Current Penn student taking questions

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
21

<p>I adore Penn for so many reasons. Don't get me wrong though, Penn is HARD academically, socially, and emotionally. I think (at the risk of sounding cliche) that this difficulty makes you grow at here.</p>

<p>I love that I am surrounded by peers who are equally as motivated, intelligent, quick-thinking, and ambitious as I am, but who I will also see at parties on weekends, eating pizza at 2 AM afterwards, and who I can talk to about anything late into the night. I LOVE being in a city. Penn truly feels like a gorgeous suburban campus, but then you look into the skyline and you can see the cityscape that reminds you that you are in Philadelphia. I love having a million different choices for where to eat, party, and explore culture. Penn continuously challenges me to think about my own opinions and improve myself.</p>

<p>I actually wanted to go to Princeton for most of my adolescence, but what made me apply early to Penn was when I visited my sister in autumn of my senior year, met a ton of people, went to a few club meetings, and partied. Penn is incredibly vibrant. People are really smart, but they aren't obnoxious about it. I have never been asked what I got on a test, or felt like I couldn't ask a classmate for help. I've gotten together with my entire seminar class and eaten pizza and edited each others papers at 4 AM. People here care about learning, but they are also very forward-thinking and realists in how they can be meaningful in the future.</p>

<p>I chose Penn because it is somewhere where I can get an Ivy League education (you get an education in so many ways, not just a degree, which is a critical difference) while having a "college experience". I go to amazing parties on campus and phenom restaurants and bars downtown. I feel like I am really an adult here.</p>

<p>Pretty much everyone I know loves Penn, and I don't know a single person who isn't involved in some sort of activity.</p>

<p>In terms of a Wharton complex, I've found that people are generally jealous that they can't sign into computers in Huntsman, rent out Huntsman study rooms, etc., but you always can go to on-campus recruiting at the same events as the Wharton students, take Wharton classes, get a college/Wharton minor, and whatnot. A lot of people, myself included, have considered transferring into Wharton at some point. My classes at Penn have let me realize that I have NO interest in business, and usually everyone else realizes this too.</p>

<p>I cannot advocate for Penn enough. I love it here. It's important to remember though, that you WILL be challenged here not just academically, but personally, and to take it for what it is: a growing experience.</p>

22

<p>I take it that Greek Life is very much involved in the community?...service etc..?</p>

23

<p>No, it's actually not, it's mostly very visible if you choose to party, but otherwise, you could go for 4 years without going to a single Greek event. Many student leaders are unaffiliated, although UA and other student gov orgs tend to be Greek dominated.</p>

24

<p>Sorry for hijacking the thread -- just figured I may as well give some input. I'm a junior in Wharton.</p>

<p>Most important thing I can think of is that you should study what you enjoy. I transferred into Wharton my sophomore year, and on many, many occasions, I regret it. Wharton is a great place, granted, but you're going to have a miserable time here if you hate studying because you're not passionate about the material in some form. Don't concentrate in Finance "just because everyone else does it." If you enjoy Statistics, look into it. OPIM is also fun. Marketing? Real-estate? Law? Accounting even... really use your sophomore year to figure out what you enjoy and what you aren't so crazy about. </p>

<p>If you're considering a Wharton transfer, try taking an intro-level class in Wharton your freshman year and see how you find things. Also note that nobody likes MGMT100. It has its moments... but in the end, it's something you'd probably not do over again due to the intense time-sink.</p>

<p>There isn't really a Wharton complex on campus, but I'd be lying if I said it doesn't exist altogether. From my own personal experience, having been in both CAS and Wharton, also living in Hill, Stouffer, and the High Rises, as well as having spent much time in the Quad... I can definitely say that you will find your positives and negatives in any group. You'll come across Whartonites and Engineers who find themselves superior because of grades or other numeric-gauges, and you'll find CAS students who bash Whartonites for the sake of bashing. It happens -- some of it explicit, but most of the time subtle. However, most of the students are pretty chill people. For the most part, people are kind and enjoy having fun. I enjoy hanging out with many people and there's always something to go do.</p>

