UPenn v. UChicago

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>I was accepted to The College at Penn and I was also admitted early as a University Scholar at Chicago. I need some help deciding.</p>

<p>Intended major: Economics (also interested in Physics and Philosophy)
Future Career: Ph.D. or Law School</p>

<p>Academic Rigor: Chicago is the world leader in Econ and Penn is top-tier in it as well. I don't think I'd be missing out on either front. But Penn has greater flexibility in its strengths and I am not positive about my major. I think I would be right in saying that all my possible majors are very strong at both schools. Also, I am really attracted to the seminar-style common core of Chicago but I imagine Penn has enough interesting liberal arts classes to satisfy this desire. I love a challenge at both but am not particularly competitive. </p>

<p>Social Life: I'm not put off at all by Chicago's quirkyness, in fact I would like it a lot. But I am fairly social and the level of activity seems much higher at Penn. More social, easygoing and especially fun would be a better way to describe it. However the traditional nature of Chicago and the great humor of the students is very attractive. Penn's level and diversity of activity is amazing though. </p>

<p>Location: Chicago and Philly are both great historical and cultural cities. Philly seems much more accessible but Chicago appears richer in substance. Both seem great, not too sure about this one.</p>

<p>Faculty: Chicago has endless Nobel Prize winners, but Penn is equally impressive. Chicago wins in Econ faculty bar none. I think Penn's accessibility might be an issue. Outside of Econ I think Penn has the upper hand of interesting professors though. Penn is much more flexible and strong overall.</p>

<p>Housing: This actually seems pretty similar in terms of the close-knit community I'm looking for. Obviously both have great House-style living communities. It appears Chicago's houses are more involved internally compared to the majority of Penn, except for a few very tight houses in particular. I guess accessibility to campus is an unknown.</p>

<p>Outlook: Chicago is geared more toward the academic track, with law school a strong possibility, while Penn is slightly more worldly. I don't think this is a problem but it is a point. Penn gets much better named recognition if I were to enter the business world. Only intellectuals know Chicago exists, but this is great for academia. </p>

<p>Chicago is slightly cheaper and Penn is less far from home in NY. Doesn't really matter.</p>

<p>Any input on the pros/cons listed above would be greatly appreciated.
Also any experiences with either would help me out.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>

I’m not sure what you mean by “richer in substance,” but Philly’s cultural scene easily matches–and in some cases surpasses–Chicago’s in many areas:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Philly has art museums that equal or surpass Chicago’s, with the largest number of Impressionist paintings and Rodin sculptures, for example, of any city in the world other than Paris; Philly also has the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, the oldest art museum and school in the US, and the possessor of one of the finest collections of American Art in the country; the Philly metro area also has the Brandywine River Museum, home of the largest collection of Wyeth family (and other Brandywine School artists) paintings in the world; Penn’s own Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology contains a world-renowned collection of ancient art and artifacts;</p></li>
<li><p>Philly has more outdoor art (murals and sculpture) than any other city in the world, INCLUDING Paris (in fact, Paris officials went to Philly a few years ago to learn about its world-renowned Mural Arts Program–over 3,000 large-scale murals by a variety of artists throughout the city–in order to implement something similar in Paris);</p></li>
<li><p>Philly’s classical music scene easily matches Chicago’s (Philadelphia Orchestra, world-renowned Curtis Institute of Music with 3 free recitals every week, Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra, Philadelphia Chamber Music Festival, etc.);</p></li>
<li><p>Philly has more public gardens and arboreta than any other city in the country, the largest urban park system in the country, and the largest indoor flower show in the world, if you’re into any of that;</p></li>
<li><p>Philly has a burgeoning professional theatre scene, with over 50 professional theatre companies and lots of world and US premieres each season;</p></li>
<li><p>Philly has a terrific food and restaurant scene with, e.g., over 200 sidewalk cafes in Center City (just across the Schuylkill River from Penn’s campus), the amazing Reading Terminal Market in Center City (largest indoor market in the country), and the legendary Italian Market in South Philly;</p></li>
<li><p>In terms of historic sites and neighborhoods, Philly is really peerless in the US, with a breadth and depth of historic sites and neighborhoods unmatched by any other city (it helps that Philly was the 2nd-largest English-speaking city in the world in the 18th century–only London was larger–and much of that 18th-century city remains today, not to mention Philly’s rich collection of 19th-century industrial and immigrant neighborhoods);</p></li>
<li><p>In terms of a modern, vibrant, big-city atmosphere, gotta give that one to Chicago–no American city other than NYC can match it in that regard.</p></li>
<li><p>For location, Philly easily has it over Chicago–NYC is only a 1 1/2 hour, $10 (and often even cheaper) Bolt Bus or Megabus ride away, and D.C. is only 2 hours away. Easy (and inexpensive) 1-day or weekend trips. And the Jersey Shore, Pocono Mountains, Amish country, etc. are also just a 1 1/2 hour drive away.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Sorry for rambling on a bit, but you seem to be thoughtful and nuanced in your analysis, and I thought you might appreciate some of this detail. ;)</p>

