University of Pennsylvania Visit Report by itisallforgotten

Visit Activities:

Campus Tour: Yes - Interseted iin Engineering Program- informal tour on own

Overnight Visit: Yes

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Campus:

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Engineering stunnets were exciting to chat with particularly about their undergrad research and Submatriculation Program where they can do a bachelor's and masters in four years. SEE DETAILS BELO

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Some residences are old and crummy like Hill House. Inside looks like an old penitentiary- students joked "A penitentiary at Penn".

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U Penn has bike patrols everywhere which ride the campus and surrounding streets for reassurance to students who live just off campus or go to restaurants, moives, coffee shops, frat houses etc there.

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Charming old buildings but surprised some parts of campus had busy roads running through. I expected peaceful like Princeton or Cornell, but it feels more energetic and urban like Berkeley.

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Off-Campus:

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Energetic community with both trendy and cheap ethnic restaruants, music venues, theater, coffee shops etc. A short walk toward City Center takes you into upscale Rittenhouse Square.

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U Penn has many outreach programs in schools, health clinics,community gardens, justice programs in the neighbouring community. See below

Campus Visit Notes for University of Pennsylvania

Visit Description:

PENN ENGINEERING
We visited Penn to learn more about Penn Engineering- our daughter is interested in undergrad research so we walked through labs and chatted to students a lot. There are many students doing undergrad research (one told us that she chose U Penn since it had more undergrad research money than any other Ivy). We were just there (Jan 29) and we talked to students who had just been admitted to Stanford, CalTech, Berkeley, Cornell, Princeton, and MIT. They were all so happy for each other, it seemed like a good environment because of this. They felt this was due to the research they had been able to do, the professors mentoring which enabled them to present at conferences and publish papers, and due to Penn's Submatricualtion Program which allows them to complete their master's and bachelor's in four years.

FROSH WEEK
A number of studnets ecommended particjuapting in the |Frosh week programs that take studnets in to visit in their community programs in schools, health clinics, social services and others- they said it is a great way to meet people, get involved and learn wehre you might loike to volunteer if this is your interest. Enginering has Engieers Without Borders and a number of international programs. The kids used Penn's connections to the max and had had really interesting summer jobs even oveseas.

Hotel/Lodging Recommendations or Comments:

There are some nice B & Bs in the neighbouring area and charming small hotels around Rittenhouse Square which is walking distance over the River.

Other Comments (Transportation, local attractions, parking, etc.):

Taxis are cheap and abundant.

I love visiting there- stunning public gardens, great art scene.