<p>i turned down cornell, RPI, Delaware, and full scholarships from 'Nova and Hofstra</p>
<p>The dorms at Penn are not horrible. No leaks, no creaks, etc. Most of them are newly renovated within the past few years. To tell you the truth, the worst complaint I've ever heard anyone have about their dorm is that the A/C broke, sometime in November.</p>
<p>Housing is guaranteed for frosh, but not necessarily for upperclassmen. In my opinion, however, you have to try really hard to not get housing after freshman year. Most college houses have lotteries where you are GUARANTEED to retain your room or room-type or try to upgrade within the house, which is what I am doing. Very nice indeed. You can also switch college houses, but have lower priority than those already in the college house.</p>
<p>You get used to the cold almost immediately, unless of course you are from Hawaii or Florida :) But the winters at penn aren't that bad. there is still a lot to do and no need to stay in. I've never heard of anyone skipping class becuase it was too cold. I must admit though, campus is so much more lively when the weather is nice (like last Friday). </p>
<p>Grades are extremely fair. While most students are very competitive, professors are fair. Let me give an example. My calculus course last semester, the averages on the tests were something like a 56, 62, and 58 on the final. Since those were the averages, they would equate to a B-. Which definitely helps you out. On the other hand, my last calc test this semester, the average was a 92. The professor quickly mentioned that there would be no grade deflation because that wouldn't be fair. You do well and earn the grades, you get the A.</p>
<p>Diversity and Penn is like an oxymoron. There are so many students of color here, no one will feel left out. In fact, in some of my classes I feel like as a white male, I am the minority. Ethnic groups do tend to stick together. I have a korean roommate who refuses to talk to American students. Also, the Indian students definitely all sit together at class and talk in their native language throughout class. A lot of the international students do not seem to be very accepting of American culture. In fact, they even start Facebook groups such as "Glad Not American" and "Thank God I'm International."</p>
<p>I don't really count the hours I spend studying. I just sort of study until I feel comfortable with the material and do homework until it gets done. It is a lot of time, I'll be honest. But there's always time for fun.</p>
<p>Let's get this straight. Princeton sucks at everything. It's a Penn motto. :) Penn vs. Princeton is one of the best rivalries in college....you should have been at the basketball game this year when we were down by 18 with minutes to play in the second half, took the game into OT, and won. Now that is what Penn is all about! :)</p>
<p>I was wondering who our rival was. Haha. Nice story.</p>
<p>Hey guys!</p>
<p>I am freshman is SEAS. If you have any questions, send me an e-mail! Or post your questions, I will be happy to answer</p>
<p>Great info on here!</p>
<p>Hope you can help with my questions --</p>
<ol>
<li><p>How are roommates assigned? Is it totally random or do they use questionnaires to make somewhat of a compatible match? Any tips on getting along w/roommates? </p></li>
<li><p>I'm still totally confused about the dorm choices! Which would you recommend for me -- I'm female, definitely a people person and like to get involved -- like to party but need to make time for the books too. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Roommates seem to be assigned more or less randomly - unless things have changed they only ask you a few questions, about what time you wake up and stuff. They try to match habits but not so much personality. Tips for getting along - respect each other's personal space I guess.</p>
<p>Recommendations - maybe the quad? or Hill - do you definitely want a roommate? Single in the quad might be a good first choice, that way you can socialise but shut your door when you need to.
How important is it to be able to study in your room? If you are cool with studying in the library then a noisy/small dorm might work for you. If you need quiet time in your room maybe somewhere like Kings Court or Gregory, where you could have somewhere quiet to go back to and be able to go out and party with other friends.
Do any of the residential programs appeal to you?</p>
<p>Thanks lauraanne --</p>
<p>Guess I'm just a bit nervous about the whole roommate thing.<br>
I was thinking about a single, especially since I tend to do my best studying late at night, but I don't want to miss out on making friends or coming across as anti-social! Would there still be opportunity to socialize if I went with a single? Also, if its not too much trouble, can you give me some info about Hill? How does it compare to the quad?
