Whether you call it the University of Pennsylvania, Penn, or UPenn, this University provides a great, ivy-league education in the exciting and historical city of Philadelphia. Undergraduates come from all over the globe to get an education at Penn, guided under the principals of its beloved founder Benjamin Franklin (also inventor of the Bifocals and lightening rod).
The University is known for its rigorous academics meshed with its (at times) pre-professional feel. However, the work-hard mentality goes beyond studying; students at Penn are pushed by passion and driven by hobbies and groups. With hundreds of clubs and organizations, Penn encourages students to pursue their passions and intertwine their academic and extracurricular interests. From religious groups to engineering organizations to Greek life and athletics, Penn is a hub for those who seek to be involved.
Penn offers undergraduate degrees in its four Schools including the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the School of Nursing, and the Wharton School. While students must apply to one School, Penn gives all undergraduates the ability to takes courses in any of the Schools. However, the majority of student enter the College of Arts and Sciences where majors cover everything from Chemistry to Literature; for more specialized study, students enter one of the other three Schools. Each of these Schools maintain a set of core classes that all students must take to graduate as well as classes particular to the major requirements.
Located in a bustling city, Penn’s beautifully gardened quads with historic buildings and statues allow for an easily navigable campus. Surrounding the campus are dozens of restaurants and shops; for those who want to explore the city, the campus is situated a short distance from Center City Philadelphia. Beyond the quotes of Benjamin Franklin written around Penn’s walkways and buildings, there is a sense of deep-rooted establishment – rich in tradition and community. This feel echoes throughout campus and explains why Penn alumni are proud to call themselves Quakers.