University of Pennsylvania Top Questions

What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

Salmana

First and foremost, visiting the campus itself is imperative. Having a feel for the campus can only be achieved by being on the campus. A brochure simply does not convey what the university truly has to offer. Additionally, spending time with students is a priceless experience. Although college sponsored tours may provide insight about the available facilities and support systems in place for students, there is far more to a college education than simply its academic aspect. Looking back on my college search, I truly wish that I had found a student at each institution that I wished to attend, who could give me a tour of the campus. Seeing the campus from a student's perspective is far more accurate than from an administrator's standpoint. Being that the staff and faculty instates programs to please students, the best way to measure their success is to speak to the students who experience such programs on a daily basis. I know that I, as a current undergraduate student at iPenn in the Engineering School, can provide prospective students with a clearer understanding of the academic courseload and the type of social life they can expect, than a school administrator.

Alison

The best advice I could give to parents and students about finding the right college is visiting. Visit as many schools as you possibly can, and visit a variety of different kinds: urban, suburban, rural, big schools, and tiny schools. You may think you know what you want when it is all theoretical, but everything changes once you start visiting. And when you visit the school that's right for you, you'll know it. I did! The first time I visited Penn, it just felt right, and I knew that if I got in, I had to go there. Luckily for me, I got in. My advice to anyone trying to make the most of their college experience is: find your niche. For me, this was community service. Immediately upon arriving on campus, I joined an organization that runs after-school programs in West Philadelphia, and it was the best decision I've made. Find something you're passionate about, and throw yourself into it, heart and soul. You'll meet amazing friends along the way, and it might even shape what you decide to study. For me, community involvement helped me settle on an urban studies major.

Se

It's important to look at what other students are like when you visit a college. Consider this more than a name value.

Ina

If you enter the process having outlined what you know you need (and what you would also like), you'll know the right environment when you come across it. That is why visiting schools is so important and it's why applying to too many can be counterproductive. On my college search, I knew what I wanted--vaugely. I knew that I wanted to be in a big city and I knew that I wanted to try to get into one of the best schools in the country. After that, it was just a matter of a school speaking to me, a place that I felt surprisingly at home. There was an "aha!" moment when I toured Penn. The most important thing when searching for a college./university is to find a place where you think you can grow. You don't want something that you're totally accustomed to and you don't want an environment that makes you feel out of place. The college experience is about pushing yourself, and if you find the right environment for that type of growth and self-exploration, a place that is both supportive and challenging, then you've found your school.

Rachel

Go with your gut :)

Daniel

Please do not put money on the top of your list of "Important Things to Consider When Choosing Colleges"; while money is certainly important, it should not be used to determine the next four years of your child's life. Ultimately, a student's college experience will mould him into what he will be for the rest of his 70 some years, and you don't want to let money stand in the way of his/her potential. The differences in social/academic lives between a very cheap school and a very expensive one are more than acute. While my school is incredibly academically oriented (and very expensive), the schools only blocks away are hardly on the same academic level. For example, my Corporate Finance course covers 16 chapters in 1 semester, whereas other business schools cover only 6-8. We have amazing professors with both research and professional experience, and I don't know if I can say the same for cheaper schools. Don't let money stand in the way of a decision; after all, a better school leads to a better job, and a better job leads to that much more money in the near future, right?

jonathan

pick a school that is right for you, not what is expected of you or the current standard

Jessica

I think it is important to go with your gut instinct and to not be afraid about taking risks.

Connie

I made the mistake of not looking at enough colleges so I would strongly advise high school students to start thinking about colleges early and visiting as many as they can. Parents should to encourage (but not nag) their children and constantly remind them to think about where they want to go for the next four years of their lives. To make the most of the college experience, students should join extra-curricular clubs to meet new people. They should hang out with their new friends but not let their social life get in the way of their studying. Students should befriend people in their class. Not only would it benefit them by having a study partner, they can also have fun while studying, which would make the whole learning experience better. Students also should not hesitate to go to office hours or to email their professors or TAs when they don't understand something.

