Penn Preview

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>Planning to fly from San Fran. to Philly for April 5th (Friday) Penn Preview Day. Tentative schedule:</p>

<p>Wednesday: arrive late evening
Thursday: attend classes
Friday: Preview
Saturday: get a feel for Penn on the weekends
Sunday: fly out afternoon</p>

<p>I am traveling on my own and staying with a friend. There is next to zero information available on the Penn website. </p>

<p>I would appreciate:
-schedule suggestions
-travel information (best way to get from airport to campus?)
-any word about what I should expect during Penn Previews/what accommodations Penn makes for visiting students
-information about where I'll be able to eat (will I be able to go to Penn dining since I'm not yet a student)?
-any other words of wisdom you have!</p>

<p>Thank you!!</p>

2

<p>Hi, I am sure there will be much info posted about your questions, but I am glad to tell you what I know from previous years. No accomodations for sleep were made for visiting students, but it seems you have a place to stay. There should be a full day’s schedule of events planned by Penn. I don’t know if Penn will give you food, but there is a food court near campus with Quiznos, and some others as well as the food trucks so you can get food inexpensively there. Sorry, I don’t know how to get from the airport which is a little far from campus. There is a trolly and train line (30th St Station) close to Penn, but I doubt that connects with the airport. You might have to take a shuttle or a cab. Oh, and you can always buy a meal at the dining hall if you prefer that to see what the food is like. That is typically more expensive though than eating on your own.</p>

3

<p>If you’ve never been to Philly, take some time and check out city. </p>

<p>I suggest a cab or a ride from a friend at the airport. It’s a distance though so it’ll cost a few bucks.</p>

4

<p>Easiest transport is Taxi( 15 min. approx $30.) There are a couple dozen places to eat from fast food to sit down restaurants surronding the campus.( Great burgers @ Bobby’s Burgers 3925 Walnut ave.</p>

5

<p>You can go to [HopStop.com</a> - Philadelphia Transit Directions: Subway, Train, Light Rail, Bus, Ferry, Bike & Taxi](<a href=“http://philadelphia.hopstop.com/]HopStop.com”>http://philadelphia.hopstop.com/) and map out your desired route and send it to your phone via text.</p>

<p>Cheapest is taking SEPTA to 30th St. station and meet your friend there or walk to the university.
Taxi has a fixed price of about $30. You can contact other students if you can share a cab at the airport.</p>

6

<p>Easiest transportation is taking a cab, but if you’re feeling adventurous, you’ll save money by taking the train/trolley/subway (I’ve added a link below). @burry, you can take the regional from the airport to 30th, where you can then transfer to the trolley line for free, which takes you right into campus (37th & Spruce).</p>

<p>Attending classes will be fun, but if your guest isn’t with you, you may not be able to get into certain buildings. Same goes for housing; you’ll need to have your host either check you in each time you return or (I think) you can get a several-day guest pass. Don’t quote me on that.</p>

<p>Penn doesn’t make many accommodations for students during Preview Days, since they’re single day events and lots of families really do come into the city for just the day. Previews this year are going to be a little bit of a better fit for the early decision students (according to an article in the school paper; linked below), so I don’t know what you should expect, but it will be good. KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THE PENN BAND! We’re loud and musical and lots of fun and I’m nearly positive that we’ll be playing at Preview Days.</p>

<p>Food. You can eat in the dining halls, but it’s pretty expensive if you’re paying out of pocket. Your host, assuming they are a student here with a dining plan, should have ten guest swipes (Moocher Meals) that (s)he can use to get you access (free for you!). If you’re visiting here though, I wouldn’t suggest that you stick to the dining halls; explore the food trucks! They are really cheap and very tasty (pro-tip: most trucks don’t operate on weekends). There are lots of restaurants nearby ranging from the familiar and the (sorry, @rebel!) overrated–Chipotle, Bobby’s Burger Palace, Cosi–to the much more interesting and frankly more appealing: Koch’s Deli, White Dog, Pod, Sang Kee… I’ve attached ANOTHER link with an exhaustive list of restaurants. (Btw, if you want a really good burger, and I don’t mean to step on rebel’s toes TOO hard here, check out Copabanana at 40th and Spruce).</p>

<p>I rarely have words of true wisdom, but let me try my best:

