Penn Freshman Taking Questions

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
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<p>With the first semester just about over and the second semester starting in a month, I figured I would start a topic to try and answer perspective students' questions about Penn.</p>

<p>I applied to Penn as an ED applicant last year, and was deferred. I counted Penn out of my options and pretty much decided on a state school. In the Spring, I was surprised to learn that I was accepted during the regular decision round. I am from PA, not a Legacy applicant, and not an under-represented minority, so I couldn't believe it when I received my acceptance letter.</p>

<p>I am a Wharton freshman, no special programs. In the Fall, I took: Econ 10, Spanish 130, Management 100, and my writing seminar. In the Spring, I plan to take: Math 104, Business/Public Policy 250, Stat 102, Spanish 140, and Operations/Information Management 101.</p>

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<p>Wow, you’re very helpful, LM118. Thanks. I have a lot of questions, since I am attempting to follow your path.</p>

<p>How do you like Penn, socially, academically, etc.?</p>

<p>Is Wharton as amazing as people like me believe? </p>

<p>How would you rate the academic challenge of your first year?</p>

<p>How has the weather been so far? </p>

<p>Do you like dorm life? Are some dorms better than others? Would having a car at school be advantageous? </p>

<p>Thanks!!</p>

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<p>How do you like Penn, socially, academically, etc.?
I really enjoy the social and academic parts of Penn life. I’m not one of those guys that goes out EVERY weekend, but there is definitely a good nightlife here at Penn. As for academics, I have come to the conclusion that every university has good professors and bad professors, and I’ve experienced both thus far. I dropped Math 104 in the first semester because I really didn’t consider the professor choice important until I was actually in the class. The professor I had was a joke and the TA was extremely hard to communicate with (and not very helpful). On the other hand, the professor I had for microeconomics (the first half of Econ 10) was the best teacher I’ve ever had, and I learned a lot in that part of the course. My other professors were also very good.</p>

<p>Is Wharton as amazing as people like me believe?
I think a lot of people have a lot of bad assumptions about Wharton. I, for one, assumed that Whartonites graduate with much higher salaries than they do. We have some of the best facilities on campus, though. I would also assume that we have some great professors. Again, I only have one semester under my belt and I only really had one Wharton professor (Dr. Maxwell- really amazing), so far.</p>

<p>How would you rate the academic challenge of your first year?
Its as challenging as you make it. I know friends of mine that skip meals and such to study for that elusive A in every class. These kids work themselves so hard for straight A’s. I, personally, made my goal an A for every class, but told myself that I would be pleased if I got a B, as well. I probably spent about two hours each night on schoolwork, and have met my standards (probably going to get two B’s and two A’s).</p>

<p>How has the weather been so far?
This is the worst thing about college- and I’m from PA! I hate having to go outside in the rain and in the cold to go to class. The weather really isn’t that bad, in Philadelphia, its just a pain to deal with. If you bring a winter jacket/raincoat with you on move-in, you should be ok and learn to deal with it.</p>

<p>Do you like dorm life? Are some dorms better than others?
For dorms, its pretty easy to get the room type you want if you choose carefully. I knew that I wanted a single dorm, because I didn’t want to chance a terrible roommate after hearing horror stories. However, singles in quad are highly demanded and I didn’t want to take the chance of not getting one. After a lot of “analysis”, I chose a single dorm in Stouffer College House. I don’t have issues with a communal bathroom or anything, but I want to know that I have somewhere private or quiet to go when I need to study, and stouffer gives me just that. It has two buildings (Stouffer Hall and Mayer Hall). Mayer is suites where freshman live in triple suites. They share one bedroom, a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom. Stouffer has mostly singles with 6-8 rooms sharing a bathroom or two. Both places have students of all years, but they make an effort to put freshman together (they all share two halls in Mayer and are “clumped” together in Stouffer).</p>

<p>Would having a car at school be advantageous?
I, too, have asked myself the same question. Train travel has turned out to be a better choice for me economically. It costs me about $33 for a round-trip ticket home for the weekend with Amtrak. If I had a car, I would have to pay for my parking space, $16 in round-trip tolls, plus gas. I don’t know if, as a sophomore/junior/senior I will reconsider, but I’ve decided to stick to the train for now. Travel in the city is really easy with SEPTA, and you can buy tokens on campus (don’t buy the PennPass, its a waste of money unless you plan on taking the subway every day).</p>

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<p>Thanks LM118</p>

<p>What is the housing like for freshmen? If you apply to be in the quad (double) are you guaranteed a room? Or if I wanted a single in Stouffer or the Quad, what are the chances of getting one?</p>

