Hey everyone, I don’t use Reddit but I’m super conflicted with this decision and was recommended to come here. I’m trying to figure out my Early Decision and I can’t choose between UPenn and Columbia.
I’m planning on doing pre-law (type of law is leaning towards corporate). I’ve visited both and loved them equally. Also if you have any specific knowledge on which one is better for law school admissions that would be super helpful (to my knowledge they’re the same)!
Please help me out based on the following list (especially if you have any personal anecdotes or experiences) and thank you so much for your time!
University of Pennsylvania College of Arts and Sciences (Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Major):
Pros:
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Work hard, play hard vibe. Intellectual environment (sorry if this sounds pretentious lol) with a great social life.
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Excellent academic reputation—tier 1 research school, HYPSM adjacent in terms of prestige, mostly in top 10 if not 20 on almost every int’l academic rating
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School spirit, Penn relays, guest speakers, events, things always happening on campus with an engaged student body
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Super connected alumni network- a couple of my family friends are UPenn alum and always talk about this
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Amazing grad schools but I’ve never heard anything about that taking away from the undergrad experience
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Lots of cultural events and ways to connect with people of the same culture (and learn about other cultures!)
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Loved Philly because it gives the city vibe without being too overwhelming
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Even though I wouldn’t be in Wharton, I’ve heard that being at Penn in general gives you access to Wharton opportunities (clubs, connections, etc.)
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Loved the campus, seemed like a great balance between the city and the school and was so pretty!
Cons:
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I’ve heard that people in other schools can be “second-class” compared to Wharton kids (second choice for internships, recruiting, clubs). I personally don’t think this at all but don’t want to get that vibe on campus.
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I like the idea of a pre-professional vibe but I don’t want it to be too overwhelming and cause too much stress or depression
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Constant competition and people always trying to one-up each other. I think there’s a certain amount of competition that is healthy but I’ve definitely heard before that it’s unhealthy here
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Less opportunities in Philly than NYC (Columbia) for pre-law?
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Less socioeconomic diversity than Columbia. I’m high income but don’t want to be surrounded by only high income.
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Too much partying? I want to have a social life but don’t want to feel pressured to go out all the time.
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Safety in Philly?
Columbia University Columbia College (Political Science Major with a concentration in International Relations)
Pros:
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NYC!!! Lots of opportunities for pre-law, more similar to real life, meet huge diversity of people, food, things to do, etc.
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Excellent academic reputation—tier 1 research school, HYPSM adjacent in terms of prestige, mostly in top 10 if not 20 on almost every int’l academic rating
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Core truly educates students and forces them to expand their minds. I sense that Columbia grads in general have a better exposure to that sort of “western canon” backbone of culture which empowers them as thinkers. can also reference core classes in later classes and core unites school. these are also some of people’s favorite classes!
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Tons of resources, huge endowment also means hugely diverse student body socioeconomically
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Hugely talented Nobel laureate faculty
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Deeply impressive alumni (Obama, Alexander Hamilton, RBG, Warren Buffet, much of the beat generation of writers, etc) speaks to preparation and excellence of school, lots of living billionaires etc
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Great alumni network and huge assortment of merch in bookstore/online (as opposed to small selection at Brown) may speak to alumni love for the school
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nicer dorms plus VERY HIGH CHANCE of singles freshman year
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Loved the campus because it was in the middle of the city but still felt like a school.
Cons:
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Worried about the Core Curriculum being too difficult to manage. I have a 3.89 unweighted (max rigor) at a competitive public high school and don’t know if I could succeed with the rigor of Core (I’ve heard horror stories).
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Are students forced to take classes they hate in the Core Curriculum? I want to enjoy the classes I take and have academic flexibility
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Stress culture and depression (kind of related to Con #1)
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How many of the Nobel Laureate faculty actually teach undergrads?
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Seems like a lot of campus events would be under-attended because NYC is right there—how much does NYC detract from community? I’ve heard a lot of people stay in the “Columbia bubble” and rarely leave, and it definitely feels like a campus, but I’m still conflicted.
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Lack of social life?
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NYC too overwhelming?
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Current political scene potentially detracting from education?
Thank you so much!