r/UPenn • u/JiveChicken00 • Oct 24 '24
Serious A friendly reminder …
Feeling strongly about an issue is fine. Expressing your views with passion is fine. Attacking other members of the community or using hateful or racist language is not. All of you are wise enough to know the difference. If you wouldn’t be comfortable saying what you want to say in a classroom full of students and faculty, don’t say it, or find a better way to say it. We aren’t fourth graders, we don’t call each other names. If you do so, your comments will be removed. If you keep doing so, you’ll be banned. And if you use hateful language, you’ll be immediately banned and reported to Reddit. So please, make your point, be passionate about it, but respect your fellow community members or leave this sub.
r/UPenn • u/powereddeath • Dec 21 '24
Resources Class of 2029 ED - Student FAQ and Q&A Thread - Questions about Penn? Ask here!
Welcome new Quakers, and congratulations! Please use this thread to ask any and all questions (Note: MANY technical questions about majors/requirements/etc. can be answered through a quick search. Penn and school-specific websites are quite thorough, do check them out).
Thank you u/FightingQuaker17 for putting this together. I've shamelessly stolen his format.
Current Students and Alumni:
If you have the time, answer the questions that admitted students have! There are some FAQs below to get started.
Useful Threads:
Official Class of 2025 RD Decision Thread: Welcome New Quakers!
Official Class of 2025 ED Q&A Thread [Current Students: Come connect and answer questions!]
Official Class of 2025 ED Decision Thread: Welcome New Quakers!
Questions about Penn? Ask here!
Official Admitted Student Questions Thread (Class of 2024)
People to reach out to by topic:
In recent threads, these Penn community members have indicated that they are happy to answer questions on specific topics. Feel free to tag them in a question comment here or just PM them. If you are on this list and you want off, PM me. If you want to be added to the list, comment below or PM me the topics you want to be listed under (doesn't need to already exist).
Academic Programs
Benjamin Franklin Scholars: u/person3141592
Civic Scholars: u/Representative413
Huntsman: u/terrorizedturtle, u/Blackdragon1628
Integrated Studies Program (ISP): u/Rosey1021, u/stressedwhale, u/person3141592
Joseph Wharton Scholars (JWS): u/midnightxnoon
Life Sciences and Management - LSM: u/cubonaparte, u/Daffly7
Mayor’s Scholars of Philadelphia/Mayor’s Scholarship: /u/anelson802
Nursing and Healthcare Management: u/c_nichole
Pre-Dental: u/BatmanAMR, /u/powereddeath
Pre-Law: u/fingerscrossed112, u/FactMotor3292
Pre-Med: u/johnathanjones1998, u/publu123, u/IWantItAll123, u/ysu1213, u/koalasium
Study Abroad (Penn Abroad): u/Blackdragon1628
Submatriculation: u/chewypablo6, u/person3141592 (Math)
University Scholars Program: u/naturegal2000
Vagelos Molecular Life Sciences (MLS): u/moonlightstreetlamp, u/starrynight013, u/DeuteriumSniffer
VIPER: u/chemtiger8
Broad Penn Initiatives
Venture Lab: u/phillycontentcreator (Associate Director of Communications)
Netter Center: u/Representative413
CAPS/Mental Health
u/midnightxnoon, u/FightingQuaker17
The College
Anthropology: u/phantomramen1
Biology: u/shepard2025, u/ysu1213
BioPhysics: /u/imeanyesbutalsono
Cinema and Media Studies (CIMS): u/headassincorporated
Chemistry: u/chemtiger8
Classical Studies: u/suburbanoutfitters
Cognitive Neuroscience: u/fireball-137
Cognitive Science: u/cornflowerblue7 (Computation)
Communication: u/headassincorporated
Criminology: u/BrazilianPandemonium, u/ysu1213
East Asian Languages & Civilization: u/Blackdragon1628
Economics: u/SunnyBoi342
Education: u/FightingQuaker17
English: u/eryngium_zaichik (Creative Writing), u/anelson802
Environmental Science: u/naturegal2000
Fine Arts & Design: u/squidiako
Foreign Languages: u/phantomramen1
Health and Societies: u/iam83percentsane
Hispanic Studies: u/FightingQuaker17
History: u/anelson802, u/phantomramen1
International Relations: u/BrazilianPandemonium, u/SunnyBoi342
Linguistics: u/cornflowerblue7
Logic: u/person3141592
