Choosing between PENN CAS, DARTMOUTH, BROWN, AND YALE

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>Hey guys,</p>

<p>I'm very happy about being accepted to the 4 schools above, and I'm leaning towards Penn mainly for academic and social reasons (although all 4 are fantastic).</p>

<p>Many have given me heat for choosing Penn over Yale; However, Penn CAS economics appeals greatly to me, the location is great based on where my family is, Philly is much better than New Haven, and I'd have a chance at the end of my freshman year to either:</p>

<p>1) Transfer into Wharton (which would be awesome, but how difficult are the requirements for this)</p>

<p>2) Pursue a dual degree in CAS and Wharton (challenging, but I'm ready).</p>

<p>To break into finance/Wall St., will it really matter if I chose Penn CAS over Yale? Both are fantastic schools, for obvious reasons, and I feel that a Penn degree (CAS or Wharton) will serve me just as well as a Yale degree.</p>

<p>Thoughts??</p>

2

<p>Don’t worry about “heat” over choosing Penn over Yale–they’re both fantastic schools, and only those with superficial knowledge (Yale obviously has a “wow factor” for the average-guy-on-the-street that Penn does not) or those obsessed with laymen’s prestige would question a personal choice of Penn over Yale. Plus, Penn has some advantages over Yale, such as its “One University” policy that allows undegrads to take classes in all of the undergrad schools, to pursue dual degrees with, e.g., the College and Wharton, and even to take courses in most of Penn’s grad schools (including the Annenberg School for Communication, the School of Design, the Graduate School of Education, the School of Social Policy and Practice, and even the Law School).</p>

<p>To transfer into Wharton or pursue dual degrees with Wharton, you usually have to have around a 3.8 average in the College (although they specify a 3.4 minimum), and write some brief essays. Here’s the current application for internal transfer into Wharton, or dual degrees with Wharton:</p>

<p><a href=“http://spike.wharton.upenn.edu/ugrprogram/advising/internaltransfer_dualdegree/Internal_Transfer_&_Dual_Degree_Application_Information.pdf[/url]”>http://spike.wharton.upenn.edu/ugrprogram/advising/internaltransfer_dualdegree/Internal_Transfer_&_Dual_Degree_Application_Information.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Of course, even if you don’t transfer into or pursue dual degrees with Wharton, you can always take Wharton courses without any special dispensation (remember, One University policy).</p>

<p>Between Penn and Yale, it’s really a matter of personal preference and fit, and those in the know will not question your choice either way.</p>

<p>And by the way, congrats on having such great choices!</p>