CAS vs. Wharton dilemma

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>Dear College Confidential,</p>

<p>It has just passed 1:00 AM, and I am sitting here completely lost in all kinds of strange thoughts. Let me start by saying that I have been interested in the University of Pennsylvania for quite a few years now. I would love to attend CAS but would love even more to attend Wharton.</p>

<p>I am 99% sure that I am applying early to Penn. With that said, I have a dilemma that I need your help with. We all know that Wharton is quite a bit harder to get into than CAS. Do you think it would be worth it for me to risk my chances to get into Penn at all and apply for Wharton? Or should I apply to CAS and hope that the higher admittance rate will equal a better chance I will get in?</p>

<p>If that didn't make sense, I'll try again: Should I apply to Wharton or CAS?</p>

<p>My (academic) stats are definitely more geared towards what Wharton expects of its students; I took AP Calculus AB sophomore year, BC junior year, and am currently taking a college level Differential Equations class (as a senior). I also recently got an 800 on the Math IIC. With that said, I lack any steller extra-curriculars. Also, my reading and writing scores on the SAT are very lackluster. (And wow, that looked like a huge boasting fest. Sorry if it did...I was just trying to explain why I feel the way I do now about this whole thing).</p>

<p>My apologies for the excruciatingly long post, and a thousand thanks for taking the time to read it.</p>

2

<p>I had the same dilemma, but I was kinda starstruck by Wharton's prestige. Then I realized I wasn't even sure if business was my thing but I did know that Penn was where I wanted to be, so I am content and confident in applying early to CAS :)</p>

3

<p>Do you want to study business or not ?- if you want business apply to a B-school, whether it is Wharton or somewhere else. If you want some other curriculum, apply to a lib. arts school, whether it is the Col. or somewhere else. Wharton and CAS are not really substitutes for each other and if you think they are you are looking at the process the wrong way - first decide what you want to study and then work backwards to the schools you want to apply to in that field.</p>

4

<p>I agree with Percy. They are not substitutes for each other. You should think about whether you want a curriculum focused around liberal arts or business.</p>

<p>But you have made the right first step in realizing that Penn is the best school ever ;)</p>

5

<p>Business or not business? Answer that question, and if you really really want to go to Penn and don't care what you study, apply to Nursing.</p>

6

<p>Agree with PhatAlbert.....If you REALLY want to go to Wharton, CAS is not a logical "second"...Stern or Ross/Gtown B-school are more reasonable backups for someone interested in business. However, if you're looking for a liberal arts education then Penn is also a phenomenal place to get that...Nobody is going to look down on you for being in the College, so either realize you really want to go into business, and appply to B-schools, or stop being a prestige whore and embrace all of the wonderful things a solid Liberal Arts education can do for you. Like PA said, if it's really just about going to the U of P: If you're a guy: develop an interest in nursing. If you're a girl: develop an interest in electrical engineering. Good luck!!</p>

7

<p>What do you mean by business? Does this include a wide range of business related fields such as accounting, financing, banking, management, etc?
If so, then yes, I want to ultimately do business in the future. </p>

<p>However, even if I decide to do business, can't I still get a great education by majoring in Finance at Penn and perhaps even taking a few Wharton classes?</p>

8

<p>Or you could major in Economics ;).</p>

<p>Contrary to what you probably believe, Wharton is NOT the be all/end all for a business future at Penn.</p>

9

<p>Haha I'm taking AP Micro and Macro Econ in high school right now and so far, it seems that my brain is not built to tackle economics. </p>

<p>So I'm still kinda lost. I can do business at both Wharton and CAS correct? And I hate to turn this into a chances thread, but I this would give a perspective on why I'm thinking the way I am. I'll make it short and simple</p>

<p>GPA: 3.95 UW, 4.66 W
Rank: 2/380
SAT: 2100 (750 M, 690 R, 660 W). Retaking tomorrow...expecting 2200+
SAT II: Math 2C - 800, Chinese - 790
AP Scores: Calc AB 5, Calc BC 5, World History 5, English Language 4, US History 4, Physics B 4, Physics C 4
Chinese American in Washington State.</p>

