<p>Just what are they? I think I've only heard of Econ Scream and thats about it. I mean all I know about Penn or HEARD, I should say, is that its a pre-professional gunner school with little intellectual vibe and even less tradition than the other Ivies. Is this true? I hope its not. Then again, this info came from a Dartmouth grad who called it the 'foreigners school'.
What do you guys do that makes Penn Ivy and stand out from other schools not in the Ivy League? Remember, I know squat about Penn because it barely gets any recognition in the media (outside of Wharton) in comparison to the other Ivies. Take it easy on me.</p>
<p>First, I disagree that Penn doesn’t get recognition in the media in comparison to the other Ivies, but if you say so. Also, that’s no excuse to “know squad about Penn”. Anyway, your Dartmouth buddy is wrong; Penn has some amazing traditions and it doesn’t lack in them with respect to other ivies, or to any other school at all. A quick good summary is here: [.:</a> New Student Orientation at Penn :. Penn Traditions](<a href=“Penn New Student Orientation and Academic Initiatives”>Penn New Student Orientation and Academic Initiatives)</p>
<p>I’m too lazy to be a colorful writer and describe how amazing those traditions are, especially Hey Day, so I’ll leave that to someone else.</p>
<p>Also look at <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-pennsylvania/93384-upenn-traditions.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-pennsylvania/93384-upenn-traditions.html</a>, which you would have discovered had you done a quick search.</p>
<p>Now, there’s a difference between traditions and intellectual vibe. On the intellectual vibe topic, you can definitely find enough of it at Penn. You will meet incredibly smart people who are willing and able to have intellectual discussions about anything you like.</p>
<p>Seriously though, Penn is one of the oldest institutions in the nation, founded by Benjamin Franklin - that should be more than enough history for plenty of tradition. So no, Penn doesn’t have less tradition than other ivies.</p>
<p>Please also note that I took your post in good faith; hopefully that was not a mistake.</p>
<p>Spring Fling is a LOT of fun. There are parties everywhere, tons of food, music, events, games, etc. Hey Day can get pretty wild, too. Toast throwing is also a well-known tradition, in addition to Penn Relays, Econ Screams, etc.</p>
<p>If you live in places like Stouffer, there are also a lot of other more quainter traditions like Cookies nights or Superbowl get-togethers or surprise brunches.</p>
<p>There’s always stuff going on. Your Email inbox will, literally, get hit daily with new events and information on upcoming traditions/activities/etc. There’s certainly no shortage here.</p>
<p>In terms of intellectual vibe, it’s definitely present. I’ve had countless conversations with very smart people at Penn… I realize now that that type of atmosphere is very hard to come by.</p>
<p>What your friend said tells you more about Dartmouth than it does about Penn. The “foreigners’ school”? Really? Someone seems to have gulped a case or two too many up there in Hanover.</p>
<p>The main things that distinguish Penn from Dartmouth is that Penn has a lot more students do a lot more things, and there are infinitely more things to do within easy, carless travelling distance. So you don’t have to keep having circle jerks and calling them “traditions”.</p>
<p>Yeah I really take offense to that as a Dartmouth alum. What the heck does foreigners school mean? As a note - Dartmouth is 39% percent minority this year, 34% overall, and 10% international. Your friend does not speak for Dartmouth students at all.</p>
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<p>It really doesn’t get that much attention. I rarely hear about it in films, songs, TV, etc. </p>
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<p>I am guessing that he meant it was a very non-WASP place. </p>
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<p>I don’t doubt its there but I’ve been told that Penn is more of a pre-professional school than an intellectual powerhouse like H,Y,P.</p>
<p>Penn (especially Wharton) is indeed very preprofessional, but I think it would be a mistake to imply that it isn’t intellectual. I’ve spent plenty of time at other Ivies during my undergrad experience, btw (classes included), and I honestly didn’t see much difference. Granted, with different Ivies having different strengths in different fields, the atmospheres/priorities are also going to be very different, but really, Penn is as intellectual as you want it to be. </p>
<p>If you want to talk economics or computer science or art/history/politics at 4 in the morning, you can do that. On the other hand, if you want to just talk about random crap like which Spice Girl would be the best in bed, you can do that, too. A few of the things I miss most about Penn, after having graduated, were the discussions and conversations that I could have whenever I wanted.</p>
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<p>That’s something that I like. It seems there are some schools that are too intellectual and offer no balance in discussions. I see why Penn is called the Social Ivy.</p>
<p>Penn has (I think) the most internationals out of the Ivies. That or the largest percentage. We also are 40% minority, though nearly 25% Asian. Probably more Asian if you count graduate school.</p>
<p>That’s also what I hear. I also hear Penn is huge in India, probably bigger than Princeton.</p>
<p>There are tons of Indians at Penn. Both international and US born.</p>
<p>One great tradition we had before those goddamn environmentalists (and before they were made out of metal and weigh a ton) was throwing the fieldgoal post from the football stadium into the river.</p>
<p>I am pretty certain that Penn doesn’t have the highest percentage of international students in the Ivy League (although it is not far behind). Based on their size, it is probably neck and neck with Cornell for which has the highest absolute number of international undergrads.</p>
<p>Your friend said Penn is the ‘foreigner’s school’? Meaning he thinks it’s so much cooler to go to school where there’s not so many brown-skinned people, not so many Jews…cause obviously all that concentrated blue-blood would make the place ever so much more intellectual.</p>
<p>Anyways, it is true that Penn is very popular with Jewish kids, Indian kids… the 5 or so kids I have known to go to Penn in the last few years have all had a great time and loved their educational and social experience there.</p>
<p>Go visit and see for yourself.</p>
<p>[Penn</a> Admissions: International Applicants](<a href=“http://www.admissionsug.upenn.edu/applying/international.php]Penn”>http://www.admissionsug.upenn.edu/applying/international.php)</p>
<p>cornell may have more international undergrads, but i’d figure the substantial international graduate population puts penn ahead in terms of total international student population</p>
<p>penn does have a relatively large asian/international presence but there are more homogenous frats you can join</p>