<p>Students will stay up late hours into the night having a good time or simply studying the hell out of something for an upcoming test. However, one truth that I will also bring up is alcohol. There is a lot of alcohol. You will encounter many people doing stupid things and/or you will be one of those people... just don't get carried away, because bad things do happen to those who abuse alcohol and I've seen it too many times on campus to too many people. If you've never been much on drinking, don't go to your first party and load up on everything and assume you can take it. Figure out your tolerance level first.</p>

<p>Last but not least... don't do what I do and wait until the last minute to study for a test. I'm going to change this about myself this semester, lol. For a while now I've gotten into a habit of pushing off everything until literally the night before an exam. Not a good idea, no matter how smart you are.</p>

25

<p>like a virgin...what's rush like for girls? What do the sororities look for? Do most people get a bid or is it fairly selective?</p>

26

<p>Hahaha, I'm not worried about the alcohol. I can handle myself fine. My main concern is actually getting in and being happy. I mean I'm sure the environment would be suiting for me, but I wonder if I will be able to be in The College, and like not be jealous of not being in Wharton (where I applied as a freshmen). I still want to be in Wharton, and I'm still contemplating applying there, but my main concern is whether I can go to Penn and still have that same level of happiness in The College. I like the fact that people are up and involved and doing stuff late at night instead of staying in their rooms and studying by themselves. That's the reason I want to transfer: for the community.</p>

27

<p>The PNM (Potential New Member) manual should be out by now and it's very helpful in describing the different days and logistics of each. I call the process "girl flirting" because it's a lot of small talk and trying to get each other to like the other. Many chapters are looking for women who are enthusiastic, open-minded, and motivated. I think nearly 400 women have signed up for recruitment this year, and each of the 8 chapters selects a class anywhere from ~10-40. It is pretty selective, especially for the "top" chapters. We're not really supposed to say anything more specific as recruitment is just a week away, sorry :(</p>

28

<p>I've got to say, both legend and virgin give a very good description of life at penn and characterize the university accurately. 3 points I'll mention:</p>

<p>1) Penn on the whole is very diverse - you'll find all sorts of groups of friends. Traditional greek life (Panhel, IFC) is very white. Some frats are very old money, and others aren't at all. However, there are also "intercultural" greek groups that offer black and asian greek organizations - greek life is available to everyone, you just won't meet many people outside of your own ethnicity in the chapter (Business frats and service frats are also on campus, but they're different). Elsewhere, in clubs and activities, you'll find fully integrated groups of friends who come from all circles. As a white guy, I found frat rush to be the first time I met other white guys. I've also met some asians who love discovering their culture in asian groups, and others who are glad to be the only asian in the group.</p>

<p>2) Legend is totally right - study what you love. I don't know how many people I've met who are pre-med just because they thought they should be, are studying Finance in wharton just because everyone else is, or are engineers just because their parents thought it would bring good jobs. As you move from Frosh intro courses into the real classes, you'll find that genuine interest is very important. The material will be tough, and likely very detailed to the point where you'll be bored if you're not really into it. Personally, discovering a love for microeconomics/game theory and statistics has helped me love Wharton without getting caught up in the finance rat race.</p>

<p>3) You really have to be independent and self-motivated to see all that Penn and Philly have to offer. Philly has some great sights and restaurants outside of the dorm-sponsored liberty bell trip and Sixers game. Penn attracts some amazing speakers, but your parents aren't standing over your shoulder to remind you. I found I really began enjoying the intellectual environment at Penn when I started attending faculty talks and research presentations.</p>

29

<p>like a virgin and others (thanks for taking questions btw :) ):</p>

<p>What are Penn dorms like? I haven't really researched the dorms very well. Do you live with one roommate all 4 years or move into a suite as an upperclassman? What are the bathrooms like (weird question, I know), as in do you have to share one with a hall, one with your roommate, etc...?</p>

30

<p>what is gay life like? are there lots of guys/girls coming out during freshman year in your hall? i know its a liberal place but just wonderin'.</p>

<p>thanks!</p>

31

<p>How does one get involved in student government. More specifically, the Undergraduate Assembly and the Ivy Council?</p>

32

<p>How would you rate the quality of the advising? How do you make the decision which class/ which professor to take?</p>

