<p>(double posted in business school forum)</p>
<p>I was recently accepted as a transfer to both schools. I want to go to williams, but my family is pressuring me to go to Penn. Ultimately, I know that it is my choice, but after speaking with my sister, who said she has spoken to people in the business/banking industry, she said that it would be better to go to penn.</p>
<p>What are the opportunity differences between the two schools?</p>
<p>Personally, I would go to Penn because it is a larger school with I think a better reputation. Sure, Williams is a top liberal arts school with excellent grad placement. If you are looking for a job right out of school, I'd say Penn hands down. But both are truly spectacular. I would ultimately follow your own gut on this one. If your intuition tells you Williams, then perhaps you should go to Williams. Just be aware that Penn's entering class is probably bigger than all four grades at Williams, something to keep in mind.</p>
<p>I forgot to include some more information.</p>
<p>In one word... Yes, I do want a job after graduation, specifically a job in consulting. However, I don't know if it's worth sacrificing my happiness, not that i would be unhappy at penn, but I definitely would rather be at williams hands down.</p>
<p>basically, is the "prestige" and more hardcore recruiting worth it? I feel like it's not, but at the same time, I just want some feedback because I don't want to regret my choice.</p>
<p>Williams is most certainly not disadvantaged in that particular realm (nor any other, really) with its strong alumni and well-known strength among the liberal arts colleges.</p>
<p>If it is such a disparity in where you'd rather be that it can be described as "hands down", I think that the choice here is pretty obvious "hands down".</p>
<p>Jimmy, take heart! Williams has no shortage of prestige on Wall Street or in consulting circles. Alums are well placed and tightly knit. They support the next generation.</p>
<p>Williams kids do fine in job recruitment. One 07 grad we know is up to six figures right out of the box. I might suggest that you send an e-mail over to the Office of Career Counseling and ask them how graduates fare.</p>
<p>The key factor here will be your personal fit. You will do better at the school that suits you better. If you are unhappy your grades will suffer which would be counterproductive to your goals. I would also suggest you do a search on Momofwildchild and read about her son's experience at Penn.</p>
<p>Penn is a great school and I have no ax to grind here. It's just that the atmosphere on so many levels is SO different from Williams that it's hard to even imagine a difficult choice between the two. One should be the clear preference.</p>
<p>The prestige of the two schools is roughly equivalent.
They're very different, so one will be much better for you than the other. Pick that one.</p>
<p>Go where you feel you would be happiest!
By the way, it is only recently that Penn has approached Williams in general stature, IMO. My dog-eared 1997 edition of USN&WR has Williams with a 25%-75% SAT range of 1320-1520 and a 26% admissions rate. Penn's range was 1270-1440 with a 33% admissions rate.</p>
<p>The question is 'Are you in Wharton?'</p>
<p>If you are, Penn probably offers a bit more job wise, though not some amazing amount.</p>
<p>However, Williams > Penn(not Wharton) fairly clearly, IMO.</p>
<p>But the difference wouldn't be big enough(to me) to sacrafice happiness.</p>
<p>"Fairly clearly" by what rubric, pray tell?</p>
<p>If you want to go into consulting, Penn is the clear winner whether you are in the College or the B-school. The recruiting resources are available to both, as are the unique business-focused classes (I've taken classes in negotiations and international comparative management) that you simply can't get at Williams.</p>
<p>That being said, if you think you will be happier at Williams, go there. My time at Penn has been largely free of whiners and I would love to keep it that way. At Penn people will either sink or swim--but those who swim will go very far indeed ;)</p>
<p>Penn is better for recruitment, but both are solid schools.</p>
<p>Whats your major?</p>
<p>Ive heard everywhere that the workload at Williams is harder than at any Ivy League school, about six hours a day. I was enchanted with the idea of Williams until I heard about such a workload, which would most likely begin to seem like alot over the course of months and years. Despite the workload, though, these are Williams' marks on the princeton review</p>
<p>#9 Best Overall Academic Experience for Undergraduates Academics
#2 Professors Get High Marks Academics
#13 School Runs Like Butter Academics
#9 Students Happy with Financial Aid Academics
#12 The Toughest to Get Into Academics
#18 Dorms Like Palaces Quality of Life </p>
<p>and here are UPenn's</p>
<p>#9 The Toughest to Get Into Academics
#5 Best College Newspaper Extracurriculars
#8 Town-Gown Relations Are Strained Social </p>
<p>Attending a cream of the Ivy League institution would be my choice, but if you really wouldnt regret having a ridiculous workload, and if youre sure that your enchantment with Williams isnt temporary, then do what you will and good luck to you.</p>
<p>^^^ princeton review "rankings" are absolutely worthless, they change 100% year to year and are based on a limited number of student surveys for that year.</p>
<p>schools go from #1 one year to not being on the list the next, and vice versa.</p>
<p>Princeton Review rankings are based on student surveys...ie kids at Williams decided that they like Williams so rated it high...</p>
<p>Basically, PR is worthless. Theres a ton of empirical data available to compare schools, making the PR survey more of a funny thing to talk about than something to actually be used when comparing school quality.</p>
<p>I don't think Penn is better for recruitment unless it's Wharton. I would go with Williams if it's not.</p>
<p>JohnnyK - my own personal one, that's why I put IMO. But that may not have been clear, sorry.</p>
<p>Thanks for the all of the responses. Just to add, I was accepted to CAS, not wharton. I don't know if that will really change anything, since I feel like all the consulting recruiting is for penn as a whole.</p>
<p>We recently visited Penn. Wharton has separate recruting and many empoyers just recruit there. Consulting and ibanking in particular.</p>
<p>Wharton has alot of exclusive events.</p>
<p>idk, if it were me, I would go to Penn. Williams is located in a very secluded area of Mass, and it is a tiny school. Among true academics, it will carry weight, but I am telling you, not everyone has a US News copy and they just rely on general reputation and prestige. And Williams is a great school but don't be surprised when a lot of really intelligent people look at you and say, where is that. I am telling you, this is the way the world works.</p>
<p>I disagree Columbia. wen you want to work for something like a top consulting firm the Williams network is exceptional. Most of the world has not heard of Williams but the people doing the hiring for many elite jobs have.</p>