UPenn vs. UChicago vs. Brown

KQI
Sun, 06 Apr 2008 02:35:36 +0000

So I’ve been accepted to these 3 schools and I am really confused as to where to go. I am seeking some advice and here’s what I know.

UPenn: Cross-Departments or Not?
In Penn, I believe I can take courses outside the school I was accepted, College of Arts and Science. It has a city-campus and Philly is a metropolitan area with easy access to other cities like NYC, Newark, New Haven, Providence, DC, and Baltimore. It also has lot of school spirit and athletics. Out of all of them, it is currently ranked the highest, though correct me if I am wrong, it is mainly because of Wharton.

Brown: Open Curriculum
I get a lot of flexibility in my scheduling, small city, and overall athletic school spirit feel. Of all these 3, I believe it has the strongest undergraduate department?

UChicago: #1 Economics and Core
In Chicago, I get an intense, strict schedule with roughly 1/3 of my courses bound to the core. Chicago is stereotypically tagged as a school where fun comes to die and where students study all day all weeks. Nonetheless, it has #1 Economics, which I intend to pursue and Chicago is my favorite city in America.

So as you can see, I don’t know where to go.
My Interests:
I want to study Political Science and Economics. I like cities, but I also want to have the community feel (I think all 3 are fairly even in this respect right?). I like athletics feel, which Chicago is missing, but it’s not really a top concern for me. What do you guys think? Are my impressions a little bit wrong of these schools?

Which one has the strongest undergraduate program, criteria being determined by “ranking” and reputation?

Thanks.