@MYOS1634 you are correct however in an earlier post she mentioned she was a legacy so I’m guessing she wouldn’t fall within that group.
@MYOS1634 @Cookies510 Would you recommend Quaker Days for an overnight at UPenn? BTW I am from the Philadelphia region if that helps.
yes
@Angelababy30 " I just not sure if i would be able to maintain a high enough GPA for med school application and time preparation of MCAT. Also I am not sure about the learning environment of both schools since I have not physically visited the school."
I recommend that you contact Penn admissions and schedule an appointment with a counselor either by telephone or in person. Just call the main number (215) 898–7507, and ask for admissions. Once you get to admissions tell the person you have been admitted, and that you have some questions and would like to speak with a counselor.
Talk with the counselor about your concern about grades in pre-med. Ask about what a sample schedule would look like. Ask about research opportunities (Basically any student can get involved in research). Ask about opportunities for pre-meds to get involved in clubs. Ask about opportunities to get guidance about issues like what med school applicants need besides a GPA and an MCAT score. Tell them about your other acceptance too. Let them help you.
You should go to Quaker days too, but begin getting more information right away. Knowing more will help you make a better decision.
Also, consider the fact that most pre-meds at any college decide not to stay in pre-med. None of those students think it will be them switching out. If that happens to you, you are better off at Penn.
@Much2learn is it worth it to stay overnight since I live in philly?
@angelababy30 Yes, you should stay overnight. They will put you and a few other “Baby Quakers” with a Penn student. There will be lots of activities, and things to learn.
“While Penn State overall may not be in the same league as Penn its harder to get into Schreyer than Penn.“
Penn admits more Philly students because of a deal the city made with the U. It is possible it is easier to get into Penn for those few. That is a huge opportunity for those kids. Except for that, Penn is much more difficult to get into. They reject lots of kids with perfect grades and test scores.
@Much2learn I have received a financial aid package from UPenn that the CoA is 2.5k (from the portal online), but do they change later on or is it finalized? Do they mail out the financial aid in paper since I already received the acceptance letter via mail without any financial aids information in the mail?
The number you received in the portal should be the final number.
@Much2learn Just found out that I am accepted into Carnegie Mellon College of Science. CoA is around $4k per year including everything needed. How would that compare to Penn?
@angelababy30
CM is a very good school, but it just isn’t comparable except in computer science. CMU does not have nearly the resources of Penn. For example, the Penn endowment is almost 10 times larger than CMU’s.
From my perspective, it is pretty clear that Penn offers you the best opportunity. The important thing for you is getting a lot of guidance on how to capitalize on all of those opportunities. The opportunities they offer will not benefit you if you don’t know they exist or how to access and prioritize them. That is why I recommend that you begin by discussing that with an admissions counselor. Penn has incredible opportunities, but it is also fairly large and complex. Someone with experience can be a big help in guiding you in capturing the best opportunities that are aligned with your interests.
Don’t worry about housing at Penn. Although on paper housing is not guaranteed for your last years, students are able to find on campus housing if they desire to stay on campus (another dorm is being built) and off campus housing is easy to secure if desired.
Settle in your freshman year and then apply for assistant research positions. With both the University Hospital and Children’s Hospital on campus, undergraduates often assist graduate students. This is a terrific way to spend time learning and get paid.
Use the resources; free tutoring is available… On the other side, if you get great grades and decide to be a tutor, the pay is more than double PA minimum wage…
CMU and Penn have a very different culture and student body. Visit if you are able…
A few things to think about at any elite private school. Will it bother you to be surrounded by students with extraordinary economic advantages? You will find your own group of friends and they will likely be lifelong friends, but it sometimes takes a while to sort out. Often the differences are purely economical (dining out, entertainment, extravagant vacations on breaks) and you may find that wealthier students arrive having already taken (are repeating) freshman courses. Don’t despair, there are plenty of opportunities to work on campus and truly bright self-motivated students have already learned to independently study (a huge advantage).
Also if you are a Philly public high school kid you’ll be a part of the Mayor’s Scholars Program and you’ll get even more support and a peer advisor.
Edit: see that you are in the region. They may still invite you to the Mayor’s Scholar Program if you are in a surrounding county (Chester, Delaware, Montgomery or Bucks).
@KLSD How easy is it to find opportunities for research at the university hospital or the children’s hospital? I have no previous research experience. Which freshman housing would you recommend? I heard most freshman wanted the Quad.
@Much2learn Would I be seen as someone that doesn’t really know anything about the school/didn’t want to go to Penn if I try to discuss with an admission counselor?
You have been admitted. The Admissions Office isn’t judging you anymore. Admitted students are part of the Penn family. Now Penn needs to ensure that you are supported and successful.
You have what it takes to succeed, or they would not have admitted you, and Penn has the classes, support, resources, and opportunities to make this a life-changing four years for you. The critical thing is to connect early with people who can guide you to access and take full advantage of those resources and begin that process early.
As you begin to do that, realize that at Penn rigorous academics is only a piece of the puzzle. Getting involved in extracurricular activities like research, internships, clubs, travel abroad, etc. are a big part of the experience. Developing a social network is also important. Social connections often begin with pre-orientation activities, which you should participate in, your dorm, and the clubs you join. It is helpful to make an effort to make friends early because everyone is trying to make friends at that point.
It will be challenging, but you will be a big success!
@Angelababy30
No, you are already part of the University of Pennsylvania family, as @Much2learn said. They will not rescind your acceptance for asking questions. Going to Penn is your ticket to an upper-middle class life. It may be a bit intimidating at first, but that’s OK. Clearly you are qualified. They would NEVER admit a student that was not qualified. You have to take the plunge. You won’t regret it.
Tell us a little about your background.
@Much2learn Thank you for the reassurance. I am definitely attracted to Penn’s research opportunities, especially in the medical field with the to great hospital right next to campus. Do you know anything about the social life as a freshman (I think only one of my friends is accepted into Penn)? I heard that the Quad is what most freshman wanted and it is great for socializing and making new friends.
@angelababy30
The Quad is where most freshmen live and a great place to make new friends and meet people you would have never met otherwise. The students from all four colleges are mixed, which is excellent. My D ended up being good friends with some people who she has about zero in common with on paper, but their personalities clicked. It is priceless when that happens.
The rooms are not the best, but it is a right of passage at Penn to say you lived in the Quad. Most students will say that they are glad they did it, but they would not want to do it again. The rooms are not anything special, but they made a lot of friends there. That is the main point of being freshmen together. 
https://www.curf.upenn.edu/research/need-to-know
CURF links undergraduate students with research opportunities. Sometimes it is as simple as approaching one of your professors to ask. Graduate students are taking classes, completing research, and many are learning to be instructors, so they are very willing to teach you what you need to know in order to assist.
In addition to the Quad, Hill is also a designed to be a community with small rooms and large community spaces. It is on the edge of campus and next to the engineering quad.