<p>Is all of Penn as uptight the prospective students in the “senior grades… thread”? Because, as an RD applicant, I don’t want to have to spend four years around lots of people who freak out over getting a B.</p>
<p>Also, how competitive is the atmosphere at Penn? Is it more of a do better than everyone else or everyone helps each other to learn?</p>
<p>if you get a B you won't be at UPenn anywaysies.</p>
<p>From what I heard, it's not so competative once you're there. You're in already and won't be kicked out unless you fail or something, so I think people are more relaxed. I'm sure there would be more competative classes such as one at Wharton, but generally I think things are pretty calm.</p>
<p>And P.S., I had Bs and still got in ED. They'll be able to tell if you're a good student. A few Bs won't ruin your chances.</p>
<p>then i hate my life.</p>
<p>Yeah, B's will definitely not ruin your chances... </p>
<p>And yes, once you get here, the atmosphere is generally very relaxed and non-competitive. People are more than willing to help each other out, even in the areas people typicall regard as being cut-throat (Pre-med, Wharton, etc).</p>
<p>holy spirit...I had 5 semester B's on my report card...then again, I took all honors, 2 AP sophomore year, 6 junior, and am taking 7 now. I was accepted ED. admissions officers will know, especially from your teacher recs, whether you are studious or just lucky and don't really care about learning. and of course...awesome and deserving students were turned away for other reasons. so saying you hate your life because you got Bs and then didn't get in doesn't make that much sense.</p>
<p><3sarcasm<3</p>
<p>no. i got at least 8 semester Bs soph/junior year and a C for the semester in precalc, and i still got in.</p>
<p>your semester grades don't matter...only your final grades for the year..i had 5 Bs and got in...one was even in Chem..and i applied to eng...but Physics was easy As</p>
<p>i forgot to mention im in SEAS..thats why i mentioned chem and physics..lol sorry</p>
<p>we don't get final grades for the year. our gpas are calculated using semester grades.</p>
<p>Wow...I don't wanna study so I feel like helping stressed kids out...anyway, the school is definately not competitive. Some of the wharton kids can stand to loosen their buttcheeks but otherwise we're one big happy quaker family.</p>
<p>Since the fact that people are asking questions like "For the mid year report is it okay if I report 1 or 2 A-'s? Is that too low??" really bothers me.</p>
<p>Penn overall does not have a competitive environment unless you want one. Then, you can stress out all you want. But for hte most part, people are very chill and friendly.</p>
<p>However, I'd say that during midterms and finals, this changed pretty drastically. People were pretty much freaking out. The library was crammed all night, and a lot of people were on edge. Especially those in math and science classes. </p>
<p>To me, this means Penn is a school in balance. People should care about their finals, but they should also be able to let go of the stress when it is not necessary.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that CC isn't representative of the general Penn student body.</p>
<p>also you have to remember that your school is a factor. even if you get all "A" grades at a public school, that may be equal to "B" grades at a private school.</p>