<p>I love UVA. I didn't get Echols though. I want to pursue International Relations. I just got into Penn (and many others), and I want to know what people think.</p>
<p>What would you recommend? Thanks.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that I'm biased because I visited UVA and hated it and I'm going to Penn next year..</p>
<p>They're both fantastic schools. Penn is more highly ranked, but you'll really get a wonderful education at either. They're both fairly sizable, but the class size and student:faculty ratio are a lot smaller at Penn, so it's probably better if that's important to you. I don't know much about the IR department at UVA, but Penn's is definitely really good because of Huntsman. Also, the social environments and locations are TOTALLY different. UVA is much more preppy Southern, while Penn is more urban international. Good luck in your choice!</p>
<p>yea, the environments are COMPLETELY different so you need to question that more than anything else. penn is right in the middle of philadelphia, whereas uva is its own little green southern campus. until you visit/overnight at both i dont think you can decide. it really depends on which of those environments you like better.</p>
<p>"the class size and student:faculty ratio are a lot smaller at Penn"</p>
<p>While I'm sure penn has a lower student:faculty ratio, I have many reservations on whether or not the number they report is accurate. They do not release a common data set, and there are very particular rules which govern how student:faculty ratio is governed. It seems odd that a school as large as penn would have a 5:1 student faculty ratio. Harvard doesn't have that.</p>
<p>You should judge it on a feel basis. You've heard all the 'facts' from various reports. I just got rejected from Penn and was accepted to UVa. Penn was my 1st choice because I absolutely fell in love with it when I went there, however, although I'm dissapointed about not getting into Penn, I know that UVa is an awesome college and really look forward to visiting it in a couple of days time at one of the 'Days on the Lawn'.</p>
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Keep in mind that I'm biased because I visited UVA and hated it and I'm going to Penn next year
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<p>To each his own, I guess! I thought I was interested in Penn in HS based on everything I read about it, but then I visited. Well, drove through the campus, really. After driving all the way to Philadelphia from rural Virginia, I didn't even want to get out of the car to tour Penn! The campus was that much of a turnoff for me. I was interested in an urban school, but not like Penn. Perhaps if Penn were like NYU (in Manhattan) or Georgetown (a school I heavily considered, in a <em>nice</em> part of its own city), I would have ended up applying. </p>
<p>Anyway, they're both excellent schools, and ultimately one should make the decision after having visited both, imo.</p>
<p>Your driving through Penn reminds me of my cousin who traveled from Va to Boston. She walked into BU or BC (forget which) said I don't like it and walked out.</p>
<p>I toured UVA about a year ago this week. It reminded me of that rural, rustic intellectual style that I always kind of loved. I'll be flying to Philly in a couple weeks to see Penn up close. Then I'll make a decision.</p>
<p>Thanks for the help everyone.</p>