This is our impression too. Kid wasn’t interested in a tech-focused college or attending college in the middle of the country. Stanford didn’t pass the vibe check, but he found a lot to love at Penn where they’ve been quietly investing in innovation, research, and collaborative spaces.
In addition to E-quad makerspaces, there is Tangen Hall, a seven story 68k square foot makerspace touted as the largest student entrepreneurship hub in the world.
Penn isn’t on the radar of most engineering bound kids we know, but I think they’re poised to emerge as a hub of entrepreneurship and interdisciplinary research. Time will tell how they measure up, as far as placement and output, to the top engineering colleges.