Anonymous wrote:My college students feel strongly that toxic kids go to Penn. It is full of snakes and super intense, cuthroat. If your kid is like that, Penn. Otherwise, Northwestern for sure.

+1 same experience and perception here

Anonymous wrote:Penn has a top 3 med school, top 3 mba program, #4 ranked law school. Top undergraduate business school. Currently ranked #6 national university. USNWR.

The only comparable universities are Harvard and Stanford with such broad strengths.

Most of those rankings are totally irrelevant for a non-business undergraduate.

My college students feel strongly that toxic kids go to Penn. It is full of snakes and super intense, cuthroat. If your kid is like that, Penn. Otherwise, Northwestern for sure.

Anonymous wrote:Northwestern. Penn is not the same without JoePa.

We visited both Northwestern and Penn fairly recently. I got the sense that there was a broader spectrum of interests among students at Northwestern. Penn is aggressively pre-professional. It really did seem like Wharton dominated the school. Which is fine for some, but it's not for everyone. And Chicago is a much more interesting city than Philadelphia. I don't think Evanston is all that, but it's nice to have a proper city nearby. Of the two choices, I think Northwestern is better, particularly for someone not interested in Wall Street. There's no reputational difference between the two schools so vibe and fit are what really matter.

That being said, neither school seemed like particularly joyful places. Our DC decided not to apply to either.

Philly is a pit…smells like pot everywhere, panhandling galore, OD’s frequently on the subway. Chicago’s good areas are much nicer than Philly and Evanston much safer neighborhood in the tony North Shore suburbs. Not even close location wise. Plus, Midwest nice!

I went to Penn and loved it. My crowd was not pre professional at all. I also think Philly is a great college town and great location between NY and DC.

Northwestern. Penn is not the same without JoePa.

He should go spend the night with a freshman at each school and see which one he likes better. Resume wise, they are both good schools.

Anonymous wrote:DS’s major undecided, though it will not be business or engineering. How should we think this through? Yes, he will visit both schools.

I’d choose based on vibe, or based on which city your son prefers, or which place is cheaper and easier to reach from your house.

They’re both great schools. There’s no meaningful difference connected with quality or reputation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Penn has a top 3 med school, top 3 mba program, #4 ranked law school. Top undergraduate business school. Currently ranked #6 national university. USNWR.

The only comparable universities are Harvard and Stanford with such broad strengths.

Sure, sure, but the biggest downside is you have to then be surrounded by the most insufferable lot of kids with the biggest chip on their shoulder.

Adults, too. UPenn alumni are without a doubt the most insufferable.

Not my experience at all. The Penn alumni that I know are wonderful.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Penn is the stronger school. Unless there is a reason to be in Chicago / Midwest, it seems like an easy decision.

Nope, plenty of kids have been turning down Penn for Northwestern for decades.

And you know them how?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Penn has a top 3 med school, top 3 mba program, #4 ranked law school. Top undergraduate business school. Currently ranked #6 national university. USNWR.

The only comparable universities are Harvard and Stanford with such broad strengths.

USNWR ratings have jumped the shark now, as everyone with a brain knows.

Virtually every other ranking would tell you the exact same thing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Penn has a top 3 med school, top 3 mba program, #4 ranked law school. Top undergraduate business school. Currently ranked #6 national university. USNWR.

The only comparable universities are Harvard and Stanford with such broad strengths.

Sure, sure, but the biggest downside is you have to then be surrounded by the most insufferable lot of kids with the biggest chip on their shoulder.

Adults, too. UPenn alumni are without a doubt the most insufferable.

Anonymous wrote:Penn has a top 3 med school, top 3 mba program, #4 ranked law school. Top undergraduate business school. Currently ranked #6 national university. USNWR.

The only comparable universities are Harvard and Stanford with such broad strengths.

Sure, sure, but the biggest downside is you have to then be surrounded by the most insufferable lot of kids with the biggest chip on their shoulder.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Penn is the stronger school. Unless there is a reason to be in Chicago / Midwest, it seems like an easy decision.

Nope, plenty of kids have been turning down Penn for Northwestern for decades.

Some people have a reason to be in Chicago/Midwest. Did you read what you replied to?