<p>I want to look back on my college decision and not feel like i missed out. SMU is a very fun, inviting place full of vibrant students who seem to focus more on social endeavors than scholarly activity to put it mildly but I do know that there are many intelligent kids at SMU and many of them Hunt Scholars, so I know the network I’d have there would be top notch. With a brother currently there now, I’ve been on campus so many times I feel like a student and I truly understand what SMU is about. I know its not as academically rigorous as UPenn in any way or does it have the prestige but the faculty is very inviting and I’ve received so many phone calls from them since my application date I can tell they are really vouching for me.</p>
<p>UPenn has such a scholarly air about it, I love it and I know that going that I can’t not be successful. Every kid at UPenn is accomplished (or has a very establish parent lol), and I respect that. UPenn is full of history and intellect which is amazing honestly, but it being in the north-east the mentality of the people is a bit different. The faculty was not quite as open to me as a prospective and frequently “pointed me to the correct office that deals with p-frosh”. While at SMU no what what office or teacher I ran into they went out of their way to answer any and all questions. </p>
<p>They are so different but so similar to me. SMU has nicer facilities all around being that it was founded in 1911 but UPenn’s facilities are nothing to be scoffed at and are so historic you have to respect them. There is, however, downside with the students at both as SMU students tend to be unnecessarily wealthy and love to show it, and at UPenn they pride themselves on how smart they are and will absolutely make it known… but either way i understand the area and the situation and dismiss the demeanor of the more arrogant students at each of the respective campuses. I love the idea of having a guaranteed job post graduation, love the expected starting salary at UPenn… I just love the guaranteed Study Abroad at SMU, the relaxed southern city of Dallas but the strength of the degree (or lack there of) worries me. </p>
<p>I am confused, but I feel drawn to the IVY. I readily turned down Berkeley, Yale, Duke, Dartmouth because as soon as I walked on campus I knew it wasn’t for me and not where I wanted to study. But at UPenn and SMU I can see myself calling both of them home and being a proud student at either institution.</p>