Rahima

Visit the campus first and make sure the school has the right ethnic and racial mix that you will be happy in. It could be the best school in the world, but if you are not happy and do not have good friends, you will not thrive. Make sure you find a place where you will be happy and feel comfortable. Make sure there are enough resources, extra-curricular activities, and courses that you will be able to explore. College is about much more than just academics, but be sure that both academic and social aspects are sound. Talk to students, do your research, but above all, when all is said and done, follow your heart in order to make your decision. Listen to your heart.

Elena

Whatever you do, don't get caught up in the name of a school. It may sound great to attend an Ivy League or other prestigious university, but make sure that you are comfortable with the workload, pressure, and expectations that requires. It's most important to be happy and comfortable wherever you choose to go; as long as you work hard and really apply yourself, you can acheive whatever you want. Also, make sure you visit the schools that you apply to, especially once you're really deciding where you want to go to school. That campus and city will become your home, and sometimes a visit beforehand can make all the difference in making or breaking your decision. Once you're in college, live it up! "Carpe diem" may sound cliche, but it's true. This time has the potential to be the best four years of your life, and there is a ton of resources and potential experiences at your fingertips, just waiting to be explored. Good luck, and above all, have fun!

Rachel

i don't know

Whitney

Apply to many schools--a few safeties, a few good shots, and a few reaches. Don't be afraid to go somewhere tough, but be ready to work hard from day one. Make sure to start fulfilling requirements right away. Don't be afraid to meet your professors and go to their office hours--you will do best in courses where you are engaged with the professor, sitting in the front row, and always being prepared. Start testing out different campus groups right when you get on campus so that you don't find yourself missing out later and too afraid to start late in the game. Have fun!

Angela

Find the one that matches you the best: what you want to do in life, what kind of students and people you want to interact with, what type of town you want to be in.

Young

I believe that college is really what you make of it. No matter where you go, there will be people you get along with and people you don't, classes you love and classes you wish you never signed up for, and days when you are completely satisfied with your college and days when you wish you were anywhere but here. If you make the effort to make strong connections with people and make lifelong friendships, and you take advantage of all the resources and opportunities available to you, you WILL have a wonderful experience. Just make sure to surround yourself with things that make you happy and focus on doing your best.

Margarita

Every high school senior stresses about college admissions, while his or her parents save every penny to finance the education. Yes, it is tough, but to every situation there is always a perfect solution. Online search for schools is great, but in order to make the best decision you should visit the school. No excuses. Only then and there will you know if it feels right. Stay over for a night, take a stroll on a school day and see what is going on around campus. If it matches your expectations, then do not hesitate and apply. Only YOU can make you college experience count, no matter how well the school is advertized or criticized by others. And as far as the financing education goes, there is always help. You just have to look for it. Besides the piggy bank and FAFSA, there are hundreds of scholarships online. The college itself may offer you one, based on your grades or the program of study. And as always, do not wait till the last minute to apply to college or for the financial aid. Do it early. Save yourself the trouble, and get what you want and need!

Jodine

Don't become too preoccupied with ranking. Its about finding the school that is the best fit for your personlity, learning style, and future goals. Look for a school that has a strong and well respected department for your field of interest. If you are not sure what you want to major in look for a school that is strong all around. Definately try to get a sense of what kind of students go there and what it takes to suceed. Pick classes STRATEGICALLY. I cannot stress this enough. College is NOT about learning as much as you can, thats what reading is for. Pick clases that you can excel in and balance it with courses that are challegenging enough but not impossible. Choose professors that can be helpful to you in the future: recomendation letters, jobs, research, plain old personal development. But also enjoy yourself, find and OUTLET (ie: music). Make the most of opportunities that come your way and study a little bit everyday, it will save you ALOT of trouble. Finally, don't be afraid to define your own path, you might be tempted to do what everyone else is doing academically DONT. FIND YOUR OWN WAY.

Emily

The schools you've applied to probably all have comparable academics, so choose based on what you think you'll be doing in your time outside of class. Make sure you consider the resources available around campus - are there restaurants, clubs, places to shop or is every worthwhile activity on campus? Try to get a feel for what the social life centers around at each school. If prestige or reputation is important to you, don't worry about whether or not that's shallow and consider it equally with all the other characteristics of the schools you're looking at.

