<p>I wanted to get some input on why some people chose UPenn over other great schools that may have offered admission to them(any other Ivy/any other top school). Although these are two completely different areas of study, I am looking into completing a pre-med major or an international relations major. I'm a rising senior in high school. I would greatly appreciate any comments because they will help me decide on whether or not I should apply depending on if UPenn is a good fit for what I want to study.</p>
<p>UPenn is a great school if you like the city life. Philadelphia is amazing if you love food, music, culture, partying, or pretty much anything else. It’s close enough to a beach. It’s close to NYC.</p>
<p>Of course, UPenn has a great academic rank…it’s undoubtedly one of the best schools in the US. Plus, there’s lots of opportunities for undergrad research, even if it’s a larger school. Also, you pretty much don’t have to worry about affording Penn because they’ll meet your need with no loans.</p>
<p>Finally, UPenn is great for students who worry about social fit. There’s tons of clubs and student organizations. You’re bound to find someone with similar interests or some weird club to join. Also, it’s a really open and diverse school that attracts a great number of students from different minority groups, countries, and even sexual preferences.</p>
<p>I’m attending in the fall, so I haven’t experienced Penn student life 100%. For me, it was between Duke, Penn and Georgetown. I’m not sure what I want to do exactly, and I was accepted to Georgetown SFS, and I felt like it didn’t give me enough room to explore. Also, I felt like I would have been choosing G’town for all the wrong (personal) reasons, but that’s more of a subjective, personal thing. Duke was a nice visit but it was a PAIN to physically get there, and I didn’t like the way they separated east and west campus. And the students seemed to be walking by themselves.</p>
<p>I chose Penn because of its academic options: uncoordinated Dual Degree, double major in another school, submatriculation program, one-university policy where you can take classes in other schools (even grad schools), etc. Also, Penn has (or so I’ve heard) the best on-campus recruiting program in the nation. I met a rising senior at a reception, econ/poli sci major in the college, and he already has a job with Merrill Lynch waiting for him when he graduates.
Penn has an IR major, and has pretty good pre-med. You can double major. And if you want to go to med school at Penn, you might be able to submatriculate and finish med school a year early.</p>
<p>I recommend you also take a look at G’town. Idk if you can do both pre-med and IR in their SFS (you apply to one school), but they have a major called Science, Technology, and International Affairs, which maybe fulfills the pre-med requirement. (Pre-med is a track, not a major). You might also be able to double major in college of art and sciences. I’m not much more help, maybe check out their website?</p>