<p>I have long considered UPenn my first choice, and it still is. I visited the place and liked the foggy Philly atmosphere, and everyone I know claims it's a more "social" kind of place compared with the "others". I like these attributes.</p>
<p>Still, call me a prestige junkie, but I would like to think that my first choice school has some of the best/most recognized departments in the country...or even the world.</p>
<p>Everyone knows Wharton. But what about CAS? Sure I am obsessed with rankings, but I haven't been finding Penn on many top 10 lists and it concerns me. Plus I gave a quick glance at the Princeton Review book at borders, and it gives Penn an 85 academic score (compared with like 98's or 97's for Princeton and UChicago). Why?</p>
<p>Where is CAS's strength? In academic circles, where does its name stand out? Ivy doesn't always equal the best department of best education. Since I came "late" in this process, I am concerned I might not have extended my application-net as wide as I should have.</p>
<p>Enlighten me.</p>
<p>Penn has many liberal arts departments that are ranked among the top 10 or top 20 in the country. For example, although a bit dated now, check out the highly respected National Research Council (NRC) rankings of graduate programs:</p>
<p>[NRC</a> Rankings in Each of 41 Areas](<a href=“http://www.stat.tamu.edu/~jnewton/nrc_rankings/nrc41.html]NRC”>NRC Rankings in Each of 41 Areas)</p>
<p>You’ll see that Penn did well in many liberal arts fields (e.g., English, History, Art History, Religion, Music, Economics, Psychology, Sociology, Linguistics, Anthropology, French, and Spanish, just to name a few).</p>
<p>A review of the recent US News rankings of graduate liberal arts programs reveals a similarly high level of performance by Penn:</p>
<p>[Best</a> Social Sciences and Humanities Schools - Graduate Schools - Education - US News and World Report](<a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-humanities-schools]Best”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-humanities-schools)</p>
<p>The US News lists of departments appears under “graduate school rankings”. Does this translate into undergraduate strength? Otherwise, the departmental lists seem reassuring. I never found such information before, since, after all, they are under the “graduate school” heading. </p>
<p>I honestly don’t care all that much about “name power” itself. I am not the type who looks for “that college” that doesn’t let anybody in. If I have to apply for a job where the boss never heard of Penn, I probably wouldn’t make much money there. Best departments. Best education. Plain and Simple.</p>
<p>And how did you know to send me first to Social Sciences/Humanities? Did a lack of scientific aptitude shine through my first post?</p>
<p>OH MY GOD 45 Percenter…You gave practically the same reply to the same exact post two years ago! And you were the first to reply in both threads. It’s as if you’ve been policing the Penn forum for years, just waiting for this moment to come again.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-pennsylvania/475055-strength-liberal-arts-penn.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-pennsylvania/475055-strength-liberal-arts-penn.html</a></p>
<p>It’s his way to combat posters who keep on posting the same questions over and over again, which happens a lot here. I tip my cap to 45 Percenter. Though it seems BreakerBoy, you have figured out how to use the search button, so, no harm done, right?</p>
<p>Fighting Quaker…thank you. I guessed no one invited me to the party back in December. This issue has been so hashed (and so recently) that I s’ppose I wouldn’t mind letting the thread die. But thank you both again. I at least attracted veterans of this topic.</p>
<p>BreakerBoy, that 2008 thread you dug up does contain a fairly comprehensive and insightful discussion of this topic, if I do say so myself. ;)</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the NRC ranking update that I said was supposed to be published later that year, STILL hasn’t been published. :rolleyes: They keep promising, though. :)</p>
<p>Wharton is only 1/4 of the University. Taking away 1/4 of something, even if #1 would not drop a #5 school to the double digits.</p>