<p>Hey, I recently got into the College at Penn as a Ben Franklin Scholar, Virginia as an Echols Scholar, and Duke. I’ll be visiting all three schools next week, but I just got the BFS letter today and am now wondering if I even have to visit! I think Penn will get the nod, but I am looking for some input on how it measures up to the other two schools. </p>
<p>I really love math, and will probably end up doing something mathematical in business, so Wharton should be a plus. I don’t know much about any of the math departments, though. Also, I would like to know hte networking benefits of each.</p>
<p>I realize UVA is probably not quite on the same level academically as the other two schools, but I used to live in Virginia and have always thought about going there. I guess my questions about UVA would concern how much of a step down, if at all, it is from a Penn or a Duke. </p>
<p>Is the BFS really that much of a benefit?
-seminar courses worthwhile?
-research opportunities that much better than, e.g. Duke?
-useful advising?</p>
<p>I don't mean to sound so skeptical, I just want to get a sense for myself as to whether this really is a no-brainer.</p>
<p>My D was named as an Echols Scholar at UVA for this year and was named a University Scholar at Penn (similar to BFS, maybe one notch below) and was also admitted to Duke. We are from Virginia so she wanted the more diverse experience that Penn could offer since UVA is 2/3 Virginians. She chose Penn over Duke because she is into classical music and the opportunities in Philly way exceed those in Durham in this area such as $8 student rush tickets for the Philadelphia Orchestra, one of the best in the nation. There is special advising for the BFS and University Scholars, special small seminar classes only open to these types of students, weekly luncheons (free food!) where students present their research and they are paying for her to do research next summer in France. Pretty hard to beat this combo! Good luck!</p>