braaap

I couldn't be more torn
I like aspects of both
not sure about weather and location and how I would like Penn
and not sure about dukes location and east campus and how it feels either
hdjsksjp

adf8

Ask questions...plenty of people here are familiar with both. (Ask questions on the Duke board too because the answers will clearly be biased.)

About location...they're both beautiful campuses that are very close to rough areas. I prefer Penn's because it's in the middle of a large city rather than in a small town, but if you're not into the urban thing they're pretty even. About weather...you'd be surprised by how similar the weather is. I'm from North Carolina and it's barely a change. The winters in Philly are obviously a little colder, with a little more snow, while fall/spring in NC is a little hotter and more humid.

audiophile

I visited Duke & Penn with my daughter. I loved the Duke forest, the beautiful campus, & the excitement of Duke basketball & tenting. She chose Penn.

ilovebagels

Smart daughter!

braaap

I'm not gonna lie after visiting Penn I just
REALLY liked it
I did NOT want to go visit Duke
I just wanted to hand them my deposit and say take me now
Because I KNEW there would be conflict.
Flying into Durham I tried to hate the abundance of trees and seemingly nothingness
And it pretty much worked
I got to the campus and stood in front of the chapel and was like
kcool
but it kind of grew on me
the girls were prettier
seemed like there was more spirit and fun to be had
(though I heard "social Ivy" at least 6 times)

Its up to the coinflip...?

Rister_Chutophs

This will change with the class of 2012 =>

flowersunshine

you would think penn would have attractive people because they ask for pictures on the application

45 Percenter

braaap, try to imagine yourself at either school day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year. On that basis, which of the two schools feels like it will give YOU the most satisfying experiences and opportunities--academic and otherwise--both on and off campus? I know this may sound like a loaded question, but it's really not. It's really a matter of personal preference.

FWIW, I think that the two major advantages of Penn are:

1. Penn's "One University" policy, which strongly encouages undergrads to take courses in more than one of the undergrad schools (College, Wharton, SEAS, and Nursing), and in at least 8 of the grad/professional schools (Law School, Annenberg School for Communication, School of Design, School of Social Policy and Practice, Graduate School of Education, etc.), without the need for any kind of special dispensation. It offers the potential for an academic experience of extraordinary variety, breadth, and depth that really is unparalleled, and goes far beyond the traditional undergraduate curriculum.

2. Penn's campus, which is unexcelled in combining the best of both worlds: the campus is unified and self-contained, and includes lovely greens, shaded walkways, interesting and historic architecture, and lots of charm; but it's also only a mile or so from the hustle and bustle of Philadelphia's Center City and its plethora of world-class cultural attractions, historic sites and neighborhoods, dining (e.g., over 200 sidewalk cafes, and the phenomenal Reading Terminal Market), entertainment, and nightlife; and it's not far from Philadelphia's Fairmount Park, one of the largest--if not THE largest--urban parks in the world. Also, all 4 of Penn's undergrad schools and all 12 of its grad/professional schools (e.g., Law, Medical, Dental, Veterinary, Annenberg, Design, etc.) are located within a few blocks of each other on the same relatively compact 280-acre campus, which creates an extraordinarily diverse, stimulating, and exciting intellectual environment and campus "vibe," and unique opportunities for interdisciplinary study and research.

braaap

when the student panel was asked how often they go off campus and whatnot it seemed like they pretty much stayed on campus alot of the time. Part of the attraction to Penn was liklving in the city, going into the city, taking a train to NYC, and all that jazz... But it seems like if the students largely don't go off campus... Why not just live in Durham in a nicer climate

And is it just me or is hill really run down? The only other schools I have seen dorms are at ucla and ucsd, in newly renovated buildings... But a lot of penns just seemed... Eh. Though they were a lot bigger and basically no triples I guess?
those are my two major hangups
that and it seemed dfficult to get into the quad... I'd rather take a bus and live wth freshman than not at all.
that and noone seemed excited about the food... At all

Can anyone adress this?

CCFanatic

is penns campus really that nice? i thought it was kinda....well you know

45 Percenter

braap, regarding going off campus, I think upper class (in year, not economic status ) students tend to go off campus (into Center City, etc.) more than freshmen, which makes sense. Also, there are enough students at Penn that you'll find a decent mix of students in terms of amount of time spent on or off campus. But hopefully some current students will chime in here and give their personal perspectives.

In terms of dorms, the condition really varies, and Penn is in an ongoing process of spending tens of millions of dollars to renovate the dorms. But the vast majority of freshmen do live with other freshmen. Again, hopefully current students will give you their perspectives.

In terms of food, that really depends--on what you're accustomed to, and on what you're comparing it to, etc. The food in the dining halls is probably par for the course as college dining halls go. However, Penn also offers lots of flexible and varied dining options, such as the food court in the wonderfully renovated basement of Houston Hall, and the legendary food trucks. Once again, we need some current students to chime in here with current impressions.

45 Percenter

Many, many people find it to be quite lovely, especially for an urban campus right in the middle of one of the country's largest cities.

It's really a matter of personal taste, however, and to what you're comparing it. If your ideal is a large rural or suburban campus with acres of open space both in and around the campus, then Penn won't fit the bill. If, however, you appreciate quirky and historic architecture, shaded walkways and paths, lovely courtyards and plazas, and easy and quick access to the many cultural and entertainment offerings of a major east coast city, you'll find that on the Penn campus. For example, if you don't appreciate the beauty, atmosphere, and energy of Locust Walk, College Green, or the Quad, then the Penn campus won't be for you.

daveb

FWIW, Duke's food is nothing to brag about. Both schools offer "meal dollars" to outside restaurants not affiliated to the school, and that seems to be the preferred route for students at both schools.

adf8

What 45 Percenter said about "upper class students" going off-campus is true...and I actually do mean both in years and economic status. Freshman year, few people go off campus. You'll be more concerned with making friends and orienting yourself with your surroundings. After that I really think it depends on what you can afford. Going downtown, whether for nice dinners at night or just to explore during the day, is really fun, but some consider it expensive. Don't think that you have to be well off to take advantage of the city- it just makes it easier (All of the college houses organize pretty interesting programs for students to go into the city, just not many people take advantage of them.) Also, if you/a friend has a car, ti makes quick jaunts downtown/out of the city easy and doable on a daily basis. Things that are common for students to do off campus:
-Go to restaurants- Philly has AMAZING restaurants and students definitely take advantage of them. I'm only a freshman and I go to dinner downtown usually once a week.
-Downtown bars- Frats or just groups of Penn students rent them out..they can definitely be more interesting than West Philly bars.
-South Street- Really quirky, fun cheap shopping, etc.
-Reading Terminal Market: Great food, neat Amish stuff.
-Rittenhouse Square: Beautiful park and surrounding buildings, nice shopping, spas, etc.
There are also always cultural opportunities downtown- concerts, festivals, art exhibits. If you come here and don't go off campus, it's really just your fault.

adf8

Also, I cannot stress enough that the climates of Philly and Durham are BARELY different- definitely not enough to sway your decision.