Hey guys! So after being deferred from Penn ED, I was accepted into USC in January as a scholarship finalist. In late March, I received notification about the Mork Family Scholarship (full tuition + $5,000 annual stipend) followed by my admission into Penn. Now, I am torn between these two colleges.
Both schools are academically rigorous (can anyone comment on USC) with Penn providing the better undergraduate education. Penn is giving me a full ride, and I believe USC will too after they factor in my family circumstance on top of the scholarship, so money is not the issue. At USC, I will be studying Political Science and Business. At Penn, I will be doing the same with a dual degree with THE Wharton.
I love everything about USC - strong school pride, football, social scene, beautiful campus, location, etc. On the other hand, Penn has the Ivy label going for it. Yeah, I shouldn’t select a school because of its prestige, but I truly appreciate the academic challenge and depth of Penn and everything it has to offer. I also feel like I am adopting almost every teenager’s dream to live in California. I think I should put my education first rather than selecting a school on the premise of the fun activities it will offer me.
Given my situation, what do you guys think? USC or Penn?
No doubt Wharton. Penn is an amazing school and a Wharton degree will be a huge plus for the rest of your life. You can always move to CA later or try to study for a semester there if you want that experience.
There’s a reason they make more than one flavor of ice cream…not everybody’s preferences are the same. Just because a school’s academics are ranked higher does not mean its the necessary choice. A Ferrari might go faster than an F-150, but that doesn’t mean everyone who could have either would pick the Ferrari. Have you been to Philly?
Yes, I have been to Philly but not thoroughly, so I don’t know what Philly or the east coast has to offer. I like the location of USC better but am wondering if that reason is important enough to turn down Penn. @moooop
There’s another discussion on here where a person is trying to decide between Notre Dame and Penn…lots of the same issues. Some people seem to think academic rank trumps every other criterion, while others see it as just one of many criteria. You are apparently very bright and will probably be successful and financially secure even if you went to generic state university. So it isn’t a question of being successful…it’s a question of whether you’re going to wear flipflops or earmuffs on the way there.
You seem to be looking for someone to tell you its ok to pick USC. I think its just fine. I had a friend who turned down Harvard and Yale to go to Emory, then turned down Harvard and Yale law schools for UVa. The guy is brilliant and was going to be successful no matter where he went.
Primarily, you need to be happy for 4 years. That being said, Penn is the choice, without a doubt!
Philly is one of the most incredible cities in the world and by far the ideal place in which to go to college. It is accessible, inexpensive, full of art, architecture, culture, food… It is walkable and has solid (though unexceptional) public transportation. It is the nation’s first capital and the United States’ only World Heritage City (http://observer.com/2015/11/unesco-crowns-philadelphia-the-us-first-world-heritage-city/). Philly has SOO much to explore and there is no better way to do that than on Penn’s dime as a student receiving full financial aid. And the cold is really just not that bad-- this is not Boston or Ithaca. It’s chilly from December-March and it snows a bit in February. The fall is SO charming and springtime on campus is a literal gift from the universe.
And it’s true that Penn’s connections are unparalleled, especially in business. There are some companies that will actually only recruit at Penn, Harvard, Stanford, Yale and Princeton because of Wharton’s presence on campus. (And for non-whartonites reading this, yes, students in the College, Engineering and Nursing are able to apply for jobs with those companies and I speak from personal experience in saying that they definitely hire students from the College and students from Engineering. We all share one career services office and all of the resources of the university are available to students in each one of the four undergrad schools- so no need to worry about competition). (http://www.businessinsider.com/harvard-princeton-and-yale-2011-1). With a Penn degree, your options are truly limitless. Take the money and run, as they say
Please let me know if you have any questions about Penn or Philly. I’m happy to answer them!
I could go on. But essentially, Philly’s bad press is more reflective of outdated stereotypes from all major metropolitan areas in the 1980s. Today, the reputation doesn’t reflect reality. And there’s a racial component to it too… but this is CC and not a sociology class so I’ll live it at that. The point is, philly is the actual best, especially for college because it is ah-mazing but not overwhelming. It’s accessible yet distinct from Penn’s campus. Best of both worlds. Also, cheesesteaks.
Nobody’s doubting that for people whose only criterion is academic rank, Penn is the obvious choice. I’m just saying that doesn’t make it the NECESSARY choice for everybody. Maybe the OP wants big football games to go to. Or wants warm weer. Or wants to be one of the smarter students in class rather than just another brilliant kid. Or wants to date a movie star. Maybe he’d be happy with a 4000 square foot house and doesn’t need a 6000 sq. foot house. Maybe he’d be happy with a Beemer and doesmt need a Maseratti. In other words a brilliant kid with a USC business degree can have a pretty good life.
OP ignore @Mooop. His or her opinion is obviously slanted. By the way so is mine. I would clearly choose Penn, but that is me not you.
The question you need to ask yourself is what is the better fit for you. Penn (Wharton) is the better school. USC has the better weather. Both campuses are city campuses and in my opinion neither campus is better than the other. Both are ok but have bad neighborhoods nearby. If you want to work in Cali or the West Coast either school is fine. USC has a great network on the West Coast. IF you want to work anywhere else Penn is by far the better choice. Wharton’s network reaches worldwide. If finances are equal, ultimately choose the place where you are more comfortable. If fraternity life interests you, both schools have great fraternity life. Both schools have great social scenes.
By the way my son is at Wharton and he loves it. He is having the time of his life, is getting great grades, loves his fraternity and has plenty of time to enjoy his social life. Also I have taught at a top business school and think Wharton far exceeds Marshall. That being said, however, Marshall is a good school.
You said you “love everything about USC” but Penn has “ivy” going for it. Do NOT choose a school if you don’t love it regardless of rank, prestige and others opinions. Visit both schools if you haven’t. Make sure you really do love everything about USC and see if you like anything more about Penn besides its reputation. You will be fine either way, despite what others may tell you, so make the choice that’s right for you. Just make sure you’re not being biased either way. You are choosing between two completely different schools. Figure out which checks off most of the boxes on your list, in order of priority.
@moooop I agree that Penn isn’t for everyone. It provides opportunity and challenge, but some students not want to work that hard, or want to surf, or attend a religious based college. That is fine.
While there is no doubt that it is not for everyone, but most students that turn it down are giving up something to get something they value more. This OP seems to understand that. In general, I think the undergrad you choose matters less if you are rich, and more if you are poor, but do not choose Penn in any case, if don’t plan to make an effort.
