Penn LSM vs. Harvard vs. Stanford

<p>Hi CC users!</p>

<p>I need some opinions regarding my eventual choice between colleges. Right now, my top three choices to debate between are Penn's Life Sciences and Management program (life science track), Harvard, and Stanford. Specifically, I posted in the Penn section to ask about some of the pros and cons offered by the LSM program that is different from the other two schools. Finally, any votes on a final choice would be helpful too.</p>

<p>My worry regarding the LSM program is that it's curriculum is more narrow than say, an education at the other two institutions. Most people from Wharton for some reason end up in finance, and because of my worries regarding this career field's stability in the future, I am not sure I would want to pursue this.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for all your help!</p>

<p>I can't comment on LSM because I really don't know anything about it. But about the overwhelming number of finance concentrations in Wharton- so many people go into it because for the past few decades it's been the most lucrative sector of the business world. If the recent losses on Wall Street are consistent, I'm sure more people will be choosing other concentrations. Currently plenty of people do choose other ones, which have just as strong programs as finance. ( Marketing and real estate development are pretty popular. ) Good luck with your decision!</p>

<p>While it's true that the LSM program is designed to create people who will excel in a particular field, Penn's relatively open curriculum and "one university" policies (undergrads can take courses in ANY of the U's schools) mean that you can craft a superlative (and very broad) education at Penn.</p>

<p>ADF8,
It is true that finance could be up and down, but it is reflect the economics up and down isn't? in other word, finance would stand on top of other industry always. It is also true some specific area could be better choice during certain time period, but in general finance would be a basic unless you don't like it.
Just my 2 cents</p>

<p>These comments, which are similar to ones I've posted in other threads, seem relevant here:</p>

<p>Penn offers a much greater breadth, depth, and variety of academic opportunities for undergraduates than either Harvard or Stanford, and the school is very serious about its "One University" policy. Under that policy, Penn strongly encourages all of its undergraduates to take courses in more than one of the undergraduate schools, and to pursue broad, interdisciplinary interests. So it's very common for students in the College of Arts and Sciences to take courses in Wharton, or even in the Engineering or Nursing schools. And of course, vice versa. Penn undergrads are also able to take courses in most of Penn's highly regarded graduate and professional schools (such as the Law School, School of Design, Annenberg School For Communication, School of Public and Urban Policy, etc.). For example, see the large ad on page 9 of today's Daily Pennsylvanian, in which Penn's law school announces numerous courses open to non-law students for the coming semester:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/paper882/documents/c12ah931.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/paper882/documents/c12ah931.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Penn's "One University" policy makes for a unique and diverse academic experience--and a chance to explore far beyond the traditional liberal arts curriculum--unavailable at just about any other school, including Harvard and Stanford.</p>

<p>Penn also offers unique research opportunities for undergraduates in that the bulk of its eminent health sciences research complex, including its medical school, dental school, nursing school, veterinary school, hospital, research facilities, etc., are all located within a few blocks of each other on the same relatively compact campus that contains all of Penn's undergraduate and other graduate schools. Penn strongly encourages undergrads to get involved in research, with a separate office devoted exclusively to undergraduate research and fellowships.</p>

<p>45 is right. Penn's breadth is incomparable and my own undergraduate experience has been much richer for it.</p>