Penn vs. Northwestern vs. Duke

Hi everyone! I know there are already existing threads to compare these schools, but I thought it would be helpful to hear some new opinions! I am a high school junior, and Penn has been my dream school for a while now; I love the idea of the “social Ivy,” the access to America’s 5th largest city while still having a distinct, green campus, and it seems to be the perfect place to combine my interests of medicine and business (through the LSM program).

Because of the reasons previously listed, I have always thought that I would apply ED to the LSM program at Penn. However, more recently, I have begun to second-guess myself. Duke and Northwestern both seem very appealing to me as well, as they have amazing academics combined with great sports which I would love! I also like the idea of going to college in a new region, as I am from NY. With that being said, I would most likely prefer the location of NU over Duke.

I am not sure I will have the chance to tour Duke and/or NU, so I was hoping I could get some more opinions on the different vibes, social lives (I will most likely get involved in Greek life), as well as academic opportunities at these schools. Thanks so much, any opinions are greatly appreciated!

These three schools have very similar social vibes and are on exactly the same academic level.

If you want to do banking Duke/Penn might place slightly better, and if you want to do consulting NU might place slightly better, but the difference is fairly negligible and a diligent student at each of these schools will have very similar academic opportunities.

Duke has by far the best weather. Then Penn. Then a gap. Then NU. That’s probably the biggest difference.

If those are your interests, you genuinely sound like the perfect Penn candidate! I am wondering what is making you second guess yourself? Both Duke and Northwestern are incredible schools but given your interests, Penn’s programs seem much more well tailored to your goals. Neither Duke nor Northwestern has a program like LSM that is as well established, as well supported, and as deeply integrated into the fabric of the University. Even if you weren’t accepted to LSM but you were accepted to Wharton or the College, you could still create an education that is almost identical to the coordinated dual degree program because Penn’s one university policy allows you to easily take classes, do research, or participate in the intellectual life at all of Penn’s undergraduate and Graduate/Professional Schools (which sit on one, contiguous, green and urban campus). In contrast, if you are hoping to do research at Northwestern Med or their hospital, you’d have to travel all the way into Chicago and I’m not even sure that its an option that’s readily available to NU undergrads or Duke undergrads. Furthermore, Penn is the only of these three schools with an undergraduate business school (Wharton) with resources, faculty, and staff that are uniquely dedicated to your undergraduate education. While you can do a certificate at Kellogg, it’s only a four-course program and it doesn’t culminate in an actual degree. In contrast, even if you aren’t enrolled in Wharton, you can take as many classes as your schedule can handle and you can take them both at the undergraduate and graduate level, giving you unparalleled access to the best minds in business education in the world. At Penn you can also do a “university minor” which would allow you to take courses from two of penn’s undergrad schools (in your case, wharton and the college) despite only being officially enrolled in one of the schools. Also, for a student with your interests, you shouldn’t overlook the value of having the new Pennovation Works center on campus: https://www.pennovation.upenn.edu/ – they’re doing exactly the kind of theoretical yet practically minded work for which an LSM degree prepares you. I can absolutely see you taking advantage of Pennovation Works and so many of Penn’s other opportunities.

Penn’s career services are also uniquely equipped to help students with your interests because they’ve been placing LSM students in the careers of their desires since the program’s inception. And there is no school that is better for placing students in business career tracks, including healthcare related business careers, than Penn. Because of Wharton’s presence on campus, all of the best recruiters come to Penn and, because all Penn undergrads from Penn’s four schools (College, Wharton, Nursing, Engineering) share one career services, every student has access to the same opportunities and careers, regardless of the school in which they pursue their majors. And some hyper-selective companies will actually only recruit at Harvard, Penn, Yale, Princeton, and Stanford (http://www.businessinsider.com/harvard-princeton-and-yale-2011-1). And while its true that the recruiters come because of Wharton’s unparalleled reputation, they do hire from all of Penn’s undergrad schools. I was the beneficiary of our single-career-services policy as I was a student in the College who landed a job at one of those firms that only seriously recruits from the aforementioned schools and I wasn’t alone. You can find comprehensive data on where Penn students take their jobs on the career services website and I encourage you to compare the Penn data to whatever you can find from other schools’ websites (i’ve looked at the other schools websites and you won’t find anything nearly as comprehensive).

And finally, as much as NY and Philly are both in the northeast, they are so, so, sooo dissimilar. While Philly has many of the same amenities as NY, their vibes are worlds apart. Philly is much more laid back and significantly more manageable. It is much less crowded and sooo much cheaper. The art, food, culture, concerts, clubs, etc. are much closer together, much more inclusive, and much more accessible regardless of socioeconomic background (and age!)-- i wouldn’t worry about duplicating your New York experience in Philly. Sometimes its shocking that philly is only an hour from NYC…

Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have about Penn. I considered all of these schools but ultimately chose Penn for many of the reasons you mention above!

It is difficult for me to think of three schools more similar to each other in atmosphere, reputation, strengths, and career opportunities. If I was to try to break the top dozen national universities into groups, those three would comprise the “pre-professional” group. Any one of them would serve you well. Duke has the best weather, Northwestern has the most exciting city, Penn has the Ivy label… honestly, they are almost three campuses of the same school.

@PennCAS2014 Thanks so much for your detailed response! It was both helpful and insightful.

@1d51jklad1 and @ThankYouforHelp Thanks for pointing out how similar these three schools are. I am sure I would be happy at any of them.

Bump. Can anyone else comment on differences in the social aspects of these schools (i.e. in terms of Greek life)?

@confusedcolleges For your interests (medicine and business) Penn is the strongest , but Duke and NU schools are very strong as well.

Specifically the LSM program is a super unique opportunity. Amazing individual attention and guidance. help with getting internships and research positions. Penn already provides amazing help with all of that but LSM takes it to the next level, there is a separate LSM office responsible for only LMS students. People routinely turn down HYPSM to attend LSM. if you do not get into lam you can still pursue an uncoordinated dual degree between CAS and Wharton, which is the same curriculum as LSM.

In term of overall strength, recognition, reputation etc Penn has a slight edge but the difference is not big.

In terms of social life Penn and Duke have the edge. However Penn is in a big city which provides more opportunities to do stuff and explore. At the same time Philly is not huge and overwhelming and Penn does have a distinct campus. Durham has really been improving as a town as well and he Duke campus is beautiful.