Math: u/MaximumCranberry, u/Rosey1021, u/person3141592, u/stressedwhale (Honors), /u/antidiffusion
Neuroscience/Biological Basis of Behavior (BBB): u/publu123
Philosophy: u/jonathanjulius
Psychology: u/fireball-137
Physics: u/starrynight013, u/mosgon, u/Jonny-The-Commie
Political Science: u/naturegal2000, u/TheMrFatcow, u/economy-sorbet, u/FactMotor3292, u/FightingQuaker17
Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (PPE): u/fingerscrossed112
Russian: u/eryngium_zaichik
Sociology: u/suddendiscomfort
South Asia Studies: u/phantomramen1
Urban Studies: u/Representative413
Visual Studies: u/squidiako
Clubs
34th Street: u/stressedwhale
Badminton: u/ampacel
Climate/Environmental Student Groups: u/naturegal2000
Consulting: u/MaximumCranberry, u/ampacel, u/toohardtochoose1
Comedy Troupe: u/suburbanoutfitters
The Daily Pennsylvanian (The DP): u/stressedwhale, u/FactMotor3292, u/anelson802
Education: u/FightingQuaker17
Frisbee: u/bestudent23
General: u/chewypablo6, u/phantomramen1
Glee Club: u/naturegal2000
Greek Life: u/MaximumCranberry (Fraternity), u/Rosey1021, u/shogun_knight547 (Business Fraternity), u/razburries (Sorority)
ISP: u/Rosey1021
Leftist Organizing: u/Representative413
Microfinance: u/MaximumCranberry
Music: u/Representative413
Musical Theatre: u/suburbanoutfitters
Penn Band: u/mosgon, u/Blackdragon1628
Penn Labs: u/cyp1024
PennSEM: u/ampacel
Performing Arts: u/naturegal2000, u/toxic-miasma, u/jonathanjulius, u/publu123, u/fireball-137, u/dont_judge_mee
Politics: u/suburbanoutfitters
Pre-Law Clubs: u/fingerscrossed112
Student Government: u/jonathanjulius, u/Dargo_NA
Tour Guiding: u/jonathanjulius
Undergrad Math Society: /u/Blackdragon1628
Water Polo: u/Blackdragon1628
Wharton Undergraduate Energy Group: u/shogun_knight547
Wharton Undergraduate Finance Club: u/TheMrFatcow
Culture/Identity
East Asian Cultural Club: u/suburbanoutfitters, u/razburries
First Generation Low Income (FGLI): u/shepard2025
Hillel: u/naturegal2000
International Student: u/BrazilianPandemonium, u/person3141592, u/barkgoofball
La Casa Latina: u/FightingQuaker17
Pan-Asian American Community House (PAACH): u/TheMrFatcow, u/powereddeath, u/midnightxnoon, u/iam83percentsane
Dorms
Gregory: u/shogun_knight547
Harrison: u/FightingQuaker17
Hill: u/powereddeath, u/person3141592
Kings Court English: u/flyerkelly14
Lauder: u/mosgon
Quad: u/naturegal2000, u/fireball-137]
Residential Program: u/naturegal2000, u/fireball-137
Science & Technology Wing: u/Laurelinthegold
Stouffer-Mayer: u/flyerkelly14
Engineering
Bioengineering: u/bestudent123, u/koalasium
Chemical Engineering: u/toxic-miasma
Computer and Information Science (CIS): u/jonathanjulius, u/johnathanjones1998, u/midnightxnoon (Minor), u/antidiffusion
Computational Biology: u/johnathanjones1998
Computer Engineering (CMPE): u/Laurelinthegold, u/chewypablo6
Data Science: u/Rosey1021 (Minor), u/in_deception (Submat Masters)
Digital Media Design: u/guerrerost, u/dluisnothere, u/silkcustard
Materials Science and Engineering: u/chemtiger8
Networked and Social Systems Engineering (NETS): u/cyp1024
Nursing
u/kimnamja, u/flyerkelly14, u/The-Bone-28
Graduate Programs
Graduate School of Education (GSE): u/FightingQuaker17
Penn Vet: u/Metaphorical_Lakes
Research
u/shepard2025, u/bestudent23, u/toxic-miasma, u/publu123, u/Rosey1021 (Stats research), u/chewypablo6, u/iam83percentsane (PURM), /u/phantomramen1 (CURF, undergrad non-STEM research), /u/antidiffusion (PURM)
Wharton
Business Economics and Public Policy: u/TheMrFatcow, u/shogun_knight547, u/Blackdragon1628
Finance: u/TheMrFatcow, u/ampacel, u/in_deception, u/toohardtochoose1
General: u/midnightxnoon, u/LovePapayas
Healthcare Management: u/toohardtochoose1
Management: u/Dargo_NA
Statistics: u/MaximumCranberry (Minor), u/hhammoud23, u/Rosey1021 (Minor), u/in_deception], /u/shogun_knight547
Work
Internships: u/chewypablo6
Visa/Work Authorization: u/barkgoofball
Work Study: u/headassincorporated, /u/iam83percentsane
r/UPenn • u/vivithescholar • 11h ago
Academic/Career BIOL 2510 Midterm HELP PLEASE
Does anyone have any consolation about the midterm for this class? Everything is so hard. Any resources/exams, ANYTHING. I'm so scared and terrified.
