Columbia or UPENN ?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
21

<p>In my experience Penn Law is friendlier to undergrad applicants to its law school. Columbia Law is not as friendly to Columbia undergrad applicants (i.e. they don't really get any boost and it is often a little harder actually to get in while with Penn it's vice versa). You have to keep in mind that law schools want students from a diverse group of colleges and a very high percentage of law school applicants apply to their own college's law school so the competition is sometimes tougher even though you have a relationship with the university. </p>

<p>Now, in terms of overall reputation/job prospects/prestige regardless of major Columbia wins but if you are looking at working in politics Penn actually places better in D.C. it seems. </p>

<p>Both are great schools. I would choose Columbia but that's just me.</p>

<p>The big difference between the two is the core. You don't have as much freedom in course selection (definitely not in your first two years) at Columbia as you do at Penn. </p>

<p>NYC is (in my opinion) a much better location than Philly.</p>

<p>Penn is also a little more conservative/moderate politically and has a greater on-campus frat/party scene. Columbia is more diverse racially/ethnically.</p>

<p>You do have greater flexibility at Penn though in the sense that you can take courses at the law school, in Wharton, etc.</p>

<p>Penn has a better on-campus community feel than Columbia. I have heard stories of Columbia students feeling disconnected or isolated and that the school lacks school spirit more than Penn does (some people have friends and date people they meet in the city and just ignore Columbia kids). You are more on your own at Columbia.</p>

<p>Just my two cents.</p>

22

<p>It's always amazing how many Penn people come out of the woodwork, on boards besides their own, to defend their school or put down someone else's.</p>

<p>Columbia Law School publishes strictly-internal breakdowns of how many of their students went to which undergraduate school. Columbia leads the list every year, followed typically by Harvard.</p>

23

<p>From a point of fit, it's a choice of lifestyles.</p>

<p>If you want a more independent experience in the world's most amazing city, go to Columbia.</p>

<p>If you want a more 'college-y' college experience, go to Penn.</p>

<p>As for academics, I feel at the undergrad level they are of equal quality, and it's a matter of whether you want a Columbia's Core or Penn's One University (I've thoroughly enjoyed the latter but I wish people in general had a better grounding in the great historical Western thought that gave rise to our civilization, and in that respect I'd like a Core).</p>

24

<p>I can confirm Den's statements about Columbians at the Law School.</p>