<p>So I am unable to visit UPenn but am trying to make this decision.</p>
<p>I visited Brown and loved the laid back feel but was unsettled by a few elitist students I met and frankly what seemed to be a lack of cute straight guys on campus (although I have nothing against their counterparts!)</p>
<p>Haha I am looking to concentrate in the health related fields at either school (Health & Society vs. Community Health).</p>
<p>All in all I was wondering if anyone had some insight or personal knowledge of both of these schools to help me make my blind decision!</p>
<p>I know very little about the “Community Health” major at Brown, but Penn’s Health & Society program is very strong. Penn is a pioneer of interdisciplinary majors, especially between sciences and humanities; their history and sociology of science majors was one of the first, along with Harvard, almost 40 years ago. Health & Society is similar in this regard. You cannot go wrong with any humanity at Penn - history, English, sociology, anthropology (I am indeed aware that the latter two are social sciences, but they’re related to the OP’s interests) and so on are all top-5 or top-10 deparments.</p>
<p>As for the guys: there are cute, single guys. As long as you aren’t too particular about ethnicity and religion (it might be harder to find a single, white, non-Jewish male, seriously, haha), you shall not be disappointed.</p>
<p>If you really want to get a feel for the school, though, come visit!</p>
<p>If you’re picking a college based on how attractive your found the guys after one visit, you should stay home and mature for a while before attending any college.</p>
<p>Also, if you’re looking into branching out into social sciences or econ, Penn is also the perennial favorite:
http:/ /ww w.mychan ces.net/forums/index.php?topic=268.0</p>
<p>Remove the space in “chances” after you copy and paste the link</p>
That was me. And I was (and am), to quote zoolander, “really, really, RIDICULOUSLY good-looking” Alas I have graduated.</p>
<p>Penn is an amazing place. The sheer breadth of academic activities is spectacular; Brown has its strengths but it cannot hold a candle to Penn and its 12 schools.</p>
<p>decanela: Brown was among the schools that I turned down for Penn, and I have to say, it was probably the most difficult college for me to turn down. The freedom seemed amazing and after the constraints of high school, Brown seemed like heaven.</p>
<p>Yet, after having spent nearly a year at Penn I look back at my senior-year self and laugh. I respect Brown completely, but ultimately some basic practical knowledge is necessary. I only have two requirements left to fulfill in the College, and I didn’t even try hard to fulfill them. The courses are not difficult and can be applied to every field.</p>
<p>Penn offers its undergrads unparalleled opportunities, and though Brown might seem liberating, they have some “Catch-22” policies: they make it very hard to graduate early if you are eligible to do so, there’s no summa cum laude status etc.</p>
<p>My cousin loved Brown, but she felt that upon graduating, she had been ripped off because she hadn’t been forced to become an educated adult.</p>
<p>Penn is amazing. The Health & Societies major is incredible. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love it here.</p>
<p>Hey I’m going to Penn in the fall and I actually applied to Brown but crossed it off from my top five in the early fall (good thing cause I’m on the waitlist)</p>
<p>but the reason is that i overnighted in october and I was with a lot of wealthy kids from RI, although i had a really good time and enjoyed the school i just didn’t feel it was a good fit.</p>
<p>i just spent 2 nights/ 3 days at Penn with my main concern being that the kids would be wealthy and elitist (I’m on nearly full financial aid) but I found them to be really chill and I really enjoyed it a lot. </p>
<p>Esp. if you are thinking about health and society which is a very popular major at Penn, i would definitely choose Penn. The resources and opportunities with the medical school across the street are unparallel! </p>
<p>Good luck on your decision! both great schools!</p>
<p>p.s. I did meet one girl over the weekend who perferred Brown because she felt the kids were very happy- however my host was more excited about Penn than anyone I met at Brown</p>
<p>^Oh you better believe Penn has it’s fair share of wealthy and elitist people. It’s very obvious that a lot of people have money. I’m not trying to discourage you from going here, but I don’t want you going in thinking otherwise. I come from a comfortable background but some of the displays of wealth around here are really off-putting.</p>
<p>Oh yes I’m not really concerned with being in an extremely wealthy environment or not. I know that both schools are full of students from both ends of the spectrum. In fact when I visited Brown the majority of the students I happened to speak to were on pretty hefty scholarships.</p>
<p>Yup, I definitely agree. All top schools have a wide range of students from all socioeconomic brackets. decanela: I’m glad my post helped. Feel free to PM me if you need anything else : )</p>
<p>Okay thank you! I will be spending one day (May 30) at Penn before I make my decision & this thread has certainly helped me over my Brown infatuation. I can honestly say I feel impartial to both schools so I can clearly make my decision based on fit :)</p>
<p>Brown has better law and medical school placement than Penn. Penn is stronger in business (Wharton effect).</p>
<p>Brown is more prestigious at undergrdauate level in spite of Penn’s better US News ranking (the US News ranking formula was designed by Penn alum). Brown is more selective than Penn.</p>
Alas I have graduated.</p>