<p>The more I think about it, the more I want to pursue a dual degree while at Penn. I have found some information on the various websites but I would like some more information on many aspects of pursuing a dual degree. So here are some of my questions, hopefully they can be answered.</p>
<p>Also, I want to get the dual degree because while I know business is a skill, I want to also have another skill set that I can draw from to utilize the business knowledge I gain, if that makes any sense. I have an interest in both fields, finance and mech. eng.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Is skipping out of intro courses with AP credit a good idea, or something that will comeback to bite me? In this regard I am referring to skipping out of some of the intro Engineering classes (physics, chem, etc.)</p></li>
<li><p>Is pursuing a finance concentration and mechanical engineering degree too difficult in terms of coursework? I am smart, but not to the level where things just come to me, I work hard for the grades I get. So for someone like that, is it simply too demanding to effectively complete?</p></li>
<li><p>Will I run into a lot of course conflicts while doing this, as in, two classes I need run at the same time, or is that easily resolved at Penn? I guess this is more of a general question.</p></li>
<li><p>I guess this relates back to question 2, but is taking 6 courses a huge burden, or something that is tough but easily doable (a contradiction I know)? I know I will always take 5 classes a semester if I don't do a dual degree, but from my research, it seems like if I do it, then I have to take 6 a semester every semester after freshman year.</p></li>
<li><p>With pursuing a dual degree between Wharton and SEAS, how much free time might I have to do other stuff? I know this is a highly subjective question and that each individual is different, but if anyone has some info, that would be great. Outside of class I want to participate on a debate team, be involved in a finance club, and maybe one other club, no more than 3 "extracurriculars" though.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I know that a lot of my questions will be answered after I actually start attending, but I am just eager to know more about the possibilities, and have nothing better to do right now than speculate. So thanks to anyone who can help, and sorry for the length of this post.</p>
<p>Im pretty sure you don’t get any placement credit for Chemistry with AP chem. You have to take a Penn placement exam (unless SEAS has a different system). </p>
<p>The dual degree thing is definitely possible, but since it isn’t “coordinated” like M&T, there are more credits that you need to fulfill. If you are the “work hard for you grades type”, then you might have to study all the time. I know a girl who is a junior, doing Wharton + Bioengineering, and she studies literally all the time. An EC like debate which probably require some traveling would be really tough to handle, although not impossible. I guess it really depends on what you know you can handle. </p>
<p>Btw, have you thought about transferring into M&T after freshman year?</p>
<p>The answer to the “6 classes/semester” question depends on what classes you’re taking. If you take all engineering classes in one semester, than you would die (lol). But if you do a healthy mix of engineer, wharton, and sector/GEC classes, then I think it’s fine.</p>
<p>Yeah, I have thought about transferring, but I know that the chances of being accepted are slim to none, I heard you need near a 4.0 to get in, and that they usually only take enough kids to replace the ones that drop out, so I will apply for that, but I don’t count on it.</p>
<p>I think I will figure out the “how much I can handle” thing once I get there, right now I have no guide as to how much I need to work to get good grades in college, and I think thats my biggest apprehension with a dual degree. I don’t want to have to literally study all the time, and if that is how it has to be, then I would probably not pursue it.</p>
<p>Is M&T as hard to transfer into as I believe? As for the engineering degree, I am still unsure if MEAM is definitely how I want to go, my other considerations are Materials science and Computer engineering, from a difficulty perspective, which of those three is the hardest, easiest?</p>
<p>From what I’ve heard, Fisher’s very difficult to get into, and very cutthroat within the program as well. Not impossible though.
Are you already in? I suppose you could also consider others, such as the Huntsman program.</p>
<p>No, I am not in the program, and I will take my shot at transferring in, but I am prepared to do a dual degree without the program, so its not a huge issue for me. </p>
<p>And huntsman is a dual degree between the College and Wharotn, I am looking to do one between SEAS and Wharton, and I can’t fluently speak another language, so that’s out.</p>
<p>It requires language competency, which I am currently studying for so I can place out of. It doesn’t require fluency, ha, if it did, then that would be a problem, haha.</p>
<p>Do any others have some insight towards a dual degree between Wharton and SEAS. Thanks.</p>
<p>I know several people doing both Engineering and Wharton or CAS econ, or people in M&T, and honestly, it looks pretty miserable (well, the M&T people seem to manage it really well–admin is really good at figuring out who can deal with tons of work+be really social, somehow, haha). I also know a few people (well, one person off the top of my head) who do the dual (without M&T) who are perfectly fine and don’t seem overly stressed compared to others. If you’re the type who has to work really hard for your grades, there’s a good chance you may end up studying all the time.</p>
<p>My advice? Take the Penn placement exams for chem/physics/etc. (talk to an engineering advisor first) to see if you can place out of those requirements, and see what you need as a prerequisite for dualing–you can’t actually apply until the end of spring semester, though you can take necessary classes. See how you find your classes first semester, if that goes well, try taking 6 classes second semester with some engineering classes (worst case scenario, they fill wharton requirements/you can do some sort of minor)…and just see how it goes. Every person is different, and how well you plan and if you can afford to take summer classes has a lot to do with it as well. It also depends on how far you are in math already (fewer classes if you’re more advanced).</p>
<p>Oh, and in terms of the AP credit/placing out of classes (and if that will come back to bite you), try to find an engineer to answer that. I have friends who have placed out of certain chem/physics classes which helped them reduce their course load, but I’m not positive on how it all works.</p>
<p>Also, engineers pretty much have the worse schedules/most class hours.</p>
<p>Ok, thanks for the advice, and I am planning on doing most of it already, so thats good to know. On a related note, say I do the dual degree and it does suck up a good deal of my free time. In terms of graduate school admissions, which I plan on going to grad school, (for engineering probably with the dual degree), do they look at your “ECS” like in undergrad admissions, or is it more GPA, Test scores, and research based. I don’t mind losing my time to studying these subjects that interest me, provided I do have some free time. But I don’t want to have to also balance participating in ECs just to impress a grad school admissions board.</p>