Anonymous wrote:

... art major... "and my parents are still supporting me..."

Penn grad here - from my experience the comments about the 'division' of Wharton-non-Wharton are way overblown here. (Two of my roommates throughout were Wharton & I was in "the College"/Annenberg & it was of no issue - different classes! There tends to be some ribbing across the majors (and about the literal digs that Wharton has) but mostly in fun) There are lots of top notch programs across the university for different things (med, engineering, Annenberg, psychology, history, religious studies, even art history, etc etc). I would say most of the students are ambitious/competitive & have a lot of drive throughout the school. (I would say the same for the MoCo W-high school I attended). I can't think of a classmate who isn't doing fine careerwise - ranging from top of wall streeters to public defenders to public accountants - not all top of the world (some are professionally, most probably 5%-ers vs. 1%-ers). It's a big school of smart kids, and the student body reflects that. I personally would pick somewhere else if I had to do it again because I was one of those overwhelmed by the city environment, larger student body frat domination of the social world (about 30% of student body) vs. hearing about the experiences friends had at small liberal arts schools - but I'd say that's a personality thing - and do think I got a very strong education, strong real-world education of how ambitious people act, and made some good friends.

I was a Wharton undergrad in the last decade and when I think of Penn I think -- (i) Wharton; and (ii) one of the best health systems in the country. The point is -- there are lots of programs at Penn besides Wharton that are noteworthy. It's not like it's "oh we have Wharton and 5 other majors to choose from." Because the med school/health system are so strong, the pre-med, bioengineering and nursing programs are also really strong and afford undergrads research opportunities that you just don't see 18-22 yr olds getting.

I'm willing to bet the same is true for lots of other programs -- though I don't claim to know all of them.

As for being in a bad part of Philadelphia -- it's all relative. I'm not going to say that West Phil is nice or doesn't have a crime problem -- but honestly the typical student who goes to school, comes back to the dorms, and does ECs and parties on campus isn't going to have a problem. There is crime all over the city of Philadelphia and Penn has done a LOT in the last 2 decades to make its area really nice (physically nice and also safer). It is a beautiful campus for a city school and you don't feel like -- omg is that a mugger coming my way -- or anything like that. Go visit it. Suburban people are surprised by how safe and normal it feels to go spending a day walking around on campus because they come with these notions of -- OMG we have to get out of here by 4 pm before all the criminals come out. Yet just like any campus it is a flurry of activity until at least midnight or so.

Anonymous wrote:Wharton
Jewish
Fratty
Bad area of Philly

Golly, and how 'bout them mummies at the university museum?

I mean how low can that place go?

Wharton
Jewish
Fratty
Bad area of Philly

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The thing about a school's reputation is that there will, of course, be students who don't fit the mold and are content but the reputation increasingly becomes self-fulfilling. So as Penn gets this rep for being pre-professional, it increasingly attracts students who want that which makes it increasingly true.

This has been the case for decades, which is why the reputation of Penn students as douchey careerists is off-the-charts. You can't point to any other Ivy or highly selective SLAC that revolves around a business program to a similar degree. It's really become the epitome of a trade school for aspiring corporate tools.

Just in your mind, unclear why you are so bitter about it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The thing about a school's reputation is that there will, of course, be students who don't fit the mold and are content but the reputation increasingly becomes self-fulfilling. So as Penn gets this rep for being pre-professional, it increasingly attracts students who want that which makes it increasingly true.

This has been the case for decades, which is why the reputation of Penn students as douchey careerists is off-the-charts. You can't point to any other Ivy or highly selective SLAC that revolves around a business program to a similar degree. It's really become the epitome of a trade school for aspiring corporate tools.

The PP is way over the top and totally ridiculous. If anything the strengthening of Penn's national reputation since I was there a quarter century ago means that it now attracts the best and brightest in all fields. Anyone who thinks Penn=Wharton hasn't spent much time there, at least not among undergrads. The most successful people I know from my time at Penn are writers and scientists, both groups that had incredible opportunities to advance their intellectual interests at Penn (one of the best student newspapers at a private university; other amazing publications; incredible research opportunities for pre-med and engineering majors in the med school etc.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The thing about a school's reputation is that there will, of course, be students who don't fit the mold and are content but the reputation increasingly becomes self-fulfilling. So as Penn gets this rep for being pre-professional, it increasingly attracts students who want that which makes it increasingly true.

