UPenn and Penn State confusion

<p>Hi,
I've recently gotten into UPENN SAS and am very much considering attending. I do not know exactly what career path I want to take or what I want to study.</p>

<p>So, my question is: no matter where I eventually go (whether it be in government, business, medicine, sciences, law, or ANYTHING, IDK), will people recognize the difference between UPENN (sas) and PENN State?</p>

<p>No dissing of Penn State intended, but UPENN is an IVY and more expensive and I worked hard to get into it. But, I'm terrified people will mix them up (and make all my work pointless). Everyone has told me that this is a stupid question and to not worry about this, but I wanted to hear other's opinion on the matter. Half of my family (of course, while I love them, some of them are not exactly the most educated bunch) didn't know the difference between the two schools and I'm already getting frustrated explaining the difference between UPenn and Penn State.</p>

<p>Will employers in any field and anywhere know the difference between the schools???</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>People mix them up all the time. Get over it. You will get good at explaining the difference without insulting the excellent state school. People that need to know SO know the difference, so don’t worry. In some areas, the other one would serve you better, though! (like talking football, engineering…)</p>

<p>Employers, grad schools, people in high positions etc. will know the difference. Basically anyone you would want to know will know.</p>

<p>Don’t worry… anyone with an ounce of sophistication knows the difference.</p>

<p>People who know the difference between PennState and UPenn still always mix them up by accident, though.</p>

<p>(An employer is more likely to mistake UPenn as PSU, however, because the latter has a lot more students/alumni.)</p>

<p>

I have never seen this.</p>

<p>Oh please, sentiment, that’s so not true.</p>

<p>Anyone in the position of reading resumes will know.</p>

<p>And might prefer PSU.</p>

<p>[Job</a> Recruiters Prefer State Universities Over Ivy League Colleges - WSJ.com](<a href=“Job Recruiters Prefer State Universities Over Ivy League Colleges - WSJ”>Job Recruiters Prefer State Universities Over Ivy League Colleges - WSJ)</p>

<p>I would say that most people west of the Hudson do not know that University of Pennsylvania is an Ivy.</p>

1 Like

<p>Hudson bay?</p>

<p>The Penn/PSU confusion is very common, but not among the highly educated. Where it matters, most people will know that Penn is an Ivy League. But this sort of confusion is not restricted only to Penn and Penn State. Michigan and Michigan State are also often confused for each other. What matters is that you are happy with the university. Penn is one of the best universities in the world, with a reputation to match. Make the most of your very special opportunity and stop worrying about what the ignorant masses think.</p>

<p>In my experience, many people outside the Northeast confuse the two, making the assumption that the Penn is Penn State (never the other way around). Or they think Penn is a public university but not Penn State. It’s pretty common. The bookstore, way back in the 70’s, sold T-shirts that said “Not Penn State”. </p>

<p>I wouldn’t get too concerned. It happens.</p>

<p>Another 2+ year old thread pulled up…</p>

I’d say because people say Penn it might cause confusion but if you refer to it as UPenn or University of Pennsylvania, people will see a difference. Employers for large companies and institutions will know the difference.

Closing FOUR year old thread.