j_shirley08

Did anyone apply to both Penn and Princeton, and if so, why did you choose Penn?

JohnnyK

Because Penn has a much wider array of classes from which to choose. I'm not Wharton (nor would I ever want to be) but a lot of Wharton classes are interesting and not something you would find elsewhere. Not to mention the ability to take classes in the law school, which pton doesn't even have...

Because princeton's eating clubs are elitist and sucky (not that frats are perfect, but they're certainly an improvement)

Because the town of Princeton is a mind-numbing bore compared to Philadelphia

Because the beer selection is better in University City than it is on Nassau Street (sad but true)

Because Princeton's principled stand on grade deflation crushes your GPA :P

Because Harvard and Yale are still going to look down on you no matter which you choose

YankeeBoy115

haha nice.

getcrunk123

www.pussyivy.com
Guess which University it is?

soccernut205

so I mean, you're (getcrunk123) not even in college yet, and you're already showing how much class you have by trying to degrade one institution with inappropriate insults. Then again, one can probably infer what you'll be doing at college from your screenname, so I guess any comment on your morals is out of the question. Wow, congratulations on getting into Penn.

tenebrousfire

now now, no need to take a joke and turn it into an ad hominem argument.

Venkat89

The site has been around for a while. I think Harvard is gradeinflation.org, Yale is safetyschool.com, or some other stuff like that.

theoneo

My reasons are all very subjective as they reflect my own personal preferences and impressions, as do anyone else's opinions. So take them with a grain of salt, but here they are:

1) Princeton is a boring town. Yeah, it's close to NYC and Philly but a train ride to either costs $20 round-trip and you're not going to be able to get out into the city every weekend, whereas you can (and have to) do that at Penn because you are IN the city and you can't avoid it. For me at least, suburbia is a place to raise a family, not a place to spend your college years.

2) The fact that #1 doesn't even matter at Princeton because you rarely leave campus. It's so isolated. Princetonians live in their own bubble. On the other hand, Penn is very involved in its community through so many service projects and organizations. That's not to say that Princeton students don't volunteer - they definitely do - but there isn't nearly as much to do in their surrounding community. Perhaps there would be more to do if there were places to walk to besides Palmer Square, as you need a car or bus or something to get anywhere on the highway.

3) I love the One University policy at Penn and the joint-degree programs, whereas Princeton doesn't have professional schools and has a very small graduate school. Honestly I don't care that Princeton may have more of an "undergraduate focus" because I know that I'll get what I need to get out of my education with our without close supervision of advisors and professors.

4) I didn't like any of the majors at Princeton except perhaps Woody Woo. Plus you can't double major because a major requires a thesis, whereas at Penn you only need a thesis to graduate with honors in most cases.

5) Penn's bigger. I need a big school.

6) Wharton's name recognition is unbeatable and its undergraduate business program is clearly at the top.

I see you're interested in business/international relations. I guess that just makes your decision that much tougher because Princeton econ and Woody Woo are really top-notch programs. (But remember that you have to apply to Woody Woo after I think sophomore year so there's no guarantee you can major in it anyway.) Wharton, on the other hand, has more name recognition in business, an amazing alumni network and thus networking opportunities, and phenomenal job and internship recruitment. Plus the Huntsman program is very well known. I'd say look up career placement stats for both schools and decide from which you would benefit more. Oh and look up the course requirements for various programs/majors at both schools because you're going to have to spend four years taking them. Oh and for Princeton realize that you have to apply to Woody Woo after I think sophomore year so there's no guarantee you can major in it anyway.

With all that said, I have to ask: why are you asking now? Are you just curious, or are you considering whether or not to apply to Penn ED? In case you didn't already know, you can opt to be considered for Wharton in the RD pool if you don't get into Huntsman ED. So if Huntsman's your first choice, apply to it early and then worry about comparing Wharton (without Huntsman) v. Princeton after RD in case you don't get into Huntsman. Also, visit both schools and see whether you can see yourself living there because that's pretty important, too. Philly and Princeton are VERY different environments, so that should help tip the scales in one direction.

albert87

"www.pussyivy.com"

That is pretty mean. And congratulations on getting into Wharton...hahaha

loslobos71

Penn has the social situation+location+sports down.

mattwonder

Asking Penn students to compare Penn and Princeton is like asking Ohio State students to compare Ohio State and Michigan.

loslobos71

I was not aware the 'rivalry' was THAT strong, but alright.

Venkat89

It's not that strong, but it's the strongest athletic rivalry in the Ivy League. Harvard and Yale have a stronger rivalry, but it's mostly a Yale inferiority complex towards Harvard.

mattwonder

I'd disagree. It's very strong, mostly outside of athletics (except for basketball), whereas Harvard and Yale have the classic "The Game" rivalry. The difference in the Ivy League is that most rivalries are one-sided - Yale dislikes Harvard, Penn hates Princeton, Brown hates Penn.

JohnnyK

As Penn continues its upward trajectory, the rivalry just gets better and better