This has been the case for decades, which is why the reputation of Penn students as douchey careerists is off-the-charts. You can't point to any other Ivy or highly selective SLAC that revolves around a business program to a similar degree. It's really become the epitome of a trade school for aspiring corporate tools.

No idea what you're talking about, and I went to Penn (not Wharton).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I notice UPenn and Penn State students refer to their respective schools as 'Penn.' How do they differentiate the two without referring to location? I hear students say 'I'm heading to Penn.' Does one just ask which one?

Wrong. Penn State is Penn State. Both schools have strong identities for better (and worse) and the confusion factor isn't very high. If someone says they went to Penn, it can only mean the Philly Ivy school. No one at Penn calls it UPenn. And I've never heard anyone calls Penn State anything other than Penn State.

OP, I thought the same thing so you are not 'wrong' as the PP states. If you don't know and are unfamiliar with the schools, that's why you ask.

Now, we are both educated to their monikers.

Yup -- Penn State students/alums ALWAYS say Penn State. Penn students/alums say Penn or UPenn. But there will be some name/state school confusion forever. I can ignore it when it comes from people who didn't go to schools like Penn who don't care and/or don't know better. Couldn't forgive it so much when a senior attorney at JP Morgan (which has a strong recruiting pipeline from Penn/Wharton over the yrs and likely only takes a few candidates per yr from Penn State) asked me if I got in state tuition as a Pa resident who went to UPenn. Didn't realize the ivys did in state tuition -- must have missed out on that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The thing about a school's reputation is that there will, of course, be students who don't fit the mold and are content but the reputation increasingly becomes self-fulfilling. So as Penn gets this rep for being pre-professional, it increasingly attracts students who want that which makes it increasingly true.

This has been the case for decades, which is why the reputation of Penn students as douchey careerists is off-the-charts. You can't point to any other Ivy or highly selective SLAC that revolves around a business program to a similar degree. It's really become the epitome of a trade school for aspiring corporate tools.

One man's opinion. And one man only. I don't have a dog in this fight but just this characterization and use of sewer-like verbage should be an alert to OP to tread lightly with opinions here. The PP sounds like a bitter person with an unhappy experience with Penn.

Do your homework, OP.

Anonymous wrote:The thing about a school's reputation is that there will, of course, be students who don't fit the mold and are content but the reputation increasingly becomes self-fulfilling. So as Penn gets this rep for being pre-professional, it increasingly attracts students who want that which makes it increasingly true.

This has been the case for decades, which is why the reputation of Penn students as douchey careerists is off-the-charts. You can't point to any other Ivy or highly selective SLAC that revolves around a business program to a similar degree. It's really become the epitome of a trade school for aspiring corporate tools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like lots of focus on Wharton etc. and "pre" professional stuff....I have a DD who is dead set on going to law school. Why? I don't know but it is what it is...she's not changing her mind and will apply ED. So, can one conclude all things considered Penn would be a fit?

Yes, graduating from any accredited US college is a path to going to law school.

DD sounds like she knows what she wants and is determined to get it. Kudos to her! It's her choice just like others make choices for engineering, business, sociology, etc, etc.

The thing about a school's reputation is that there will, of course, be students who don't fit the mold and are content but the reputation increasingly becomes self-fulfilling. So as Penn gets this rep for being pre-professional, it increasingly attracts students who want that which makes it increasingly true.

Anonymous wrote:Seems like lots of focus on Wharton etc. and "pre" professional stuff....I have a DD who is dead set on going to law school. Why? I don't know but it is what it is...she's not changing her mind and will apply ED. So, can one conclude all things considered Penn would be a fit?

Yes, graduating from any accredited US college is a path to going to law school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I notice UPenn and Penn State students refer to their respective schools as 'Penn.' How do they differentiate the two without referring to location? I hear students say 'I'm heading to Penn.' Does one just ask which one?

Wrong. Penn State is Penn State. Both schools have strong identities for better (and worse) and the confusion factor isn't very high. If someone says they went to Penn, it can only mean the Philly Ivy school. No one at Penn calls it UPenn. And I've never heard anyone calls Penn State anything other than Penn State.

OP, I thought the same thing so you are not 'wrong' as the PP states. If you don't know and are unfamiliar with the schools, that's why you ask.

Now, we are both educated to their monikers.