Edward

I have only one simple piece of advice: choose a college that you enjoy AND can afford; it's not worth going into debt just to attend your reach school. Your college experience will be whatever you make of it regardless of where you go, so choose somewhere that's affordable.

Sean

Go where it is cheapest.

Elizabeth

Visit the schools and make sure you are comfortable with not only the physical setting and the safety of the school but also the people. The school is your home for the next four years and you need to make sure that it feels like home to you. When you find the right school, you'll know. Go with your instinct. There is more to a good school than test scores and job placement. You can go to the best school in the world but if you aren't enjoying it, it's definitely not worth it.

Ben

I would say to become as involved in as many activities as possible. Do not stress over grades so much unless your major is career focused i.e bio for med school, etc. I would really try to get outside one's comfort zone and try many things. This is your main opportunity in life to become involved in a wide array of activities. Do not stress if college is not the best time in your life. It can be very difficult at times. Do not take it too seriously. Overall have fun.

Bao

I think one of the most important things that you may want to consider is whether or not you see yourself fitting in that population. I was fortunate to live near campus and have the ability to take the train down to school to walk around campus just by myself to see if I enjoyed the atmosphere. While you may get this feel during tours or even after you have been accepted and invited to orientation, I think a 30-60 walk around campus, depending on what kind of are your school is located in, will help you see how people are. If you know a friend who goes there, stay over for a weekend and have some fun - It's important to remember that half of college is about academics. The other half is about activities and having fun, in whatever way you make it out to be. Ultimately most schools will give you all the education you will need. While deciding what types of programs you may want to join, academically, at the end of four years, you'll remember how you enjoyed yourself and what friends you made, not what grades you got.

Georgianna

Make sure you visit the place and talk to the students. Think about moving expenses and living conditions. Helps if you have an idea of career after school.

Julian

The most important thing in finding the right college and making the most of a college experience is visiting the college campus if possible and learning and hearing about it from students who are already there. Be sure to take into consideration the types of students who are there, the academic quality, academic rigor, social life, food, weather/climate, and campus before making a decision. Some students who fail to take all of these factors into consideration may not end up liking their college experience. If money is an issue, value of education for money is important. If you know you want to go to graduate school, it is better to pick a school which is cheaper and not as rigorous academically. Therefore, you can do well in college and get into a really great graduate school. However, if you are planning to work after college, make sure this is a school which will get you a good job after graduation. Every college has its pros and cons, but the whole college experience is what you make of it. Even at larger universities, you can find very close friends and meet interesting people everyday. Make the most of college.

Keith

The best way to really know which college is best for you, you need to visit the campus. Really getting a feel for the surroundinds, the atmosphere, and the people will help you understand which school fits your needs best. Good luck!

Yuefeng

visit the school, find out about programs first

Mariafrancesca

Visit the school and talk to a diversity of students about life academically and socially

Varty

It's all about fit. Yes reputation matters, but at the end of the day you want somewhere that screams "you," where you like the people, the location and the available courses of study.

Gene

Penn is great if you are very driven and career focused. Consider a more liberal artsy school such as Amherst or Brown if you're not.

Jessica

You must visit the campus, preferrably overnight, to get a good feel for the school. Make sure that sports, clubs, academics, or other interests are available, and remember that you can probably be happy wherever you go. If you're not...transfer!

melissa

visit, talk to everyone you can, research

Matt

A good match is more important than a good name, and you probably have no idea what you want to do. Don't settle, and during your first semester, it's better to try to do too much and pare down than to not do enough.

Caroline

I chose to receive a great, thorough liberal arts education at an expensive college--an investment for a well-rounded life, rather than a focus on a particular career. In that, I did sacrifice any chances of gaining a secure and comfortable job that a business or engineer might immediately find. Though finding a place in the "real world" has been a struggle, I don't regret my choice of study. The one thing I do regret is not planning a realistic student loan pay-back solution for my future. It's difficult to predict what you need to gain out of four years of the college experience. Do look for where the most opportunity might lie in your 1) academic ambition and 2) favorite activities blending well with the school's social atmosphere. After all, as John Mayer wisely sings, he wonders about the outcome of a still verdictless life... though he never did end up graduating college.