<p>

Are you basing this on fin aid packages? If so, and your Chicago package is all need-based (and not merit, if Chicago even gives merit aid), Penn might match it–it often does with peer schools, if requested. Although I realize that you said this doesn’t really matter.</p>

<p>Whatever decision you make, you can’t go wrong–they’re both terrific schools in terrific cities. And you can readily go on to a top law school or Ph.D. program from either. At this level of school, it should really be a matter of personal preference and fit, and not academic reputation.</p>

<p>You’ve summarized the relative merits of both of these schools very well (again, quite thoughtful and nuanced analysis :)), and really just need to decide where you’d like to be on a daily basis for the next four years. No one can really answer that for you. Just go with the one that “feels right,” and dont’ look back. Either choice will be a great one. Good luck with your decision!</p>

3

<p>Excellent thoughts on Philly’s culture. However both cities are so great it’s not really a deciding factor. Thanks though!</p>

<p>My aid package for Chicago included 5k/year merit aid. This is very rare for Chicago. I don’t know if Penn will match it, but even so cost is very similar overall.</p>

<p>I do agree with your sentiments. I don’t want to give up Chicago’s faculty and Econ focus or the overall atmosphere and breath of Penn. </p>

<p>I will be visiting both to get the feel of the schools and its type of students, I generally can stop myself from over-analyzing.</p>

<p>Any comments on the strength and accessibility of Penn’s faculty?</p>

4

<p>From your post, it seems like you slightly prefer Chicago since you are from NY. I would go to Chicago since it’s cheaper.</p>

5

<p>^ I would not let a relatively small difference in cost (even if that needs to be financed with loan dollars) be the decision maker unless all other factors are flat out offsetting, and that would seem to me highly unlikely, given the fairly significant difference in general vibe between two extremely fine and closely matched schools. </p>

<p>Your plan to visit and assess “feel” is the right one. Just be sure to milk your respective visits for all they’re worth. Be as comprehensive as possible in what you see, whom you talk with, since the dorm/crowd you’re assigned to can be a limiting filter. Imagine yourself in each place for the next four years. Then, unless something new jumps out in terms of objective criteria that changes the equation, go subjective. Trust your gut. The good news: whichever one you end up at, you’ll have made the right decision.</p>

6

<p>^ What he said (what I tried to say, but he said it much better). :)</p>

7

<p>For anyone looking, ultimately I chose Chicago.
[The</a> other post](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-chicago/1313593-upenn-v-uchicago.html]The”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-chicago/1313593-upenn-v-uchicago.html) explains my reasoning.</p>

<p>Thanks all.</p>

8

<p>Good pick. From your analysis it seemed like you liked chicago more anyways</p>