-
The fall 2020 acceptance rate for University of Pennsylvania is 9%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.
-
What should every freshman at your school know before they start?
It's all a game. You need to play to the best of your abilities and hope for the best. It may seem overwhelming now, but it WILL work out. No matter where you end up, you will still be able to be a successful adult and achieve your dreams. Just think of the bigger picture and relax. Work hard and try your best, but know that it WILL work out.
Read all 170 answers
-
Describe the students at your school.
They are driven and dedicated, always attend class, participate in lecture, and succeed.
Read all 73 answers
-
Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!
Compared to other schools I considered as well as my own upbringing, Penn's urban environment was unique. I had never lived in a large city before, and I did not take full advantage of the opportunities to get involved with the community outside of Penn as much as I had hoped to.
Read all 39 answers
-
What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?
How judgemental people are about other peoples' social statuses. Most students here at least come from a priveleged background because the financial aid is not enough for most people. There is much emphasis on what people wear, and expensive trends here.
Read all 38 answers
-
What is your overall opinion of this school?
we don't really call it "UPenn". Most people just say "Penn"
the best thing about Penn is the location of the campus. When you walk down Locust Walk, you feel like you're part of a true college environment. The location is wonderful - you have access to a large city, yet the convenience of one unified campus; you have the opportunity to take classes in historic buildings, yet you can also take hands-on classes in the West Philadelphia community.
I would change the weather. I hate slush. Also known as "wintry mix" (that awful wet snow that makes the streets brown and gross)
I would also add more green space. Fortunately, though, we have close access to the Skuykill River park and Penn is adding a big park in the years to come.
My school is just the right size. Large enough that I'm still meeting new people every day, but small enough that I run into people I know every time I enter a class or step outside.
I spend most of my time in the Van Pelt library or in my apartment (Harrison high rise).
Not a college town, but a college neighborhood within a big city.
People's reaction to "I go to Penn"?:
people everywhere - "Oh, Penn State?"
people everywhere -"Where's that?"
people from the south - "Why'd you go to school all the way in Pennsylvania?" (I'm from Georgia)
people from philly- "Woahh...UPenn! (said in a way indicating that I'm probably stuck-up and elitist)
I'm kind of scared of the administration. I want to know what they do with our ridiculous endowment. And I think they waste too much money on catering and tents for parties.
The biggest controversy was last Halloween when Amy Gutmann hosted a halloween costume party and a kid came dressed as a terrorist and Amy Gutmann posed in a picture with him. But that got blown out of proportion.
There is a decent amount of school pride. Or at least a strong desire to brand our school's name so that people know we aren't a public school, but rather an Ivy League institution. But we're pretty apathetic about athletics.
I will always remember New Student Orientation (NSO) and Spring Fling.
Most common complaints are about the dining hall food. But I think that most of the moaning is from whiny brats who think a normal meal is take-out from Stephen Starr restaurants.
Read all 35 answers
-
What are the academics like at your school?
You have to make an effort to get professors to know your name.
My favorite class was through the graduate school of government - Fels. It was called "Women Leaders and Emerging Democracies" and was taught by former Congresswoman Marjorie Margolies (her son is dating Chelsea Clinton). The class was very hands-on and we heard a lot of wonderful guest speakers.
Students study a reasonable amount.
In class participation is an important part of classes
Some Penn students have intellectual conversations out of class. Others just gossip. And others just talk about summer internships and investment banks (cough cough, Wharton)
Students are very competitive. Especially pre-meds and Wharton kids.
Most unique class - Community Based Environmental Health. We learned about health risks and the developed a plan to fix an environmental health problem in West Philly.
My major is Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE). It's an interdisciplinary major based off of the Oxford major by the same name. And Harvard has the same program but they call it Social Studies. It was Bill Clinton's major. I LOVE PPE. It teaches you liberal arts combined with practical real-life skills
You have to make an effort to see professors outside class.
The academic requirements are good, except there are too many science requirements (especially for non-science majors).
Wharton is geared toward getting a job. The other schools are geared towards learning.
Read all 34 answers
-
What's unique about your campus?
The College House system, the resources students have at their disposal, and the ability students have to run with what they love.
Read all 32 answers
-
What are the most popular student activities/groups?
