04/03/2024 10:45     Subject: Penn-Wharton vs Columbia

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
Post 04/03/2024 10:23     Subject: Penn-Wharton vs Columbia

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
Post 04/03/2024 10:08     Subject: Penn-Wharton vs Columbia

Are you serious? Wharton!
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2024 09:43     Subject: Penn-Wharton vs Columbia

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
Post 04/03/2024 09:42     Subject: Penn-Wharton vs Columbia

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
Post 04/03/2024 09:42     Subject: Penn-Wharton vs Columbia

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
Post 04/03/2024 09:41     Subject: Penn-Wharton vs Columbia

Columbia less of a grind and right there in NYC.
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2024 09:39     Subject: Penn-Wharton vs Columbia

What did your kids do to get into Wharton? Start a business? Exceptional summer program? Research?
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2024 09:36     Subject: Penn-Wharton vs Columbia

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
Post 04/03/2024 09:36     Subject: Penn-Wharton vs Columbia

Wharton is #1 in finance in the USA.
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2024 09:35     Subject: Penn-Wharton vs Columbia

Penn is much more fun. Much more of your classic college vibe.
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2024 09:34     Subject: Penn-Wharton vs Columbia

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
Post 04/03/2024 09:27     Subject: Penn-Wharton vs Columbia

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).