More questions for enrolled ED and waiting freshmen!!!n

Colleges & Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>Hi, </p>

<p>I am a freshmen at Upenn and I can give you the inside advice on Penn, especially with dorms, packing, majors, parties, roommates, class choices, and dating. I'm only a freshmen but there are a TON of stuff that I wish I knew before coming. I know there is another thread up, but it getting full and complicated so ask away. I'm in a bunch of clubs and a sorority (which I will not disclose here). So these don't have to be only academic questions. Ask anything and I'll answer anything.</p>

<p>^.^</p>

2

<p>What sorority are you in? :p</p>

3

<p>“which I will not disclose here”</p>

<p>but any other questions are welcome. :)</p>

4

<p>Which dorm do you think provides both the best social experience and accommodations for freshmen year, and what is a good way to approach meeting people and dating? Thank you for offering your advice!</p>

5

<p>“Which dorm do you think provides both the best social experience and accommodations for freshmen year, and what is a good way to approach meeting people and dating?”</p>

<p>This question has a lot of parts, so I will address them all individually. </p>

<p>dorm for…</p>

<p>social experience: I would go for either the quad, hill, or the harnwell and harrison freshmen programs. Besides that, its a luck of the draw. If your hall is cool and social, you’ll get close to them, but if they’re are studious and quiet, you might have to branch out a little bit more. My advice (something that I actually regret not doing), is doing a pre-frosh summer program becuase it turns out that during NSO, when everyone is still new and learning the ropes, you’ll know some people and not have to try so hard and those people will still stay as your friends for a long time.</p>

<p>accommodations: HIGH RISES, HIGH RISES, HIGH RISES. Like, seriously, every other combination doesn’t compare. I live in the quad and though it is beautiful, the bathrooms are gross, and you don’t have a kitchen. Therefore, you will not feel very clean when you exit the showers and you will be forever bound to the meal plans. But then again, my opinion is biased because I like hairless showers and cooking. The Hill is very much the same except on the opposite end of beautifulness. Imagine a box painted a various color and a square window with blinds and carpet. That’s what Hill is. I’m not saying that it is that bad, but I prefer a wood floor (which is MUCH more easier to clean with swifter) and much more depth to the room that isn’t just a box. The quad’s rooms are unique and have at least some sort of thought in their architecture. King’s court, I hear, is ok and stouffer sucks like the hill, but there are kitchens, so that’s a bonus. De Bois, also has kitchens but is pretty culturally uniform, despite what people say. The high rises are the best because they have kitchens and personal bathrooms that are clean and have an EXCELLENT view of the city, the only sacrifice is a limited-initial social life.</p>

<p>…so that’s it for housing…</p>

<p>now meeting people and dating</p>

<p>I have a classification for people (though many mesh and overlap)</p>

<ol>
<li>routine friends</li>
<li>close friends</li>
<li>hook ups</li>
<li>friends with benefits</li>
<li>relationships (romantic)</li>
</ol>

<p>Routine friends— these people are essential. They keep you on track, they are the people that you meet in class that you schedule your meals with (and trust me it sucks to be the only person to eat alone). They end up being your study buddies or the group that you go out with at night. Often, they become your close friends, but half of the time you end up doing your own thing and you don’t see them as much during the turn of the semester.</p>

<p>Close friends-----These are the people you’ll meet during a summer programs, your high school friends that also Penn, or your really awesome hallmates. These people are hard to come by because you can’t tell you secrets to EVERYONE. If by the middle or the end of the semester comes about and you STILL don’t have really close friends or like only one, ITS OK! Like seriously, four months is not a very long times. That why I decided to join a sorority and many guys decided to join frats. It creates a lot of the stability and trust that people are looking for, and just mere exposure can bring someone closer.</p>

