I can’t comment on Penn because I don’t know anyone who went there.
A friend’s son went to Columbia. Every course he took in the core was conducted in seminar format. He not only loved his classes, but he fell in love with learning as a result! He did not find the work overwhelming, probably because he found the whole experience so motivating and enjoyable. He actually looked forward to doing the reading and writing for classes. He was not like that before he went ther. He in fact discovered a whole new side of himself. He has now moved on to a very successful career. I can only say that he had a fabulous experience at Columbia College and that it was even better than advertised.