<p>I lived in Hill, so I had the meal plan with unlimited swipes (“EAT” I think) because of the in house dining hall. Most of my friends in hill also had that meal plan. However, most of my friends who lived in the quad had meal plans with fewer meal swipes and more dining dollars. </p>
<p>Which house you live in makes a big difference for which meal plan is best for you.</p>
<p>What kind of people get involved in the greek scene - who would enjoy that type of thing at Penn? And to what extent does it dominte the social life? Are there stereotypes with each chapter?</p>
<p>Greek life is pretty big at Penn but it is definitely not for everyone. There are other ways to socialize whether it is with people in clubs or with groups of friends. It is a personal choice that you will have to make when it comes time to rush. There are definitely stereotypes with each chapter which do have some basis in reality. However, you should remember that each person is a unique individual and not judge them based on what frat or sorority they are in.</p>
<p>How often do students go off campus and into Philly in general? Also how hard was the transition to college hard (like did you feel there was a support system?)</p>
<p>Also do people form really close friendships like is there a strong sense of community?</p>
<p>What is horse riding like at Penn? Is anyone on the equestrian team?</p>
<p>Can someone let me know how big the dorm is an if possible the approximate measurements of the closet (length x width x height)? Are there 2 closets or do both roommates share one?</p>
<p>@aminta2013
Off campus activities? It depends. I know some people who go off campus a lot! My College House hosted a lot of events where we’d go with one of the RA’s/GA’s and tour Philadelphia. A lot of clubs have off-campus events; as part of Penn Dems we did a lot of campaign work during the election off-campus and volunteered at a rally near Temple, for example. I’ve gone with my friends to this cool farmer’s market event down 45th and Baltimore, I’ve been to my friend’s birthday party downtown. I’m usually not the kind of person who has time to leave a lot, so there are definitely plenty of opportunity, but if you’re not up to it to leave, there’s no pressure to, in my experience.</p>
<p>I personally found the transition to Penn to be hard, because I grew up very close to my family and being away. All of a sudden I was in the cold (I’m from Florida), and not being at the top of my class without studying. Personally, I don’t drink or party, so I felt a little lonely on Friday nights. I did have resources; Weingarten Learning Resource Center was fantastic and my academic advisor was wonderful, not to mention the friends and my awesome dorm GA. It’s a learning experience but the resources are there and people are supportive if you make the effort to ask for help.</p>
<p>People do make close-knit groups of friends! Seminar-style classes have resulted in great friendships, and my freshman year, my dorm section was like a little family. I had an audition for an a capella group at 10:30 PM and I texted my friend to come over and pick me up, I wasn’t going to walk back alone! The entire dorm section came to get me, we got Insomnia Cookies, and just hung out! I’ve had bad nights where I’ve pounded on a hallmate’s door in tears at 4 AM and she’s welcomed me with open arms and a mug of hot chocolate. There will be nights where you may have to lend an ear to someone as well, but the people in your dorm will see you at your worst and you will see them at their worst and it’s nearly impossible not to grow close to people.</p>
<p>ALSO. I want to address this.</p>
<p>“Have been engaged in alot of discussions about what girls wear on college campuses? What is acceptable/accepted? How fashion conscious is X university as a whole etc. Felt I should provoke these thoughts specifically for Penn. Great thread idea btw”</p>
<p>Personally, I’ve noticed that MOST Penn girls dress nice. I feel like a classy-hipster style tends to be prevalent; there’s an Urban Outfitters and American Apparel nearly on campus. Penn is not one of those colleges where all the girls are in sweatpants. Granted, I know some girls who wear momma jeans and unisex fleece and no makeup and there’s no problem. I see girls (especially around finals) in sweats or wearing leggings as pants and in hoodies. This is not the norm, but you can wear what you want and I don’t feel too much judgment on the days I’m not dressed up. On average, though, at Penn, I’m usually in skinny jeans, a nice top, Converses/nice flats/tuxedo shoes, nice jewelry, hair flat-ironed, and make-up done.</p>
<p>@cinzia
You should be able to find out more through the individual college house websites, which you should find when you google them.</p>
<p>@aminta2013
With NY and DC within bussing distance, people do go off-campus for a variety of reasons, especially when neighboring school have their spring events. It is easy access so it just depends on what group of friends you are hanging out with that weekend.
