Columbia or UPENN ?

davida1
Sat, 05 Apr 2008 23:26:21 +0000

In my experience Penn Law is friendlier to undergrad applicants to its law school. Columbia Law is not as friendly to Columbia undergrad applicants (i.e. they don’t really get any boost and it is often a little harder actually to get in while with Penn it’s vice versa). You have to keep in mind that law schools want students from a diverse group of colleges and a very high percentage of law school applicants apply to their own college’s law school so the competition is sometimes tougher even though you have a relationship with the university.

Now, in terms of overall reputation/job prospects/prestige regardless of major Columbia wins but if you are looking at working in politics Penn actually places better in D.C. it seems.

Both are great schools. I would choose Columbia but that’s just me.

The big difference between the two is the core. You don’t have as much freedom in course selection (definitely not in your first two years) at Columbia as you do at Penn.

NYC is (in my opinion) a much better location than Philly.

Penn is also a little more conservative/moderate politically and has a greater on-campus frat/party scene. Columbia is more diverse racially/ethnically.

You do have greater flexibility at Penn though in the sense that you can take courses at the law school, in Wharton, etc.

Penn has a better on-campus community feel than Columbia. I have heard stories of Columbia students feeling disconnected or isolated and that the school lacks school spirit more than Penn does (some people have friends and date people they meet in the city and just ignore Columbia kids). You are more on your own at Columbia.

Just my two cents.