<p>Hook-ups—these are EXTREMELY easy to come by (unless you have no game or a ridiculously ugly (which no one is)) especially during the first week up Penn which is full of back to back Frat partying for a straight 4-5 days. You will probably never see, or if you do see–speak, to these people again. It’s hopefully a mutual understanding that you and the other person were there to fulfill each others purposes and leave it at that. Hopefully, this people isn’t carrying a ridiculous STI and you are either on the pill or using a condom. Hopefully, this person is not in a relationship with a psychopath and you will not be hunted down. And, lastly, hopefully this person is not obnoxious and cruel and will not tell every living and breathing being how you “were” or how “endowed” you were</p>

<p>Friends with benefits— these are either the people u hook up with repeatedly or the friend you ended up hooking up with that you still happen to “fool” around with as well. If you can stay unemotional about the situation, this is good way to relieve the “endless college sexual frustration” without having to commit. However if you are not, don’t pretend that you’re not, and get out of the relationship. Because you will see him/her with another people and end up punching a wall or crying yourself to sleep and it will be your fault.</p>

<p>Relationships----these are the best (which I am currently in), there are no worries about who you should hook up with next, who you need to impress, or who doesn’t love/like you back. These are surprising hard to come by freshmen year, but they DO happen. You might meet this person in a seminar, through mutual friends, a club, a hallmate (which I don’t advice), or a friend with benefits that finally decided to commit. Guys, typically, are more ready to settle down when they’re older and aren’t just out to get laid. If you are a guy and looking for a LTR rather than a hook up, your in luck! Girls wish they were more of you around.</p>

<p>Well that answers your question as fully as I can muster between the brake between my sociology and chemistry class (hence the spelling mistakes).</p>

<p>If there are any more questions. I will be happy to answer them! :)</p>

6

<p>clarification:</p>

<p>Only Harrison has a freshman residential program. Harnwell has the freshman, but not the program (and the awesome events that come with it). Harrison rocks.</p>

<p>I can also attest to the statement that relationships are the best, though rare (I’m the only one I know that has a Penn-Penn relationship in my grade)</p>

7

<p>What are some pros and cons of being in a residential program? (Specifically I’m interested in the Mentors Program, East Asia Program, or Freshman Leadership at Penn Program.)</p>

<p>And which dorm would you think is best in the Quad and why? Right now I’m looking at Fisher and Riepe but I don’t know enough about them yet.</p>

<p>Thanks :)</p>

8

<p>"What are some pros and cons of being in a residential program? (Specifically I’m interested in the Mentors Program, East Asia Program, or Freshman Leadership at Penn Program.)</p>

<p>And which dorm would you think is best in the Quad and why? Right now I’m looking at Fisher and Riepe but I don’t know enough about them yet."</p>

<p>Again, many parts.</p>

<p>Concerning the residential programs:</p>

<p>I am actually in a residential program this year. But it was one of those non-hardcore ones where we didn’t really have to do anything and everything was more available and voluntary.</p>

<p>I know for a fact that a residential program is the easiest way to get in the quad, and thats why a lot of people do them. The advantages are that, if you are really interested in your residential program’s theme like the “East Asia program”, you will get the chance to go to hear a lot of professors speak on this topic, or see media or be exposed to programs linked to a East Asian studies major. The “mentors program” and “Freshmen Leadership” seem like more action-based residential programs. They probably have a requirements to participate in community service projects, tutor, or go to information sessions or meetings. The important thing is to make sure that you are interested or at least semi-interested in the theme or you will end up hating it. And you have to also remember that the people that are going to be living near you are interested in these topics too so that can be an advantage. </p>

<p>The Quad it self is pretty much standardize, yet random and unique in dorm designed. Concerning the difference between Fisher, Ware, and Riepe. They are the same. Concerning the difference between each individual room, they can be vastly different. So it doesn’t really matter. Concerning size…</p>

<p>Singles: It is completely a luck of the draw. Some are teeny weeny and some are HUGE. But I hear that in Fisher, near the nipple (the upper most part of the quad) has really good rooms. But so does Ware so, yeah, its a luck of the draw.</p>

