<p>I was sitting in calc class today doing problems when I looked over and saw one of my classmates wearing a sweatshirt that said “Penn” on it. I said to my friend, “Look, so-and-so is wearing a Penn sweatshirt!” My friend then basically gave me a “what’s your point” expression, and then I asked, “I wonder if he’s applying to UPenn.” Immediately my friend said, “Ohhhh! I thought that sweatshirt was for Penn State.” </p>
<p>I don’t want to sound like a prick but does anyone else get annoyed that people always mistake Penn for Penn state? I know it’s an easy mistake to make but sometimes I wish the names were slightly more different. Oh well, I love Penn either way!</p>
<p>Yes, it's really irritating when everyone automatically thinks Penn State instead of UPenn. It's downright annoying when your counselor thinks you're talking about Penn State as well.</p>
<p>oh yeah and another thing.....
People always ask me why i'm not applying to Harvard, Princeton or Yale. But I don't think many people realize that Penn is ranked 4th right after those colleges and it's an extremely respectable school.</p>
<p>there's only one other kid, but he's applying to wharton. A lot of people like Princeton this year for some reason at my school. For RD I'm not sure but I think it's at least 3 others.</p>
<p>Princeton is gorgeous. I visited after I my Penn tour. But I can easily say that Penn kids are wayy nicer than Princeton brats. Plus Princeton is like super-liberal, who wants that?</p>
<p>Super-liberal is good. And Penn went about 80% for Senator John Kerry last year. I'm a freshman here, and the whole Penn State thing is common, but it doesn't bother me anymore...it really never did. The bookstore sells shirts that say "Not Penn State" with the Penn shield, which I think is totally unacceptable and shines a bad light on the University. I don't mind that outside entrepreneurs came up with these shirts, though I wouldn't buy one, but I think the University tacitly endorsing what basically amounts to elitism is just bad for the school. My theory is, anyone who matters (employers, grad schools) will know about Penn, and being able to sneak under the radar is actually good sometimes. Just another perspective.</p>
<p>I'd say Penn is much more liberal than Pton, but Penn conservatives are louder and afforded more space for their opinions than at many left-leaning schools.</p>
<p>tigerfan, It's great to hear the perspective from an Penn student! I completely agree that anyone who matters will know the difference between Penn and PSU.</p>
<p>I see your guys' point, but internationally, Penn isn't that well known. Also, in the past, Penn wasn't ranked as high as it is now, which is part of the reason why a lot of older people don't think it's as good as it actually is now. Penn definitely has less recognition than some of the schools ranked below it, but I guess that's one of the reasons why people think that the U.S. News ranking for Penn is too high. I think if Penn got more recognition, then its students would be better off employment wise.</p>
<p>Teachers, Friends, Parents, maybe not- but employers know. Years ago when I applied for a summer job at TJ MAXX the guy knew penn, and that's saying something.</p>
<p>But don't you think if a student had the same stats at Stanford and Penn, employers would most likely prefer the Stanford student, even though Penn has a higher ranking? I don't know, maybe I'm underestimating the amount of info. employers know.</p>
<p>You're making the assumption that the canidates are equal enough that the college would really make a difference (since they are both so highly ranked and prestigious). Secondly, after your first job, where you went to college becomes less and less important and what you do becomes more and more important.</p>
<p>everyone on this thread really seems to be concerned with u penn's u.s. news rank more than anything else. Rank or no rank upenn is still a great school (i can only justify this claim by saying ive visited there and that its freaking awesome)</p>