<p>Hi! Recently, I've been trying to narrow down my list of schools, and I came across the scenario of having to eliminate one reach school of mine. I obviously picked the two that I have least knowledge about, which happen to be University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University, and I was wondering if any helpful CC'ers could help me distinguish key qualities between the two. </p>
<p>My key interests are in biology, bioengineering, psychology, and neuroscience. Which school do you think offers a better program for these fields? I won't be applying to Columbia's Fu Foundation since I lack an SAT II in Chemistry/Physics, by the way. Also, if I happened to find business or economics interesting after taking classes, is it possible to switch majors?</p>
<p>Columbia is a smaller school right? I'm actually looking for typically larger schools. Is Columbia more liberal arts based? How are the research opportunities compared to those of University of Pennsylvania?</p>
<p>Also, which one provides a more enjoyable student life? I heard that at Columbia, everything tends to be individualized. I want to be in a social scene and have the opportunity to work with peers. </p>
<p>So, if you haven't figured out already, right now I'm leaning towards UPenn. The reason I had originally wanted to apply to Columbia was because it's situated in NYC. How's the scene around Harlem vs. Philidelphia?</p>
<p>Thanks for reading! I'd greatly appreciate any advice to help make my college search easier heh.</p>
<p>Columbia isn't in Harlem. I'm sure as anyone will tell you who has visited, Columbia's morningside campus feels extremely safe whereas UPenn... well, go visit and you'll see. </p>
<p>I won't speak for Penn, but Columbia has amazing premed/science programs. More Nobel Prizes than any other University less Cambridge. I'm currently a freshman, but landed a job (simple email) at a stem-cell biotissue engineering lab at Columbia's medical campus (which is about 50 blocks up). There's a free shuttle between the two campuses. </p>
<p>In terms of Social Scene, on the weekends there are a lot of parties and people tend to disseminate into the city, contributing to this "individualized" notion, which has some truth behind it. Penn probably has a more traditional social scene and a larger student body. Columbia College is only ~1000 people, same as Dartmouth making them the smallest Ivies. </p>
<p>Ultimately, both are great choices. Columbia is great if you want a fusion of many disciplines, optimal for those who aren't 100% sure of what they want to be or just wants to know about everything. As someone who was really entrenched in the sciences, my LitHum (literature humanities) has really opened my eyes, reading stuff like Socrates, Thucydides, Homer, Herodotus, and many many more. Speaking of LitHum, you Columbia's Core Curriculum is what sets it out from all the other ivies. It's a set of classes that Columbia since its inception believes that every "civilized member of society" should know. </p>
<p>Anyway, be it law, business, medicine or whatever, you can't go wrong with either. It's ultimately up to you but it sounds like you've already chose Penn. Come visit and spend a night or two and see which you like. Columbia College is harder to get into though because there are as many apps as Penn gets with less spots open, which translates into a lower admit rate. People here are absolutely brilliant though.</p>
<p>Penn has a top5 bioengineering program, top 5 psych dept. (the oldest dept. in North America), and is a world leader in neuroscience. Just run a search and read up on the neuroscience faculty, they really may just be the very best in the world in their field. Bioengineering and Neuroscience facilities are top-notch. Penn has declared that the intersection of "Genes, Brains and Behavior" to be key priority and is building a new center just for this area. Penn also has pioneered a major called the Biological Basis of Behavior which is extremely well established and draws a lot of students.</p>
<p>Oh man...you both offer such great prospects. It's so hard to choose! I'm thinking maybe I should just apply to both, since the chances of me getting into either are slim...</p>