Anonymous
Post 04/18/2026 19:54     Subject: Penn Quaker Days
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Don’t you think all the Ivy League and top colleges are like this, though? The kids largely got there through… striving! If you want a friendlier yet so less smart environment, that’s a large state school.


Np to this thread:
Northwestern is definitely not like this.


Agreed many of the so-called "new Ivy" schools like Northwestern (and some others on that list like Notre Dame, Rice, Tufts, WashU) are not like this either. And you get similar class size to ivies and wonderful academics. Collaborative student body vs me-first or competitive/cutthroat does not have to be the case. And not all ivies are equally competitive/cutthroat either, but many are.

Don't just go by the so-called "highest ranking" or "most prestigious" school. Ask around, talk to current students/parents and find fit.


This- 100%
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 09:48     Subject: Penn Quaker Days
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:penn is uber striverish
every ivy/t10 is filled with driven intelligent students with big goals. Those goals are achievable for average Penn students. It makes it less gatekept/competitive than a school where only the top 20% have a realistic chance at med or law or top jobs. Every current penn26 we know had multiple MD or MD-phd or phd admits this year, many got a Top20. Anything is achievable there. That is not the case for the current public flagship seniors. Even the 3.9s have had trouble. You can see it as the summer internships and fellowships evolve over the years: there are many more doors open for an average penn kid than an above average flagship kid.


Wow. I hope this is ... not as true as it seems. I am not doubting you - just have two kids in state schools hoping for internships/med school etc.
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2026 23:22     Subject: Penn Quaker Days
Anonymous wrote:penn is uber striverish
every ivy/t10 is filled with driven intelligent students with big goals. Those goals are achievable for average Penn students. It makes it less gatekept/competitive than a school where only the top 20% have a realistic chance at med or law or top jobs. Every current penn26 we know had multiple MD or MD-phd or phd admits this year, many got a Top20. Anything is achievable there. That is not the case for the current public flagship seniors. Even the 3.9s have had trouble. You can see it as the summer internships and fellowships evolve over the years: there are many more doors open for an average penn kid than an above average flagship kid.
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2026 23:09     Subject: Penn Quaker Days
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Don’t you think all the Ivy League and top colleges are like this, though? The kids largely got there through… striving! If you want a friendlier yet so less smart environment, that’s a large state school.


no such thing as friendlier place/environment. kids will be fighting/competing with peers for jobs, clubs, etc


Penn and other ivies have more open clubs than the big publics.
The research spots with professors are plentiful: every student who wants to do research can. Not true at publics.
Penn has much smaller classes even for stem than publics. Most are under 30. Hence getting to know professors is easier. Getting a TA spot is easier.
These factors are what makes penn and similar elites collaborative and supportive. The scarce resources of a large public cause a cutthroat environment with much more competition.
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2026 14:31     Subject: Penn Quaker Days
Wait until grade deflation hits at other schools and will see competition like you have never seen. What irks me are the kids who are not outwardly competitive at schools like Harvard and Yale but actively competing against you covertly.
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2026 13:52     Subject: Penn Quaker Days
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Don’t you think all the Ivy League and top colleges are like this, though? The kids largely got there through… striving! If you want a friendlier yet so less smart environment, that’s a large state school.


Np to this thread:
Northwestern is definitely not like this.


Thrilled to hear it! Can you please share more if you haven't already done so upthread.

DC is down to two schools - leaning hard towards NU but not quite there yet. We had a great initial tour 18 months ago and were impressed and felt comfortable/at home at Wildcat Day on Monday. NU seems like a wonderful place - nothing like the "grindy" and annoying pre-professional reputation we somehow picked up earlier in our research process.
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2026 11:26     Subject: Penn Quaker Days
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Don’t you think all the Ivy League and top colleges are like this, though? The kids largely got there through… striving! If you want a friendlier yet so less smart environment, that’s a large state school.


Np to this thread:
Northwestern is definitely not like this.


Agreed many of the so-called "new Ivy" schools like Northwestern (and some others on that list like Notre Dame, Rice, Tufts, WashU) are not like this either. And you get similar class size to ivies and wonderful academics. Collaborative student body vs me-first or competitive/cutthroat does not have to be the case. And not all ivies are equally competitive/cutthroat either, but many are.

Don't just go by the so-called "highest ranking" or "most prestigious" school. Ask around, talk to current students/parents and find fit.
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2026 10:04     Subject: Penn Quaker Days
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Don’t you think all the Ivy League and top colleges are like this, though? The kids largely got there through… striving! If you want a friendlier yet so less smart environment, that’s a large state school.


Np to this thread:
Northwestern is definitely not like this.


That's good to know!
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2026 09:30     Subject: Penn Quaker Days
Anonymous wrote:Don’t you think all the Ivy League and top colleges are like this, though? The kids largely got there through… striving! If you want a friendlier yet so less smart environment, that’s a large state school.


Np to this thread:
Northwestern is definitely not like this.
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2026 08:47     Subject: Penn Quaker Days
I found Penn Quaker Day to be pleasant overall. Didn't hang out with my kid at all, but once in awhile, we'd bump into each other.

The parents weren't going out of their way to socialize with anyone when I was there. I had one random conversation with a mom, and she went on and on about her DC and overshared. It was exhausting. But I would say it's an individual thing...could happen at any school and not just Penn.
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2026 08:33     Subject: Penn Quaker Days
Anonymous wrote:Don’t you think all the Ivy League and top colleges are like this, though? The kids largely got there through… striving! If you want a friendlier yet so less smart environment, that’s a large state school.


edited! meant to say NO less smart!
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2026 08:03     Subject: Penn Quaker Days
Anonymous wrote:Don’t you think all the Ivy League and top colleges are like this, though? The kids largely got there through… striving! If you want a friendlier yet so less smart environment, that’s a large state school.


no such thing as friendlier place/environment. kids will be fighting/competing with peers for jobs, clubs, etc
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2026 07:58     Subject: Penn Quaker Days
Don’t you think all the Ivy League and top colleges are like this, though? The kids largely got there through… striving! If you want a friendlier yet so less smart environment, that’s a large state school.
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2026 02:22     Subject: Penn Quaker Days
Anonymous wrote:go read here from actual penn students: https://www.reddit.com/r/UPenn/comments/1l82rqe/is_penn_really_competitive_as_the_reddit_makes_it/


yeah I read that thread and Penn students admit it's really competitive and the student tour guides read from a script and pretend it's collaborative.

sorry to burst your bubble uncs ...
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2026 02:01     Subject: Penn Quaker Days
go read here from actual penn students: https://www.reddit.com/r/UPenn/comments/1l82rqe/is_penn_really_competitive_as_the_reddit_makes_it/