I know Wharton is one of the best business schools. It’s also incredibly expensive.
Why is it an investment worth making? I’ve heard that the alumni network is very powerful.
In light of $60K annual tuitions, practical degrees do promise a quicker ROI, and Wharton not only has a pretty high median income, its alumni base also boasts big names (Elon Musk is among them). The investment is worth making, especially if you plan on going into finance, which Wharton is known for. Wharton also has a growing alumni base of entrepreneurs (founders of Warby Parker).
At the same time I’d strongly suggest against going to Wharton just because the “investment is worth making”, or just because “the alumni network is very powerful”. Access to Wharton alumni is in no way just limited to Wharton students. There are many ways for you to contact specific alumni from all schools all over the world, as long as you know how to write a cold email.
I think it really depends on what you’re looking for in your college experience. If you want the best undergraduate business school in the world, with a diverse and enthusiastic student body, in a world class city, on a beautiful urban campus, shared by the brightest minds of your generation in Penn’s other undergrad and professional/graduate schools, then yes, Wharton is worth it.
Wharton is unique among its peers in that it is the only under grad business school that is seamlessly integrated with the rest of an Ivy League university. As a consequence, you not only receive access to the most prolific faculty in business education, you also have access to the ENTIRE University of Pennsylvania and the Ivy League network. Thanks to Penn’s One University Policy, almost half of all classes taken by Wharton students are taken outside of Wharton, ensuring that they have the most well rounded education of any business student in the world (http://undergrad.wharton.upenn.edu/why-wharton/business/). And non-Wharton students are taking classes and earning certificates (or adding a dual degree) at Wharton as well, leading to a cross pollination of ideas that you will not find at any other undergrad business school or any other college that lacks the diversity of integrated programs that Penn possesses.
Elon Musk (as mentioned above) is a perfect example. Musk came to Penn and earned a BA in Physics from the College and stayed at Penn a year after to earn his BS in Econ from Wharton. The ability to take advantage of every different department, discipline, faculty member, resource, and alum of this university is what truly sets Penn off from its peers. And it seems like his science and business backgrounds are paying off…http://www.thedp.com/article/2015/06/tesla-powerwall
It also doesn’t hurt that Wharton students (along with their non-Wharton counterparts) have the best placement rate in highly coveted professions of any other school in the country. Check out these career placement surveys for Penn and compare them to the information other schools release. You’ll find that Penn’s surveys are the most comprehensive available and the results are outstanding. http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/reports.php
Plus, Penn guarantees to meet 100% of your financial need with an all grant, no loan policy. So while its expensive, if your family cannot afford the high price tag, the University can use its vast financial resources to help defray at least some of the cost. It’s certainly an imperfect system and students can end up paying more than they would like-- but it is one of the best financial aid programs in the world and its certainly worth the investment given your earning potential immediately after attending Penn. http://www.admissions.upenn.edu/costs-financial-aid/financial-aid-at-penn
If you pass on a chance to go as an undergrad, don’t assume you will get another chance as an MBA candidate. Wharton admits a disproportionate percentage of MBA candidates who are Penn undergrads (from all 4 schools).
Whether the benefits of Penn are worth the cost depends largely on the student. How hard are you willing to work to capture the benefits made available at Penn? Will you go to hear great speakers? Be active in clubs? Get involved in research? Participate in projects outside of class? Volunteer? Make an effort to develop lasting relationships? Opportunities will be placed in front of you every day. The student has to grab those opportunities. If you only intend to stay in your room and maintain the highest gpa possible, then I think most of the value is lost. If you are willing to take risks, work hard, get outside your comfort zone, and make every effort to make your college experience extraordinary, then your investment will be worth it many times over.