<p>It was recently brought to my attention that a degree from the ultra-competitive UPenn CAS, can be obtained by attending UPenn LPS. The person who did make this claim provided evidence from the UPenn LPS website, but I am still having a hard time coming to terms with this. </p>
<p>SO someone could, in essence, fail out of high school, take the GED, attend a community college, get a 3.7+ in a few semesters, and get into UPenn LPS without having to take a single entrance exam (SAT) and obtain the exact same degree as their "traditional" UPenn CAS counterparts? I find this rather puzzling.</p>
<p>Not sure if this is true, but I heard Harvard has a similar program?</p>
<p>UPenn LPS is like Columbia GS, I don’t think it’s the same thing at all as getting a degree from Columbia College or UPenn CAS, I think Yale has something similar also.</p>
<p>I did some research, and discovered that among the Ivies, the schools which offer this other option are Columbia, UPenn, Yale, Harvard, and Brown. However there are major differences:</p>
<p>Doing the non-traditional undergrad from either Brown RUE, Columbia GS, or Yale Eli Whitney is the same as doing normal undergrad.</p>
<p>Doing the non-traditional undergrad from UPenn LPS or Harvard Extension School is not the same at all and there are substantial differences.</p>
<p>I was curious about this LPS thing too. So I asked a friend at Annenberg and she said that there are a few non-trad students from LPS sitting in many of her classes (both at Annenberg & the College). A few of them are <em>extremely young</em> to be non-traditional students to the degree that she, at first, thought they were from CAS. Those young non-traditional students tend, no offense, not to be very smart. However they are an older LPS man who studies like a powerhouse.</p>
<p>I checked the LPS website and basicaly they are saying that: LPS students get exactly the same degree. Wow. I am aware of Harvard Extension as well but they kinda take in everyone. LPS seems like they have an admission process. I don’t know what is the big difference but IMO it is obviously easier for students to get in via LPS. However once they are in (if my friend statement is true) then they are subjected to the same standards with us so it will be very difficult for them to get OUT (graduate) if they are not up to the standards.</p>
<p>So basically getting in via CAS is like getting a real job. You have more financial assistance, and very rarely you can go wrong. But getting in via LPS is like taking an unpaid intern. You stay only if you are good enough to keep the job.</p>
<p>If it’s so then Penn is such a great school offering second-chance opportunities for people. Frankly spoken, I am kinda skeptical about the quality of an LPS student but if that person makes it to graduation with a degree. I would say that he/she is on par with other students at CAS. If an uncapable young guy want to get in Penn via LPS as a backdoor, he will fail. It only works for older people with a real goal. Penn designed it like that. Tsar, it’s up to your situation. If you are an older and nontraditional student, you might consider that a good option. Otherwise, don’t cheat the system. It’s gonna bite you hard.</p>
<p>@c0nfused11: Harvard has the Extension program whatever but it sucks. My uncle took a poli sci class there for “fun” and made an A- without breaking a sweat. He ordered like 30 transcripts and sent to everyone in the family. And well, I know my uncle. He is a great investment banker but … ahem, poli sci? He can hardly define democracy.</p>
You cannot be more wrong. Penn LPS students go through a rigorous and selective application like anyone else, and OF COURSE the criteria may be a bit different since LPS is NONTRADITIONAL and CAS is for TRADITIONAL students. However, according to UPenn’s OFFICIAL website:
Penn LPS students EARN THE EXACT SAME BA DEGREE as CAS students, and have EVERY privilege as Penn undergrads. LPS students are only another division of the several division of undergrads, CAS, Wharton, etc at Penn