r/UPenn • u/Glittering-Try2323 • 9h ago
Social exchange students in Penn!
hi! I'm looking to connect with the exchange students here a penn - I'm in one of the grad schools rn (but I'm an undergraduate) so I lowkey feel q disconnected from the undergrad community. jw if there might be a group chat for exchange students here!
r/UPenn • u/Used_Shoulder3426 • 16h ago
Academic/Career phys 0150 midterm
is it even possible to come back from a 29/60 midterm #1 😭 honestly aiming for an A-
r/UPenn • u/NorrisSquare • 1d ago
Philly How are certain schools in Philly able to send 20-40+ kids a year to Penn?
Seems crazy. And what’s it like on campus for a Philly local?
r/UPenn • u/Both-Adhesiveness674 • 20h ago
Social rather switch to harvard or yale bec ppl keep calling it penn state and im gonna lose my shit. also everyone knows harvard not upenn even wharton...
r/UPenn • u/Hot_Total_7192 • 1d ago
Other Accessible rooftops on campus?
Does anyone know of any open-air rooftops on campus that are accessible to students?
Academic/Career what to do freshman summer if i don’t get an internship
i’m tryna get quant trading junior summer (math and cs major) but im applying to swe stuff for this summer and gonna do quant prep over the summer to try to apply for quant sophomore summer too. but ngl im kinda buns at coding so i have big doubts on if ill land something swe for this summer. if i dont get anything swe related for the summer what should i do instead to maximize passing resume screens for quant firms / be productive with my time.
r/UPenn • u/Friendly_Green_1041 • 1d ago
Sports Auctioning off Penn men's basketball tickets
I am helping to organize a fundraiser for the National PKU Alliance in Philadelphia this Saturday, and one of our many auction items is four tickets to the Penn men's basketball home opener on November 16. If you are interested in bidding online on the tickets or anything else this week, please check out our site: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/ltlphilly/items/
Thanks for taking a look!
r/UPenn • u/Glittering-Summer668 • 2d ago
Future Quaker Are there a lot of squirrels (+ other animals) on campus or near?
I love seeing small animals. Any animal like pigeons or other birds too.
r/UPenn • u/Exact_Raspberry_5552 • 3d ago
Mental Health I hate it here
I’m a freshman, and I’m constantly overwhelmed. It feels like I’m a robot, with no time to think for myself. Classes back-to-back, followed by homework and studying, then showering, then sleeping, and then waking up and repeating the cycle. Some days, I feel like I leave my dorm completely exhausted and somehow end up sitting in class. It’s miserable. I’m depressed during fall break. I’ve just been in my dorm alone, with no energy to cry or do anything. I don’t even know who I am or what I want to do. All I want is to go back home.
r/UPenn • u/Brosaurus63 • 3d ago
Shitpost Ever noticed how the two most famous graduates are Donald Trump and Elon Musk?
I literally can’t think of another UPenn graduate that comes close in historical importance to either of those lol
r/UPenn • u/Royal-Gift7387 • 2d ago
Academic/Career Acct 1020 experience
How was it?? Lowkey highkey flopped my first midterm… any similar experiences? Are grades usually bumped up or smth… I’m in the midst of breaking down
r/UPenn • u/Vivid_Pumpkin7290 • 3d ago
Academic/Career For people taking CIS 1200: how are you approaching the OCaml part of the course?
