Question for Penn LPS graduates

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

I was recently accepted into Penn LPS and Columbia GS, and I can’t decide which school I should attend.

I have done extensive research about the merits of each, and learned that both programs are great, but both have students that seem to have a massive chip on their shoulder. the Columbia students believe GS is better because of Columbia’s name recognition, while the Penn students believe LPS is better because they obtain the same diploma as the Penn CAS students. My issue is that I have not been able to find first hand experiences from graduates of either community.

I’m a 27 year old former Force Reconnaissance Marine, so the “college experience” means little to me. I am planning to attend school for economics, and attend an MBA program immediately following. I am strictly looking to the future, and I would like to know how students of Penn LPS have faired since graduation.

As a graduate from Penn, do you believe that you are better off than a graduate from Columbia GS? If you were applying for a job or an MBA program, and were pitted against a Columbia GS graduate (with identical stats), do you believe you would be viewed better or worse? If you are on a hiring or admissions board, how would you compare graduates of each?

I am expecting some sort of bias, so I will be posting a similar discussion on the Columbia GS page.

Sorry for grammatical errors, I’m in the “quiet room” at an airport in Qatar, so obviously there are screaming babies all around me, making it hard to concentrate.

2

I would love to know this information as well. I’m also curious as to whether recruiters discriminate against LPS graduates.

3

Grahamcracker123, that was not what I was asking. As an LPS grad, you would receive a CAS degree, so unless you tell a recruiter that you were an LPS student, theres really no way for them to distinguish you from a Penn CAS student. I’ve commonly heard that LPS students are “school of a&s” and not “college of a&s” students, but unless all of the Penn employees I talked to were lying to my face, that is an incorrect statement.

4

@MilToIvy I’m in the same boat as you. See my thread:

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-pennsylvania/1974622-upenn-lps-questions.html#latest

I was accepted to LPS for Fall admission this year (also Econ. major), but I am very wary of attending because I am unsure of the post-graduate opportunities.

5

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-pennsylvania/1936595-why-i-chose-upenn-lps-over-columbia-gs-non-traditional.html#latest

I chose Penn LPS over Columbia GS. The main reason was money. You’re GI bill will not completely cover the cost of Columbia but it will most certainly cover the cost of Penn who offers 1/2 price tuition for non traditional. Never mind the cost of living being waaaaay cheaper.