<p>From various sources, I'm getting the impression that Penn has a bad rep when it comes to the classroom experience. I've heard Penn indulges in TA's more compared with other big name schools. I've heard the professors are rather distant from their students and that students learn by themselves. I'm sure learning always comes down to personal initiative and drive, but overall it seems Penn success stories didn't need Penn to make them successful. </p>
<p>I'm looking for a nurturing, stimulating intellectual environment but it just doesn't seem like Penn CAS offers this. My sources include almost a dozen people I know...in all different majors...past and present, as well as student-based surveys like the Princeton Review.</p>
<p>If I'm "driven", is Penn CAS necessary? What are other people's experiences?</p>
<p>Firstly, I wouldn’t put too much emphasis on the student surveys. I haven’t really heard of anyone who actually does them and they generally aren’t very representative of what reality is like. </p>
<p>Professors are not distant at all. Even in large lecture classes, I usually feel very close to my profs and often drop by office hours or go out to lunch etc with them (many of which are paid for by the school hehe).</p>
<p>Academically, what you’ll learn at any school is the same if you just rely on classes. The point of going to places like Penn or any other ivy is the outside of the classroom experience. Student body will be stronger, variety of clubs/activities and of course great prospects after graduation. </p>
<p>If you’re driven, I wouldn’t say Penn CAS is necessary, but why would deny yourself the opportunity to make yourself many times as successful as you would have been otherwise?</p>
<p>I’ve had nothing but fantastic experiences with my professors. Out of the eight professors I have had, seven know me by my first name. This includes small seminar courses of 10 people to three large lecture courses with 200+ students. However, like all things at Penn, a student-professor relationship is never spoon-fed to anyone. It’s the student’s responsibility to reach out to their professors, go to their office hours, and take advantage of special opportunities that the professors provide.
I have yet to meet a professor that seems “distant” with their students. Also, driven students can get far on their own. But the value of a quality relationship with a ridiculously intelligent professor is worth so much more.</p>