<p>For years, I was certain that I want to apply for ED Huntsman program. However, as I hear things like Wharton is all about investment banking, I'm not sure whether I really wan to apply for Wharton/Huntsman.</p>
<p>I just saw the Penn's PPE(Philosophics, Politics, Economics) major program website. I thought I want to learn those kind of stuff and understand the world instead of studying finance in Wharton. </p>
<p>Still I want to take Finance courses such as Financial Derivatives, International Financial Markets or Trading and Investing. I want to have a specialty and be good at trading or investing(for myself, not the corporate). I'm not interested in climbing corporate ladder from the analysts to the Managing directors. I just want to be good at trading(commodity, currency, bond, maybe equity)</p>
<p>1)Do you think it is better for me(as you see my character in the text) to just major PPE(CAS) and take some Wharton courses?.
2)Or Double major in PPE and Wharton?
3)How about Huntsman program? Should I not choose Huntsman if I'm not sure I want to do business?
4) Do you think Huntsman program limit your freedom?(because courses you should take are so much determined)
5)What is the advantage of Huntsman over PPE&Wharton double majoring?
6)Do Huntsman people (I mean you guys) feel comfortable to each other, or too much competition? </p>
<p>Again, I want to develop a keen insight of the world (intellectual mind) but still want worldly success. (fame&money)
I feel the choice I make for college now will greatly affect my future. I don't want to regret working 120 hours in investment bank like a slave and resent my Wharton choice. Also, I don't want to regret later that choosing PPE(CAS) was just a rash and capricious choice which will do no good for my future. I'm in dillemma,,</p>
<p>7) Would you give me any feedback about your experience in Wharton/Huntsman experience?
8) And your future plan??(If you want to share)</p>
<p>You didn't mention any interest in international business. Huntsman probably isn't for you.</p>
<p>You want to get rich and be happy? Get in line - this is one of those things you have to figure out for yourself. I will say that it's much easier to take PPE classes as a Wharton student than taking finance classes as a PPE student. </p>
<p>And PPE's a joke (it's basically a feel-good degree for pre-laws, like BBB is for pre-meds). I swear, not trolling.</p>
<p>Just take PPE and then enroll in the finance courses as a CAS student (I believe you need to do some math and accounting classes before you can enroll in finance classes but it should be no trouble).</p>
<p>Finance doesn't happen in a bubble, after all. Modern global finance is a distinct product of Western historical and economic practices, which in turn were a reflection of Western philosophy. All are worth studying. Whether you consider it a joke or not depends on what you make of it.</p>
<p>While PPE is not a total joke (like any degree it's what you make it to be) it ain't the same as a Wharton degree no matter how many finance courses you take. The market does not view them as the same. Don't let anyone tell you they are the same thing 'cause they ain't perceived that way outside the College bubble.</p>
<p>I have something to say based on your post, hur5249. Wharton is definitely NOT all about investment banking. Nowhere does Wharton sell itself as a guaranteed entry into that industry. A lot of Wharton grads get into investment banking to get returns on their huge investment in college. But a third of the grads get into management. Some become entrepreneurs...it's all what you make it to be...and the degree has the same value no matter what you get into. Wharton's Management dept. has the second largest faculty (only 3 less that fin)...and besides, you can tailor-make a concentration to suit any aspect of business you like, so long as it makes sense (check out the video on this page: <a href="http://www.wharton.upenn.edu/undergrad/subPage.cfm?pageID=17%5B/url%5D">http://www.wharton.upenn.edu/undergrad/subPage.cfm?pageID=17</a>) And if you'll scroll down, you'll see that Finance is only one of EIGHTEEN concentrations...there's a lot of knowledge in that building, other than finance!</p>
<p>For instance, I'm applying to Wharton hoping I'll be able to concentrate in Reputation Management - that concentration doesn't exist anywhere...but I know it involves courses like Strategic Management, Org. Behavior (MGMT 238) and Corporate Governance. They've got such an amazing faculty you can get anything out of them that YOU want to...</p>
<p>Take a look at the degree workshop that outlines all the courses required for a business degree: <a href="http://undergrad.wharton.upenn.edu/forms/worksheet_2006.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://undergrad.wharton.upenn.edu/forms/worksheet_2006.pdf</a>. There are only two finance courses that are really required - FNCE 100 and FNCE 101. You have three breadth classes in whatever departments you want, and a four-course concentration in which you basically take any four courses in any single department. Just because many Wharton students enter investment banking, that doesn't necessarily mean the faculty or advisers pressure all students to choose the same career.</p>
<p>Wharton's business classes are very practical and less "let read philosophy and think about what the world means", so it will be your own responsibility to seek those more theoretical classes as electives, but it definitely is possible.</p>
<p>Getting a dual degree (aka PPE and Wharton) is very difficult to fit into four years without advanced planning, especially since PPE has more requirements than, say, poli sci or econ. The advantage of Huntsman is that they make it easier for you to get two degrees by omitting some requirements for you.</p>
<p>Don't do Huntsman if you have no interest in getting a degree in international relations, because a great deal of your curriculum is already determined. Check out <a href="http://www.upenn.edu/huntsman/curriculum/index.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.upenn.edu/huntsman/curriculum/index.html</a>. Assuming a courseload of 40 courses over four years, you essentially have no room for electives because you also have general requirements in addition to what they list on the website. If you still think you want to do it but you don't want to do international business, then I would say don't worry because, looking at Wharton's career placement stats, it doesn't look like many Huntsmanites work abroad or in international business, but instead work as analysts.</p>
<p>Finally, being in a joint-degree program at Penn is always awesome and will greatly enhance your college experience.</p>
<p>Has the drop out rate (to single degree) of the joint degree programs ever been published? Freshman year I knew a few Vagelos Scholars who bailed.</p>
<p>vagelos (the molecular one) has something ridiculous like a 75% attrition rate by graduation - it's not actually a dual degree program though (though some people do get a BA/MS out of it)</p>
<p>For those who may not be aware, there actually are 2 separate Vagelos programs: the Vagelos Scholars Program in Molecular Life Sciences, and the Vagelos Program in Life Sciences & Management. Neither of them is a dual degree program in the classic sense (e.g., B.A. from the College and B.S. from Wharton), but as pointed out above, the Molecular Life Scienses program does offer submatriculation into a M.S. program. The Life Sciences & Management program results in either a B.A. from the College or a B.S. from Wharton, but generally not both.</p>