University of Pennsylvania Reviews

"Wharton has a great program that will undoubtedly follow you for the rest of your life. It teaches you how to be a good leader and provides you with excellent career opportunities, alumni network, and faculty. However, it is definitely expensive and while students may struggle short term, it should pay out long term."

"Penn has a great MEAM program at the graduate level because it can be very interdisciplinary. For instance, you could choose to also take some BE classes and concentrate in BioMechanics, or you could take Robotics/CompSci courses and concentrate on Mechatronic and Robotic Systems (which I have done). The Robotics curriculum is really growing here, and the research being done is gaining notoriety - plus it's really cool! Of course, it is a very work-intensive program, but I have never felt competitive with my classmates at all. In Engineering, there is very much a sense of community. We are united by our hard work and dedication to learning and helping one another, because we all understand that by helping each other understand the material, we are also helping ourselves."

"The career services department is top notch."

"Diversity, multinational area, research oriented, best professors The only cons is being expensive"

"Cons: Classes fill up quickly and are competitive; weather is tough for living, especially in winter; expense of the program is exorbitant and almost unmanageable. Pros: program is top rated and professors are so knowledgeable; supportive campus services; public transportation and campus safety are great; great location and great city with lots of things to do; students are friendly and work hard studying but also like to have a fun time; variety of courses offered in the program to target your individual interests; career support"

"UPenn GSE is an incredible graduate school of education. The professors and knowledgeable, and all of the information is valuable. The only con is the lack of custom options, but Penn is absolutely working on improving that!"

"During my first year of my program I was able to gain knowledge from top-notch professors, insightful reading assignments, and complex projects. I was challenged to discover my personal beliefs and biases while learning intervention methods, ethical standards, and group counseling techniques. I learned the importance of being flexible and embodying the core conditions of counseling. I was faced with engaging in hypothetical, yet realistic, counseling scenarios for various assignments. Although I learned a plethora from many of the requirements, my favorite was the weekly group counseling experimental sessions. I gained first hand experience of how it feels to be in a counseling group, the phases that evolve, and the impact of group dynamics. Additionally, I learned skills that I possess as a group leader and weaknesses that need to be improved upon. The process was informative, interactive, and extremely beneficial for a beginning counselor. Not only did I practice my skills from hypothetical class assignments, but I was also able to engage in counseling sessions at my practicum site. After observing, I led individual and group counseling sessions while being mentored by professionals in the counseling field. This involvement further confirmed that this is the career path that I have a deep passion for. The only cons of my program is the cost."

"Having the opportunity to study at an institution like the University of Pennsylvania is truly a blessing. The education I've received has been stellar and the network I've accessed is invaluable. The campus is beautiful and safe but the surrounding area of West Philly needs work. Around the university if safe, for the most par, but you have to be careful as in any large city. The university is very expensive which can be a deterrent for some. Therefore, the Graduate programs scholarship will be an extreme and well appreciated aid in my studies."

"The pros of the graduate program I am pursuing are as follows: Penn GSE has excellent academic programs with a great reputation, faculty and staff are very welcoming and quick to respond, and the program is very well organized. The cons include difficulty in finding parking and I have a long commute into Philadelphia. Other than that, there is not much else I can say about this program thus far."

"The school is highly competitive, but well worth it."

"Pros: - finance specialty - amazing network of strong individuals - program quality Cons - accommodation is not on campus - relatively small number of European students"

"I loved attending University of Penn's graduate school program, as it challenged me academically but was fun at the same time! The courses offered were interesting and relevant, and I truly loved learning here. It was challenging and pushed to do my best. Some downsides include tuition costs and lack of financial. I was enrolled in the Advanced Standing program, which I, as well as most of my classmates felt that the program did not cater to."

"Very experimental in terms of the program, very advance use of digital technology but not so much supported by the availability of tools in the fabrication lab. Would have been better if the experiment be balanced out with technical support."

" This is a number 1 business school, per US News, and its reputation is outstanding. Heavy recruiting by all types of firms ensures you have a job after you get out. Often, if a student is without a job at graduation day, he's either working on his own start-up, or is shooting for the stars and holding off for a bigger/better job opportunity than the job offers he's received. As a result of grade non-disclosure policy, it is no longer a cut-throat environment among the students, instead everyone wants to help each other and collaborates during school projects. Faculty is outstanding and are often interviewed by MSNBC and other programs for their outlook of the economy. Big-deal guest speakers are often brought in by the school or student organizations to give their insight of the industry. Particularly exciting, large companies, such as Nike, approach professors asking for help in their marketing, strategy, etc. This gives students opportunity to work on a real-life case study and see the impact of their work. Student body is very diverse, with many international students and many coming from various industries, and not just a business background. Transportation is convenient, with Center City located a 20-30 minute walk from campus. There's also a bus nearby that takes you to campus. Train station is a 15 minute walk away and there's a train that can take you to the airport as well or bus that takes you straight to NYC. No need for a car. Students are also very social and there's always something going on and something to do with fellow students, whether student clubs, trips, parties, or events thrown by other student-run organizations. Surrounding area is Philly - not much to do around campus, unless you are an undergrad student. Philly is a small city that has lots of restaurants and bars, as well as shopping and parks. Cons: As any MBA program, it is expensive, however in the grad scheme of things, it's 2 years of your life that will accelerate the rest of your career. Financial aid is helpful in getting loans for you, but you still have to pay them back. Safety on campus is excellent, but just outside of campus, I would take cabs everywhere. Center City where 95% of MBA students live is also pretty safe, but I would still refrain from walking at night by myself. School does a good job by sending police alerts to your cell phone so you stay away from the crime area, if anything happened. Living is still expensive, with rent being almost NYC prices. This however only applies if you live in Center City, where demand exceeds supply. So rents in this area are significantly higher than anywhere else in Philly. But if you're an MBA student, you will most likely be will to pay for location."

"Friendly but also competitive environment. Every day spent in the studio makes me feel "Wow, I learnt something new." Faulty and staff are always nice to your question and try to help. The only cons are on the scholarship package (too few) and campus living expenses."

"University of Pennsylvania is a beautiful school. I do believe I am receiving a higher education, and the program has better myself and my art work. The downside is the expense of this education. The tuition is only can leave you in debt for years and that doesn't even cover other expenses such as art supplies and the basics of living."

"Penn affords a wealth of opportunities for those willing to work for them."

"Overall, great school, okay city. The quality of your PhD is equal to that of any of the other top schools in the country. Education is (and has always been) what you make of it."

"Pros: good environment, good class selection, good mentoring through the thesis process, strong program leaders. Cons: rigid system of required classwork in the intro year, minimal social events and easy to lose touch with friends and classmates."

"I couldn't imagine a better place to do my PhD."