<p>Hello Fellas,</p>
<p>Would any current students or alum be willing to tell me how Penn's relation with Philly is. While you were at Penn did you often go to the city? Are there clubs or Penn affiliated organizations that take place in the city? Do people often leave campus and do service (volunteer) in the city? </p>
<p>Thank you so much for the help.</p>
<p>Penn is extremely close to downtown Philadelphia (I see the skyline from my room). You can easily walk to downtown in less than 30 minutes or take a short taxi, subway, bus, or trolley and many students take advantage of this. In fact, in my opinion this is one of the greatest things about Penn and was definitely the deciding factor in my college decision a couple of years ago. </p>
<p>There are so many reasons to go to the city because there are so many things to do and see (and great food to eat). Clubs and organizations sometimes go into the city whether for parties or volunteer opportunities. Center City/South Street is a great place to spend a day with friends. </p>
<p>Let me know if I can elaborate on anything specific. I don’t live close to Penn, but I adore Philadelphia.</p>
<p>From what I gathered from the website, and one of the reasons that I applied, Penn is very involved in its community. “Engaging Locally” or whatever.</p>
<p>Penn offers students great freedom. Some LOVE going to Center City for the culture (the orchestra, world class stage performances, museums, restaurants, bars, clubs, etc), and you can do that basically on a whim. Here’s the thing, though… it is entirely possible for you to spend an entire year without ever being in Center City, Philadelphia! You have to actually try to get into the city since Penn forms a bit of a bubble that can be difficult to want to leave. </p>
<p>I’d also suggest exploring South Philly if you ever get a chance. There’s a bowling alley at Broad and Federal that is just plain fun. There’s also a sweeeeeet restaurant at 10th and Wolf called the Bomb Bomb, which is a lot of fun just to get to, let alone eat at.</p>
<p>There are clubs that do things downtown and in the more residential West Philly / University City area, but you will have to find them on your own. </p>
<p>A realistic expectation for getting downtown is this. When Greek organizations have their formals, they are pretty much always at a downtown bar or bar/restaurant. Same goes for most campus groups that do formals or semi formals. If you are looking for a BYO with your friends from your hall, you’ll look downtown (freshmen LOVE La Viola since it is pretty good and super cheap!). If you join a fraternity/sorority, you will inevitably wind up downtown for some sort of task (usually a scavenger hunt). And occasionally you will need something that will give you cause to go to a downtown store (there is a toonnnnnnnnn of shopping in Center City!). Otherwise you will have to really make an effort to get downtown since not many people want to go on a regular basis</p>
<p>Thanks for the great responses guys. In my Penn essay I’m discussing how I love attending a school in the city. Does anyone have any more specific examples of things they love doing in Philly. I currently go to a school in NYC and love it and want to write about how Philly offers me the same unique experience as my present school.</p>
<p>Seems a little strange this late in the game to research what there is to do in Philadelphia. Also, kind of typical for a Why Penn Essay. You should focus more on how you can benefit Philly by naming specific organizations and clubs on the penn website and what specific role you will play in them rather than where you will go out visiting in the city. Make sense. Talk about philly and get put in a pile of other applications. Talk about how Penn and Philly will benefit from just one or 2 civic clubs in philly (Better to target less entities) and you"ll stand out.</p>
<p>If it was just out of interest to learn more about philly accept my apology, if its for the essay see above advice. What do others think.</p>
<p>Kind of a combination Penn. I know what I love about Penn but I don’t know how I can discuss it without being offensive. I want to write “work hard party hard” but then the adcom would think I’m a huge drinker etc.</p>
<p>Ok, you need to remember that this is an application. You are trying to convince the admissions officers that you should be given a spot in the next class. Even though the question asks “Why Penn?” they are asking it to know “Why You?” You can say you like Philly, or that you appreciate the mentality students have, but how does that bear on your application? Don’t give a pedestrian answer. I think that’s what pennforme is trying to get at.</p>
<p>I am giving this advice because it worked out very well for my son who was accepted ED to CAS. He took two clubs he was involved with in high school, found out Penn had similar clubs that addressed that issue and classes that addressed the same subject too. Then he sold his merit - the committee taking up one spot on him - by talking specifically about what he would do as past of those organizations to help them grow and then spoke about how he could use his real life experience working with people with a specific need by discussing it with his peers inside a penn classroom… It did not really matter if it was in Philly, NYC even though he started out writing about philly but found out many others in his senior class were writing the Why Philly Essay. </p>
<p>Not trying to preach, know it’s late in the game, but you have to stand out.</p>
<p>That was a fantastic response penn. Thank you.</p>