<p>You got it absolutely right about Vagelos - it’s intense. If it’s what you want and you can handle it, it’s an awesome experience that will open just about any door for you.
BTW, residential programs at Penn are totally optional, you can just live in a normal dorm if you want to, and most people do!
FWIW, Penn isn’t all <em>that</em> cliquey or <em>that</em> Greek, so I’m sure you’d be fine here, but it sounds like you might be leaning towards Yale, and I can’t say I wouldn’t do the same in your position.</p>