Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I graduated 10ish years ago from the school of arts and sciences. Loved my time at Penn and can’t imagine a better fit for me. Loved my classes (and I wasn’t overly preprofessional) and the social scene was very fun. I met my spouse there too.

However, Penn has a specific culture and it’s not a fit for everyone. I am a fairly intense person, but I go with the flow and can adapt. I had two friends transfer sophomore year to more “crunchy” small liberal arts schools. If your kid is at all the type to apply somewhere like that, then don’t send them to Penn. It’s not just the academics - the social scene is intense and can be overwhelming for some people. The school doesn’t hold your hand. It’s swim or sink.

PP... 1990s alum...I just don't understand the comment "Penn has a specific culture". I found it fairly laid back, with Tuesday (Palladium... no longer (, Wednesday (Smokes), Friday and Saturday big social nights (and Thursdays too sometimes). Sure, all the Wharton kids were aiming for GS or Blackstone or KKR (again, think 1990s), but not like they were sabotaging each other's chances.

There were a decent number of kids in Fraternities and Sororities, but a wide mix of demographics in those clubs...and all the parties were open to the entire school. The usual progression was that kids primarily enjoyed the UPenn social scene for Freshman and most of Soph year...but then people started engaging more with what Philly had to offer.

Would be interested in specific examples to illustrate your comment.

NP - early 2000s alum. Agree regarding all the places to party. But I mean this is a school where you need to apply to enter many EC clubs. And the application isn't simply write us a paragraph on why you want to join this literary society, but it's a full blown application you need to work hard on, network with members etc. and the student officers of these things are gleeful in turning down students they don't find as committed. This was for ECs that weren't like those societies like Friars and weren't performing arts where of course you need to show you can sing or whatever - I'm talking nothing clubs.

It's a school that's perfectly fine for kids who know who they are - they'll try for clubs or not, they'll get accepted or not, there's plenty of affinity groups, hiking clubs, ultimate frisbee and whatever else so there are plenty of people to hang with. It's the type of school that drives kids crazy who just are not used to losing in any way shape or form and will work themselves to death to get into ECs regardless of whether they genuinely want them or not because of perceived "prestige." There are more of these anxious kids than you'd think.

+100

Alum from ~10 years ago here, I totally agree. Penn is super competitive in all ways imaginable — socially, professionally, academically.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I graduated 10ish years ago from the school of arts and sciences. Loved my time at Penn and can’t imagine a better fit for me. Loved my classes (and I wasn’t overly preprofessional) and the social scene was very fun. I met my spouse there too.

However, Penn has a specific culture and it’s not a fit for everyone. I am a fairly intense person, but I go with the flow and can adapt. I had two friends transfer sophomore year to more “crunchy” small liberal arts schools. If your kid is at all the type to apply somewhere like that, then don’t send them to Penn. It’s not just the academics - the social scene is intense and can be overwhelming for some people. The school doesn’t hold your hand. It’s swim or sink.

PP... 1990s alum...I just don't understand the comment "Penn has a specific culture". I found it fairly laid back, with Tuesday (Palladium... no longer (, Wednesday (Smokes), Friday and Saturday big social nights (and Thursdays too sometimes). Sure, all the Wharton kids were aiming for GS or Blackstone or KKR (again, think 1990s), but not like they were sabotaging each other's chances.

There were a decent number of kids in Fraternities and Sororities, but a wide mix of demographics in those clubs...and all the parties were open to the entire school. The usual progression was that kids primarily enjoyed the UPenn social scene for Freshman and most of Soph year...but then people started engaging more with what Philly had to offer.

Would be interested in specific examples to illustrate your comment.

NP - early 2000s alum. Agree regarding all the places to party. But I mean this is a school where you need to apply to enter many EC clubs. And the application isn't simply write us a paragraph on why you want to join this literary society, but it's a full blown application you need to work hard on, network with members etc. and the student officers of these things are gleeful in turning down students they don't find as committed. This was for ECs that weren't like those societies like Friars and weren't performing arts where of course you need to show you can sing or whatever - I'm talking nothing clubs.

It's a school that's perfectly fine for kids who know who they are - they'll try for clubs or not, they'll get accepted or not, there's plenty of affinity groups, hiking clubs, ultimate frisbee and whatever else so there are plenty of people to hang with. It's the type of school that drives kids crazy who just are not used to losing in any way shape or form and will work themselves to death to get into ECs regardless of whether they genuinely want them or not because of perceived "prestige." There are more of these anxious kids than you'd think.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just came here to point out that Penn’s medical school, law school, and business school are ranked top 5, among other excellent programs there.

Has nothing to do with undergrad.

Nothing at all?

I went to Penn undergrad (Wharton) and Penn Law - FWIW Penn Law takes a TON of kids from Penn undergrad. Just something to keep in mind that if you can manage to get into Penn undergrad (and it need not be Wharton - vast majority who go to law school are SAS), you are virtually a lock to get into Penn Law in case that's a goal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just came here to point out that Penn’s medical school, law school, and business school are ranked top 5, among other excellent programs there.

Has nothing to do with undergrad.

Nothing at all?

Actually I was talking about the outreach events with students in the community and the new treatment center they are building. Not engaging with you on this one PP.

Anonymous wrote:DS is at Penn in SEAS. It’s a wonderful school/department, like a family. As others have said, it’s not the top-ranked engineering school in the country, but still very, very good and likely less cut throat. Sciences and medicine are outstanding at Penn. they do a lot for the community that surrounds them. A lot of kind, caring kids at Penn who care deeply about social justice and helping those less fortunate than them.

I think you can kind of get a feel for some of Penn’s issues from this thread - there’s a huge perception that Penn = Wharton, Wharton, and Wharton. But realize there is much more to Penn than Wharton.

If you mean the UC Townhomes protests against ''gentrification'' and in favor of crime, you are very wrong!

Anonymous wrote:Just came here to point out that Penn’s medical school, law school, and business school are ranked top 5, among other excellent programs there.

Has nothing to do with undergrad.

Just came here to point out that Penn’s medical school, law school, and business school are ranked top 5, among other excellent programs there.

Can the two SEAS parents tell us more about the environment there? Is it really collaborative? Are grades curved (meaning only a certain percent can get As)? Is it nurturing at all? Or more swim/sink? Are students laid back at all?