<p>Let's say I were accepted to UPenn Arts & Sciences (NOT Wharton) planning to major in economics, and accepted as a pre-admit to UMich Ross. Which would be better if my ultimate goal is to pursue a career in business, specifically in investment banking or finance? </p>
<p>(I've heard UPenn Econ major is brutal so that is also a side concern)</p>
<p>Thanks :)</p>
<p>I’d personally go with CAS Economics in that case (unless U Mich happened to give you a hefty scholarship). A lot of people don’t know this, but no one really cares about whether you went to Wharton or CAS in the business world after you graduate. People just say they went to “Penn,” not “I went to Wharton” or “I went to CAS.” Also, as a student at Penn you will have the exact same recruiting opportunities as Wharton kids. Although Penn and Ross are both “target” schools (i.e. select Universities that investment banks recruit from), the big firms typically recruit more heavily at Penn than they do at Ross. </p>
<p>Also, sorry in advance about the Wharton vs. CAS mini-rant. The fetishization of Wharton on this board gets on my nerves sometimes. I hate when people automatically assume CAS is easier to get into or inferior or whatever.</p>
<p>Is there truly quite a bit of equality in terms of internship recruiting for CAS vs Wharton?</p>
<p>UMich LS&A Econ vs UMich Ross is not equal at all in terms of recruiting. Ross has a separate career website + many finance firms recruit through that. Not many firms recruit through the LS&A Career connector. Plus it seems like firms prefer the Ross students and overlook the Econ, which means more + better internships</p>
<p>Is this the case at UPenn or is it more equal?</p>
<p>^CAS students have access to all the same on campus recruiting programs and opportunities as Wharton students. That said, I can’t comment on how the recruiters representing the various firms compare CAS and Wharton students.</p>
<p>CAS students have limited access to Huntsman. Penn’s Econ program is not as highly regarded as some of their other departments. For your career track, you would probably get more special attention at Ross. Some CAS students - especially those interested in pursuing business after graduation - complain that Penn treats them as second class citizens behind Wharton (See the DP’s April Fools issue)</p>
<p>
Penn’s Econ Dept is consistently ranked among the top 10 in the nation, and has been for many decades.</p>
<p>
There’s a reason it’s called the “joke issue.” You’d be an April Fool to make any serious judgments about Penn based on anything in that annual DP gag. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Penn’s Econ Dept is not terrible - I was not saying that. But it’s not as highly regarded or funded as Penn’s English Dept, for example. Most Econ classes are large and the Econ Dept doesnt even have its own building (This will soon change though thanks to Perelman’s latest grant to Penn). On the other hand, the English Dept not only has Fisher Bennett Hall (which I think is one the most beautiful buildings on campus), they also have the Kelly Writers House. There are many well respected English scholars and writers who teach small classes. Historically, Penn also played a key role in the development of American Modernism. You cant say the Econ dept has been or is that influential</p>
<p>And read the comments to the Huntsman joke article. Many people are rightfully frustrated that Whartonites get preferential treatment for certain things. It’s a sensitive issue on campus.</p>
<p>^ Actually, Penn’s Economics Department has been extremely influential for many decades, which explains why it consistently has been ranked among the top 10 in the nation. For example, Penn’s Econ Dept. was a leader in the development of the field of econometrics and economic forecasting, for which Penn Econ professor Lawrence Klein won the Nobel Prize in 1980. Plus, economics titans such as Simon Kuznets have taught in or come from Penn’s Economics Department. It has quite a storied history, and continues to be nationally and internationally prominent to this day:</p>
<p>[Home</a> | Penn Economics](<a href=“http://economics.sas.upenn.edu/]Home”>http://economics.sas.upenn.edu/)</p>
<p>And you’re correct that Penn’s English Department is also quite distinguished. But don’t judge a department’s relative significance to the University based on the relatively short time that you’re there as an undergrad. I can remember when Fisher Bennett Hall–then just Bennet Hall before the major Fisher-funded renovation–was kind of run-down after decades with no renovation, and the McNeil Building was a spanking new building with a beautiful central open atrium, which would have led anyone at that time to conclude–based solely on the physical facilities–that the Economics Department was much more valued by Penn than the English Department.</p>
<p>The truth is that BOTH are stellar departments ranked among the top 10 in the nation, and have been so for many decades. And as core departments of the School of Arts and Sciences–and among the largest undergraduate majors and graduate programs at Penn–they both continue to get substantial support from the University.</p>
<p>And the only things for which Wharton students get preference are some facilities in Huntsman Hall, a Wharton building. Kind of makes sense, don’t you think? ;)</p>