University of Pennsylvania

* This article is based on firsthand accounts from current students, alumni, and official university-provided information. ​ The University of Pennsylvania (commonly known as UPenn or Penn) is an Ivy League school that often feels more akin to Georgetown University or Northwestern University than its Ivy League counterparts, blending strong academics with an active social life and robust professional preparation.

The Ivy League School That Doesn't Feel Like an "Ivy"

"School spirit" means pride and enthusiasm for one's school, especially through support for athletic teams and ongoing loyalty post-graduation. The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) has a notably strong school spirit compared to other Ivy League institutions.

It's crucial not to confuse the University of Pennsylvania with Pennsylvania State University (commonly referred to as Penn State).

Penn State is a distinguished and significantly larger public university, while Penn (University of Pennsylvania) is an Ivy League private institution, colloquially called UPenn or simply Penn. ​

UPenn was famously founded by Benjamin Franklin, the historical figure featured on the $100 bill. The university has historically been home to many educational firsts, including America's first business school (Wharton), first medical school, first journalism curriculum, and first psychology clinic.

Academics and Programs

UPenn is home to 12 schools, with standout professional programs like Wharton School of Business, Annenberg School for Communication, School of Nursing, and strong offerings in engineering.

Wharton Business School

At the undergraduate level, professional-focused programs such as engineering, nursing, and business (Wharton School's undergraduate program) are particularly renowned. Economics and nursing are also very popular, with Penn’s anthropology department consistently ranked alongside the University of Chicago as the best in the country.

The university encourages interdisciplinary learning through innovative programs such as the "CS+X" joint degrees, which merge fields like computer science with psychology, linguistics, and philosophy. Another highlight is the Vagelos Program, combining liberal arts and business insights from Wharton.

While highly professional in focus, Penn continues to value liberal arts education, requiring all students to fulfill general education courses across humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.

First-year students have the option to participate in seminars. However, unlike many other Ivy League universities or the University of Chicago, it is not mandatory. One program available to first-year students is the Penn Reading Project, where students read the same text as the faculty and engage in discussions. Based on my experience, I can say that small-scale seminars or writing-focused courses in the first year are highly beneficial. In particular, they can be especially helpful for Korean students who have primarily focused on exam-oriented studies.

"Most departments have fantastic professors who are top in their field and have developed a great teaching style."

A current Penn student

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여러 가지 전문 직종을 위한 프로그램들을 가지고 있지만, 그래도 유펜에선 교양 예술 과목들을 경시하진 않습니다. 유시카고만큼은 아니지만 학생들이 기본적으로 충족시켜야 하는 general education requirement들이 있습니다. 이 requirement들은 7가지 "sector"로 나누어져 있는데, 이 일곱 개의 "sector"에서 적어도 한 개의 코스는 들어야 합니다. (society; history and tradition; arts and letters; living world; physical world; humanities and social sciences; natural sciences and mathematics)

Katherine J. Klein 교수의 Knowledge for Social Impact — Analyzing Current Issues and Approaches

"Penn is a competitive university but is also intellectually stimulating."

A current Penn student

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Penn is nationally recognized for its commitment to community service and civic engagement, integrating meaningful local service projects into its curriculum.

"Penn students have historically been extremely involved with the local community and have taken the experiences they've had in the neighborhood with them to the real word"

A current Economics/History major at Penn

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Du Bois College House

About 52% of students live on campus in one of 12 mixed-gender College Houses, fostering close-knit communities. Housing costs near campus tend to be reasonable, attracting upperclassmen to off-campus apartments in Philadelphia’s affordable yet vibrant neighborhoods. ​ ​

Campus Life

​ During weekdays, Penn students work as hard as those at other Ivy League institutions. However, weekends are lively. Penn was even named one of the nation's top party schools by Playboy magazine a few years back.

Penn was also selected as the most fun school by Playboy magazine a few years ago.

"Social life at Penn centers around frats. Parties freely serve alcohol to underage drinkers."

A junior at Penn

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About 30% of male students join fraternities, and about 29% of female students join sororities. The social life at Penn is active but doesn't solely revolve around Greek life.

Spring Fling

Penn traditions include "Spring Fling," a popular spring music festival held on campus since 1973, and "Hey Day," a rite of passage for juniors transitioning to senior year, complete with Styrofoam hats and wooden canes.

Hey Day 2017

Downtown Philadelphia is just a few minutes walk from the school. Penn is located in the western part of Philadelphia and is known to be a rather dangerous area.

"There are a wealth of cultural resources at the tip of your fingers, and more and more students are able to find jobs in the Philadelphia area after graduation."

A senior at Penn

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Philadelphia, PA

Besides Penn, there are several other schools in Philadelphia, so there are entertainment options, and the city is also student-oriented. Students sometimes go on road trips, driving long distances to places like New York, Washington D.C., Atlantic City, and even Florida.

Athletics also hold significance at Penn, unlike many other Ivy schools, with students actively supporting their teams, particularly football. Sports facilities and intramural activities are extensive, making campus life active and balanced.

Overall, Penn offers an attractive balance between rigorous academics and a fulfilling social life, making it uniquely appealing among elite universities.

"There is a great balance between academics and social activities, which is rare in such highly competitive institutions."

A current Penn student

Acceptance Rate: 8.4% ​ Top 10% of high school class: 94% Top 25% of high school class: 99% ​ SAT Math Scores 25th percentile - 730 SAT Math Scores 75th percentile - 790 SAT English Scores 25th percentile - 690 SAT English Scores 75th percentile - 760