<p>This is utterly untrue. Here are some of the advantages that the Penn coordinated dual-degree programs give (and this is in no particular order):</p>
<ol>
<li><p>An incredible group of alums, much stronger than the alums you’d get from joining a fraternity. A Penn dual-degree student can cold-email any alum of their program and get a friendly response. We get constant internship opportunities through email.</p></li>
<li><p>Essentially guaranteed access to the courses you want to take. Dual-degree students get priority for honors sections of Wharton courses, for example. It’s much easier for a dual-degree student to get into a closed section than it is for a single-degree student.</p></li>
<li><p>OCR / info sessions specifically for each dual-degree program.</p></li>
<li><p>Small (think 5 to 10 person) lunch discussions with famous alums.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I could go on and on. Now, as for why someone would want to get two bachelor’s degrees? They have a strong interest in two specific fields. Isn’t that obvious! It’s more like getting your driver’s license and your pilot’s license.</p>
<p>In summary, Penn dual-degree programs are not “gimmicks…to try to get top students away from [HYP].” They are for students who, at the age of 18, know what they want to pursue. This says nothing about the desires to learn or intrinsic motivation of dual-degree students. Almost every dual degreer I know is truly passionate about learning. I find that many M&Ts read their textbooks simply to learn more about whatever subject they’re taking, for example. There is much to be learned, and an M&T student can broaden his or her horizons as easy as a student at any other top university.</p>
<p>If you don’t find Penn’s dual-degree programs to fit your learning needs, don’t go, but don’t spit mistruths about the programs.</p>
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<p>Huntsman is international studies and business, not international relations and business.</p>
<p>In my book, Princeton for sure.
Princeton is a more prestigious school overall (not that this matters). I think the Princeton undergrad experience is stronger as well; look at annual giving numbers, reu-unions, satisfaction surveys vs Penn, etc.
Also, Woodrow Wilson has just as many opportunities as Huntsman.</p>
<p>There seems to be a common misconception on this thread that the Huntsman program is in international relations. It is not. It is a program in international business. Foreign Policy has no interest in the Huntsman program, and Huntsman isn’t a university, nor is it a school within a university. It is a program - “The Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business” and would obviously not appear in FoPo’s rankings.</p>
<p>Penn doesn’t release acceptance rates for specific schools within the university, so it wouldn’t release stats on the dual-degree programs either, but I can say with a <em>high</em> degree of certainty that their acceptance rates are equal to, if not more competitive than, HYPS’s. You also have to keep in mind that the applicant pool to the dual-degree programs are self-selective to begin with, so rest assured that kids in these programs are the cream of the crop. </p>
<p>Prestige-wise - sure, most people won’t know the distinction between a Wharton single and dual-degree, but the benefits are enormous. Look at Keasby Night’s post for an outline. Being a Huntsman alum makes you part of a fraternity-like network, where getting jobs and breaking into certain industries becomes much, much easier. </p>
<p>To bring this back to the whole Princeton v. Huntsman. Disregard prestige. When you get to this level of elite, saying one school is better than another is an exercise in futility. It’s all a matter of opinion at this point. You can make an argument of Cornell v. Harvard, but when you’re looking at schools with infinitesimal acceptance rates, it really doesn’t matter. If you’re dead-set on international business - Huntsman is for you. If you’re not, Huntsman and Wharton still may be for you. Likewise, Princeton will afford the student equal opportunities if she/he so wants it. Long story short - go with where you will fit for four years.</p>