Visit Report by esobay (Member since February 29 2008 with 14 posts) Visit Date - April 2008
Visit to University of Pennsylvania in April 2008 by esobay (Parent of Student, HS Class of 2008)
Visit Activities:
Information Session:
Yes - Penn Preview for admitted students Campus Tour:
Yes Classroom Visit:
Yes - D did, but I can't comment
University of Pennsylvania Campus:
Friendliness/Courtesy of Students: 4 - Very Good -
Current students very nice/friendly. Prospies .... many had their parents there and did NOT get away or talk to other prospies. What on earth were they thinking? My D was thinking she'd see/bond
Friendliness/Courtesy of Staff: 5 - Excellent -
Staff needs to make it clear that tours are for kids (or not )if they really are like a high school tour NOT an admitted student tour. Not what my D expected.
Appearance of Campus: 5 - Excellent Building/Facilities Maintenance/Cleanliness: 5 - Excellent -
This is more important than some schools think!
Dormitories: -
I didn't see
Security/Safety: 4 - Very Good -
Interesting that there was significant security presence visible, but they were also friendly
Overall Campus Impression: 5 - Excellent
Off-Campus:
Area Immediately Around Campus: 4 - Very Good -
The area within walking distance is nice despite what one hears
City/Town/Community: 4 - Very Good -
Bus to Old Town to see the Liberty Bell was nice. People at bus stop were friendly
Campus Visit Notes for University of Pennsylvania:
Visit Description:
WHAT were the prospies' parents doing on EVERY part of the tour? I dumped D and went off on exploring. D said she was very disappointed that the other kids on the tour clung to their parents and didn't reach out to other students NOT even at lunch. Parents ... you need to let go, if they can't manage an arranged info tour by themselves, you better think about sending them off to college.
And UPENN... how about dragging the parents on their OWN SEPARATE tour so that the kids can see who their classmates might be. (Hopefully they really are not the kindergarten kids that showed up with parents glued to them!)
Everybody, please read the website and "junk" mail so that you don't ask obvious questions so that people have time to ask questions / get in depth answers that are not on the web site!
Other Comments (Transportation, local attractions, parking, etc.):
The taxi from the airport was $30 (with tip). Took it because of 11:30 pm arrival. Took the railroad back to the airport. It is two blocks from campus and very very nice and safe and cost $6 per pers
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Current students very nice/friendly. Prospies .... many had their parents there and did NOT get away or talk to other prospies. What on earth were they thinking? My D was thinking she'd see/bond
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Staff needs to make it clear that tours are for kids (or not )if they really are like a high school tour NOT an admitted student tour. Not what my D expected.
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I didn't see