Penn's large size means that just about everyone finds a group of friends easily. Many people become close with the friends they make in the dorms during the first weeks of school Freshman year, and those who don't like their hall-mates will meet their social group through extra-curriculars and student clubs. The trick is that you have to seek these groups out, and be willing to spend time at Hillel, the Writer's House, the Newman Center, or whatever extra-curricular "second home" interests you.
There are plenty of students at Penn who don't drink alcohol, but people who are offended by the thought or sight of people who drink might feel uncomfortable living on campus.
Read all 32 answers
-
What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?
how difficult the intro science classes are.
Read all 31 answers
-
What kind of person should not attend this school?
Anyone who can't deal with distractions.
Read all 30 answers
-
What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?
I love my school, it's the best place I could've gone for me.
Read all 29 answers
-
What is the stereotype of students at your school?
WIth Wharton most of the stereotypes are about how business-oriented the students are. Also that there are a lot of rich, jewish students. Also that Penn has a "work hard study hard" dynamic, and that we're the "party ivy."
Read all 28 answers
-
Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?
Patrially accurate, but with 10,000 undergrads there is room for every kind of person. I was part of a more intellectual group of performers and writers, and loved every minute.
Read all 27 answers
-
Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.
My school is unique and unconventional but at the same time very modern in its teaching and beliefs.
Read all 26 answers
-
What kind of person should attend this school?
Someone who is hardworking and good at time management
Read all 26 answers
-
What's the most frustrating thing about your school?
The University of Pennslvania doesn't have many flaws in their system. Other than the school system, the most frustrating thing about my school is probably the inconvenient hours of operation for the gym and the campus cafeteria. As an Ivy League school, I would have thought more students would be up late studying and when students are studying, in my own opinion, I would want to take a break and get a midnight snack or meal. Besides that, I think University of Pennsylvania is a great school.
Read all 22 answers
-
What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?
I'd say there are 4 different stereotypes of penn students, depending on which school you're in; Wharton, the College, Engineering, or Nursing. "Whartonites" are known as the cut-throat profit driven, win at all costs type of people. They're the ones setting the curves, going to office hours, and fighting for every last point on every exam. In the college of arts and sciences, we're more laid back, well rounded students. Often indecisive, and prone to complain about class, while staying up til 4 a.m. in van pelt to finish off the 15 page paper due tomorrow. Penn is known as the "social ivy", and students in the college have no problem living up to that name. It's not unusual to see students out at parties as early as thursday night. Engineering students pretty much don't exist outside of the engineering buildings. Their work ethic is different than Wharton students, in that it's not so competitive or money driven, as it is just genuine interest in learning the material, and passing with an A+. Consequently, between 7 class schedules and back to back to back all nighters, engineers pretty much stick to themselves. Nursing students are the soft, nice people who always say hi, and never seem to be too stressed about anything. They seem to live laid back lives, only ever complaining about 7 a.m. clinicals. While of course not every person in these respective schools is a member of these stereotypes, on the whole, they seem to be pretty accurate in capturing the personality of the schools. Thats perhaps why one of the first questions a penn student asks another penn student after first meeting is, "which school are you in?"
Read all 17 answers
-
Describe your favorite campus traditions.
The Wharton School of Business
Read all 14 answers
-
Why did you decide to go to this school?
There's two main reasons I decided to come to Penn
1) It's the best school that I got into
2) They gave me the most financial aid.
Story time: I never thought I would end up coming to Penn. Actually, it wasn't my dream school and I only applied because it was a great school and it had all of my potential majors. To my surprise, I got in! I visited shortly after my acceptance and really liked the urban pre-professional feel it had. My final decision came down to Penn, Cornell, and Notre Dame, since they gave me the most financial aid.
Read all 11 answers
-
Describe the dorms.
Dorms at Penn tend to vary--the Quad's three buildings are extremely popular for freshman, who find the Gothic architecture and social atmosphere to be perfect. Many freshman and upperclassman alike find themselves at home in some of the smaller dorms like Hill House and King's Court where a sense of community is usually strong. The high-rise dorms have more amenities and often are popular with sophomores, but usually do not have the same social atmosphere as the low-rise dorms. Penn also makes use of residential programs within houses that bring students of similar interests together, and are generally a positive experience for participants.
Read all 5 answers