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<p>Thanks for the information. It’s nice to know there is hope for those deferred.</p>

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<p>What is the housing like for freshmen? If you apply to be in the quad (double) are you guaranteed a room? Or if I wanted a single in Stouffer or the Quad, what are the chances of getting one?</p>

<p>Penn doesn’t have any vegas odds-makers, so I can’t “chance” room opportunities. However, I applied for a single in Stouffer as my first choice because I heard that, as long as I put it as my first choice, I would get it. The quad is a different mess. To my understanding, Quad singles are highly requested. I was nervous that if I put a quad single as my first choice and was rejected, it would be too late and the Stouffer singles would be filled as well. I played my housing choice safe, but one other important thing to consider is your upperclassman housing. As a Stouffer freshman, I have first priority for the nicer rooms in Stouffer/Mayer in my Sophomore/Junior/Senior year. When I decide to move to a Mayer suite, I won’t have to fight for it like Quad freshman. As a Quad freshman, the only thing you are “guaranteed” is a room in the Quad as a Sophomore. Quad freshmen don’t have a good shot at getting into the high-rises, and (in my opinion) Mayer rooms are even better than a high-rise.</p>

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<p>What did you do after the point you were deferred? Did you send any additional essays, resumes, awards, or anything ?</p>

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<p>I did nothing. I know I probably could’ve done more, but I wasn’t wasting my time on what I truly considered a lost cause. I thought I had no chance at being in the 10% admitted of the 10% or something that were deferred. I don’t know, I just kind of moved on.</p>

<p>Honestly, Penn is amazing and everything, but I really feel like I could’ve found happiness elsewhere. If you don’t get in ED, don’t focus your attention on RD. I really think you should move on like I did and be pleasantly surprised in April if you actually get in!</p>

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<p>Hah - I know Dr. M. He’s great =D</p>

<p>Aside from the required Wharton courses, what do you think of the fact that you can take electives and such in other colleges? </p>

<p>Class sizes?</p>

<p>When we get our decision, does Fin Aid come in with it at the same time? What about housing registration, etc?</p>

<p>Any general advice for actually living on campus? Like things to bring, leave at home, to do, not to do?</p>

<p>I know that Managment 100 is a lot of handson stuff. What about other classes?</p>

<p>What about time for Extracurricular clubs and stuff?</p>

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<p>As a member of Harrison, I must say that living in a high-rise is incredible. Like Stouffer, I also have safety for my housing next year. The quad is the hardest to get into whether you want a single or double. </p>

<p>As for the other points, I’m in the College, so my Wharton friend can answer those better. I’d be more than happy to take any College questions from anyone (also a Freshman).</p>

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<p>“When we get our decision, does Fin Aid come in with it at the same time?” was wondering that also…or does the RD applicant poor have to be factored in first?</p>

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<p>For both current students: If you could turn back the clock and become high school seniors again, would Penn still be your first choice? </p>

<p>What don’t you like about Penn?</p>

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<p>i wouldn’t have wasted an early action app and would have applied to penn early decision =p</p>

<p>def don’t regret choosing penn!</p>

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<p>Aside from the required Wharton courses, what do you think of the fact that you can take electives and such in other colleges?
I am really consumed with requirements right now, so I didn’t take any “fun” courses the first semester, but next semester I am taking a Nursing course that is nutrition for non-nurses. It still meets a requirement for Wharton’s general distribution, but it sounds pretty chill.</p>

<p>Class sizes?
Your intro maths, econs, and sciences are going to be in huge lectures. If you have a good professor, it shouldn’t be bad, because the best professors feed well off of the big lectures. However, my math teacher was a mess and he didn’t even wear the mic in the lecture hall and it was rough. Language and writing classes are small by nature, and recitations are also pretty small (less than 20 people). In the end, I adjusted pretty easily to the lectures.</p>

<p>When we get our decision, does Fin Aid come in with it at the same time? What about housing registration, etc?
Fin Aid “estimate” comes with your decision, provided all of your financial stuff was in on time. Be aware, however, that they do adjust aid based on actual income vs estimated income. My aid went down by about $2500 when my dad made more than we anticipated. If I remember correctly, some housing information may come with your acceptence, I’m positive it came with my RD stuff, but I don’t know about ED.</p>

<p>Any general advice for actually living on campus? Like things to bring, leave at home, to do, not to do?
I brought 6" bed risers, a floor lamp (in-room light was really wimpy), lots of tupperware, a fridge, a microwave, and a tv, in addition to all of the “standard” stuff that common sense would say to bring. Also- bring your own garbage cans, they don’t come with the room. When I go back from winter break, I am taking a new desk chair with me because I am sick of the hard wooden chair that is provided.</p>