  1. Have your host sign you in as a guest to Van Pelt library so you can go digging in the stacks and check out the resources.
  2. Don’t be stupid and get drunk and crazy, especially as a guest. I don’t know your host and I don’t know you, but I promise you that you will have an awful time if you’re sick and unhappy while you’re away from home.
  3. Write a list of opinion questions that you’re dying to hear about from students and then ASK THEM. Seriously. If you find students that aren’t rushing from class to class, stop them and ask them a question or two. They’ll answer them and you’ll have some very cool information for the coming year, and maybe even a few more upperclassmen friends. (Where’s the best place to room freshman year? What’s a good tip for incoming freshmen? What’s the best musical group on campus? [Penn Band, duh.])
  4. Get as many fliers and business cards as you want. Contact leaders of groups that you’re interested in several weeks beforehand and see if they want to meet up with you (spoiler alert: they will).
  5. Take a half hour to sit on a bench on Locust during a school day and just people-watch.
  6. Don’t sit on the bench with the statue of Ben Franklin. Just don’t.</p>

<p>Sorry I wrote so much, I just love Penn.</p>

<p>Here’s the basic outline of how to get from the airport via SEPTA (just fix the dates):
[SEPTA</a> | Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority](<a href=“http://airs1.septa.org/bin/query.exe/en?seqnr=1&ident=2i.0167071.1360181160&OK#focus]SEPTA”>http://airs1.septa.org/bin/query.exe/en?seqnr=1&ident=2i.0167071.1360181160&OK#focus)</p>

<p>DP article about the new Preview Days:
[The</a> Daily Pennsylvanian :: Penn Preview Days to undergo changes this spring](<a href=“http://www.thedp.com/article/2012/12/penn-preview-days-will-get-a-makeover-this-spring]The”>Penn Preview Days to undergo changes this spring | The Daily Pennsylvanian)</p>

<p>List of Philly Restaurants (scroll down to “Around Penn”!):
[Philadelphia</a> Restaurant Reviews](<a href=“http://www.cis.upenn.edu/~ungar/restaurants.html]Philadelphia”>http://www.cis.upenn.edu/~ungar/restaurants.html)</p>

<p>A link to the Penn Band website (because that’s my job):
[The</a> University of Pennsylvania Band](<a href=“http://www.dolphin.upenn.edu/pennband/home.html]The”>http://www.dolphin.upenn.edu/pennband/home.html)</p>

7

<p>I am the parent of an ED class of 2017 student. I have a couple of questions. Is the Preview day only for the students? I ask because at my daughter’s school, the preview day was for both parents and students (they had seperate programs for the parents and students). Do parents go or is it mostly for the students? I would like to go but do not want to intruder. If it is only for the students then I do not want to get in my son’s way.</p>

8

<p>Jreed,I was comparing to Five Guys etc. We liked Bobby’s alot better. We will try Copa next time. Thx</p>

9

<p>@Glennu
The Preview Days are for the whole family. Obviously it’s mostly for the students, but the university encourages parents to come (like you mentioned, there will probably be parts where students and parents are separated). I would call the admissions office for a better answer than mine.</p>

<p>Also, props on being the best parent ever for not wanting to be the tagalong at a college preview.</p>

<p>@rebel11,
Bobby’s is worth trying once or twice in the same way that Pat’s and Geno’s are worth going to for cheesesteaks–once.</p>

10

<p>Thx jreed, My son is an ED admit to Class of 2017 & my daughter will be a very strong applicant for 2018.She spent the day last week w/ Kelly Writers and Prof. Levin’s class. Will be spending alot of time @ Penn. FYI If you ever want a REAL SUB try the White House in Atlantic City(I’ve been eating them for 50 years)Go Quakers</p>

11

<p>Penn Previews are DEFINITELY for both the students AND the parents. In fact, at one point during the day, parents and students are split up for sessions aimed specifically at each. It’s certainly a family event–although, if parents can’t make it (because of distance, etc.), there will be plenty of students who are there by themselves.</p>

<p>Also, complimentary (if I recall correctly) lunch for the whole family in one of Penn’s dining halls WILL be included, if they continue with past practice.</p>

12

<p>Sweet! Thanks for all the advice.</p>

13

<p>I would spend more time asking students’ opinions and seeing if you like the surrounding area than trying out classes. The latter option is really hit or miss whether you’ll like the university since all the ivies have a similar proportion of interesting to crappy professors. Essentially, classes are a good way to convince yourself to like Penn if you’re trying to but aren’t sure. Not particularly informative.</p>

<p>Most department information can be gotten from other sources online and you don’t really need to spend time checking out each one either. I would however, ask what students think about their opportunities at college and post grad for their specific field (if it’s one you’re interested in). </p>

<p>Perhaps most importantly, LOCATION MATTERS. How happy you are with just life in general in college will affect your academic performance. Go somewhere you can at least grow to like even if you aren’t blown away. This information is also the hardest to get elsewhere so ask students what living on campus is like and try out a few activities yourself.</p>

14

<p>If you need kosher food or a place for shabbos dinner/etc, Penn Hillel will hook you up.</p>