<p>This title was taken from Cornell's forum, but I think it is important for in-coming freshman and prospective students to know. For current students, how is the Happiness Quotient (HQ) at UPenn, in UPenn summer camp or regular school-year?</p>
<p>I'll start. One of my friends is attending the Summer program at UPenn, and apparently he doesn't like it because he senses low HQ in general, at UPenn. He said that the dorms are small, food are bad, atmosphere is depressing. What do you guys think? Anyone wishes to respond to that?</p>
<p>(Just a note I have nothing against UPenn; I just wish to find out more information about this school's atmosphere and environment.) :D</p>
<p>Summer programs are sort of a totally different thing in regards to going to school at Penn. A minority of full time undergraduate students attend summer classes to begin with, so it's like going to Penn without the real students. I.E. campus is more empty, less staff in general (dining hall, administrative) are working, etc...</p>
<p>In addition, just like Mr. Yoda may know somebody that hated Penn's summer program, I know a girl who absolutely loved it and decided on applying ED to Penn. You'll find mixed responses, just like you would at any other school in the world.</p>
<p>As a full-time student at Penn, I'll give my take on happiness here based on certain criteria I see appropriate to measure it.</p>
<p>Social Scene: unbeatable in my opinion. Relative to the ivys, Penn is considered the social one in regards to partying, etc...
There is, however, things to do if you are not into that kind of stuff. There are literary societies, kids who just hang out in other kids rooms to watch a movie, kids who see theater shows in philadelphia, or go listen to concerts ranging from the philadelphia orchestra to ludacris. In addition, every there are things where museums are open to all for free every month, and for art lovers, every first friday of the month, olde city has all its art galleries open for free to the public. </p>
<p>Academics: In terms of quality of what is taught, it's the same as every other ivy. You have the same deal where some classes are 100+ kids, and some classes that are tiny (one of my language classes had like.. 6 kids. fun stuff though, since we were all close and had dinner after class together and stuff).
At the same time, professors are very accesible. It's pretty easy to just e-mail them and see if they're willing to have lunch with you, and it's usually successful. Penn also makes sure that the professors are available. Last semester, a few of my friends had lunch with the deans of their school, and one of them also got to each lunch with kal penn which was awesome. </p>
<p>People:
What I love about penn is that you hvae the whole spectrum. The kid that wears the same cloth he wore yesterday, and the kid that wears burberry on top of his vineyard vines tie and polo loafers.
You have the kid with the mohawk and ear ringers and nose ring, and the crew cut kiddo. Think of any stereotype, and you will find it here at penn, guaranteed.</p>
<p>Campus:
I love the campus, where we mix both campus and city.We have corporate huntsman hall which with it's "evil eye" , and at the same time, the ancient quads. What I love most about campus though, is those small hidden perchs that are everywhere. Example, there is a way to get on the roof of the quad, and the adventure of going about doing so is straight up harold and kumar. In addition, there are tunnels in penn that president gutman uses to get from buliding to biulding sometimes. While the buildings are great and all, what I love about Penn's campus are these hidden, misterious things that kids can look for at like 2 am in the morning with their buddies.</p>
<p>General Surrounding:
West philly isn't the most safest of places. So most penn kids take taxis everywhere or use the campus police services that take you everywhere.
Most kids, however, are excited about the recent Pennconnects construction, where we bought up all the land to our east and we're building parks there, etc...
Other than that ,you're in a city, and you will find everything and anything you want. Lastly, you are one hour away from both new york and washington dc. Anything and everything.</p>
<p>Clearly this is just my perspectives. I am sure you will find kids that aboslutely hate Penn. Then again, you find them everywhere, so what can you do.
I just finished my first year at penn, and this was what I experienced. I loved it, and in regards to whatever it is that you call HQ, I am fully satisfied, and clearly my expectations were more htan fulfilled.</p>