33

<p>Student government consists of Class Boards (social events), Undergraduate Assembly (general stuff), Nominations and Elections Committee (running elections, etc). Also of interest would probably be Student Committee on Undergraduate Education (SCUE) who handle curriculum kinds of things, and SPEC, the events planning committee. The granddaddy of all is SAC, who gives out the money. These are the largest organizations that are similar to what you may have seen in high school. Freshmen get special treatment for all of these in the first weeks of the fall: the activities fair will let you find out how to get involved. You'll have no trouble finding out about how to get in with these different groups, just keep your eyes open during orientation. Also of note are the school-specific government groups like Wharton Council and ESAC. I've never heard of "Ivy Council".</p>

34

<p>DORMS:
You have to live in a dorm as a freshman, and then you are free to stay on campus or move off campus as a sophomore. You can choose single or doubles for bedrooms, meaning 0 or 1 roommate, although with some configurations, people have chosen to put 3 people in a room and get an extra living room.</p>

<p>Roommates are randomly assigned unless you choose to room with someone specific, you have to do so by April of your senior year, and if you both put each other down, you are guaranteed (pretty much) that you will room together. There are no surveys except asking if you are an early riser or need a lower floor for whatever reason. You only have to live with them freshman year.</p>

<p>Bathrooms are bathrooms, the Quad and Hill have community bathrooms, Mayer has in suite bathrooms, as do the highrises and Gregory, I'm not sure about Stouffer or DuBois.</p>

<h2>Dorms are pretty mediocre inside, the dorms at Harvard and Princeton have nicer interiors. The quad is beautiful though, I always felt so happy looking at it and knowing I lived there. It's modeled on Oxford and it is absolutely gorgeous.</h2>

<p>GLBT LIFE
There is a strong and rather close-knit GLBT community at Penn from what I've seen. Gay Fridays at Cliff's (GFAC) are GLBT parties every other Friday that are well attended and a lot of fun. I know one person on my hall came out freshman year; a lot of people tend to do this regardless of where they go to school because of the distance from parents, feeling of independence, comfortability with oneself, etc. Definitely accepting environment, though it's not a super visible community all of the time.</p>

<hr>

<p>STUD GOV
You run in the fall, because of the size of the freshman class and the multiple residences that one can choose, campaigning is focused on "chalking" (creating big ads in chalk on the ground), flyering, and Facebook. Usually most advertising=success.</p>

<hr>

<p>ADVISING AND CLASSES
You get a course catalog in the summer and you receive the email addresses of a faculty advisor and a peer advisor. You MUST talk to your faculty advisor to get released from registration hold, and before you talk, you are expected to have a list of classes you would like to take. The choosing of classes is very independent with little input from your advisor, though your peer advisor can offer valuable advice. The Penn Course Review is fantastic for seeing what others thought of the classes, because at the end of every semester, students are required to fill out a course evaluation form.</p>

<p>I am not fond of my advisor, but I appreciate that she lets me make my own decisions and offers guidance when necessary (pointing out what professors not to take, general scheduling tips, whatnot). It is a very independent place. If you want someone to sit down with you and hold your hand the entire time, you will be displeased. I liked having to essentially do it on my own and present it for approval.</p>

35

<p>mattwonder, if only the two words were reversed... wondermatt. you could wear a cape</p>

36

<p>Thanks, Virgin.
Is the Penn Course Review available to a freshman before they register for classes first semester. Where does one obtain it?
Are you able to change advisors? If so, why have you not chosen to do so?</p>

<p>What is the most common mistake that freshman make -- either academically or socially?</p>

37

<p>You will have access to PCR once you've obtained your PennKey and password.</p>

<p>Common mistake</p>

<p>Academically: not seeking the advice of upperclassmen and academic advisors</p>

38

<p>what are the specific names of the college houses in the quad?</p>

<p>are there are houses for freshmen in the quad where there are two rooms in one place, kind of like an apartment</p>

39

<p>Fisher-Hassenfeld, Riepe, and Ware</p>

<p>There are a limited number of triples in Fisher and Ware that can have a living room and a bedroom if you so choose.</p>

40

<p>@ broetchen</p>

<p>I'm in an honors program and I have to keep my adviser not only as an academic adviser but as a part of the program. I'm pretty sure you can switch advisers. Also, your freshman year adviser changes as you declare a major and you get a major-specific adviser.</p>