<p>Hello, I was just wondering if you all could offer me some advice as to which colleges within Penn to apply to. Now first of all, I plan to go on and get my MBA after undergraduate study, but I also know that the Wharton undergrad curriculum is quite similar to its professional program. Furthermore, I am interested in either consulting or working in finance. And since I am not fairly proficient at any language or interested in engineering, life sciences, etc., I don't want to apply to any of the interdisciplinary programs such as the Huntsman or Jerome Fisher program. So my questions for you are..</p>
<p>1) Do you recommend applying directly to Wharton, even if I intend to receive an MBA?</p>
<p>2.) As far as obtaining a job after graduation, is it easier to get a job if one attended Wharton undergrad as opposed to the CAS, or does your major not matter as much?</p>
<p>Anyway, if you have any other valuable advice to share with me that would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>I think just simply doing well in school will help you when it comes to jobs. I know plenty of CAS and Wharton students alike who landed some cool gigs. You’d <em>probably</em> get more out of doing CAS then MBA later, but if you really want to study business now, then go for Wharton.</p>
<p>I know Wharton grads who are going back for their MBAs or have already gone back for their MBAs. You get more out of your undergrad education if you major in liberal arts. You increase your chances of landing a high paying job if you come out of Wharton (though as legend said, many College grads do very well for themselves). It’s based on your goals and how much you want a liberal arts education for undergrad.</p>
<p>Most Wharton applicants are rather focused and have a clear sense of direction in their approach to education, career, and life in general. If that is not you, then you might benefit more from, say, the College. In short, if you are not sure if Wharton is right for you then do not apply there, simple as that.</p>
<p>You have to assess your profile and your goals. If you want to eventually go into business Wharton will prepare you better. It is also easier to switch out of Wharton than it is to get into Wharton. </p>
<p>If everything you do points towards science or history and you don’t have a lot of leadership or quantitative background you’re better off applying to the College over Wharton. If everything you do points towards business then you’re better off applying to Wharton.</p>
<p>If you want to work in consulting or in finance, and you are sure about your choice, I would say, if you have good credentials, apply to wharton (wharton is much more competitive to get into than cas). If you are not sure that you will be admitted, apply to cas then try to make an internal transfer to wharton. Even if you stay in cas, you can major in econ and then do an mba in wharton. I would say wharton classees are much easier than econ major’s but the curves are usually up because of the competition in wharton; so you will have to study in each case. I got into Penn through engineering and then transfered to wharton.</p>
<p>most penn undergraduates from wharton do not need to go back to get their MBA because of the high paying jobs they land right out of college. my cousin got her undergraduate degree in business from wharton and landed a job in the Wall Street Journal right out of college. she’s making half a million a year, when I asked if she was going to get an MBA, she just laughed and was like, “why? i’m already making so much!”</p>
<p>False. More competitive, sure. MUCH more competitive? absolutely not. Moreover the difference between the two now is the smallest it’s ever been, and the trend is likely to continue until they reach equilibrium.</p>
<p>ilovebagels, that assumes that the economy doesn’t turn around. As soon as we see income statements in the same denomination as US Bureau’s statements, we’ll see a surge in interest in Wharton again.</p>
<p>well if u want to get an mba, i would think yr interested in business. therefore, u should apply to wharton. i’m going to assume that u r interested in business if u want yr mba…</p>
<p>aston, I too have faith in the implication of your comment. However, according to Siegel this might be an anomaly in a distressed market so we’ll see.</p>
<p>The convergence of Wharton and CAS is not due to the collapse of Wall Street or any aspect of Wharton being less desirable; it has everything to do with CAS becoming MORE desirable than it has been in the past.</p>
<p>This is why the trend didn’t start in 2007 or 2008–it started a decade prior.</p>