Soup

I'm committing to one of these two schools tonight. So it's either Trinity, or The college. I'm completely undecided about my future studies, which makes me hesitant to put all my eggs into Penn's basket, so to speak. (Yeah I know it's a dated expression.) Anyhow, the fast-track professional degrees Penn offers, though still desirable, are kinda lost on me due to my indecision, so I was wondering if Duke would be better for exploring my interests. My financial aid packet from each school is identical, which is unforunate or fortunate depending how you look at it, so this decision is made all the more difficult.

I'm leaning towards Penn, but I'm still uncertain. So yeah, please convince me Penn would be the better choice, it'd help me out a ton. Thanks in advance

adf8

Don't worry about being undecided for a major! I am too. I think a lot of people in the College don't know what they want to do, moreso than any other school. Wharton and Nursing, and to some degree Engineering, are definitely pre-professional schools, but the College is much larger and even though some students will be pre-law, pre-med, etc. a lot will just be exploring everything and looking for a liberal arts education. Penn is really the perfect place to do that because you have access to tons of classes at 4 undergraduate schools and the resources at a lot of grad schools.

What kind of environment are you looking for? I'm pretty familiar with Duke because I live in NC and know a lot of people that go there, so I could compare the atmospheres for you.

Venkat89

Penn is a great place if you are on a preprofessional track. However, the largest undergrad school is CAS and many people will be undecided, exploring majors, etc. The curriculum is designed so that you take classes in almost everything, which really helps you discover your interests. I don't see why Duke is better for exploring new areas. Penn offers you classes in the other 3 undergrad schools and many graduate level classes, so you can explore topics in business, engineering, law, and all your CAS classes, while Duke only offers you courses in Trinity and engineering. Duke also has a fair amount of preprofessionalism with many premeds, and a fair number of prelaws, people planing on going into Wall Street, etc.

Soup

Haha yeah, it is a win-win situation, but, especially after what you've clearly outlined, I do think I'm making the right choice with Penn. I particularly love the idea of taking classes in all four colleges regardless of the college I'm enrolled in. Thanks for the encouragement though, it's just a tough decision and I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything important. Oh and as far as environment, I come from a mini-Duke of sorts, except busier... (well in the summer at least.) it's beautiful but boring, which is why i lean towards the urban environment. Anyhow, Penn it is.

I guess now the issue is getting a room in the quad haha.
*crosses fingers*

JohnnyK

But wait there's more!

You can also take certain courses in the law school.

Plus Philly sure beats Durham (even with the current crime spree)

Venkat89

At least at Penn you'll never be wrongfully accused of rape and have your entire college consider you guilty with 0 evidence.

JohnnyK

Yeah, at Penn our faculty do the real thing!

legendofmax

KAMEHAMEHAAAAA


+we don't have rapist lacrosse players

kabirbedi

penn penn..! penn all the way..! pls come to penn.. even im going there.. although duke is also an awesome school..! god i would feel bad turning down either...! hahaha.. but i think since ur undecided (like me), penn would be a better starting point, not only coz of a wider choice (cas and wharton n nursing n eng courses ), but also penn would give u the ivy league grad tag, which would also help you later.. and ive heard duke has a boring social life..! n penn is the PARTY IVY..!!!!!!!