Huntsman vs Princeton

Gratisfaction
Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:25:37 +0000

There seems to be a common misconception on this thread that the Huntsman program is in international relations. It is not. It is a program in international business. Foreign Policy has no interest in the Huntsman program, and Huntsman isn’t a university, nor is it a school within a university. It is a program - “The Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business” and would obviously not appear in FoPo’s rankings.

Penn doesn’t release acceptance rates for specific schools within the university, so it wouldn’t release stats on the dual-degree programs either, but I can say with a high degree of certainty that their acceptance rates are equal to, if not more competitive than, HYPS’s. You also have to keep in mind that the applicant pool to the dual-degree programs are self-selective to begin with, so rest assured that kids in these programs are the cream of the crop.

Prestige-wise - sure, most people won’t know the distinction between a Wharton single and dual-degree, but the benefits are enormous. Look at Keasby Night’s post for an outline. Being a Huntsman alum makes you part of a fraternity-like network, where getting jobs and breaking into certain industries becomes much, much easier.

To bring this back to the whole Princeton v. Huntsman. Disregard prestige. When you get to this level of elite, saying one school is better than another is an exercise in futility. It’s all a matter of opinion at this point. You can make an argument of Cornell v. Harvard, but when you’re looking at schools with infinitesimal acceptance rates, it really doesn’t matter. If you’re dead-set on international business - Huntsman is for you. If you’re not, Huntsman and Wharton still may be for you. Likewise, Princeton will afford the student equal opportunities if she/he so wants it. Long story short - go with where you will fit for four years.