As far as community, I’ll be honest. It isn’t a small LAC where everyone knows each other. While there is a sense of “we’re all Penn students” it doesn’t rally around a center platform like a sports team or something. Your clubs will make the student body seem much smaller, as well as if you keep a job. Classes get smaller and more specialized as you grow in your major so that also helps. College houses have their own communities, hall/suite pride is noticeable.</p>
<p>Is there a club on campus dealing specifically with cancer? Like fundraising and raising awareness? Does the university participate in Relay for Life?</p>
<p>Extra curriculars are a big part of campus life obviously so do certain organisations have reputations like sport= cool jocks or frat/sorority=partiers or theatre=lame artsy kids or music=intorverted??? Penn is a big school etc. so obviously alot of socialising willl be done in these groups but what societies attract what types? Just generic campus steretypes that incoming freshman should know before they consider exploring or joining new groups?</p>
<p>This is college, not high school. Make decisions for yourself, not based on stereotypes other people tell you about. In college, there is no social hierarchy unless you imagine that there is one. Certain organizations may try to create a certain image of themselves, but no one else cares because they have their own interests and don’t need to be worried about how others see them.</p>
<p>I’m not sure if someone already asked this question, but I’m too lazy to go through and search, so if it isn’t too much to ask for, will a current student answer my questions?</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Does Upenn have a lot of Cliques? I have heard rumors that a lot of asians and Jews are very clique.</p></li>
<li><p>Are Wharton kids the smartest and most successful or are they really just at the same level as other kids? A lot of people think that all Penn really has going for it is wharton. I obviously don’t feel that way, but is that the sense that many students get on campus? CANDID ANSWERS PLEASE!!</p></li>
<li><p>Are there an dry Frats?</p></li>
<li><p>Do people ostracize you if you study too much? So far, I have heard that almost everyone studies a lot. </p></li>
<li><p>Is the majority libera or conservative?</p></li>
<li><p>Are most people really rich?</p></li>
<li><p>If there are any south asian Penn students out there, then in all honesty, are the brown kids at Penn Clique. For example, do the hindus frequently hang out with muslims? Do Bengali kids frequently hang out with Indians and Pakis? or is everyone really gravitated to their own ethnicity.</p></li>
<li><p>Lastly, if there are any premed kids out there… I have seen that Perelman has been ranked highly… Are there any opportunities such as volunteering or work study programs at Perelman for penn undergrads?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I’d be very fortunate if current students could answer at least some of these questions. If you can only aptly provide the answer to one, that’s perfectly fine. I just want to get a good sense of the social environment and academic opportunities. Thanks again!!</p>
<ol>
<li>Wharton students are not any smarter than students in the other schools. </li>
<li>People do not ostracize you if you study a lot, Penn has a very diverse population in terms of social preferences so there are plenty of students who make academics their number one priority.</li>
<li>People are very liberal socially but economically there is a wider spectrum. Most people seem to consider themselves democrats or something that falls along the lines of libertarian.</li>
<li>There are tons of opportunities for undergrads to do research and/or volunteer at the medical school.</li>
</ol>
<p>I’ll try to answer. </p>
<ol>
<li>Does Upenn have a lot of Cliques? I have heard rumors that a lot of asians and Jews are very clique.</li>
</ol>
<p>Kind of. It’s hard to capture the entire social scene, and obviously some people are more cliquey than others. In general, Penn is very welcoming and diverse. </p>
<ol>
<li>Are Wharton kids the smartest and most successful or are they really just at the same level as other kids? A lot of people think that all Penn really has going for it is wharton. I obviously don’t feel that way, but is that the sense that many students get on campus? CANDID ANSWERS PLEASE!!</li>
</ol>
<p>This is a really dumb question. Wharton undergrads are the students who want an undergraduate education in business. Anyone who doesn’t want that is not in wharton. </p>
<ol>
<li>Are there an dry Frats?</li>
</ol>
<p>Good question. The answer is no, HOWEVER, there are a number of fraternities that have brothers who don’t drink and these fraternities do not force their members to drink. </p>
<ol>
<li>Do people ostracize you if you study too much? So far, I have heard that almost everyone studies a lot. </li>
</ol>
<p>Almost everyone studies a lot. No one will ostracize you for studying. </p>
<ol>
<li>Is the majority libera or conservative?</li>
</ol>
<p>Interesting question. Almost no one is a Republican, but students actually tend to be relatively moderate, some even conservative, but almost none of these students would ever identify with the Republican Party. Obviously it’s a college and an elite one at that, so there are tons of liberals, but moderates are not rare. </p>