<p>I know that Managment 100 is a lot of handson stuff. What about other classes?
Econ is heavy-reading, light homework activities. Math is heavy-reading and heavy homework load. Writing is really manageable, 8 short essays (three/four paragraphs) spread throughout the semester. Spanish is a lot of memorization (more than I was used to) and some light practice exercises for homework. I haven’t encountered any other classes yet that as hands-on as Management- lots of work but a really fun class if your team of 10-12 kids works together well.</p>

<p>What about time for Extracurricular clubs and stuff?
I could’ve done much better in this area. At the end of the semester, I just found myself on a bunch of listserves. If you want clubs, there are TONS and you definitely have the time. I wanted to do something with theatre but I was sort of intimidated because I had friends getting rejected from some more exclusive clubs (student gov. committees and acting/musical groups). I had never seen clubs that rejected people before.</p>

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<p>@FightingQuaker- I totally agree with your comments about high rises. If that is for you, then that is also great to apply to as a freshmen because you don’t have to fight for it later. Its really worth it to sacrifice living in the quad… other than being “pretty” and “full of freshman” there aren’t many other perks.</p>

<p>If you could turn back the clock and become high school seniors again, would Penn still be your first choice?
I’d like to think so. I do get a bit jealous when my high school friends at less-competitive schools get A’s as I get mixed A’s and B’s, but I think I would still choose Penn if I could do it over.</p>

<p>What don’t you like about Penn?
I don’t like the food service program at all. I really had high expectations because all of the hype this year was that the food was going to be so much better as Penn switched from Aramark to Bon Appetit. I never experienced Aramark, but Bon Appetit is nothing to write home about in my book. I bought the mandatory food plan with the fewest number of meals. When I still had leftovers, I went to the “express dining” in quad (McClelland Hall). At M.H. you can use a meal swipe to buy 1 sandwich or salad, three sides (chips/granola bar/fruit), and a drink (soda/juice). They only let me use one meal swipe at a time. Penn expects you to not use all of your meals and it really bothers me that we pay $4000 for a meal plan to be told we can’t spend multiple “meals” at a time. In the end, I went back to M.H. obsessively this past week and narrowed my number of leftover meals from near 50, to 15 in four days.</p>

<p><em>Ending rant</em> Other than that, I don’t have any other dislikes.</p>

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<p>Penn was actually my third choice.</p>

<p>I applied to Stanford EA, and got my heart broken. After all my app. returns came back, I had to choose between Penn and Duke, and obviously chose here.</p>

<p>I LOVE Penn. I’m so happy that I ended up here, as it was the perfect fit for me. I love Philadelphia. It’s so easy to move around the city and so many things to do once you are in it. I love the campus. What really told me that this place was “home” for me was when I got off the train on campus coming back from Thanksgiving Break (I was so happy to be back). </p>

<p>There are SO many opportunities for students here that it still boggles my mind. Last year our application had a question that went a little like “choose a professor at Penn and tell us what you would research with him and why.” In my first semester here I have already gotten to be on a first-name basis with the professor that I wrote about, and this summer I will be conducting research under his guidance.</p>

<p>I haven’t been bored once here. There’s always something to do, whether it’s attending one of the billion student group’s performances, doing community service projects, or just hanging out. </p>

<p>What I don’t like? The elevators at Harrison are ridiculously slow and unreliable. Penn’s administrative services are also unreliable, confusing, and just plain strange at times. Having 50 extra meals on my Freshman-required meal plan also sucks (and yes, I got the Liberty plan). There are a bunch of little things, but even when things really suck with school work or roommate issues or whatever, I’m still as happy as ever that I’m here. </p>

<p>So, if I could turn the clocks back, I would have applied here ED without hesitation. Don’t want to sound like a broken record, but I love it here.</p>

<p>But as my story implies, just because you might not get in your first choice or dream school, doesn’t mean that you won’t be happy were you end up.</p>

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<p>If anyone else has any additional questions, I’m sure FightingQuaker or myself would be willing to give them a shot.</p>

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<p>1) How many classes are interactive/hands-on/practical/case studies, those types of things?</p>

<p>2) What’s the social life like there? Are there a decent amount of parties and events, is it common to mix with other universities and hang out, how easy is it to do this, etc</p>

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<p>This is probably most applicable to the college, but would recommend taking all sector requirements, or replacing a few of them with seminars?</p>

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<p>have you guys heard of transfering among different schools? what are some distinct qualities that each school has? is it difficult to transfer school/major if you don’t feel your current position befits you?</p>