<p>In an effort to make this as short as possible, I'll be brief and only list major ECs:
High School orchestra 9-12
Seattle Youth orchestra 12
Internship at Arco gas station as book-keeper and financial manager when the owner left for vacation for 2 weeks (in total, worked for 3 months)
Cross Country 10-12
Track & Field 10-12
Key Club 9-12 (treasurer)
Junior class secretary 11
Small piano awards
Rated table tennis player (won a U18 tourney)</p>

<p>Phew that still turned out to be pretty long. Thanks a bunch</p>

10

<p>No you can't be a business/finance major at the College. You can take some Wharton courses but your major has to be in a College department. Econ is the closest you could get to being a business major but it's not very close. You could still pursue a business career with a non-business major but Wharton would leave you better prepared and in a somewhat better position to find a job.</p>

11

<p>i'm pretty sure that you can double major in the CAS and Wharton if you want though b/c of that GREAT ONE-UNIVERCITY CONCEPT!</p>

12

<p>One can do a dual-degree program, but I am pretty sure it is much harder to do so when you are a student at CAS. Wharton students have an easier time getting dual-degree status, which is one of the reasons why I'm applying there first then going to study History at CAS. The requirements for a CAS student to apply for dual-degree status with Wharton are really high. The competition only makes it more difficult.</p>

<p>OT - Could someone tell me what requirements a Wharton student would need in order to be accepted to dual-degree status (not the special programs)? Do Wharton kids just have the option with no major requirements other than to get the necessary credits?</p>

13

<p>cheech</p>

<p>you just described you had good quant skills. a majority of wharton has only mediocre quant skills. congrats. however, just because you can ace a couple of finance/accting classes doesnt mean you are right for wharton or vice versa.</p>

<p>we all know those ibankers only bank for 2 years then go do management or consulting or something.</p>

<p>i think if you like quant and learning numbers that much, econ/stat/math/sciences could also be for you, and your quality of life will be much higher. </p>

<p>if you go to wharton just for the name, that's all your college experience will be, a name</p>

14

<p>From the College website:
" Dual Degree</p>

<p>Penn undergraduates have the unique opportunity to receive two Bachelor's degrees simultaneously by completing the requirements of the College along with those of the the Nursing School, the School of Engineering and Applied Science or the Wharton School.</p>

<p>A student pursuing the dual degree earns a B.A. from the College and a B.S. from Wharton or Nursing, or the B.S.E. or B.S.A. from Engineering.</p>

<p>It is important to distinguish between a double major and the dual degree program: A student pursuing a double major satisfies the requirements for two separate major programs within the College but earns a single degree, the B.A.; a student pursuing a dual degree will receive two bachelor's degrees simultaneously, from two separate schools of the University.</p>

<p>A candidate for a dual degree should consult with an advisor from the school of interest and one of the two College advisors who specialize in dual degree, Dr. Flora Cornfield or Dr. Srilata Gangulee in the College Office. Careful planning is an important part of doing a dual degree.</p>

<p>College students submit their application for the program to Dr. Cornfield or Dr. Gangulee, who forward it to the school to which the student is applying. If the student is accepted, the College will continue to act as his or her home school.</p>

<p>Satisfying the requirements of both schools can require more than four years, depending upon A.P. credits and how many courses overlap both schools' requirements."</p>

<p>Dual MAJORS have to both be WITHIN THE COLLEGE.</p>

<p>Dual DEGREES can be done only by acceptance to the other school (Wharton) and they let very few people in this way.</p>

<p>THERE IS NO EASY BACKDOOR TO WHARTON. People keep coming up with various schemes to get into Wharton without actually getting into Wharton - they don't work - they are all harder than getting into Wharton in the first place, because once the vast bulk of Wharton seats have been filled thru the freshman admissions cycle, they never again have a significant # of seats open for anyone else.</p>