<p>Doubles: These are more likely than not to be small. Not small that you cant breath, but small that you can’t do a cartwheel in any given area. And if you live in a double you HAVE to make sure you have a good roommate because everyone you invite over (whether boy, girl, romantic interest, or friend) will be intruding on their space regardless of how much you try. So they have to be ok with your friends or being sexiled. </p>

<p>Triples: In the quad, these are actually really great. I living in a triple. These have double, a single and a common room. The double ends up being really small and have bunk beds (which really suck). But what a lot of people do is to make the triple into three rooms (by splitting the bunk beds). The middle person has the biggest and the most awesome room, but not too much privacy becuase the other roommate have to walk through the middle person’s room to get to their rooms and the center room still is the common area if your roommates are social. But its not too bad and if you coordinate well,everyone has their own privacy and their own space, but are still roommates.</p>

<p>I hope this answers your question (the room descriptions are just for the quad btw). </p>

<p>Ok…back to my writing seminar… :slight_smile: (but more questions are welcome!!!)</p>

9

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>You mentioned that Hill doesn’t have wood floors. What does it have? And do you know about the walls/floor materials of the other houses?</p>

<p>You also mentioned pre-frosh summer programs. Could you recommend a few, and does the school send out information about those later?</p>

<p>Thanks, this is really helpful!</p>

10

<p>Sorry for the delayed response, I’ll try to be more prompt than this…</p>

<p>SO “You mentioned that Hill doesn’t have wood floors. What does it have? And do you know about the walls/floor materials of the other houses?”</p>

<p>Once, again I have to stress the ease of cleaning with wooden or tile floors. They can be swept or mopped or wiped clean. With carpet, you constantly have a vacuum (which are not always readily available). And that still doesn’t get the yucking-ness underneath the carpet. </p>

<p>Ok this is what I know and is pretty accurate</p>

<p>Hill: cinder block walls and and compact, yet carpeted floors</p>

<p>Quad: All of the flooring is wooden and all of the walls are basic concrete, and if im not mistaken, white</p>

<p>Kings Court: I actually have never been beyond the lobby of this place, but a close friend I have lives here, so I will update you later. (Regardless, freshmen shouldn’t live in king’s court)</p>

<p>The high rises: They have tile floors and concrete wall (but are actually brightly painted)</p>

<p>DeBois: I think there are tile floors and concrete walls as well</p>

<p>Radian: concrete floors and concrete walls</p>

<p>Meyer: carpeted floors and concrete walls</p>

<p>I hope this answers you question!</p>

<p>“You also mentioned pre-frosh summer programs. Could you recommend a few, and does the school send out information about those later?”</p>

<p>I did mention these, and I know a little bit about them. I know for a fact that the more popular onces are Penn Quest and Pennicle. For African American students or other interested students, doing AFRICANA is HUGELY popular and everyone knows everyone after doing it. The misconception is that you will meet a ton of people, while you will, you will get close to a few people. Like 15-20 becuase they split you into groups or something. Even now, my roommate has “reunions” all the time with these people. You also get to meet some upperclassmen (they are you leaders). This is advantageous becuase I ended up going out with people I knew and they did Pennicle. And because of this, their leader was super cool and was in this cool frat. And when your a freshmen you don’t know alot of people, but if you know someone in a frat, you can get in the party without waiting or have the girl-guy ratio.</p>

<p>I know that there are other awesome pre-frosh stuff, so just go by your interest.</p>

<p>Ok…maybe I should actually pay attention in chem lab lecture…</p>

<p>Keep the questions coming!!!</p>

11

<p>^^ Actually, King’s Court is 85% freshmen. Parts of the quad have carpet, too (The south part of Ware that was built in the 50s, some parts of Fisher Hassenfeld, and the suites in Riepe’s Provost tower).</p>

12

<p>oh! thanks for the correction :)</p>

<p>but more likely than not, you’ll get a wooden floor. And my opinion may be biased becuase I know 4 people who switched from King’s Court to the quad because they said that the environment is more quiet and studious and not the best freshmen experience…</p>

