Life at Penn

MomofWildChild
Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:20:20 +0000

I think it is better to understand the negatives as well as the positives of any school. Nothing is perfect. My son did not like Penn freshman year, as many will recall. It wasn’t a matter of being away from home- he had been at boarding school and lived on his own a couple of summers. It was the adjustment to Penn and Philadelphia. There is a gritty vibe to Philadelphia that may require some adjustment. The dorms at Penn are not particularly nice and much of the off-campus housing is disgusting. Those are some negatives. Another thing many incoming students do not realize is just how big the Greek scene is. Numbers do not reflect the reality.
My son appreciates the contacts he has made at Penn, has liked a number (not all) of his classes and has a few favorite professors. He has worked in center city and gained a respect for the business community. He likes the upscale clubs (I do not) and has a way too active social life- much of which does NOT occur on campus. Service people on campus are surly and rude, as they are in Philadelphia in general. This can be a shock for a southerner who is used to being called “honey” while being served his or her lunch.
I know others disagree, but I see The Radian as a huge plus. It’s expensive, but not that expensive compared to the dumps for which you pay not that much less. It really improved things for my kid to move in there. It’s worked well.
These are just my observations with respect to my own kid, my experience with Penn and growing up in the Philadelphia area and my frequent travels to the area. Others have a totally different viewpoint.