I was accepted into Stanford and UPenn Wharton. I plan to study Econ at Stanford or Concentrate in Finance at Wharton, but I want to attend a top law school afterward (Harvard or Yale) and eventually enter public service. I know Wharton is known well for its business connections and the quality of education as an undergrad. At Stanford, there is no business major and you have to work extra hard to find internships etc. on the East Coast + I like the East coast and campus of Penn. Also, getting a high GPA at Wharton is harder due to the competitiveness and CRAZY CURVE that some of the classes are on. This could hurt my chances at a good law school whereas at Stanford there’s no crazy curve and I’m more likely to get a high GPA, and I know the life long connections and memories will be amazing.
So when I weigh the pros and cons I like Wharton better in terms of location, program quality, and career resources, but it just doesn’t feel right to turn down attending one the best schools in the nation, a once in a lifetime opportunity. When will I ever be able to study in paradise for a predetermined period of time without any worries?
In business or finance turning down Wharton is the once in a lifetime school. Considering your own preferences it’s the clear choice. Outside of campus and location preferences.
Also you can get into Harvard law from any school.
The only thing is your desire for public service. You may find more outlets at Stanford to explore that versus Wharton.
Both Wharton and Stanford are two of the “best schools in the nation, a once in a lifetime opportunity.” Go with your personal preference (which sounds like Wharton to me) and never look back.
I agree that Wharton and Stanford are two of the best schools in the world. I do not think that there is a bad choice, nor a merely “good” choice. These are both great schools.
You have to turn down one of the best schools in the nation because you were accepted to two of the best schools in the nation. This is a good problem to have.
It hurts me a bit to say this because I loved Stanford. However, if you feel that you would be more comfortable at U.Penn, then that is where you should be (assuming that you can afford to attend either school).
“CRAZY CURVE” ? Most classes have an average grade of B+ or A-. Median gpa is in like a 3.4-3.5 range. The curve is rough in SEAS, but you’re making way too big a deal out of the Wharton curve.
Ah, this post isn’t so different than what I was writing way back in the day as I was coming into Wharton, so much so that I had to dust off the old profile and post.
Honestly, the best path forward is to go toward the school that you feel is the best fit personally, the school with the vibe that’s more “you.” I’ll say about Wharton, though, that if you’re interested in political/public engagement, there are many ways to scratch that itch academically and socially. You could look at the BEPP concentration, interdisciplinary university minors or even an independent dual-degree in an CAS major like Political Science, History, Sociology, Philosophy, Urban Studies, etc. Those majors would also do well at connecting you to other students on campus with a strong interest in politics, law and/or public policy. I only offer this up because I think, even if you end up at Wharton, you’d do well to think more expansively about what Penn can offer you overall. I think it’s more important to consider these types of factors at Penn and Stanford than trying to do calculus around things like GPA for law school because you haven’t step foot in a classroom yet at either institution and it’s not necessarily easy to predict where you will land in the end; that’s not to say you aren’t extremely intelligent and prepared, just that one’s college experience can be complete with a lot of twists and turns.
Now, with all that said, there’s no wrong decision between Penn and Stanford. Best of luck with your decision!
It’s strictly anecdotal, but living in the general vicinity of Stanford and having numerous Stanford alums (some with children at Stanford) as neighbors, the general consensus of those that I’ve spoken to over the past few years, is that once admitted to Stanford, the school does just about everything to keep you there (i.e., grade inflation).
I’ve heard about the curve from numerous students. They even addressed it in the academics portion of the virtual admit series. All over Penn’s forums I see students asking what is the curve like in a certain finance of Business Law class. When asked, some say it’s there to help, others say it brutal but the fact that it is even a topic concerns me.
Penn students enroll in top law, Med and dental programs, are awarded Goldwater, Churchill, Marshall, NSF fellowships. These all require exceptional GPAs. The College and SEAS STEM classes have lower curves than Wharton classes. Not uncommon for students to apply as seniors to a 2+2 program and defer entrance getting industry experience.