13

<p>Thanks so much for answering these questions! It’s really cool hearing from someone who is already at Penn. I have quite a few questions… so if you have the time/energy I’d love your input! :)</p>

<p>I’m wondering if you experienced any hazing when you went through rush. I’ve heard that a few sororities (perhaps Alpha Chi Omega, Tri-Delt and some others) haze girls in some crazy ways. I’m really excited about hopefully joining a sorority but I’m not into the stereotypical hazing/caddy girls. Did you experience anything like this? Or do you think this is mostly just a series of rumors?</p>

<p>Also, could you talk a little about the party scene? Are frat parties and such often exclusive? Or can pretty much anyone get in? How often to people generally go out and are the parties usually pretty laid back, (beer pong, just hanging out) or are there more dance parties and stuff? A mix?</p>

<p>And how hard would you say it is to find friends? I’m friendly and have quite a few friends in high school but I’m not a total extrovert and I’m so paranoid/worried that I’ll get a “bad” roommate that I don’t click with and I’ll struggle to meet people. </p>

<p>Thank you! :)</p>

14

<p>Hill rooms are not carpeted. They also get very dusty very quickly…and they’re tiny. That said, the building has been renovated since I lived there, so it isn’t quite as ungodly terrible to live there anymore.</p>

<p>Party scene is very good for freshmen in the fall. Many fraternities do unregistered parties, especially late nights, in which as long as you have an even ratio or girls to guys, you will get in no problem. As the fall goes on, you may need to know some brothers in order to get into parties, and once spring rush finishes, there aren’t so many crazy parties anymore (though there are if you know where to look).</p>

<p>Basically every performing arts group has a party after their show each semester.</p>

<p>As for the structure of these parties, most have music and dancing and what not, some have drinking games. It’s what you would expect from a college party, really.</p>

15

<p>Thank you!
Yea, from what I’ve read on here, I don’t think Hill will be a first choice for me…</p>

<p>Does anyone know about Gregory? What sort of flooring/walls does it have?</p>

<p>Also, how important are clubs at Penn? Is everyone involved in more than a few, or is it a fairly relaxed, optional scene?</p>

16

<p>clubs / activities are pretty commonplace</p>

<p>everyone does something</p>

17

<p>how are the pre-orientation programs? worth doing? fun? which is the best?</p>

<p>thanks!</p>

18

<p>Clubs are optional, but I would highly recommend exploring the club scene at Penn (har har)</p>

<p>Gregory is split up into two building, the bigger Van Pelt and the smaller Class of 1925 (which houses all the Modern Languages Programs). Almost all rooms are four bedroom quads, with a small hallway connecting the rooms and a bathroom/two sink combo. There are usually two smaller rooms, a medium sized room, and a very large room. There is carpet, and it’s hard as concrete. The walls look like whitewashed cinderblocks. </p>

<p>Gregory was my second choice coming in, and I think I would have liked it just fine if I ended up there. One of my very close friends, however, hates it (facilities issues and roommate trouble).</p>

19

<p>Pre-Orientation programs are fantastic. Everyone I know who did one loved it, but there was only one where I got excellent feedback from all around, which was the one I went on, PENNQUEST (the hiking one). </p>

<p>PENNACLE is the leadership one, PENNCORP is a service one, PENNGREEN is an obvious one, as is PENNARTS. </p>

<p>I’m certainly biased, but I truly believe PennQuest is the best (as our song goes). You have the wonderful experience of hiking in the Appalachians for a couple days (my group even got to swim across the Delaware and back), and you get to meet some incredible people. I’m still friends with everyone in my group, and am extremely close with a couple of them as well. It’s the perfect way to start the school year off as you’ll head into NSO extremely energized and with a large amount of friends. </p>

<p>You will have to write a bunch of small essays when you apply for any pre-orientation program, have to wait for the results, and have to hope that you get in (PQ is very competitive), but it’s well worth everything if you get the opportunity to go.</p>

20

<p>pennquest is actually the one i was thinking about doing. it looks awesome! do you have to be really transcendentalist and into nature/not showering to have fun though?</p>