As mentioned, I’m soon gonna be applying to college. I’m primarily into finance and also visited Wharton over the summer for a program. Based on what I’ve heard, Harvard’s name carries a lot and has hella connections. But I heard they have pretty stuck-up people, low-quality dorms, and overall a pretty bad social scene, + they don’t have a finance major. Wharton, on the other hand, has high-quality dorms, a great social scene, and a finance major based on my experience. But, wharton is only known for finance and on Wall Street. I’m super passionate about finance and like Wharton because of its finance program and its overall culture. But, in the case of the future, if I change my passion, I’d be pretty much done over. Yet, Harvard’s name carries a lot in case I change direction and could possibly be better for my field. I just don’t want to regret spending four years having fun to have an okayish job, but I also don’t wanna spend four years of lack of social life and miss out on the fun just to have a job that’s on par with Wharton undergrads.
The best choice for you is the one that accepts you. Until you have offers, your question is moot.
Well, there are no Wharton- specific dorms, outside of some special programs like Huntsman, and the UPenn dorms are not what I’d call “high-quality.”
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Good luck getting in - to either.
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If you want to study finance, at least initially, then why would you apply for an econ program.
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A name in and of itself doesn’t bring success - you do (or don’t). But the Penn name is EXTREMELY strong in so many areas…not just the B School.
Applying for a major, at least initially, that doesn’t interest you, makes zero sense.
Living in crap dorms (your words) and with a bad social scene (again, your words), makes no sense.
This is a big chunk of your life.
If you apply Penn, you better do so ED. Can you afford it?
Seems like a pointless post…and whatever you do, don’t communicate the word “hella” in any essays or communications.
Good luck.
PS - Niche (student ratings) give Harvard dorms an A-. Penn a B and C+ for food vs. Harvard’s B.
At least in that rating, Harvard wins in both.
Have you ever met someone that has gone to Wharton? If you have, I am sure that they have told you.
Haha, I wouldn’t ever say “hella” in essays, just exaggerating. While economics isn’t my primary focus, many topics and classes covered are similar. Plus, I can minor or have a concentration in finance. While I do agree four years is a large chunk of my life, If it means having an okay (not horrible) college experience as a tradeoff for a better future career, I’d be willing to take it. The point is, I’m having issues with whether (if I do get in to both) where to pursue undergrad based on the pro’s and con’s.
I’ve met Harvard second-year undergrads who state they have no ACs in the summer while simultaneously having a pretty gloomy dorm with a lack of sunlight overall. Regarding the “stuck up,” many of my connections state the students are pretty egoistic and narcissistic. The same applies to a part of professors.
Just curious why you think you have a good chance of getting into either with such a low acceptance rate. Do you have a hook?
I would spend more time finding some target schools that you are interested in attending and at least one affordable safety/highly likely school. Statistically speaking you would be relatively more likely to attend one of those schools. Not that you shouldn’t shoot your shot at some reaches.
I agree with you regarding the acceptance but I’m just planning on whether to apply or not. But based on my experience of summers at both Harvard and Penn, Upenn dorms are much better compared to Harvard’s.
I would check that. Actually I would check many of your assumptions.
I’ll give you that. But that’s not really a reason to choose a school. And during the academic year, there are only about 2 weeks in Cambridge where AC is needed.
Oh, and you can’t minor in finance at Wharton. And Harvard doesn’t offer finance
I think you’re overstating the career benefits. Even if you get a gift to start, you’ll be found out quickly if a fraud.
Econ is not finance. It’s a social science. But yes bus students take Econ.
I don’t see a concentration which we know they don’t have or finance minor at Harvard but perhaps I’m missing something.
Most important school on your list - the safety you can afford and would love to attend - and lots of great ones out there for finance.
I believe (not trying to jinx it) I have a pretty great extracurricular list with what I believe has a good chance with both universities. My hook primarily focuses on business and finance because I’ve been very passionate about it for the last couple of years, with my grades also being on par. I’ll list below what I expect to be done before applying. I would appreciate it if you could rate it.
- StuCo - Parlamentarian - 3 years
- DECA - Nationals, Exec Member
- Business Proff. of America - Nationals, Exec Member
- Started my own Organic Coffee Company
- I founded my own Financial/Stock Literacy Podcast with many references from leading business institutions (Deloitte, ICICI, Start-ups)
- Assisted in founding a Financial Lit. Non-profit and expanded it to over 2k members in 8 countries
- Interned at an Investment Banking Firm
- Interned at a Stock Brokerage
- National Honor Society
- Research Assistant on a paper on finance
- Published my own finance research paper
- Attended Wharton for LBW
- Did a couple of business courses at Harvard
- Founder and Vice prez of my school’s crypto club
- Profited “hella” money off starting derivatives
- Did weightlifting and Boxing for four years (State Champion for both)
- Founded a local charity org and made it part of a well-known global charity organization.
With all this and making “hella” money, why go to college at all ? You’ve already done more than most do in a lifetime.
Yup, Wharton has a great major in finance, whereas Hravard has a minor in finance but a major in economics. Regarding the academic year, I’m more worried about the summer because my summer wasn’t that great because of the heat. Plus, I intend to stay on campus for the summer, and that isn’t my major concern but rather the people, culture, and overall college experience.
Thank you, but I believe college is important. My experience during the summer at college taught me many things I didn’t even know existed just within a span of a couple of weeks. Most successful people go to college, and I think even if I’ve “done more than most,” there’s always more to learn, and it’d be a great experience as well as help me build connections.
So you don’t plan to intern in summer - at least starting 2nd year.
Can you validate Harvard has a finance minor. Not saying they don’t but I cannot find it on their website.
Yes through the Extension School but you are looking at the main university. Correct ??
If pursuing a finance career you would likely be interning at a bank and not staying on campus during your summers.
Also I don’t believe there is a Harvard minor in finance. You may want to check some of your assumptions.
Wharton has a major in finance (preferred), and Harvard has a major in economics with a minor in finance. I would appreciate it if you’d let me know of any more discrepancies.
I was being facetious. Not doubting you but your resume doesn’t read as realistic. Make sure you’ll be able to document all of these accomplishments.