University of Pennsylvania Top Questions

Visit the schools and make sure you are comfortable with not only the physical setting and the safety of the school but also the people. The school is your home for the next four years and you need to make sure that it feels like home to you. When you find the right school, you'll know. Go with your instinct. There is more to a good school than test scores and job placement. You can go to the best school in the world but if you aren't enjoying it, it's definitely not worth it.

I would say to become as involved in as many activities as possible. Do not stress over grades so much unless your major is career focused i.e bio for med school, etc. I would really try to get outside one's comfort zone and try many things. This is your main opportunity in life to become involved in a wide array of activities. Do not stress if college is not the best time in your life. It can be very difficult at times. Do not take it too seriously. Overall have fun.

I think one of the most important things that you may want to consider is whether or not you see yourself fitting in that population. I was fortunate to live near campus and have the ability to take the train down to school to walk around campus just by myself to see if I enjoyed the atmosphere. While you may get this feel during tours or even after you have been accepted and invited to orientation, I think a 30-60 walk around campus, depending on what kind of are your school is located in, will help you see how people are. If you know a friend who goes there, stay over for a weekend and have some fun - It's important to remember that half of college is about academics. The other half is about activities and having fun, in whatever way you make it out to be. Ultimately most schools will give you all the education you will need. While deciding what types of programs you may want to join, academically, at the end of four years, you'll remember how you enjoyed yourself and what friends you made, not what grades you got.

Make sure you visit the place and talk to the students. Think about moving expenses and living conditions. Helps if you have an idea of career after school.

The most important thing in finding the right college and making the most of a college experience is visiting the college campus if possible and learning and hearing about it from students who are already there. Be sure to take into consideration the types of students who are there, the academic quality, academic rigor, social life, food, weather/climate, and campus before making a decision. Some students who fail to take all of these factors into consideration may not end up liking their college experience. If money is an issue, value of education for money is important. If you know you want to go to graduate school, it is better to pick a school which is cheaper and not as rigorous academically. Therefore, you can do well in college and get into a really great graduate school. However, if you are planning to work after college, make sure this is a school which will get you a good job after graduation. Every college has its pros and cons, but the whole college experience is what you make of it. Even at larger universities, you can find very close friends and meet interesting people everyday. Make the most of college.

The best way to really know which college is best for you, you need to visit the campus. Really getting a feel for the surroundinds, the atmosphere, and the people will help you understand which school fits your needs best. Good luck!

visit the school, find out about programs first

Visit the school and talk to a diversity of students about life academically and socially

It's all about fit. Yes reputation matters, but at the end of the day you want somewhere that screams "you," where you like the people, the location and the available courses of study.

Penn is great if you are very driven and career focused. Consider a more liberal artsy school such as Amherst or Brown if you're not.