<p>Is the department of economics at UPenn within the wharton school of business or is it entirely separate? Also, how would you rate its competitiveness for freshman applicants?</p>
<p>Penn’s Economics Department is in the School of Arts and Sciences, NOT Wharton, and it’s regularly ranked among the top 10 economics departments in the nation.</p>
<p>Applicants to Penn’s College (the undergraduate division of the School of Arts and Sciences) are generally not accepted by intended major, since many–if not most–liberal arts undergrads end up majoring in something other than what they originally planned when applying to college. Of course, Penn–like other top schools–seeks a diverse entering class for its liberal arts college in terms of academic interests, etc., but since Economics is one of the larger majors in the College–and probably one of the larger intended majors among applicants–I wouldn’t imagine that declaring it as an intended major would have much of an effect on a particular applicant’s competitiveness.</p>
<p>Thanks for your quick reply!</p>