Marque

After graduation, I took stock of where I was in my life and how the four years I spent as an undergraduate changed me. That small amount of soul-searching made me realize what is important in a college: diversity. Not specifically ethnic diversity, though that is certainly a part of it, but a more global diversity. In order to reach your potential as a student and a person, you need to attend a college that challenges your views of the world. True growth comes from having long-held beliefs and ideals challenged, forcing you to either discard them or justify to yourself why you hold them in the first place. This process can only occur in a place where those ideals are constantly meeting opposing ones, and that only happens in a diverse college. One with a wide range of classes, activites, religions, political groups, sports, clubs and people. My advice is simple; look for a place where you might feel a little uncomfortable, where people seem to think differently than you do. Go there and grow.

Caitlin

I would encourage students to visit the colleges they are interested in attending and to carefully observe the way that the current students interact. What I found most challenging about my university experience was finding a way to be myself and a niche among people who I didn't fully "click with." While my academic experience was truly satisfying, I felt a lot of social pressure regarding appearance and financial situation. I would therefore advise applicants to meet a range of students and to really get the feel of the environment they will be entering -- no matter how "highly ranked" that school might be.

Stella

Parents should give their children the ability to make their own decisions about where they attend school. Students--take your parents' suggestions into consideration but also consider every aspect of the college and keep your goals in mind when selecting a school.

Anne

Don't limit yourself to "only". When starting the college search, it's tempting to start with absolutes to narrow down the thousands of options. Thus, the temptation to limit to "only": for example, only look at Ivy League schools, or schools on the west coast, or liberal arts colleges. But by starting off with such a tapered view point, you are cheating yourself of the possibility of a whole new set of options, and you never know where that road may take you. Once you arrive at your chosen school, of course, remain wary of the perils of "only". Take classes outside your major -- explore new ideas instead of simply sticking to one subject. Studying a variety of disciplines will enrich your perspective. Don't only stick to one crowd. If you join a team, or a Greek house, or a club, make sure you continue to take advantage of the thrilling collision and collusion of thoughts, ideas, and ideals on a college campus. And don't confine your studies only to class time -- get to know your professors outside of the classroom, too. Oh -- and enjoy, because college only happens once!

Joyce

The best advice is to be content with whatever choice you make. Life does not begin or end with college. Regardless of which school you graduate from there are plenty of opportunities in this world to achieve whatever goals you have. Focus not so much on what your school offers in terms of landing a job, but rather on how you can expand your intellectual horizon. If you want practical job training, you might as well go to a trade school. Learn how to think, not what to think. Read. Books are a great source of knowledge, and knowledge is power. Talk to people. You can learn a lot from one conversation with a person who is different from you, that would take you years to learn through classes and course materials. And most importantly, believe in yourself. Follow the path that you choose, not the ones that have been chosen for you. That is the only way to be passionate about what you do and passion drives success.

Bryan

Choosing a college just for the name is never a good idea. Nobody has everything figured out when they enter college and they shouldn't. You need to have time to grow and figure out the direction you want your life to take, and you need an environment that fosters that. A highly competitive university does prepare you for the real world, but today it seems that graduate work is becoming more and more necessary. Therefore, I would suggest going to a school that cares about its students more than its research and that isn't so cut-throat the student can't have free time to interact with their peers. If you choose an extremely competitive school, make sure to choose a smaller school that allows the students to talk to their professors. My learning as an undergraduate was far too independent and that is a total waste of the great resources that are the experienced, brilliant faculty working there.

Mara

Visit schools, talk to students (both tour guides and random students you meet) and trust your gut!

