<p>As you can guess from the message's title, I am debating between Wharton and Princeton. I also know that I will eventually want to enter the business world. I have obviously noticed how the major difference between these two cirriculums is that Wharton business is experiencial while Princeton economics is theoretical. As of now, I have no preference. I am just curious about other peoples' opinions on this issue. I also am curious what most people decide to be the overall "better" option based on quality of education, prestige, social life, location, etc. While I know how one option is not good for everyone, I am still curious as to which option seems more appealing to most people. </p>
<p>Also, I have posted this message on the UPenn board... so dont be afraid to be biased (although objective opinions are obviously still greatly appreciated).</p>
<p>even if people don't feel like writing a lot.. if u could just write a one word answer, "princeton" or "wharton", it would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>both are great; visit. cause one is a city and the other is a rural area.</p>
<p>i can't really say, but if you're really set on business then go</p>
<p>Trump is at the Penn Club of NYC all the time</p>
<p>wow.. on the upenn thread... upenn has been voted "better" by a landslide... is this true.. id like to hear more princeton opinions</p>
<p>"I have obviously noticed how the major difference between these two cirriculums is that Wharton business is experiencial while Princeton economics is theoretical."</p>
<p>This is probably very true and should point you in the right direction. If business is your thing, you need to get to the place that's going to best prepare you it, and doing is always better than looking at it on paper.</p>
<p>posted by snipanlol:
"Princeton lies isolated, it is small, almost all students are of the same age since there are barely any graduate and professional schools, everyone lives in dorms. Quite similar to a summer camp.</p>
<p>I am not putting any value into it, if a summer camp-like experience is what you want, by all means go for it."</p>
<p>i always find it amusing when people call princeton "isolated." it sits right in the middle of the nation's most densely populated state, 10 miles from that state's capital (trenton), 45 miles from philadelphia, and 50 miles from new york city. in fact, if you draw a straight line between philadelphia and new york, you'll see that princeton lies almost ON that line. they're all connected by the northeast corridor of the new jersey transit rail system.</p>
<p>as for the "landslide" vote on the penn board, well, isn't that to be expected, considering the source? you even said bias was okay.</p>
<p>i know.. . bias was fine.. so i guess it was expected... i was just hoping that the fact that it was a landslide on the penn board would motivate people on the princeton board to speak</p>
<p>Isolation lies in effort needed, not in physical distance. How often do you and your classmates honestly venture into NY or Philly? Trenton? There is a difference between taking a stroll downtown or doing a day-long excursion - and that is the difference between Penn and Princeton. I guess it is simply a matter of defining what isolation is.</p>
<p>As I said, each campus has its own merits. It is a matter of preference. </p>
<p>Also, studentforever. If you want to debate what I was saying, please do so in the original thread. Don't go around posting the same thing in several different threads around.</p>
<p>Proximity to a city is personal preference. I cannot comment.</p>
<p>Hiring grads however I have a great deal of experience. If you want to be a consultant or IB and are so smart your sheer cognitive fireworks will wow them, go to Wharton.</p>
<p>But, if you want to manage people, go to Princeton. Because people are unpredictable and a broad and unpredictable education will serve you best. And people like me will see your resume and assume, rightly or wrongly, that you have a broader human component and experience than someone from an undergraduate business program.</p>
<p>Your choice. Know thyself, as someone once said:).</p>
<p>Watchadoing, have you checked some of the previous threads on this topic here?</p>
<p>Don't worry about which education will lead to a better career. You can come out of either school and, if you are bright, motivated, personable, and lucky, do very, very well and join the nation's business elite. The idea that somehow students from either school are at a disadvantage is funny at best. The juniors at Princeton get amazing summer internships in finance, i-banking and consulting, and the seniors get super jobs in those fields. The alumni network stays with you for a lifetime. </p>
<p>I am not sure why you are comparing with Princeton economics; the economics department is, as you say, theoretical. You can get a certificate (minor) in finance and major in anything you want. The sky's the limit. There are students majoring in every imaginable subject, from art history to engineering, and coming out and getting jobs in business. You can explore a totally unrelated passion in doing your senior thesis, or you can focus on something that relates to your future. You can work and study in China or Latin America, among many other places. You can get funding to start your own business. <a href="http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S14/59/17A03/index.xml?section=featured%5B/url%5D">http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S14/59/17A03/index.xml?section=featured</a> At Princeton you can shape your education as you learn and mature and discover new things. </p>
<p>The campuses are so different that most students prefer one to the other. I personally could not wait to leave the Penn campus on my two visits there, and the difference is not the urban environment -- I love Columbia's campus and surroundings. There's something about the beauty of Princeton that is inspiring, no matter how much time you spend there. So if you haven't visited both schools yet, do. That could decide you one way or another.</p>
<p>Maybe it should tell you something that the students on the Wharton board are pushing you to consider this a no-brainer and those of us here are seeking to offer you information so that you can make your own choice. ;)</p>
<p>I always think the idea that there is some strong quality difference in the education given at a school is a great fallacy. Education is not given, it is taken. At any top school in the US, the opportunities will be there and it is up to the student to take advantage of them. The difference in qualityof the education varies mainly with the students, not with the teachers.</p>
<p>So, simply put - choose based on what kind of life you want to live during college.</p>
<p>"But, if you want to manage people, go to Princeton. Because people are unpredictable and a broad and unpredictable education will serve you best. And people like me will see your resume and assume, rightly or wrongly, that you have a broader human component and experience than someone from an undergraduate business program."</p>
<p>I encourage you to look at the MGMT 100 program within Wharton. <a href="http://undergrad.wharton.upenn.edu/curriculum/mgmt100.cfm%5B/url%5D">http://undergrad.wharton.upenn.edu/curriculum/mgmt100.cfm</a></p>
<p>And I don't know why you think that Princeton students have a "broader human component" than Wharton students. Just the way an Econ major at Princeton will focus a large chunk in one area (Econ), Wharton students focus a little more than 50% on business (albeit multiple areas, not just one). But the other half of classes are in liberal arts and sciences... </p>
<p>But above all else, the major focus of Wharton is teamwork and group work, and learning to lead (and manage) both inside and outside of the classroom. So I would argue that Wharton students are much more prepared to manage, certainly more prepared to work in groups and teams, which is inescapable once you leave college. And therefore I think we are equally (if not more) in touch with the "human component."</p>
<p>With regards to the faux isolation... I don't think that being 10 miles from Trenton is anything to brag about.</p>
<p>"I don't think that being 10 miles from Trenton is anything to brag about."</p>
<p>on the other hand, <em>i</em> don't think that being <em>in</em> west philadelphia is anything to brag about. (as will smith notes, west philly has its share of "people up to no good"). in any event, my point was not that proximity to trenton is any great asset (except, perhaps for state legislative work and service opportunities), but that princeton is not, in fact, "isolated." i offered princeton's proximity to trenton as counter-evidence to this claim. that's all.</p>
<p>And Camden's close to both of them so meh...</p>
<p>The ideal of the liberal arts education is that one leaves the specialized, professtional education to graduate school. </p>
<p>You won't hurt your career by going to Princeton because you still can get an M.B.A. at Wharton.</p>
<p>Camden, represent.</p>