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i've heard from many penn students/graduates that they LOVE penn. i was wondering if you could explain why. is it because you are happy there? the academics? the social opportunities. any comments would be great!!!!

ALSO on another note: would you comment on the workload at the College -specifically for a humanities/biological sciences, but NOT mathematics or hard science student?

is the atmosphere competitive?
do you feel too challenged or not challenged enough?
could you imagine going to a better school?

THANKS!!

By Fushia183 (Fushia183) on Saturday, September 25, 2004 - 06:53 pm: Edit

PLEASE BUMP!

By Fluffhead (Fluffhead) on Monday, September 27, 2004 - 08:22 pm: Edit

I'm going to answer this rather vaguely... but I can't help much on some of the questions you asked. I absolutely LOVE Penn for a variety of reasons, but none of which are very describable (is that even a word? haha...). Anyways, I love stepping out of my dorm and looking out at the Philly skyline, but yet feeling like I'm in a small community, seeing friends everywhere as I walk to class. I love the intellectual atmosphere in which you are being challenged to think and express your ideas clearly and coherently both inside and outside of the classroom. I love (most of) the kids here, I can see how they will quickly become friends for the rest of my life.

As for academics/classes... I personally hate all of my classes this semester, but I still can't possibly imagine going to another school. My classes are lots of general lectures that I have no interest in (note that you DO NOT have to take these classes if you don't go into a field requiring them, unlike at many schools where all you'll take frosh year are lectures). However, I know that things will get more and more interesting and exciting as I move along.

By Belle28 (Belle28) on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 08:07 pm: Edit

is the atmosphere competitive? not that much in the college. it can be for large curved lecture classes though.

do you feel too challenged or not challenged enough? it kind of depends on the challenges you take on yourself. you pick your classes yourself so that's totally in your own hands.

could you imagine going to a better school?
yes. what surprised me was that this is not neccessarily an intellectual school. and I kind of miss it. and the one university concept is a bit more in theory than in practice. Yes, you can take classes basically anywhere you like, but the school doesn't feel completely integrated for some reason.