What makes penn different

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>Coming to Penn has shown me that not all top schools are alike. I thought it would show the opposite. However, I have friends at a bunch of other top schools and we are all having drastically different experiences. Sure we’re all surrounded by smart people and getting a top notch education, but there are major differences. To sum up what is DIFFERENT about Penn:</p>

<li> We’re in a city—the OPPOSITE of Princeton, Dartmouth, Cornell, and even the suburban campuses. To me, this is a major plus for us. I never thought the location was so important, but it is. However, some people might be looking for a less urban experience.</li>
<li> We are the “Social Ivy.” This doesn’t take away from our academics. Rather, we augment our intelligence with strong social skills. And we have a good time, there’s nothing wrong with that. Still, there are those who would be better suited at a school more like UChicago, and they’d be happier there.</li>
<li> We are slightly more international. It shows, too, a good third of my friends aren’t from this continent. This is a major advantage—talk about global networking.</li>
<li> We are very preprofessional. It’s not just Wharton either. Sometimes it is called “practical education,” but whatever it is, it means that Penn kids are pretty focused and career oriented. I personally think this is a plus, but I can also say that there is a large group of people for whom it would not be a plus.</li>
<li> We are large. Population-wise, this school is different from many other Ivies. To me, more people equals more opportunities. And as a freshmen, I can tell you that Penn really is not very big—I can’t go anywhere without having to stop and talk to people I know. However, I know that for some people who want a smaller, more nurturing environment, one of the top LACs would be infinitely better. </li>
</ol>

<p>If any other Penn students want to add or expand to this list, that would be awesome. I just think it is important to point out that the top schools are NOT all the same. There are similarities across the board, but there are also differences, and these differences can have major ramifications in terms of a college experience.</p>

2

<p>I thought of a couple more.</p>

<p>-Penn is very Jewish and Asian (Jewniversity of Pennsylvasia). However, it is still very diverse and large enough that these groups don't dominate.</p>

<p>-Penn is a school on the rise. Unlike many of the other Ivies, Penn has become truly elite only in the past decade. There is a sort of lag time with this I think. If you come to Penn, you will have fifty thousand people asking why you chose "Penn State." You will have to be prepared to deal with this if you go to Penn. Once you actually get to Penn, you will not have to deal with this anymore.</p>

<p>-Philadelphia. Penn is in West Philadelphia, and this makes it very unique. I volunteered in West Philly this semester and learned more than I could ever have learned in Cambridge, Palo Alto, or Princeton, NJ. Apart from the learning experience of living here, Philly is an awesome city in a great, central location.</p>