Whoa, this thread is pretty funny. Both schools are great and everyone's entitled to showing a little school pride. Personally, I've visited PSU and had a great time, but I wouldn't trade in my years at UPenn for anything. (The look people give you when you tell them where you graduated from never gets old)The Ivy-League environment shapes your life in more ways than you can imagine. It is true that your success and your work ethic are correlated, regardless of the institution that you graduate from, but no one can deny that "who you know" counts more than "what you know". The Wharton name has carried me even further than my merit alone. As far as grades, no one really cares what your GPA was once you've graduated. Cost isn't an argument either. People pay a premium on school for the same reason that they pay a premium for any other luxury item. Think of car...there are plenty of inexpensive cars that are gas-efficient and have better safety rankings. But in the end, you will take a Mercedes over a Mercury if you can afford to. If people were that practical, luxury items would disappear. Basically, no one needs to knock anyone's school...but I had to show some love for UPenn

169: Actually, I believe they accept ALL their students. Otherwise, they wouldn't be students. The word you are looking for is "applicants." And of course Penn State has a higher acceptance rate than UPenn. The school is bigger, therefore the student body is bigger, therefore the more people they're able to admit. UPenn, however, has to be "most selective" because their school is smaller. Oh, it's also smaller because they really prefer to only let in the most pompous of the pompous douchebags that apply.

I'm sure PSU will be a lot better! I hope it is since I got accepted too. Look forward to sharing my freshman year with you.

this is actually a really common occurance. I'm from PA and for years I've been trying to explain the difference between U Penn and Penn State. I'm a Penn State student and I say congrats, it's a great school and lots of fun. And anyone who doesn't know the difference between UPenn and Penn State is not quite the brightest crayon in the box. :-) Enjoy Penn State, it's the ****!!!!

I only read half of this thread before giving up on it. 1. The penn state people commenting on here are way more pompous sounding than any of the upenn people. Stop being so DEFENSIVE. 2. Bullshit about the "great education at half the ivy league price". I applied to public schools, private schools, and two ivies. Going to princeton costs me a third of what it would have cost me to go to university of delaware. The thing about ivy leagues is that have the MONEY and will make it affordable. Similar story: I got waitlisted (then rejected) at Upenn and my brother went around telling everyone I got rejected from Penn State. Gah!

UPenn: 6th in the nation, 12th in the world. Straight facts man.

UPenn: 6th in the nation, 12th in the world Penn State: ???? That's not being pompous, those are facts.

weiiiird, i just got back from visiting psu an hour ago. i love it.

I visited PSU and applied there. I also visited Penn and applied there. I chose Penn. - Keep in mind that Penn's high tuition is often ofset by financial aid. - People who go to Penn are not characteristically pompous. Just because a student attends an Ivy doesn't mean they brag about intelligence, wealth, etc. - That said, it should not be considered "pompous" of me to say that I am amazed at how bright everyone is here (Penn). It's a great place that is made possible by the really diverse group of smart people I've met. After two visits to PSU, including a Fri-Sat-Sun visit with friends of mine that go there, I can't say the same special atmosphere holds true for Penn State.

pat, you wish you could make middle management. Enjoy the army. I hope you don't die, seriously.