Columbia vs. Penn

Transfer Students
1

<p>I know both Columbia and Penn are great colleges, and there wouldn't be a wrong choice, but I was wondering if anyone had any input about which I should choose?</p>

<p>A bit about me: I'm a freshman in CAS at NYU. Pre-law, probably going to concentrate in some major/minor combination of English, Politics, Philosophy and Sociology. In terms of EC, I do Parli. Debate and Piano (both orchestras and Musical theater).</p>

<p>I'll write more about my likes/dislikes about NYU later.... but any comments/advice?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

2

<p>Oh Augie I didn't realize you were NYU. It is very difficult to leave New York once you're there, why not just head uptown a bit with me?? :) I'm currently at Drexel which is literally a block away from Penn, and I'm not the biggest fan of Philadelphia. Poor transit system, AWFUL AWFUL Pizza, overall the food is really not good. New York's resources simply trump Philadelphia's.</p>

3

<p>NYC has its advantages and disadvantages, I can definetely see the decision between Penn and Columbia as a tricky one. It might be useful to see a different city though, and philly is by no means awful at all.</p>

4

<p>I honestly hate it :( Seriously, have you had the pizza here? It'll make you want to cry.</p>

5

<p>Augie, I am in the same situation. However, I am currently leaning toward Columbia for various reasons.</p>

6

<p>i would recommend Penn if you applied to Wharton (no-brainer), but I think for pre-law Columbia is just as good as Penn, if not better. Plus NYC simply rocks.</p>

7

<p>I don't think he is a business major...if he were, he wouldn't be applying to Columbia because they don't have undergraduate business! :) But yeah, if it were Wharton, no-brainer. But he's Pre-Law ish</p>

8

<p>unless you're going to Wharton,
I say... go to Columbia!!!
Columbia has better literature programs.....
plus it's a smaller school with less students,
and it's in NEW YORK!!!</p>

9

<p>Oh and I don't know if you're into Greek life...but PENN STUDENTS ARE. Columbia students are not.</p>

10

<p>I have every right to sit back and wait for my decision. I paid the application fee just like everybody else. It would be stupid of me to just withdraw my application. I applied to SEAS, and to my knowledge, not very many who applied to SEAS. It's not like I'm holding up a Wharton or CAS spot.</p>

<p>I may have my mind made up but I am not bound by any means. I have not signed any matriculation papers for Columbia. They gave me no financial aid, and I am waiting on Penn for financial aid reasons. If they offer me something better I want to ask Columbia to match it, and I need to write a letter to Columbia Financial aid regardless of Penn anyway.</p>

<p>And fyi, I will not be taking any spots. I can simply turn them down if I get in and somebody off the waitlist will get in (they do have a top of the list and bottom of the list for waitlists, you know). You act like I have no right to be waiting for my decision. How about you ask that every other Ivy acceptee who is leaning towards one school just withdraw all their other applications for your possible benefit?</p>

11

<p>Sorry if I sound rude in that last post, I just feel like that was an attack on me.</p>

12

<p>Go Layla! :)</p>

13

<p>I just realized that in my multiple editing of that big post I meant to say "and to my knowledge, not very many applied to SEAS", but I left that extra "who" in there. Boy I look smart. haha</p>

14

<p>no good food!</p>

<p>layla, there's le bec fin, striped bass, buddakan (good enough to open one in nyc that got a write up in the nytimes!) and all the other starr restaurants! great zagat ratings!</p>

<p>but yeah the pizza does suck and cheesesteak is gross. so i guess food on a college budget is awful :-P</p>

15

<p>Your last sentence is absolutely right...there's really nothing good for a college budget other than Wawa.</p>

16

<p>there's a wawa right on Penn's campus.</p>

17

<p>I'm leaning torwards Columbia, for a lot of reasons, but here are my concerns:</p>

<p>1) Core Curriculum: although I'll be a sophomore, so I'll have time to take them, there will still be approx. 10 courses I need to take. While I'll love some of them (Lit Hum), I know I'll hate others (Science requirement, for example)</p>

<p>2) Location: I grew up near NYC, and went to NYU... maybe I should try another city for a bit (I'm still waiting on Harvard, but I'm not holding my breath), and maybe come back for law school </p>

<p>3) "Typical" College Experience: One of my biggest complaints about NYU is the lack of a campus, and as a result, a lack of community. Penn offers a very spirited campus with an excited student body, whereas Columbia is a little more like NYU (although certainly much less so)</p>

<p>My reasons against Penn include size of student body, pre-professionalism, dominance of greek life (not really my scene), not a great city or a great location.</p>

<p>Any more comments? You guys have been helpful, and I appreciate it.</p>

<p>And goodluck to anyone who hasn't heard yet :)</p>