<p>I really need help deciding between the two. Unfortunately, I don't really know what I want to do after college, which makes me apprehensive about committing to business by choosing Wharton. However, I'm not sure what I could do after going to SFS (where I'd want to major in International Economics).</p>
<p>People keep telling me that the skills I could learn at Wharton would be useful even if I don't decide to do business, so that's a plus. However, I'm not really into the frat scene that would be very prevalent at Penn. At the same time, I loved the location of Georgetown, the more intimate feel, and the possibility of interning in DC. I see myself happier at Georgetown, but perhaps I'm not giving Penn a fair shot, and I still worry about turning down the opportunities Wharton has to offer.</p>
<p>For business, you can’t go wrong with Wharton and frankly a Wharton degree does carry a lot of weight outside of the business world as well… with that said, you can’t go wrong with Georgetown SFS either, tons of Georgetown SFS kids on Wall Street as well… I would say go with your gut feeling of fit…</p>
<p>Honestly, you need to go where you feel comfortable. Georgetown has such a homey feel, and if that is the setting that you like (unlike the urban feel), then go with that. There are people who do business/econ work in the SFS, and you’ll have so many connections in DC (World Bank, etc.)</p>
<p>GEORGETOWN! Have a more enjoyable and less cutthroat undergrad experience and still come out with about the same playing field and opportunities after graduation… ok, well Wharton recruiting might be a bit better, but honestly, you are fiercely competing for the same jobs with your all 500 of your Wharton classmates, whereas you would have a less stressful and liberal-arts focus at Georgetown. If you do equally well at both, you can get the same career opps. Ultimately, it’s up to you to revisit and decide the best match, but I would go for Gtown.</p>
<p>A really great friend of mine goes to Wharton. She said it is extremely cut throat as aweirdo said. The curve is aweful and makes people miserably competive. That being said, it is a phenominal school. But, in terms of academics, you can’t go wrong either place.</p>
<p>you’re on the georgetown thread so what response do you expect? ;)</p>
<p>Wharton is by far penn’s best school, and in my opinion, what makes penn so high in the rankings. The alumni network at wharton is fantastic. if you’re really set on business, wharton is the best undergraduate business program in the country, and many wharton undergrads go right into work without having to get an MBA. that being said, undergraduate degree doesn’t hold all that much weight, and if you decide not to do business, you can easily go from wharton to law school or medical school, etc.</p>
<p>i vote Wharton. if you’re concerned about the environment, go visit and see for yourself. I can tell you that I’ve lived in the philadelphia area all my life, and although it is not the best city in the world, it is very culturally rich and there is a lot to do. some parts of philly are in bad shape, but the place where penn is is a “university block” with drexel and others, and it’s really very nice there.</p>
<p>Sorry Stupefy but I have to disagree. U of Penn is in West Philadelphia which is NOT a great area but a lot of great schools are not in great areas. The tour guide told us that kids that live off campus are safe for about 3 blocks and then it is not recommended past there. You will find a drastic difference compared to Georgetown.</p>
<p>^^ Yes, west Philly is definitely not the safest area at all. Like luvthecape’s experience, my tour guide and Penn friends have advised me to never stray too far off-campus unaccompanied. Georgetown has definitely a better community vibe. </p>
<p>So anyway, both schools are great, but it’s really now up to personal fit. If you are very pre-professional, intense, and extremely competitive (W curving makes everyone go to the point of backstabbing, I have heard), go to Wharton. If you want a broader-based and (what I perceive as) more rewarding and enjoyable college experience, go to Georgetown.</p>
<p>personal experience; i went to the penn-cornell basketball game at the palestra in philadelphia on penn’s campus. we ended up having to walk from the palestra to 30th street train station to get a train home (SEPTA, the public transportation system, never seems to go well for me). anyway, the walk was around midnight on a busy night in philadelphia, and i was legitimately concerned the entire time about being held up or mugged. we had to cut through what was basically the epitome of a “dark alley,” with a couple huge guys behind a chain link fence standing around a burning barrel staring us down the whole way.</p>
<p>i’m sure that’s not the typical penn experience or whatever, but honestly, it was stuff like that that prevented me from even applying to penn (i’m going to georgetown’s business school, btw)</p>
<p>You’re not even comparing McDonough to Wharton… There really is no comparison. If you want to be a paper-pusher at a bureau, SFS is for you. If you want a business career, Wharton is for you.</p>
<p>Before the SFS kids jump me with anecdotes of friends in goldman/jpmorgan, I would like to point out that Wharton gives you knowledge of business that is simply unparalleled. Sure, you can be procedurally proficient in excel comps crunching as a SFS student but only a Wharton kid can reason freely in all facets of business strait out of undergrad. </p>
