<p>To correct one misconception about Penn - as a student, I would certainly say Penn is anything but boring. Penn is known as the social ivy, and I have found this to be completely true. It sounds to me like you just had an unfortunate official visit.</p>
<p>Your other con - that Penn’s track team is less competitive - is certainly true when compared to the other schools you mentioned. That being said, Penn has had plenty of all-americans this decade and two ncaa national champions. So, you certainly can be successful on a national level in the program, but yes, the ivy league is certainly less competitive than the big10, acc, or pac10.</p>
<p>So, when deciding about Upenn, you are really deciding how much you are willing to sacrifice athletically for your academics. As far as social life goes, Penn can hold its own with the other schools you are looking at.</p>