I was admitted into both Georgetown University and the University of Pennsylvania as a junior transfer. I’m having trouble deciding between the two. Prior to being admitted, Georgetown was my dream school but I didn’t expect to get into an Ivy. My major is Global Health on a pre-med track. At Penn, it’s Health & Societies with a concentration in Global Health. I am also interested in politics so I will be doing a minor in that field. I am also going to both schools for free so financial aid isn’t a deciding factor for me. I’ve tried contacting Penn’s admissions office but they have been rather dismissive.
I am wondering how I should approach this and I plan on visiting Penn in the next week (I’ve already visited Georgetown). Please post below any insider knowledge you have about either university’s academic rigor (grade inflation/deflation), social life, transfer process, housing stories/tips, climate, internship opportunities, etc.
@Publisher - Their Global Health program has opportunities to intern both abroad and in DC. It focuses heavily on bringing together the natural and social sciences when tackling health issues across the world. They also have clubs focused on medical inequality, which is a passion of mine. I also love their “cura personalis” approach to medicine. I visited it in January and absolutely loved it. I didn’t expect to get into Penn so I haven’t researched it as heavily. Their admissions department didn’t care to answer any of my questions and were unwilling to connect me with the faculty in my major’s department.
If you can contact faculty at Penn like dept chair, do so. Admissions is not the dept you will be dealing with at all. They do not tend to be attentive to transfers
Two great choices. I tend to think of Penn, Georgetown and Northwestern as having some similar qualities and strong pre-professional programs. My son just got admitted to Georgetown, but I loved UPenn. I can’t speak to a comparison of the programs you’re interested in (although heard good things about it at GT). For what it’s worth, here is my take.
What I like most about Penn is the open curriculum which allows you to take classes at Wharton, the law school, etc. I thought the flexibility and cross-disciplinary programs were really unique; Georgetown can be tougher to double-major or take classes in some of the other schools/grad programs. For you as a junior, that may be less of an issue. Penn also is higher on the “prestige” scale–it’s a top-tier school. Georgetown may actually be better known both nationally (we’re on the west coast) and internationally, but for people who really know (e.g., every parent who has ever had a high school senior), Penn is considered a stronger school (the big exception, of course, is SFS). Given your interest in politics, though, you already know you won’t do better than GT.
Socially, I think they are comparable–both have a strong work hard, play hard ethic. Maybe a tip to GT, but Penn has a great social life reputation too–I don’t think you could choose one or the other on that. A clearer nod to GT would be Washington, D.C. vs. Philly. I happen to like Philadelphia a lot, but there is more going on in terms of social, professional, network and internship opportunities in D.C. But, unlike the west coast where we are, all of the major east coast cities are so close that from Philadelphia or D.C., you can access opportunities from D.C. to NY pretty easily. Outside of D.C., I think Penn would open more doors. Finally, most people would likely say that actually living day-to-day in D.C. is better than Philadelphia (YMMV)–it’s a lot of fun. Weather in D.C. should be marginally better too.
If I had the choice, I would choose UPenn because the prestige matters to me and the open curriculum. That being said, these are two top-tier schools and the differences (except Wharton and SFS) are all a matter of degree–you can’t go wrong.
@FlyerDad – I really appreciate your detailed response, it means a lot!
I am leaning towards Georgetown based on personal fit but I am going to visit Penn and contact the department chair of my major. The open curriculum at Penn seems like a great asset to have but I’m not sure how much I could take advantage of in 2 years. And you’re right, regardless of my choice I will end up in a great school.
Also, good luck to your son! I’m sure he’ll love Georgetown.
@FlyerDad: Are you sure that Penn’s open curriculum includes the ability of Penn undergrads to take courses in the law school ?
Also, Penn is known as the social Ivy. Lots of parties.
Agree that Penn-Wharton & Georgetown’s SFS are incredible schools.
I also agree that Wash DC & Philly offer different environments. But I suspect that Penn students have access to internship opportunities in DC just as Georgetown students do.
Both are ultra prestigious universities, decision may depend upon placement in your desired field (Global Health). Permanent job placement is typically affected by availability of internships in your targeted field.
@Publisher - Yeah, I’m looking to get my BS in Global Health before heading to medical school. I want to get my MD, gain experience in clinical work but then eventually transition into healthcare policy & reform.
“Are you sure that Penn’s open curriculum includes the ability of Penn undergrads to take courses in the law school?” ~ Publisher
I’m skeptical of that claim myself.
Penn undergrads can take certain courses across all four of Penn’s UNDERGRAD schools - The College of Arts and Sciences, The School of Nursing, Penn Engineering, and The Wharton School.
But I don’t believe they can take courses in the law school.
Penn undergrads can also take courses in several of Penn’s other grad schools (e.g., School of Design, Annenberg School for Communication, Graduate School of Education, etc.)
Penn upper classmen cannot take first year law school courses. But they can enroll in a law certificate program at the law school for non-law students. And upperclassmen can petition/apply to take an upper level law course on a space available basis (JD & LLM law students get priority) & need permission of the law professor.
This is available at many universities with law schools–especially for other graduate students. Environmental Law is a course that might be of interest to non-law students, for example. Very common that elite MBA & JD programs at the same university allow their students to take two ( Penn allows four) courses for credit at each other’s school (law school & business school).
45 Percenter’s own link states very clearly that only undergrad UPPERCLASSMEN can take courses at the law school. Freshmen and sophomores are excluded, so thousands of undergrads CANNOT take courses at the law school.
“Penn Law welcomes students enrolled in professional and graduate programs at Penn, upper-class undergraduates, and staff to take a class at the Law School.”
@Defensor sophomores can actually take Law school and other grad school classes. As for freshmen, it makes no sense that they would take grad level courses. But the vast majority fo undergrads have the option to do so.