<p>I’ve been looking into UPenn for a couple of months now, and I can’t decide if it is right for me. I am a high school junior with a 4.0, 32 act score, involved in athletics and service groups, so i think i have a reasonable chance to get in, but im not sure if i want to. I have a sister who is attending the University of Michigan and i really like the campus and atmosphere there. I know that UPenn is really prestigous, but I’m not sure if its worth the extra $30,000 a year, when I could get a good education from Michigan. Any information on campus life, after-college opertunites, advantages, disadvantages, SAT and SAT2 scores needed, etc. would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>bgross1108 only you can answer that question. If you really need to ask this might not be the right choice for you. Do you like living in a big urban environment? Do you want to be so far away from home? Michigan is a great school my niece loves it there</p>
<p>thanks interested1, the urban enviroment is a major factor in lot of my choices, including boston college and northwestern, and i have always lived in an average size town. I like ann arbor because it has an urban feel, without being too big. I guess to make a decision i will need to visit Penn, along with other large urban campuses.</p>
<p>how do you know you’ll have to pay an extra $30k/yr? are you not going to qualify for any financial aid?</p>
<p>& I’d say you should visit the college & ask current students</p>
<p>If you want to be all pragmatic (ewww), than Penn isn’t really worth $30,000 more in a quantifiable way…But the really value of college often lies in the intangibles: the way you feel when you visit campus, the community spirit, getting away from home for four years, living in a big city, etc.</p>
<p>Penn is sick. Go. It is the right choice. If you think you should, you should. If you think you can, you can.</p>
<p>Thanks again to everyone, any ideas on what SAT/SAT 2 scores i will need, any more advice?</p>
<p>I’d aim for an SAT of above 2200 and SATIIs above 750 (800s are ideal if you are say Chinese American taking the Chinese and MathIIC tests). You can get in with lower scores, but you’ll feel more at ease with your scores if they’re higher. I’d say that your ACT score is fine and you really don’t need to take the SATs. </p>
<p>Chances are if you get into Penn you might pull out some scholarship money at UM along with your instate tuition. Remember too that the cost of going to Penn rises every year, so while it might look like a difference of 30k now, it might end up being closer to 40k or more by time you graduate. Penn will give you better after college opportunities, but I’m fairly certain that if you take the same kid and put him at an Ivy like Penn or a highly regarded state school like UM he will probably end up equally successful 10 years down the road. I’d take the money and run.</p>
<p>Just apply to both schools and see what happens. You get to see scholarship and financial aid numbers before making a decision.</p>
<p>I hear Penn has beautiful facilities… and faculty quality is rather enough said. You should give it a go!</p>
<p>I’m also wondering about myself too… if I stand a chance for Penn. Is 3.82 too low to even hope to get admitted? I have SATs over 2200, and my SATIIs are in 700s, but I fear my GPA will be a major hazard… </p>
<p>Any opinion?</p>
<p>Your GPA is fine. It all depends on your school.</p>
<p>vencat89, it is not required to take the SAT and SATIIs? Everyone I have talked seems to think ACT alone is not enough.</p>
<p>Unless admissions have changed from last year you either need SAT + 2 SATIIs or the ACT.</p>
<p>Michigan is also a very good school, tho, so do some research before applying/deciding</p>
<p>bgross1108, this is from Penn Admissions website:</p>
<p>The American College Test with Writing, may be used in lieu of the SAT Reasoning Test and two SAT Subject Tests.</p>
<p>well that’s good too know, the more standerized testing i can avoid, the better.</p>
<p>also, I’ve been hearing a lot of comments from people who don’t know a lot about how Ivy League schools have a very uptight social scene, that is mainly based around Greek Life and financial status. Although I do not consider myself poor, I have never been able to fit in with anyone who even considers economic status an issue. I hope this is all bs, please tell me it is.</p>