<p>So, I was prompted by someone who applied ED to the M&T program to expound my views on the program. I tend to be one part cynical and nine parts sarcastic, so I think people see a very skewed view of the M&T program. I also post alot, and I feel bad because I feel people have misconstrued my views on the program. I feel in response to his PM I constructed a fairly adequate response that conveys my honest opinions on the program. And, you might be surprised, it’s far more praiseworthy than I think you might have come to expect from me.</p>
<p>Here is the PM I send him (I’m leaving him anonymous, and the journal in reference is my xanga, which he happened to stumble upon)</p>
<p>Warning, it’s long! It also seeks to answer the main questions people have me: why am I dissatisfied with Wharton, does Wharton overshadow the engineering, and will there be time to take random classes?</p>
<p>/* start */</p>
<p>Howdy! First and foremost, sorry for my delay in responding…I had a whole lot of reading that I had to get done, and suffering due to that was the time in which I dedicated to responding to you…but I wanted to give you a full and honest response. So here I go!</p>
<p>Let me put it this way: M&T is right for many, and not for others. This is not a bad thing! And in fact I am really, really glad that I’m currently in the program. Let me reiterate…the program is not at fault here. What IS at fault, however, is that people do not let others explore themselves in college. That is to say, if someone is in the CAS as a bio major and they suddenly realize theyh want to be a history major, nobody gives them any **** (except for maybe their parents). BUT, if someone is in Wharton and realizes that they do not love it, there is a MASSIVE stigma against giving it up. Does that make sense? So M&T, as a program, is excellent…what I do not like is the seeming impossibility everyone places on leaving Wharton, of which non-M&T Whartonites (and even straight up engineers!) are typically FAR more critical.</p>
<p>Personally, yes, I do feel a bit limited by M&T…but this is because I don’t love Wharton, get it? Many people in M&T have an equal love for both. In fact, I know a girl who is doing dual degree with the school of engineering and Wharton, and this girl is SUPER passionate about Wharton. She has a million different classes she wants to take, and she’s taking a crazy schedule to fit them all in. Many don’t even count towards anything! She deserves to be an M&Ter way more than I do. What M&T does is allow people with a balance for business AND engineering to better balance those interests. My problem, however, is a waning, nonexistent passion for business. Thus, if I were passionate about business and engineering, then in fact M&T would be a much better enabler to fit in a couple random PHIL classes or whatever than doing dual degree or whatnot.</p>
<p>It’s refreshing to talk to someone who is passionate about their engineering major…I would say this: if you get in, go. It’ll be immensely rewarding, if not only for the other M&Ters. Honestly, they’re the best. The good ones will constantly blow you away. But don’t get caught up in the hype. You have a passion, and follow it. Realize that M&T is an incredible opportunity, but it will not get you any further than your passion. M&T will take an honest passion for engineering and technology and allow you to do some incredible things with it…but there are many paths to happiness, and there are many people with said passions who do fine without M&T…and there are many people who aren’t in Wharton or aren’t in Engineering who lead successful, happy lives. What’s my point? If M&T enhances your life, and looking at your interests it looks like it can, then go with it, and realize what kind of opportunity it is.</p>
<p>There’s no need to turn back. Looking at your interests, M&T will be a perfect crucible to really learn more about yourself. I would just say that in this respect, too many people ignore that which they learn…that is to say, they ignore the fact that this is a learning process. But it is a process, and if you get in, I’d urge you to visit and really see what the program has to offer. Because even if I were to drop it, I’d treasure the opportunity to be part of a truly elite program, with wonderful peers.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that my xanga is going to present a very skewed and emotional view of things…obviously, I write said posts for a limited audience, and in a emotionally volatile way. I don’t think that it would limit your undergrad experience, as long as you want finance to be a part of that. I have discovered that I do not.</p>
<p>Don’t let one bitter M&T who writes overly emotional posts on a website for asians to pour out their souls make you think any less of the program.</p>
<p>/* end */</p>
<p>I hope that this will be mildly helpful as admissions rounds the corner and people have to make difficult decisions between competitive programs, and/or make the decision to apply to Penn’s M&T program.</p>