<p>I'm currently a Junior looking into some colleges, and I plan on applying Early Decision next year. I'm currently stuck between UPenn and UChicago.</p>
<p>My intended major is doubling up in Economics and Philosophy. I know UChicago has a respected Economics program, but UPenn CAS is also very strong and it has the "Ivy" reputation. I plan on going to law school, so GPA is extremely important to me. The fact that Penn offers grade inflation and Chicago uses grade deflation is a big factor for me. But I don't want that to be what makes my decision.</p>
<p>When it comes to the social scene of each school, they both have their ups and downs. I would love to live in Chicago, but I heard some things about UChicago having a very dull and over-intellectual atmosphere. My problem with UPenn is that it's too close (there are a looot of students from my high school who attended schools in Pennsylvania, many of whom attend UPenn), and I really don't like the whole greek thing and partying.</p>
<p>I'm really on the fence here, so I'd really appreciate all of y'all inputs. Thanks. :]</p>
<ol>
<li><p>UChicago doesn’t have an ED program.</p></li>
<li><p>Yes, UChicago has grade deflation compared to UPenn, and yes, its atmosphere is much drier and more intellectual than UPenn’s, and yes, UPenn is in the Ivy League and UChicago is not.</p></li>
<li><p>UPenn is a very pre-professional school, especially compared to UChicago, and people who want to go to law school abound. The career services office is very well-equipped to prepare people for law school, or to find good internships for people who want to go into business, or what have you. UChicago’s career services, albeit recently revitalized, are not as efficient yet.</p></li>
<li><p>You do not sound like a person who would enjoy UChicago at all.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>My son also was choosing between those two schools (accepted EA Chicago, ED Penn) and, obviously, went to Penn. He took another look since he wasn’t happy freshman year, but ultimately stayed at Penn and loved it. He feels UChicago is more intellectual. But, overall, Penn gets the nod.</p>
<p>My cousin went to Uchicago and majored in economics. He graduated with about a 3.9 gpa and made six figure salary out of college. He is currently at Oxford university in England. I would pick chicago because of the connections he made while he was there that presented great opportunities. But, you can’t go wrong with Penn.</p>
<p>Honestly I’m a little confused why you are choosing between these two. If you are going to law school its not going to matter which top school you attended. So choose basically purely on fit. It doesn’t sound like Penn or Chicago fit at all. Have you checked out Amherst, Rice, or Brown?</p>
<p>If this worries you, Chicago probably is not your school. Check out Northwestern or Duke. Rethink Philosophy, too.</p>
<p>For most students, the reputation of Chicago’s econ department is not a good enough reason to buy into the whole program (including the Common Core concept).</p>