<p>Well I’m playing the devil’s advocate here but it could be argued that the “practicality” of a Wharton degree is unessential as you are taught everything that is “practical” during on the job training. If true, what is the value-added of a Wharton degree? </p>
<p>The opportunity cost, from a HYP liberal arts graduates point of view, is clear: If Wharton grads are indeed on par with HYP grads then they forgo layman’s prestige by attending Wharton instead of a HYP school that they could have attended. Bet that’s non-essential. What they would really argue is that while it is easy for them to gain financial skills either on the job or in business school the Whartonite misses out on a broad liberal arts education that ranges from Newton to Nietzche and extends the mind. Remember, a liberal arts grad would argue the point of college is not whether what you learn is useful, but the fact that you learn how to think. Would you argue that this is equally true of a Wharton education? Now I’m aware that a Wharton grads are in fact obligated to take some liberal arts courses but why not just go for the entire liberal arts experience and go to HYP?</p>
<p>What is specific to the Wharton experience and a Wharton education that makes it worth forgoing a liberal arts HYP education? What does Wharton give you that these other schools do not or cannot? </p>
<p>Do the benefits outweigh the costs?</p>
<p>yuenie also brings up an interesting point. He seems to suggest that he applied to Wharton because he could not get into HYP. Correct me if I am mistaken, but it seems to me that the pervasive view on CC is that Wharton kids are on par with HYP kids academically. So would that discount his argument? Aren’t Wharton kids as smart as their HYP counterparts?
Again I am not criticizing Wharton in any way. I am thrilled I have been admitted and I cannot wait to attend. I have my own reasons, Siegel and Souleles mostly, that make me believe a Wharton education is worth it and is, in my estimation, superior to the education I could have received at a HYP school. I for one find finance as “intellectually stimulating” as philosophy and biology. In my limited view, there is nothing intrinsic about Machiavelli’s work that makes it more intellectual than say Graham’s work. But that’s me. I’m just curious to hear your viewpoints. Wharton alums and current students feel free to pitch in as well! We are newly minted Whartonites after all and have not actually experienced the school and therefore cannot comment as effectively.</p>