<p>So, I recently transferred from a Community College in California to Columbia University. I am in my first semester at CU and, from an academic perspective, am very happy. However, being that I had a substantial gap in between HS and College, I am in the GS school which has atrocious financial aid packages. I decided to take very substantial loans in order to attend this year, but I am now considering leaving due to the burdensome loans I have to take in order to stay. </p>
<p>That being said, as a student studying Economics, what are the largest differences between CU and Penn? Since I have decided to explore other options, I figured Penn would be a logical place to start. I am also looking at Stanford, Yale and several LACs. There are obvious distinctions between a smaller LAC and CU, but I was hoping to get insight on what makes Penn and CU different. They are both incredible schools and I would be thrilled to attend either. </p>
<p>I love New York, but also hear Philadelphia is a great city. I would say location is what would make Penn my first choice above Yale, Stanford, and the LACs; I have a strong preference for living in an urban area. </p>
<p>Why wouldn't I set my sights high? If I apply to 10 schools and get rejected by all of them (which is very possible), I can stay at CU. </p>
<p>I know Columbia is good. My reasons for shopping around are financial; as I said, my financial aid package is awful. I'm trying to find a school on-par with Columbia that may offer more financial aid. </p>
<p>Princeton = incredible financial aid packages</p>
<p>But you wont be in an urban area. And I can see you're not considering it. However; you should atleast think about it...pay the campus a visit or something.</p>
<p>Es Four,
Why not apply to UPenn's Liberal and Professional Studies? They give a lot of financial aid to accepted applicants who are going full-time. Even though it is a nightime program, which cost half of what student pay in the daytime, as far as tuition goes. But you could also take classes in the daytime at full cost. And it's still covered by financial aid, which will cover everything. All you have to do is fill out the CSS Profile with your financial aid application and you're set to go. And you can still take those wonderful classes at Wharton with your Economics major at UPenn.</p>
<p>Academically the econ programs of the schools are equals--both just below the tippy-top of the Harvard/Princeton/Stanford/MIT Fearsome Foursome.</p>
<p>Philadelphia is a great city, and the Penn campus has much more energy than Columbia's, as the city isn't SO big and absorbing as to suck the life out of the campus. As for financial aid, well... you'd be set if John Kluge CC'37 would die, as he left a $400 million donation in his will. I don't know what Penn's financial aid policies are, but it's worth a try!</p>
<p>people should try to read between the lines here...he attended Columbia College of General Studies which has no admissions criterion...u just pay to study...</p>
<p>What college at CU I attend is completely irrelevant to the conversation. GS does have admission criteria, but I'll be the first to admit that it isn't as high as it should be. </p>
<p>45%er, I'll be applying to Chicago as well; I am from Chicago, and absolutely love the city. Philadelphia, on the other hand, I haven't visited since I was 8 years old. Hopefully I'll have a chance to visit PENN over winter break.</p>
<p>Columbia's criteria is very high, as far as GPA and test scores are concerned. They rejected my application because I had a "D" in one of my classes. The rest were 12-A's and 6-B's on my academic record. My GPA might have been much higher had I not enrolled in three Philosophy classes. But I felt that the Philosophy classes would make me into a better student. I had the following grades:</p>
<p>Intro. to Philosophy: B
Intro. to Logic: D
Political Philosophy: B</p>
<p>One this is for certain: I will never enroll in another Philosophy class again!</p>