Peer pressure?

Colleges & Universities University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>Hi, guys!</p>

<p>I’m not quite sure if I’m doing this right so please excuse me if I don’t.</p>

<p>So, I am European, a junior but already thinking about college because takes a little bit more time for an international student like myself. I am still at the beginning of making a college list because I haven’t taken the SATs yet which more or less will determine the schools I’m applying to but as for now, I’m aiming at places like UPenn, Dartmouth and Vanderbilt (of course, there will be much more colleges I’m applying to but this is not the point now).</p>

<p>Anyway. My question is about peer pressure. Is there such in UPenn when it comes to, say, fashion and body types? I come from a different culture and although I’m European, there are still some differences in the fashion in my country and in the USA. The thing is, I simply can’t afford buying a new closet and what is more, I like what I wear. I’ve heard that in some schools, however, there is a very particular style and basically everyone who’s different than that is pressured.</p>

<p>Also, another thing I’ve heard about schools of this rank is that everyone (or at least the ones actively participating in the social life aspect of college) is paying a lot of attention to the looks and again, you’re pressured to wear make-up because it supposedly makes you more beautiful, work out and/or starve to fit the skinny norms and etc.</p>

<p>I realize that this information may not be reliable (which is why I’m asking) but when you aren’t American and you can’t get any insights from one, this is the only source you have because university sites don’t exactly tell you this kind of things; and after all, I believe that the social scene in certain college is just as important as academics.</p>

<p>Please also tell me a little bit about your background when you answer the questions - things like are you currently a student, in which aspect of the college life do you participate, etc. Also, if you know about the situation in the other two schools mentioned (Dartmouth and Vanderbilt), I’d be glad to hear that, too.</p>

<p>I don’t know how this turned out to be so long, I’m sorry. Thank you, everyone who took their time to read it though!</p>

2

<p>It’s America. You do what you want to do, wear what you want to wear and look how you want to look.</p>

<p>You can’t be friends with everyone on campus anyway but in a school with 10,000 students, you’ll find your niche. It really only takes a handful of kids to accept you as you are to make the whole experience great.</p>

<p>You may struggle at small schools with little diversity or small international population.</p>

<p>And if you don’t make any friends in such a large community, the problem probably isn’t them.</p>

<p>And very few people to none will ever go out of there way to make you feel bad or pressured.</p>

3

<p>^I agree with mad: a large US college/university with an emphasis on academic excellence like PENN is not what you might see in a Hollywood movie. It’s very eclectic and welcoming of all sorts of people. They attract students from many backgrounds and cultures. While I’m certain that some colleges have more pressure to conform than others, Penn certainly isn’t one of them. In general, you’re associating with +18 year olds who are high achieving and happy to be a Penn.</p>

<p>Indeed, one sometimes feels that a school like Penn eschews the outward styling more than other schools. Dartmouth would be similar.</p>

<p>Vanderbilt may have more parts of the student body who are fashion conscious but still, people can find their niche. Frankly, you shouldn’t care what others feel. (I’m an Ivy graduate and worked at many colleges afterward)</p>

4

<p>upenn and the rest of the ivies are all international schools so lots of people are like you. you will find a variety of international people there. </p>

<p>If you want to fit in with a certain group of people you might have to change the way you dress and stuff( like fraternities). Other than that though, if you just act like yourself, other people will come to you</p>

5

<p>I see, thank you very much for your responses!</p>

<p>My question wasn’t about making friends because contrary to what most future students think, I’m not worried about that; I’m very social and outgoing so this shouldn’t be a problem. However, I am concerned about the (bigger part of) student body not accepting me. I mean, I’m not weird or anything, it’s just a whole different culture after all.</p>

<p>Everything you said make sense though - UPeen is a huge place and there are people of all backgrounds. Thanks for the responses once again.</p>

<p>@T26E4 - just out of curiosity, could you mention which colleges did you refer to as ones who have more pressure to conform?</p>