<p>Being percieved as an HYPSM school entails a certain unique and individualistic quality. A quality that sets that league of schools apart from others in terms of connections, resources and prestige. In order to have that quality, Penn needs to be just as unique and special as those schools, and I think that’s what Judith Rodin was trying to get at. It’s kind of paradoxical, I know.</p>
<p>Penn doesn’t want to be Harvard, it wants to be perceived as a Harvard quality school. It wants to be considered the best of the best and there is nothing wrong with striving for that kind of excellence.</p>