<p>Hey all,
So I was recently admitted as a transfer to Penn and Brown and am having a very hard time deciding. Here's what I think so far. Any input would be much appreciated.</p>
<p>Brown:</p>
<p>Pros:</p>
<p>-Providence
-friendly, uncompetitive, cooperative atmosphere (A/B/C/NC grading system)
-2nd happiest college in the country
-sports team I would play on (varsity)
-absence of core curriculum
-potential to petition for ba+ma program (though somewhat difficult to get clearance for)</p>
<p>Cons:</p>
<p>-lots of hipsters
-big drinking/weed scene (not sure if this is more or less than Penn)
-potentially less serious academic environment (e.g. taking classes P/F and not doing their work because they only have to pass)</p>
<p>Penn:</p>
<p>Pros:
-philly is the most livable city in america (though it doesn't have that nice feel that providence does)
-aka more options than providence because your in a real city
-very competitive sports team (I might or might not make varsity)
-also have b.a.+m.a. option (fairly difficult to get though)
-dual degree option (i.e. get a b.a. from the college and a b.s. from wharton)
-slightly more prestigious
-"social" ivy</p>
<p>Cons:
-campus felt more impersonal than brown (though I remember thinking "this place is badass" on my tour)
-bigger school as a whole (although both are universities, penn has the medical school, the nursing school, and wharton which make it significantly bigger than brown)</p>
<p>Also, I'm interested in double majoring in two of the following three subjects: math/english/philosophy. Any idea how strong Brown and Penn are in those? That would definitely inform my decision more.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for your help,
Claymangs</p>
<p>At Penn, provided you do the work and get the grades, the math department allows you to get an MA in 4 or 5 years (depending on what track you're on). Submatriculation</a> in Math</p>
<p>Strength of department should not influence where you go as an undergrad because your major can change and no one really cares (unless it is a specialized technical field like business or engineering). Both schools are strong enough at both departments that it won't make a difference which one you go to.</p>
<p>Also, don't look at the Wharton dual degree as a reason to come to Penn. It is very difficult to predict that you are going to get a 3.8+ GPA your first year at college, and if you come with that mentality it will not make your first year here as fun as it should be.</p>
<p>When it comes to drugs and alcohol, there are a lot of people who drink at Penn and a fair number who do drugs ranging from pot to coke to prescription drugs. You will find the same at any large undergraduate school, especially one where so many kids can afford to do the drugs regularly.</p>
<p>Furthermore, don't stress the P/F thing. Depending on who you become friends with, you might see a very competitive side of Brown, or a very relaxed side of Brown. Same with Penn. At Penn we have P/F too, but you can only take it a few times and still get credit for the class. If you make friends with really rich kids who only need to get their degree before their dads hook them up with great jobs and lots of cash, you'll see people who don't care too much academically, whether they are at Penn or at Brown.</p>
<p>Hope that helped.</p>
<p>I guess one of the concerns with doing the ba+ma program at Penn is that you need to have an A- average for your math courses to get considered for this program. That seems pretty hard (esp. after getting a B+ in lin. alg.)...</p>
<p>two comments on brown</p>
<ol>
<li><p>it's a very academically serious place. sit in on any random class and you'll see this immediately--everyone is there because they chose to be there, and therefore bring an unparalleled passion</p></li>
<li><p>according the Leiter reports, brown is one of the best places for an undegrad to study philosophy in the world. the english and math departments are also very strong, and it is particularly easy at brown to double (or triple) concentrate in disparate fields becauseof the open curriculum</p></li>
</ol>
<p>The</a> Philosophical Gourmet Report 2006 - 2008 :: Undergraduate Study
Applied</a> Mathematics Department - Brown University
Brown</a> University Mathematics Department
Brown</a> University Department of English</p>
<p>Come to Penn. It's a more diverse and dynamic school with opportunities Brown doesn't offer--such as the ability of undergrads to take classes in the Law school, wharton, annenberg, and a host of others.</p>
<p>So at Brown all classes are on a Pass/Fail grading system?</p>
<p>i'd go to brown to be honest, if the price of attending each is the same.</p>
<p>CollegeDK: No, but you have the option. Generally students take about 4 or 5 classes a semester...one of which is often Pass/Fail (S/NC-Satisfactory/No Credit). It is meant to allow students to venture out of their comfort zone into unfamiliar territory. It works well with the Open Curriculum. Some people have the misconception that ALL classes are taken S/NC and this is absolutely not the case. Brown is a horrible school for students that are slackers because it is VERY easy to slack given the option of the S/NC and the whole no requirements thing. However, it is an EXCELLENT school for those who love to explore and who are motivated to walk to the beat of their own drum. Hope that helps. =)</p>
<p>Yea, thanks it does.</p>
<p>what do penn students think about the social life for a JUNIOR transfer at UPenn? Is there a sense of community among transfers (i know they don't live together) and since the school is heavily greek oriented, is it hard/rough finding outgoing, social parties and people without going greek?</p>
<p>^ browncal, you keep saying things like Penn is "heavily greek oriented," even though I've pointed out to you a couple of times that more than 70% of Penn undergrads * do not* join fraternitites/sororities:</p>
<p>[url=<a href="http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=1464&profileId=8%5DCollege">http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=1464&profileId=8]College</a> Search - University of Pennsylvania - Penn - Housing & Campus Life<a href="see%20bottom%20of%20page">/url</a></p>
<p>When less than 30% of the student body are members of a fraternity/sorority, and the vast majority of Penn's renowned social life and numerous on-and off-campus activities do not involve the Greek world, the school can hardly be characterized as "heavily Greek oriented."</p>
<p>If you are friendly, make an effort to meet people in your classes, and/or participate in any of the numerous activities, organizations, and interest groups available on campus, you should have no problem meeting, socializing, and partying with people at Penn without going Greek. After all, over 7,000 non-Greek Penn undergrads do precisely that all the time. :)</p>
<p>45 percenter, i posted these comments before i was able to get your feedback, so please excuse the the misnomer. id love to talk to you about the social life of penn etc, because from the upenn students ive talked to, most HAVE mentioned the prevalent greek scene.</p>
<p>^ Well, maybe that's been their personal experiences (i.e., THEY are involved in the Greek scene). But the numbers speak volumes--more than 70% of Penn undergrads are NOT involved in the Greek scene (except perhaps for occasionally attending a Greek party), and their social lives do not revolve around it. "Prevalent" is a relative term, and compared to many schools, the Greek scene at Penn--although certainly a presence--is not "prevalent."</p>
<p>Present? Yes. Prevalent? No.</p>
<p>As a non-greek, I will go to the occasional frat party. But I'll also be going to house parties, dorm parties, deliberately-ironic-wine-and-cheese parties, explore downtown Philadelphia, or just hang out in the house I live in with my best friends.</p>