I really haven't checked out the residential programs yet, do you recommend them?</p>
<p>Yeaah, would having a roommate be a lot better since you ideally have someone to go to new things with right off the bat? Or would it be just as easy to knock on your neighbor's door and go with him/her if you're in a single?</p>
<p>Ok, here was my situtation: </p>
<p>I signed up for a double, and got a double in hill (though I didn't pick hill at all....) My roomate however got off the "quad waitlist" (which I didn't know exisited.. I think she paid her way off..) So I had no roomate for the first 3 weeks of school.. I managed to make plenty of friends and it kind of gives you the flexibility to go hang out with whatever group you want and not have to worry about where your roomate is going (roomates do tend to cling to eachother the first few days). however, 3 weeks later I got my current roomate and I couldn't imagine living without her.. we get along really, really well and it's sometimes nice to have someone to talk things over with, get advice from, and be able to de-stress with a little during finals and such. Honestly though, it's a matter of personal preference.. I would recommend going for a double, but I know people that have singles and love it (I did highly enjoy my single for hte 3 weeks I had it.. I don't konw what my opinion would have been had I never gotten a roomate, or had I gotten a roomate I didn't get along with).</p>
<p>About hill, I absolutely love it. I didn't want it at first at all, as in I didn't put it as ANY of my choices (all my choices were in the quad), but now that i'm here I can't imagine living anywher else.. Iguess it helps that my room opens up into a common area (if you see hill, you'll see what I mean) and my two best friends live directly across from me.. Hill is definitely very nice, and very social since everyone tends to hang out inthe common areas rather than in their rooms.. It's also kind of hit or miss occasionally.. half my suite is really close, but we don't relaly know the other half.. I know some halls that completely hang out togehter while others don't associate at all.. (and that's in both the quad and hill), so I guess you have to hope to get lucky and get an awesome hall :)</p>
<p>This is a quote from another thread. I have the same questions. Could you please comment? Thanks.</p>
<p>I was admitted to SEAS and other engineering/computer science programs at other universities. I like Penn since it's in my hometown. However, many of my friends suggested me go other places with higher ranking. Other than the Ivy prestige and #1 business program, is other any other reason I should consider? I really like to stay near home. Any current SEAS (especially in CS/EE) student can help?</p>
<p>ktrumpet182...I posted this question in a previous post, but I will ask you just in case...
I will be entering Penn's SAS (If I choose not to go to Yale/Brown) to complete the last two years of my BA in Economics. However, since I am 32 years old, Penn requested that if I wanted to live on campus, I apply for graduate housing (because of my age) at Samson Place East/West. Samson Place primarily houses graduate students, correct? Do you know if Samson Place fills up quickly? I already sent in my app. with the $25.00 fee. Hopefully, if I decide to attend Penn, I will be able to get a room in Samson. I would rather not get an off-campus apartment right away because I don't really feel like putting down $1,000.00+ for deposit, first month's rent, etc. It would just be easier to move from Texas into graduate housing, then after I get acclimated to Philly, I can locate more permanent housing off campus. Any suggestions...?</p>
<p>are we allowed to request roommates? my friend and i want to room together next year</p>
<p>yeah, you should be able to request a room mate.</p>
<p>yes I'm pretty sure you can request a roommate</p>
<p>so for housing, which dorms do u recommend for students accepted to the college/wharton/SEAS/nursing? consider location of classes and stuff.... =)</p>
<p>ok, this is kind of a weird question, but i'm from the south, and we encounter it a lot:
are there roaches on penn's campus? in dorm rooms? outside, on walkways?</p>
<p>i've heard there are some roaches.. probably not outside on walkways and stuff o.0 just inside.</p>
<p>also... can you make certain requests/criteria about your roommate? i'm really afraid I'll get stuck with someone I really do not like</p>
<p>On the Wharton student forums, there have been reports of 1-10 roaches in rooms/common areas per year.</p>
<p>yes there are roaches, some places have more roaches than others. When I lived on campus, we had two roaches over the space of a year. If, like me, you had never seen a cockroach before the age of 18, that might freak you out. But, for most people, I don't think it's a big deal.
And afaforce is right, roaches are a strictly indoor basement/closet/bathroom type phenomenon in Philly. You do sometimes get these giant irridescent bugs outside though...</p>
<p>On the house guide, I believe it mentioned that Penn doesn't match up roommates by interest, citing something along the lines of "being exposed to different people as part of the experience". Eh. I don't know if this applies to freshmen or not, but you can request to be matched/changed if you have a really good reason not to like your roommate. And is it true that you have three opps to change housing? Or is that just something totally random I picked up somewhere else?</p>