<ol>
<li>Are most people really rich?</li>
</ol>
<p>Certainly not most, but some are incredibly wealthy. </p>
<ol>
<li>If there are any south asian Penn students out there, then in all honesty, are the brown kids at Penn Clique. For example, do the hindus frequently hang out with muslims? Do Bengali kids frequently hang out with Indians and Pakis? or is everyone really gravitated to their own ethnicity.</li>
</ol>
<p>Can’t really answer this, sorry. </p>
<ol>
<li>Lastly, if there are any premed kids out there… I have seen that Perelman has been ranked highly… Are there any opportunities such as volunteering or work study programs at Perelman for penn undergrads?<br></li>
</ol>
<p>Yes, tons.</p>
<ol>
<li>Actually there are a few dry fraternities. Phi Delta Theta is dry, and it’s definitely on par with other top fraternities in this school. A number of fraternities’ chapter houses are also dry houses, even if the fraternity itself isn’t dry.</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>Are Wharton kids the smartest and most successful or are they really just at the same level as other kids? A lot of people think that all Penn really has going for it is wharton. I obviously don’t feel that way, but is that the sense that many students get on campus? CANDID ANSWERS PLEASE!!</li>
</ol>
<p>I don’t think it’s a dumb question, and even if it was, I don’t think we should be shaming people for asking anything on CC.</p>
<p>To answer it, though: Absolutely not. Here’s more information than you asked for.</p>
<p>What I’ve heard is that Wharton is the easiest to graduate out of, it’s just the hardest to get in. I know a Senior in Wharton who has yet to take a Math class and isn’t going to take one until the last semester of his senior year, and it’s MATH104, the equivalent to Calculus BC. He says Wharton doesn’t require any more math than that. As an Econ major, I had to take MATH114 (Calculus 3/multivariable calculus) as a freshman (though some take it sophomore) to graduate on time, as it’s a prerequisite for 8/12 of my major’s classes. So, I’m not too intimidated by him, and neither is anyone else who’s had to do harder work.</p>
<p>If anything, I’ve felt that some of my fellow Econ majors look down on the Wharton kids. I feel like some people I know have some sort of resentment as though Wharton is overrated. And a lot of people I know who aren’t in Wharton are doing majors and taking classes in Wharton, and they love it! Some of the Wharton kids are stuck-up. Some of them are the friendliest people I’ve ever met. I can’t say there is a standard sentiment across campus, but I don’t think anyone I’ve met is legitimately intimidated or has an inferiority complex because they’re not in Wharton.</p>
<p>The smartest kids, IMHO, are the Engineers, the Pre-Meds (most of whom are in the College), and the Dual Degree students. Or at least, I think they work the hardest.</p>
<p>I’m not sure what you mean by the most successful? As far as resume coming from high school, I think they’re pretty even. I’ve met some kids in the College with amazing accomplishments (like one who did biochem research in 9th grade at Cal Berkeley and made 40K in the stock market) and some pretty mediocre-backgrounded Wharton kids. And vice versa! I think each School has its fair share of amazing and mediocre people.</p>
<p>As far as professional success? Most of the people at Penn succeed in whatever they’re working towards. Wharton kids succeed business-wise, engineers get top jobs in engineering, pre-meds get into top medical schools… I don’t think the Wharton kids are more successful in business than Engineers are successful in engineering, etc. but that’s my perspective.</p>
<p>Hi, this is my first post on a CC forum. I’m an incoming freshman to the Huntsman program. So I will be staying in Kings Court/English House first year. I have a question about on campus dining options - I have to stick to a fairly specific dietary regime - gluten free being one restriction. This means to have a healthy diet I have to consume more obscure foods like quinoa and I was wondering what facilities are there on campus for those of us with v. specific dietary needs - what are typical breakfast, lunch and dinner options on campus? Also are there any cooking facilities in Kings Court English for general use? Thank you for your help in advance!</p>
<p>hi!
so i’ve always wanted to go into business and have centered my high school activities around that, but i’ve VERY recently (3 weeks ago) decided that I want to go into medicine. do you think if i apply to the college of arts and sciences it would look bad that i don’t have any research experience? or could i just tell them about what happened?
thank you in advance!!! :)</p>
<p>@diddly123 I think you’ll be fine. As far as the admissions committee is concerned, your interests may change again once you get to the College. However, the fact that you’re taking initiative to effectively pursue your current/past interests beyond merely high school is the important part that admissions would like to see in its admittees. Good luck come app season!</p>