Hey everyone. I was fortunate enough to be accepted to Wharton, Pomona, Amherst, Northwestern and some other colleges. That’s the good news. The tougher thing now is to choose among them. I’m an international student who has a passion for economics and various areas of business. However, I also enjoy studying the liberal arts. Here’s my take on what appeals to me in Wharton and what worries me. Please feel free to correct any misconceptions I may have.
PROS
-Business prospects. I will definitely go into business after college, but I have no concrete plans. Will I go into IB, PE? Start my own business? I’m open to everything and I know that Wharton sets you up for a future in business better than any other college. You get top firms coming to recruit, you get an unparalleled education in everything business-related, and you graduate prepared for the business world more so than at any other place.
-Reputation. Mostly everyone in the business world and in influential circles knows Wharton and its quality. Its reputation is unparalleled in the business world (only Harvard can claim similar standing).
-Network. Once again – unparalleled. Wharton grads are everywhere in finance and business.
WORRIES
Note: I’ve read Wharton Mythbusters and all that. These are worries that linger regardless, and I would love to hear what people have to say.
-Liberal arts. I want to take courses in the liberal arts (philosophy, history, literature, etc.) at the Penn CAS while doing my business studies at Wharton. It’s a crucial thing for me to be able to get a multidimensional education while studying business. My worry, however, is that by taking extra courses in the liberal arts I may fall behind in the meat grinder that is the great Wharton job race. People at Wharton appear to be very competitive when it comes to jobs, so they do everything to build their resume (not that it’s a bad thing). I don’t want to lose out on potential top jobs because I took some liberal arts courses while others spent time on finding internships/taking more finance courses/joining clubs. Otherwise it’ll be a lose-lose for me. Either I won’t take liberal arts courses, or I’ll be behind. This is probably my greatest worry.
-Environment. How cutthroat vs. collaborative are Wharton students? I find that a collaborative environment is a lot more conducive to personal growth and education, but I have some worries about how this is at Wharton.
And finally, if anyone is currently studying in Wharton or has graduated already, I would be grateful if you could tell me what your overall experience at Wharton was like, and whether you think I would fit in based on what you read above.