<p>I just got off the wailist for U Penn after already sending in my initial payment to NU but would like to hear your feedback.</p>
<p>I got into both schools' college of arts and sciences with an undecided major.</p>
<p>ADVICE...please! I really am completely undecided...</p>
<p>Have you visited both? If so, what were your impressions?</p>
<p>I have heard great things about Northwestern..one of my friend goes there..but Penn is just kick ass..one of my friend also goes there, and the night life there is off the hook compared to Northwestern..</p>
<p>compare the two facebook groups...</p>
<p>..gives you a pretty good idea about how awesome penn 2012ers are gonna be :P</p>
<p>If you are focused on living and working in the midwest, I would seriously consider Northwestern. Otherwise, you really should go to UPenn.</p>
<p>@ coolcat</p>
<p>It's all about fit and your future plans. Planning to stay in the Midwest? Stick with Northwestern. Want a more Northeast lifestyle? UPenn might be better. Both schools are excellent and similar in student populations. You must decide on geography and which social life and extracurriculars you prefer.</p>
<p>Besides having lots of top-10 and top-20 departments in the College of Arts and Sciences, Penn also offers its vaunted "One University" policy. Under that policy, all undergrads are encouraged to take courses in more than one of the undergrad schools (the College, the top-ranked Wharton School, School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the top-ranked Nursing School), and in most of Penn's esteemed graduate and professional schools (Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Law School, Annenberg School for Communication, School of Design, School of Social Policy and Practice, Graduate School of Education, etc.), without the need for any special dispensation. This allows undergrads to pursue a program of incredible diversity, breadth, and depth that goes far beyond the traditional liberal arts curriculum, and is really unparalleled. No other top national university opens itself up to undergrads to this extent.</p>
<p>I'd go with Penn. If you do decide to pick Penn though, make sure you tell Northwestern because I have a friend who's on Northwestern's own waiting list ^^</p>
<p>45 percenter: do you just copy and paste that "one university" thing? Hahaha I mean I totally agree with you about penn being awesome (i'm '12) but I feel like I've seen it ... a lot ... before.</p>
<p>Social life, location, nationwide recognition...I would go with Penn, but I guess it depends on your major and whether you prefer the Midwest or East Coast.</p>
<p>UPenn is more prestigious for sure but I think Northwestern's social life is awesome too. The student bodies at both schools are really fun and outgoing.</p>
<p>
Nope, don't copy and paste it, but do repeat it--with some variation--in individual threads where it's appropriate. You can't assume that every poster starting a thread asking about Penn vs. another school has read all the other threads about Penn. Indeed, the fact that someone has started a new thread on the subject would tend to indicate that he/she hasn't read the other Penn vs. Northwestern (or other schools) threads.</p>
<p>Better to risk redundance than to risk that someone will miss this important advantage of Penn. :)</p>
<p>Hahaha that's awesome that you don't copy and paste! Cheers to you for individualizing it every time.
And I definitely wasn't reprimanding you for posting that here.. it is certainly pertinent I was just wondering lol.
See you next yearrrr</p>
<p>^ Nope, you won't see me (unless you happen to catch me when I'm visiting campus). Already done my Penn time. ;)</p>
<p>oops. nevermind</p>
<p>thanks for the responses this is awesome!</p>
<p>i think i want to do pre-med but i'm not positive...i'm really into performing (theater and music) too...</p>
<p>i haven't visited penn but have visited northwestern and really liked the campus. i've lived in the midwest my whole life so i guess i'm a little uncertain by what you mean when you say "eastern" lifestyle. if someone could elaborate it would be much appreciated...</p>
<p>when people say that the upenn campus location is in a dangerous location and what not, is this just a misconception or is there some reality to the statement?</p>
<p>NU is hard to beat in performing arts as the music and theater programs are both among the best; there are tons of quality shows on campus and it has the greatest college show in Waa-Mu. You will find many students sharing the same interests. </p>
<p>I've never been to Penn, so I can't comment on its surroundings. I did go to Philly last September; compared to Chicago, it's smaller and grittier IMO. I stayed in Center City; it's in downtown and supposed to be one of the nicer areas in Philly but still, I sensed that it was not safe at night. I don't know why I sensed that; it's just gut feeling. It also seemed to have a significant litter problem; even in Center City, there were quite a bit of trash and cigarettes on sidewalks. It's worse in other areas.</p>
<p>Those are peer institutions. Chose based on fit. You should probably visit Penn before deciding.</p>
<p>EtTuBrutus,
While Chicago has its share of gritty areas in the southside, the northside is generally much nicer. Philly's Rittenhouse Sq reminded me of some of the northside neighborhoods in Chicago; the difference is Rittenhouse Sq is a very small area while those nice neighborhoods in Chicago cover a much larger area. For example, between the Loop and Lakeview, the length is about 5 miles. Those neighborhoods are also the most vibrant areas of Chicago; many northsiders almost never venture to the southside.</p>
<p>^I totally second Alexandre's suggestion.</p>
<p>Definitely go with Penn. It's just flat-out awesome and you won't regret it. One University, Toast throwing, Philly, Hey Day, Walnut Walk, Spring Fling, dodging flyers on Locust, crushing Princeton...it's an amazing experience. I still have a week until I graduate and I already miss it :(</p>