<p>Okay, so when it comes down to it I am pretty much deciding between Williams or Wharton (having been accepted to both). I know I will have more fun at Williams, being a more laid back atmosphere in a rural atmosphere, smaller class sizes actually taught by professors, more liberal etc. etc. Wharton on the other hand has amazing career prospects, more opportunities because of its great facilities and more students means more student-related things going on. However, I do not know if I can handle the intensity that is associated with Wharton -- people sabotaging others, people writing 12 page papers where a four pager will do so as to "beat the curve." The intense business classes. However, when I think about it, I will probably be taking the same types of classes in Williams anyways (business classes that is).</p>
<p>To give a little perspective here, my interests are...
International business, with a focus on the more human side of business (working and communicating with other people, etc.) as opposed to number crunching. I am very, very interested in languages and traveling. My main language right now is Spanish, but I'm working on Chinese (and hope to be more fluent in Spanish and become fluent in Chinese) as well as develop moderate proficiency in languages like Italian or Arabic of French (not sure which at this point). I am not as terribly interested in business as I used to be, and don't know if I'm willing to sacrifice my own enjoyment in a career for it. However, I know that I will get great money going to wharton (though I don't care as much about money as I used to).</p>
<p>Anyways, give me some guidance here! I'm pretty lost and this is gonna be a very tough decision for me. I feel like I'll lose something major going to either school over the other.</p>
<p>pro con list. it really comes down to what you want, and honestly, i think you will know where is right for you. if you think you will be happier at one and will learn more at one, go there. it is about what you DO in college, not WHERE you are! :)</p>
<p>_____ - I know, but I’m more asking not to see what school, but WHY. I’m asking in the other forum (williams) for the same reasons. I kind of expect the people from each forum to support their respective schools.</p>
<p>sleepingbeauty - Well, I am definitely going to make a procon list (and already have started to in my mind). I am going to visit each school again (already have once) and explore for at least an entire day and parts of another day, etc. I will research a lot about it, reflect on my own goals for college and see how each school might help me meet those goals. However, as much as I know more than other people as you say, it’s nice to hear from other people what they say. I’m going to ask a lot of people and synthesize everyone’s guidance/advice/opinions with my own desires, expectations, perceptions, etc. in order to decide. It’s just nice to hear from other people, biased or not.</p>
<p>It really baffles my mind when I hear these random anecdotes about how cutthroat Wharton is. Yes, it is competitive but you would expect that from a class of students so talented who are all gunning for the same jobs. However, in my 3 years here I haven’t heard of anyone sabotaging someone else’s work or anything like that. And if you turn in a 12 page paper when the limit is 4 the professor will in all likelihood be ****ed off with you. I think the suggestions of a pro con list are great ones. From your profile it seems like you would have applied into the Huntsman program?</p>
<p>Disclaimer: I was accepted Wharton so no conflict of interest. </p>
<p>Williams is a better match for you based on your statement. Consider this: you had time to edit your post and pick your words carefully. The real battle is nature versus nurture. You want William and your environment is chanting Wharton. I belong in Wharton and the prospects are simply a cherry on top. You, on the other hand, belong in William. Go for it!</p>
<p>First, take the ‘cutthroat’ environment out of the list, because none of the situations which you describe actually happen at all or in any significant amounts.</p>
<p>Second, it seems to me as though your debate is more with you not liking business than between Wharton vs. Williams. If you don’t want to do real business, then transfer to the College and study what you love. From what you give, I do not see any real advantage in going to Williams over Penn.</p>
<p>MomOfWildChild - I will definitely consider that, thank you.
Haithman (and rudess) - That’s good to know that it’s not as cutthroat as people make it out to be. That was actually a very big factor in where I decide to go. Also, I did apply to Huntsman ED and got deferred, but I assume I only got into wharton
necrophiliac - I know that Williams seems more fun and everything, but that’s not the only important thing obviously. I want wharton too, for their facilities, their campus, the amazing career prospects, etc. There are definitely pros and cons to both. I suppose it’s worth mentioning that if money didn’t matter (that is, I didn’t consider the fact that I’m pretty much guaranteed an amazing job and an amazing salary coming out of wharton alive), I would probably go to Williams. But then again my future past college is a huge factor too (not to say it won’t be good with Williams, just different).
ilovebagels - Well, I could always transfer to CAS if I decide I don’t like it (it’s really easy to transfer to CAS after getting into wharton).
