I’m very excited to be going to Penn in the fall. I love the school’s urban setting, and its duality of character in being both academically rigorous but also very social.
I’ll also be an athlete, having committed to compete in a sport that I love. That said, I’m worried about being able to get the Penn experience as an athlete. Academically, I believe I’ll be totally ok, but how hard is it to also tie in a normal social life? Is it manageable along with being an athlete? How do normal students at Penn perceive athletes (I’ve heard it’s a “colder” relationship than at peer schools)? How easy is it to avoid becoming overly entrenched in an “athletes’ ghetto” – removed from normal Penn life?
You have some very good questions – many of my friends (I attended another Ivy) were varsity athletes. The separation is more a characteristic of the individuals. If you’re outgoing, not chained to the herd mentality, willing to engage others – you’ll be fine wherever you go. Few ppl will look at you and sneer. If you’re an active part of a classroom discussion, do your part for study groups, spend quality social time w/your non athlete neighbors — you’ll be fully welcome.
What happens is that some athletes self segregate due to the demanding schedule. They cluster around certain frats/sororities, certain dining halls, certain housing options. They sit together in classes. It’s comfort. Sometimes, it’s insecurity that they won’t be accepted outside. You’ll likely be around ppl who have lived like this since they were in elementary school – the athletes’ track. Be the source to lead them off that track. Don’t let their actions dictate yours.
Are you fully integrated at your HS? Certainly you see fellow HS athletes who have no social crossover with non athletes. Just force yourself to avoid that stereotype. Many of my athlete friends felt the 100% freedom to re-invent themselves. They pursued all the cultural and social opps at my college.
Want to go to that oboe recital? Go for it. Join a bunch of people to see the political speaker or new art exhibit. Go to the plays or try new exotic restaurants. For me, it was totally cool to see the X team captain at the big blowout party on Thursday night and then to be hanging with him at the piano recital on Friday night.
You control this much more than you think. And bring your fellow athletes.
It all depends – an athlete who is in a slam dunk major (yes they exist even at Penn) has a lot more time to socialize and get to know others outside the team than an athlete who is a chemistry major trying to get into med school. Most athletes I know do stick with their own teammates. That is NOT to say that they don’t make friends in class, work on group projects with classmates, and meet people in the dorms. But the schedule is such that if you have morning practice at 7 am followed by class/homework from 9-3pm followed by afternoon practice – in the very limited downtime you have, you’ll hang out with people who happen to be around and on the same schedule as you, which is most likely to be your teammates or possibly athletes on other teams.
A good friend of mine was a 4 yr athlete at Penn so I spent a LOT of time with him (met him through class). I’d say – get your time management down asap; don’t waste any downtime esp in the beginning – if you’re unsure of whether you need to study or can chill, try to study to get a handle/get ahead on material as it’ll come in handy in the times where you’re too busy or exhausted; aim for perfect 4.0s in whichever semester falls in your off season bc that’ll allow you some wiggle room I . Most of all – think about what you want professionally. Assuming you are not going to go pro in your sport, realize that this is your one shot at your professional dreams so don’t let anyone talk you out of a tough major or tough classes (yes – there are coaches that do that). If you’ve always wanted to go to med school and in 4 yrs, you’re not in good shape to do that due to skipping requirements or grades or whatever – you’ll kick yourself.
As the poster above says – I don’t think Penn students are unwelcoming to athletes in any way, but I think often it’s the athletes who self segregate; some of it is necessary due to schedules. But some of it isn’t – you don’t have to join the athlete frat (ATO); and even if you do – you don’t have to coordinate classes so you end up taking the same classes in the same semester as your teammates. You’ll meet more people if you take classes you want, when you want and then work with non athletes in study group or group projects.
There is a saying that probably applies well to your question relative to student-atletes. There are three components to your undergraduate experience - Academics, Athletics, and Social Life. You get to pick two. Collegiate athletics is a full time job all by itself, and I don’t expect Penn will be any different.
That said, I do think the above posts are relevant. Like most things in life, you’ll probably get out of it what you put into it. I trust you will have a freshman roommate who is also a member of your recruiting class in your particular sport. Congratulations on your Penn acceptance as an athlete - it is a tremendous accomplishment. My son is also a 2019 recruited Penn athlete.