<p>Hey,
I found out yesterday I got into Penn as a transfer from BC. I was originally really excited to go to BC as a freshman because, although not Ivy League, it has a good reputation. I was disappointed to find out, however, I do not feel like I am getting a good education and I'm bored (I have straight As pre-med). I also feel the student population is self-centered, homogenous, and shallow as a whole, but I do love certain individuals on campus and have made great friends. I know who I'm living with, and in some ways it would be more comfortable to stay than try and remake friends. Thoughts on how Penn compares to BC? Is Penn worth uprooting my life (again) and starting over for? Will I be more challenged? Is the student body less superficial?</p>
<p>hello
i was also a BC freshman this year, and i also felt the same way about the school, especially about the student population. i was so excited about it…until i was there. haha. i’m a bit different from you, in that i was a studio art major, but i am transferring to RISD this fall. you sound like you need a challenge, and as someone who has friends at UPenn, i urge you to make the transfer. (you should also be super proud of yourself haha. kudos to you!) i live outside of philly and it’s a great place…much more interesting than boston. upenn also has some crazy traditions, and it always sounds fun (i’m sure you know that BC has absolutely no fun tradition-type things…). i think one of the traditions is that the rising juniors get pelted with tomatoes or something in a small parade as they walk through campus. one small example…and don’t quote me on that lol.
upenn also has more international students.
i was also worried about the whole “uprooting” thing, but for me it came down to going to a place where i felt excited about my future and potential vs. being comfortable with what i’m familiar with…while not really caring about BC.
superficiality is still at upenn…just like any other school, but from what my friends say, there are also lots of other interesting, intelligent students. types of people there, in all senses of the word, are more varied. among them are certainly superficial students.
i hope you do not make a decision based on one reply, but i hope you do transfer! personally, i will miss my BC friends so much, but i am so excited to go to a school that better fits my needs.
good luck to you.</p>
<p>Hello! I’m a Wharton student from Penn and I can tell you that Penn is similar. The student population is diverse but I can guarantee we have a lot more self-centered and shallow people here. Nonetheless, I made really great friends and learned a lot from my courses. I definitely recommend coming here and you’ll love our crazy traditions. (We actually throw everything at rising juniors, but nothing too harmful.) You have to ask yourself one important question: Do Boston College students throw toast onto football fields to “toast” to their team?</p>