Rudess - Thanks for that it’s good to know they aren’t so intense. So are you saying that if I intend to study business, the experience will be the same (that is, the academic experience/the classes I take) whether I go to Williams or Penn? If that were the case, I’d probably go to Penn. Simply because one of the main things keeping me from going to Penn is the idea that I won’t enjoy my classes, but would this be more of a factor of my major than of my school?</p>
<p>No, the academic experience won’t be the same if you go to Penn, especially Wharton. Wharton is business school. That mean that it is essentially the most applied and career-oriented path that you can take. At Williams, you will be able to take Econ classes, but you won’t get an experience that is directly focused on “Business.” Ultimately, the experience at Williams will be much more varied, and that can be a good or a bad thing, depending on what you want. If you are 100% sure that business is your passion and you want to dedicate all your time to it, regardless of the expense, then choose Wharton.</p>
<p>And Williams, though it does not have a reputation for being “cutthroat”, is NOT an easy workload. I do not believe that in anyway you will be stepping down in terms of intellectual effort by attending Williams. However, I would not expect to come out of Williams with as many prospects in the “business” realm. The difference is that you’re choosing to focus later. However, if you are vacillating on your decision to go directly into business, then don’t go to Wharton. Switching to CAS is not a failsafe alternative. 1. You might not be able to. 2. I honestly believe that Williams offers a far better undergraduate program (class size, student engagement, etc).</p>
<p>Remember that this is all “if” you aren’t 100% on business, and “if” you are considering “CAS.” If you do not enjoy the Wharton culture, CAS will hardly be better, and it will certainly be nothing like Williams would be.</p>
<p>Pawn H7 - Well, the thing is I know I will be starting taking business classes at Williams as well. Penn not only lets but encourages Wharton students to take classes at CAS, so I will obviously take the business classes but also like language, culture, psychology, etc. classes. Also, I am pretty sure I want to go into some sort of business career, my quandry was more about whether or not I wanted to go into some sort of intense business career like investment banking or actuariel science, for example. Not to mention I don’t actually know whether or not I dislike business. I know I’m not “passionate” about it, but I don’t really know much about the day to day life. I do know that my passion lies in languages, meeting new people, experiencing new things and new cultures, communicating with others and working with others to come up with solutions in order to help global problems. I DO want to make a lot of money though, let me be frank here. I feel I’ve worked way too hard to COMPLETELY give up the money making aspect in order to do entirely and totally what I want to do (that is to say, while I do refuse to do something I hate to be a multimillionare, which I can easily do at wharton, I won’t go get a job as a skydiver or something even though I really want to do that due to the low pay). A specific example here, it would for me be really intellectually engaging, fulfilling, and interesting to work in a foreign, developing country communicating with others in other languages in order to help them create infrastructure for new energy technology. Something like that interests me.</p>
<p>Thanks again everyone for your continued responses, this is a really tough and super important decision for me that very directly affects my four years of college life as well as my future to a large degree as well. I keep on vacillating between the two schools. Yesterday I thought Williams, for sure, today I was thinking definitely Wharton and now I’m thinking Williams again. I really don’t know (thank god I still have till May 1st to decide).</p>
<p>“So are you saying that if I intend to study business, the experience will be the same (that is, the academic experience/the classes I take) whether I go to Williams or Penn?”</p>
<p>No, I didn’t say that at all. If you intend to study business, then Penn will give you a much better experience than Williams, or any other school for that matter.</p>
<p>“Simply because one of the main things keeping me from going to Penn is the idea that I won’t enjoy my classes, but would this be more of a factor of my major than of my school?”</p>
<p>You must visit Williams (preferably during winter time) before you go there. I visited and it is truly in the middle of nowhere, freezing cold, and enclosed by hills to the point where I felt claustrophobic. I talked to students that were not happy socially there but said they loved the academics. Being in an urban environment is a huge plus for some people, so I would think about the urban/rural thing before you decide. Williams though IS NOT laid back. People there tend to be pretty stressed out actually, and the competition in Wharton is dramatically exaggerated. Wharton actually (more than other schools) requires and encourages teamwork – particularly in Management 101. The competition comes in for summer internships and jobs post-graduation, but no one really tries to sabbotage anyone else to take their spot at Goldman or Merrill Lynch.</p>
<p>David, though your points are valid for many, the poster in question is from Vermont… </p>
<p>I know people at Williams, and although they definitely say the workload isn’t easy, it’s not that bad. I think the social issue needs to be addressed however. What are the complaints?</p>
<p>PS Do hills really make you claustrophobic? I could see being stuck in the middle of a city doing that…</p>
<p>Yeah, the environment aspect isn’t a big deal. As he said, I AM from Vermont. I’m sure Williams is fairly stressed out just because it has a lot of top notch students there, I just don’t want it to be cutthroat intense you know. I can’t handle that I don’t think. As you said people there love the academics which is very important to me.</p>
<p>From your last long comment, it sounds like you’d be happier at Wharton. (not that I’m a current student yet)
Everyone says “go there for your MBA” but if you go to Wharton, you probably won’t need one (or need to spend the extra money) (or if you do it’ll be a thing where your company pays for you to get one bc you’re supposed to have one)</p>
<p>the way I look at it is if you are sure you like business but don’t want to be too cutthroat, go to wharton. you can afford to be less competitive given its excellent resources/training/reputation than if you go to williams where you would be struggling more for the same job in business. Definitely visit both though. As for getting a wharton MBA, I hardly think its a good idea if you don’t want an overly competitive environment. grad school will be much more cutthroat than undergrad and like previously said, alot of wharton undergrads don’t even feel an MBA is necessary!</p>