<p>Curve is not a problem. 50% of the class is rich legacies. Effectively, only about 50% of the class is competitive (if that).</p>
<p>The location is a little shady but if you’re not asking for trouble, you won’t get any. Just exercise a little caution. Quite frankly, if you’re a drunk girl in a short skirt walking along a dark alley alone at night, the city doesn’t matter. Similarly, if you’re sober and traveling with a friend through safer areas, you’re fine.</p>
<p>If costs are the same, you’re getting more bang for your buck in Wharton (better investment in long term and short term)</p>
<p>SFS has consistently generated the next genaration of societal leaders in America and the world. SFS alumni have and do run everything from the US Intelligence Community, the American Catholic Church, the AFL-CIO, the European Commission, and the Phillipines, to the United Statee itself. SFS prepares its graduates with the broad intellectual tools to lead anywhere ,not just the more mundane and limited world of mere commerce (although making money can be fun and fulfilling as well).</p>
<p>^^ top government salary is like what - 200k? Top hedge fund manager made $4 billion last year.</p>
<p>Most people fail to comprehend the notion of “corporate governance.” If you want to run your own show, business is better than politics because in politics, you’re 1/millions who wants to run the country and there is only one country. In business, there are many more “countries” to run.</p>
<p>Also, business is very flexible. You can find yourself anywhere from microfinance in developing countries and running capital hill (behind the scenes) to running Hong Kong after leveraging billions.</p>
<p>Consider this: last night’s guest speaker was Alan Bowser of UBS Wealth Management. Finished Wharton, went to capital hill, went to oxford for politics masters degree and is now making money like crazy. The Wharton degree didn’t close a single thing off to him.</p>
<p>Power always trumps money. Consider the estate tax. This year, with the legacy of conservative politicians, it does not exist and a hedge fund manger could keep every penny of gain. Next year, with a liberal socialist Congress, every one of these guys will be 50% partners with the government for every penny they earn (with a liberal IRS working to close every off shoring and other loopholes) staring 1/1/2011.</p>
<p>Every last one of these guys could have been bankrupted in Fall 2008 if the goverenemtn had not saved the financial system. Ultimately, they are minor and subordinate players, even your UBS guy.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the replies! I still don’t know how to decide, but I’m hoping that the upcoming preview days (Penn this Thursday, Georgetown this Friday/Saturday) will help out. Unfortunately, it seems like the two schools are opposite in so many ways.</p>
<p>-Penn seems large and overwhelming. Choosing Wharton also scares me; if I don’t end up liking business, then I’ll flounder compared to my peers. I like the idea of living in a high rise at Penn, but the off-campus safety is a concern. Plus, if I ended up in a high rise dorm (they just seem more comfortable/convenient to me), I’d be socially isolated from the majority of freshmen.</p>
<p>-To me, Georgetown feels more intimate and I would love to call it home. The location seems amazing to me; it’s sheltered within Georgetown, but is still adjacent to the capital. Internships could be great and I think I would love my classes. However, I think I would prefer Penn’s dorms (besides those amazing but coveted townhouses for upperclassmen), and I’m worried about what I would do after SFS.</p>
<p>I’m definitely nervous about work opportunities. I know I would learn valuable skills at Wharton, but I think I would enjoy the curriculum of SFS (and I’m sure that knowledge of international economics/politics and a relevant foreign language could be useful in the professional world). If I didn’t like business, I suppose I could transfer to CAS, but then I would regret choosing Penn because I prefer Georgetown’s overall feel and location.</p>
<p>You could also take classes in the McDonough School of Business at Gtown. Be sure to check out the brand new MSB building when you are there…it is amazing. I would also encourage you to try and talk to a few of the senior business students (or sit in on one of their presentations) in addition to the SFS students. I think you will be highly impressed and it opens up the option for you to pursue your interests in both SFS and MSB while you are at Gtown. There is always Wharton for grad school!!!</p>
<p>luvthecape raises some really good points. If you really do prefer Georgetown’s feel and location, definitely go there. It’s what you do in college that will make the difference, and if you can be equally outstanding in both places, choose the place that will be more enjoyable and “would love to call home,” as you say, especially since you said you liked SFS curriculum better anyway. </p>
<p>Don’t regret your college years, especially if you end up not liking business-- Wharton is overwhelming and competition is cutthroat and everyone competes for the same jobs (so there is a degree of backstabbing). Also, as the above poster noted, McDonough is an excellent school where you could take classes and DC offers a lot more opportunities than Philly. And you can always get a Wharton education at the graduate level and have a personally satisfying four year college experience (since it seems like you are leaning towards Georgetown more for personal fit), which is a win-win situation! Just my 2 cents…</p>