@Claris: I'm very excited you're thinking of switching into ESE or CIS (both are terrific programs). Please check out
Penn Engineering > Undergraduate Student Handbook > Transferring In for the details on how to go about transferring. The major requirement is that you have at least a 3.0 GPA. That makes me think that you have to wait at least one semester before you can transfer, because you won't have a GPA until you actually take some classes. But don't fret; just take classes towards your engineering degree while you're in the college during that semester (so like Math, Physics, Chemistry, etc.). If you have any more questions about either of those programs, feel free to private message me or post again in this thread.
@anjuved: I was on the Quaker plan my first semester and I liked it. However, I was very jealous of my friends who were on the Liberty plan because they had way more dining dollars than I did. The dining dollars lets you buy food from "real eateries," so I felt left out when they wanted to go eat there and I had already ran out of dining dollars in the middle of the semester. I also had at least 100 meals left over at the end of first semester (and they don't transfer over to the next semester (while dining dollars do), so it was basically wasted). So yes, I really encourage you to choose the Liberty Plan for your first meal plan. It gives you the most dining dollars out of any of the plans but still has a good number of meals.
Penn is known as the "social Ivy." There are parties every weekend and many people go to those parties. However, it is very easy to be a non-drinker and avoid the party scene. I personally do not drink (and I don't plan to until I'm 21). Although many of my friends are underage drinkers, their drinking does not infringe on my fun, and it's not like I can't hang out with them while they are drinking. If you want to live in a dorm where you can get some peace and quiet and avoid the huge parties every weekend, you don't want to live in the Quad. You'll want to live in either the high rises (where you can find quiet) or Stouffer (where I live, see my previous posts to find my plugs for my awesome home dorm) or Gregory (an excellent, although not very well-known, low rise).
@naughtygravy: Unfortunately, I cannot help you out much with this question. I do not know anyone who was on the waitlist and got off (although I know these people exist and that there are many of them). I know that everyone who was accepted into Penn has until May 1st to tell Penn they are coming. I guess if they say no or don't answer by the deadline, Penn will start notifying students on the waitlist that there is an extra spot open. I don't know if the process is need-blind or need-aware, but my guess would be need-aware. I imagine Penn would take people who are higher on the waitlist before they would take people who were lower on it. I'm sorry I could not have been of more help, but maybe someone else will post who knows a little bit more than I do about the waitlist process.
@lilklumsy15: The course load ultimately depends on your major, what school you are in, and whether or not you are in any special programs. Vagelos (CAS), M&T (Wharton/Engineering), and Huntsman have especially intense courseloads. You'll work pretty hard in Engineering and Nursing too. If you're in the College, the number of credits you need to graduate depends on your major. Wharton is a bit more laid back (37 credits). From what I have heard, Wharton students almost never have class on Friday, and for true Wharton classes it is "impossible to fail." Apparently, as long as you answer at least one question on the exam and sign your name, the lowest grade you can receive in a Wharton class is a C. That might be a little counterintuitive, considering how selective Wharton is, but this is just what I have heard from other students. Take it with a grain of salt; some or all of it might not be true.
@zam614: My roommate, who is a Poly Sci major, has this to say: "It's a solid program. The professors are very good. They've got a cool program in Washington DC for a semester. Other than that, it's basically just a really good Ivy League Poly Sci program." I personally do not know much about it. My roommate has a pretty light course load, though. He says he only needs 32 credits to graduate.
I'm not completely sure what you mean by "completely random dorm assignments." You fill out a housing application during the summer where you pick what college house and what type of room you want to live in (single, double, triple, etc.). You list your top eight choices. From there it goes to a lottery, and I guess in that respect dorm assignments are random. You may or may not get your top choice, but you will probably get something out of your top 3. And if you don't get any of your top 8 choices, don't sweat it. Freshmen are guaranteed housing, so you won't be without a home.
Penn offers fantastic financial aid...if they determine you need it. I personally receive a great deal of financial aid from Penn. Without it, I would not be able to attend this awesome institution. However, not everyone qualifies for the aid. I read in the Daily Pennsylvanian a while back (although I cannot find the article online) that if your family makes less than $90,000 in income, everything is paid for except room and board. If your family makes less than $60,000 in income (I think), everything is paid for. Penn has a very large endowment that makes this possible. Penn is also adopting a "no-loans" policy that will give all needy students financial aid in the form of grants instead of loans.
It's hard to narrow down what I love about Penn to 3 simple items, but I guess I'd have to say:
1) Penn's beautiful campus. The trees with all of their leaves during the spring and all of the flowers blooming on Locust Walk and all of the magnificent architecture of historic buildings like the Quad, Fisher Fine Arts Library, and Irvine Auditorium: all of it is just pure awesome. You really feel like you're at an Ivy League institution.
2) The people. Penn does an excellent job of admitting superb students who are both incredibly intelligent and "chill" or "laid back." You really feel accepted here, even though many people are of different ethnicities and religions, have different sexual orientations, and have different opinions. The professors are also excellent. Most of them are very friendly and you can really get ahead in class, and in life, by visiting them during their office hours.
3) The close proximity to Philadelphia. Philadelphia is a fantastic city. There's
always something going on every day. The city's got a lot of history too, which is very cool. The city lets you get away from all of the stress of college for a while, so it's nice that Penn is only a 30-40 minute walk or short trolley/subway ride away.
@RedPhoenix: Most incoming students do not pick their roommates. Almost no one knows anyone when they first come to Penn. On the housing application, you get to fill out a section regarding what time you like to wake up (early-riser vs. late-riser) and whether or not the other person smokes, but that's about it. It's not very comprehensive at all.
Thanks for the great questions, everyone! Keep it up!
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). When it comes down to waking up for 9 AM class, many people go to class wearing their pajamas and sweat pants. You do see people dressed up in the latest fashions walking down Locust Walk, but it's a very small percent of the student population. And therefore, there's virtually zero pressure to mimic that style. You'll dress up too, though, for job interviews, some class presentations, and the various formal parties Penn puts on. I guess it really depends on who you hang out with and make friends with. But I think for the most part you'll be surprised by just how similar your roommates and classmates are to you in terms of style, hobbies, and behavior. Even wealthy people like to save their money, so most people go home for breaks, stick to Penn dining options, and frequent frat parties instead of clubs downtown. I even stayed at Penn during Spring Break!
