Princeton, Wharton, or Georgetown SFS

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I am so happy that I have such choices, but I really don't know what I am going to do. </p>

<p>I love US politics. I'm especially fascinated by the political process itself and the media's role in society and politics. That said, I am also interested in both economics and international relations. </p>

<p>Also, there is a big elephant in the room. My sister, a Wharton alum, told me after I sent my apps in that I ought to see a friend of hers, a very prominent fellow Penn alum, for an interview. The catch was that her friend would not interview me unless I would guarantee that I would go to Wharton if I got in. I took this commitment seriously, but when my sister found out I got into Princeton, she told me I ought to break off the commitment to her friend. I know that her friend made me tell her I would commit because she believed that if I didn't go to Wharton, it would impact her relationship with Wharton, and that would hurt her for future recommendations and for when her kids apply. As far as my sister goes, she would be thrilled if I went to Princeton, but I think she would be mad if I went to Georgetown.</p>

<p>Princeton obviously has the Woodrow Wilson school. Given that my interests relating to government aren't limited to one specific area, Woodrow Wilson would probably best cater to what I want to study. Princeton has fantastic housing too. However, I don't know anyone going there, and I got the sense when I visited that it wouldn't be nearly as much fun as the other two schools (PLEASE let me know if this is a flawed assumption- I know they have the eating clubs and there are parties, but I also sensed that everyone there was really intense and that people weren't as much fun as those at the other schools). I am worried about the influence of grade deflation on law school prospects. Also, Princeton is a nicer area than Philly, but I like Georgetown's surrounding area MUCH more.</p>

<p>I visited Penn with a friend who is going to go there, and we stayed with two other people we know. I know it would be great to go into a school knowing a bunch of people pretty well. Penn has frats, which is a plus in my book, and I would get about the same level of quality in my education there as at Princeton. Overall, the people seemed a lot more relaxed than those at Princeton. However, I am worried about the fact that business is only tangentially related to what I am really interested in. Some of the Wharton kids said I would have the freedom to study politics/government too, but I don't know if I am convinced. Housing sucks to state it bluntly. Also, the area is horrible compared to the others. A lady in an SUV asked me and my friend if we had drugs to sell to her...</p>

<p>Georgetown SFS presents its own problems. I LOVE Washington. I have spent many summers interning in DC, and Georgetown's campus and surrounding area are great. It has the advantages of a city school without the disadvantages. SFS would cater to my interests more than Wharton would. Also, the crowd at Georgetown seems like a lot more fun than the crowd at Princeton (and Penn, to an extent). However, though I am interested in international relations, I consider that field to be a subset of my overall interests, and I wonder about whether I would feel restricted similarly to how I would feel at Wharton. Also, Georgetown isn't quite as prestigious as Wharton and Princeton, so I wonder about how my law school prospects would be impacted. Will the negatives of grade deflation at Princeton outweighed by its higher level of prestige compared to Georgetown when I do my law school applications? Also, if I am planning on living in DC, should I wait until law school (if I would get in) for Georgetown? </p>

<p>Thank you so much for any advice you give me.</p>

<p>EDIT: Another thing I forgot to add was that I got the sense that though it is a great school, it isn't as "academic" as Princeton and (maybe) Penn. In some ways, that is a good thing, as it takes away from the kind of tension I felt at Princeton, but it's also a big negative (unless this perception is not accurate, which is quite possible).</p>

2

<p>I’d go to Wharton.</p>

3

<p>[Edmund</a> A. Walsh School of Foreign Service - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_A._Walsh_School_of_Foreign_Service]Edmund”>Walsh School of Foreign Service - Wikipedia)</p>

<p>See above. I don’t think you turn down the opportunity to have class with an array of superstars that includes the former heads of two European Community Nations, the former Secretary of State, the Former CIA Director, the former National Security Advisor, the former head of US AID, the former US UN Ambassador, and past US Senators (Chuck Hagel teaches right now). You can always ponder great questions in Princeton NJ or learn how to accumulate beans in Phildelphia, Pa. But the chance to interact with the people who literally have changed the world and can teach you how to change it is something you don’t turn away from without very careful thought. As an SFS alum, with any sort of acadmeic achievement , you will have opportunites at all the top graduate schools including Wharton and Princeton in four short years. My apartment group from SFS included a Berekeley PhD, a UPenn JD, a Georgetown JD. a Michigan MBA and a Columbia MBA and none of us were Summas or even Magnas. SFS is a very, very special place.</p>