Jason

I would first apply to all of the colleges you want to. Some safeties, some definites, and two tough ones. Then once accepted is when you should go visit all of the colleges that accepted you. There's no reason to go to colleges before hand if they don't end up accepting you. Turns into a waste of a trip and a hoodie that'll never be worn again. Also, don't just base off of where your friends are planning on going. If you know what you want to go in, then do that. Don't let anyone peer pressure you into change the future that you want for yourself. Once you have your future set then your friends will see you were right all along. Finally, you don't have to worry about your major just yet. People change all the time, just find somewhere that you're going to be comfortable and able to enjoy the next 4 years of your life!

Vasudev

Don't worry about anything else, just make sure the classes and the location are things that you will enjoy for 4 years. If you don't like where you are, you won't enjoy your college experience, and wont end up learning anything.

Martin

Stay calm.

Jacqueline

It is great going to a college that is well known academically, or for other non-academic reasons, however it is important to really look at what school can open the most doors for you. The school you will be able to most thrive in and mature into a responsible and well-rounded citizen is the school that will be the best for any person. Going to a party school will be great socially, however will it help you out in the future as a good academic school? On the other hand, are you able to handle the academic pressure and workload of a renowned academic school? To me, academics is one of the most aspects of a school that everyone should look at. The social aspect you can make at your school campus. There are always clubs and organizations you can join, and if there isn't one that you are specifically looking for, you can always start one. The key to having a successful college carreer is making the most of it. It really is about finding a place where you will be able to flourish as a person. Find a fun, academically enhancing, and inspiring place.

Melina

Vibe. That's the one word you need to consider when you visit schools. Check out the interaction between the students you see. Are they laughing and smiling? Having lunch together? Check out the main walk. Are they out there promoting their clubs and groups, and fooling around here and there in the meantime? Talk to students. Find the students are that are most similar to you and ask them how their experience is going. Was it easy for them to find a core group of friends? What's their social life like? What's their workload like? Do they love their classes? I was recruited to play a varsity sport at Penn. I spent a day getting to know the girls on the team and after talking with them, I new instantly this was the school for me. I was looking for friendly people that had the same ideals and interests as I did, and I found them. Get as much information as you can abou the vibe of the school, and then trust your gut to make the ultimate decision.

Chelsea

Finding the right college is a personal choice that each student, with the support of their families, must make for themselves. Touring campuses and talking to students is the best way to get a "feel" for the campus. To make the most of the college experience, make sure to balance academics with social activities. Study hard, since the purpose of college is to continue one's education, but make sure to reserve time for friends and family. College is a time to develop personally as well as academically. So relax and enjoy yourself, you only get to be an undergraduate once!

christina

I think it is most important to take what interests you into account and not base a school on what it looks like. Make sure to look around you and see if they offer art, music, drama etc for everyone. Also, be prepared to ask a lot of questions and take the answers to heart. You never know a school from the tour. Take the time to interact with the students and see what they do on the weekends. Also, see what the community is like around the school. One of the best things about my college was the ability to interact with the city of Philadelphia.

Nathan

In order to find the right college and to make the most of you college experience, it is important to do two things. First, make sure that you visit as many schools as possible. When I say visit, I don't only mean travel to the school, but if this is not possible, check them out online. Most schools have very comprehensive virtual tours at this point. Do not be afraid to keep looking, even if one seems to be a great fit. Second, make sure to bite off more than wha you think you can chew. Try new things, make new friends, and never settle into a groove. There are so many things to do and learn at school, so don't be afraid to put yourself out there.

Julia

I would encourage the prospective student to spend more than just the afternoon at a standard college visit. Choosing which college to attend is quite an enduring process and it should be taken very seriously. Spend the night in the town where the college is located. Ask the Admission's Office if you can spend the night, or the weekend, in one of the college dorms with a student volunteer so that you can get a "preview" of what to expect. Talk to the students, and get in touch with freshmen who are completing their first year there. Ask them what they like, and don't like, about the school. In a more casual setting, you'll get the truth. It takes a lot more than the tour around campus to find the "right" college. It can look beautiful, but ultimately it comes down to the people: the students, the professors, even the staff in the dining halls, school store, and library who have the personality to smile and ask how your day is going. Even those little things make a huge difference. Spend time immersing yourself in the school's culture and you'll make the right decision.