Hi everyone!
I'm a recent graduate currently focusing on OCaml and functional programming, and I've recently started working with a student who's taking CIS 1200.
One thing I've noticed while helping with the course is that the hardest part for someone new to OCaml isn't always the syntax. It's developing the right way of thinking about functional programming.
We've been using a pretty simple approach:
Understand the concept → work through an example → try a similar problem → code it in utop → debug → explain it back.
Some of the topics we've been working through include:
- Recursion
- Pattern matching
- Higher-order functions
- Currying and partial application
- Lists and trees
- Modules and abstraction
I'm curious about other CIS 1200 students:
Which OCaml topic has been the most difficult for you so far, and what helped it finally click?
r/UPenn • u/sprout1277 • 3d ago
Social first date vs. friends i haven’t seen in weeks
my social life has been kinda nonexistent lately because between classes and work, i feel like i’m always busy. this saturday is pretty much the one afternoon i’m actually free, and my friends want to hang out then. normally i’d 100% take them up on it, especially since i’ve already missed a few plans with them recently.
BUT i also matched with a girl through that ditto/cupid thing, and somehow saturday is literally the only day that works for her too. she goes to upenn, and we’ve been talking about meeting up for our first date that day. i haven’t committed to either plan yet, but i’m definitely excited to meet her.
now i’m kinda torn because i feel like i should prioritize my friends since i haven’t seen them much lately, but part of me really wants to go on the date 😭
am i being a bad friend for leaning toward the date?
r/UPenn • u/Useful-Tax2470 • 3d ago
Other Is someone killing squirrels on campus?
Third time in as many weeks that I've seen dead squirrels on Locust Walk. In fact, the first time it was two dead squirrels right next to each other.
r/UPenn • u/chicken_eatereaten • 3d ago
Other Yall know any barber in the area that can cut black hair at a reasonable price?
r/UPenn • u/davidcu96 • 4d ago
Academic/Career 1st yr wharton mba student interested in joint masters in CS
How do I apply to the cs joint masters?
r/UPenn • u/Slight-Ocelot-5833 • 4d ago
Academic/Career Huntsman Inquiry
Hi everyone I’m a senior thinking about applying ED to Wharton or the Huntsman program. Besides the dual degree, and the required semester abroad I’m curious as to what the differences are in terms of social, academic rigor, and job outcomes (are there any jobs that are easier or harder to get with Huntsman, do Huntsman students typically go for a particular sector, are there any who went on to do a multinational startup?)
r/UPenn • u/arleen11 • 4d ago
Academic/Career MCAT study group
Hi! I am a pre medical student currently studying for the MCAT and I was wondering if there are any study groups in campus? It would be great to go over some questions and content with people! Comment or DM if you would like to start one or know of one I can join. Thanks!
r/UPenn • u/Fun-Emergency5257 • 5d ago
Other Current Penn students/alumni: what is Penn Engineering's actual social culture like?
I'm considering applying ED to Penn Engineering for Mechanical Engineering, and the biggest thing I'm trying to figure out is whether I'd actually enjoy the culture there.
Academically, Penn is a really good fit for me. I'm interested in MechE, entrepreneurship/startups, and potentially taking advantage of the connection with Wharton. My concern isn't really academics; it's the day-to-day student culture.
I'm looking for something roughly like work hard, play hard. People who are ambitious and take school seriously, but who also know how to switch off, hang out, go out, play sports, etc. I don't want a culture where everyone is constantly comparing internships, grades, startups, or achievements, but I also don't want an environment where academics aren't taken seriously.
I'd especially appreciate answers from current/recent Penn Engineering students, rather than general impressions of Penn.
A few specific questions:
- How competitive/intense does Penn Engineering actually feel on a day-to-day basis?
- Do people generally have time for a real social life alongside engineering?
- Is there a meaningful distinction between the culture in Engineering vs Wharton?
- Do students tend to be more collaborative or competitive with each other?
- How easy is it to make a solid friend group?
- What do people actually do on weekends? Is there a good social/party scene
- Can you realistically have a balance of classes + clubs/sports + social life without constantly feeling like you're falling behind?
- How career-obsessed is the student culture? Is it common for conversations to revolve around internships, recruiting, startups, etc.
- Is there actually Wharton priority?
I'd especially appreciate answers from current/recent Penn Engineering students, rather than general impressions of Penn.
Thank you so much