4

<p>Also, that Wharton gal, however prominient she is, is a total jerk to only interview you unless you guaranteed her you would attend Wharton. By golly, you are making one of the most important decisions in your life, and the fit at the school you attend is very important. I also find it kind of funny that a Whartonite, of all people, fears the competition so much that she would make that kind of silly demand. If this gal is as prominent as you say she is she will be classy and magnanimous in supporting whatever decision you make with no effect on anyone’s relationship with Wharton. Wharton knows that anyone it accepts will have all the best competing options and that sometimes another choice might be made.</p>

5

<p>I don’t think that Wharton is necessarily the right place for you, given that your interests don’t appear to revolve around business, which is what Wharton excels at. </p>

<p>I have a son at Penn and a daughter at Princeton and to be honest, I feel that the academic offerings at Princeton are superior to those at Penn (and Princeton professors are more interesting and accessible). I don’t agree with your view that Princeton is more intense than the other schools–I think that the students are fairly relaxed and low-key. I know that my daughter feels that the social life at Princeton is lots of fun. Everyone goes to the street and there seem to be constant parties, theater, plays etc. The administration at Penn has not taken the sorts of steps I would have liked to see to make the school a more welcoming place. For example, there is no dining hall in the Quad and most of the students are more or less on their own. This leads to lots of kids getting their meals at the WaWa, which in turn leads to some kids feeling isolated. At Princeton, by contrast, everyone eats in their college for the first two years which develops a sense of togetherness. Penn’s lack of focus on bringing students together and helping them feel welcome extends to the dorms as well. The residential programs are not very meaningful and many students do not get on campus housing their sophomore year, which leads to some odd roommate pairings off campus and some dissatisfied students.</p>

<p>Although there is much about Penn to admire, I would definitely choose Princeton over Penn. I don’t know much about Georgetown, although I believe that the resources at Princeton are unsurpassed and I don’t think that Princeton is the sort of ivory tower that vienna man has described. Princeton is a vital institution with very normal kids who are also very bright. While many are pondering great questions, they are also engaged in the community, involved in extracurriculars and they are generally caring and fun people.</p>

6

<p>And vienna man, it is not unusual for people who don’t know a student well, but who might be able to give a recommendation that carries weight, to say that he/she will only do it if the student is planning to attend the school in question. I don’t know what the OP will do about this (and he should examine his conscience), but I don’t think that it makes the recommender a jerk at all–it’s actually a fairly common practice in this type of situation, because the recommender doesn’t want his/her subsequent recommendations to carry less weight.</p>

7

<p>I was really worried about breaking that promise. I didn’t even really consider that to be an option until my sister and parents started talking about breaking that commitment as though it was nothing. All my friends and teachers say I shouldn’t let that kind of thing keep me from following my heart. However, I still do have reservations… That’s why I included the info in the thread. I totally understand my sister’s friend’s concern, and that’s why I would feel bad betraying her.</p>

8

<p>Good Lord, how is anyone’s stature in making a recommendation to Wharton going to be diminished because the recommendee chose Princeton or Georgetown instead and what real value, do conditional recommendations that don’t have the recommendee’s best interests at heart have anyway? Recommendations should not be made to affirm one’s own sense of present or future power. If the person was so afraid of Wharton’s future reaction, she shouldn’t have made any recommendation at all. The recommendation was not about her but about you. This is the life of someone that is 18 years old and should not be subject to what looks like a petty power play.</p>

<p>Flangus make your decision based on what is right for you. If this person is as great as you tell us she is, she might be disappointed, or might not make recommendations in the future but she will understand. And believe me, Wharton will understand too given the other options involved.</p>

9

<p>Bump…</p>

<p>I hope I’m not bumping this thread too soon. I just don’t want it to get lost yet. Thanks to everyone for their advice. Anyone else???</p>

10

<p>Princeton!</p>

11

<p>Princeton seconded! And it sure ain’t that intense when you’re there, I promise :)</p>

12

<p>So is it correct to assume that grade deflation at Princeton isn’t something to be seriously concerned about as far as law school goes? And should I not worry about missing out on the fun side of the college experience at Princeton?</p>

13

<p>You will have fun in college if you want to. There are very few campuses that I can think of that would prevent that.</p>

14

<p>Unless, you know you want to go into banking, I’d recommend Princeton and Georgetown, and finally Wharton. If you want the $100k job immediately after graduation go for Wharton, it’s the surest path to Wall Street (but it sounds like law school is your goal). On the other hand Princeton and Georgetown will offer a more well rounded education and strong traditions, academics, and prestige. Given your interest in law, I think your sister is right to recommend that you break the Wharton committment. She knows Wharton and she knows you.</p>

<p>Between Princeton and SFS, I’d go for fit. If you love Washington you can’t go wrong, and most likely you will thrive. As they say, if you’re not happy with what you’re doing you’re not successful. For what it’s worth Georgetown’s basketball team runs a Princeton Offense. Good luck with your decision.</p>

15

<p>I would go to Princeton</p>