-ACADEMICS-
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1. Which of the four undergraduate schools is right for me?
ANSWER: When you apply to Penn, choosing the undergraduate school or interdisciplinary program in which to apply is the first challenge. Visit each of these websites to learn more about their programs:
Also, visit the
Opinion
Forum for additional elements to consider when thinking about the four different undergraduate schools at Penn.
2. How can I learn more about the different majors at the College?
ANSWER: The College offers more than 50 majors and concentrations, several minors, and joint degree programs. This web
link allows you to compare those academic areas that are of the most interest to you.
A virtually unlimited array of academic opportunities await you in the College of Arts and Sciences, but the curriculum will frame them for you, and our extensive advising network will help you navigate them. Don't worry if you're still unsure of the path that lies before you. A majority of students are undecided about their major when they arrive at Penn. After exploring our extensive offerings, many others will change their minds and begin a course of study they never considered before.
3. Should I study Business at Wharton or Economics at the College?
ANSWER: Studying business at Wharton and studying economics in a liberal arts program are very different, both in the curriculum and the teaching and learning methods. Learn
more about this topic as well as deciding between Wharton now or liberal arts and MBA later.
All Wharton students graduate with a Bachelor's
of Science in Economics, but have a variety of concentrations (instead of majors) from which they can choose.
Business classes are in subjects such as Management, Finance, Marketing, Statistics, Business & Public Policy, Accounting, and Legal Studies & Business Ethics. Your area of specialty might be in any of these areas, or others such as Real Estate, Entrepreneurship, Health Care Systems, Retailing, or Environmental Policy & Management.
With the Bachelor's
of Arts in Economics at the College, the program's primary goal is to improve the analytical capacity and literacy in economics of undergraduates. Among the topics studied in the College economics major are: the determination of the prices and quantities of goods; consumer and firm behavior; international trade; income distribution; taxes, subsidies and tariffs; the determination of the aggregate level of economic activity; unemployment; inflation; and economic growth.
4. What if I want to follow a pre-medical track?
ANSWER: It is just fine to apply with any major to medical school; you should choose the subject that most interests you. If you do pick a non-science major, though, it is advisable to take at least one advanced science course, above and beyond the basic requirements. To learn more about these requirements, visit the Career
Services website geared towards students considering Medical School.
5. Can I transfer to any of the 4 undergraduate schools?
ANSWER: If you transfer into Penn from another college, you are not eligible to transfer again within the University.
If you enter Penn as a freshman, you may be eligible to apply for an internal transfer (to another undergraduate school at Penn), after you have completed 8 credit units or two full semesters, whichever comes later. Internal transfer applications are not normally considered after the end of the sophomore year.
Applying for an internal transfer is a competitive process. We encourage high school seniors to select the undergraduate school or program at Penn where they will remain for their entire undergraduate experience. All Penn undergraduates may take classes in any of Penn's four undergraduate schools.
See more
information.
6. What is the academic environment like at Penn?
ANSWER: There is no limit to what the University of Pennsylvania can offer students, and Penn seeks curious students to be a part of our mission of creating, understanding, and disseminating knowledge. Interdisciplinary learning flourishes in an atmosphere of eager collaboration between departments and schools.
The University of Pennsylvania offers courses in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences that are taught by an elite faculty dedicated to undergraduate education. Selecting courses could be among students' greatest challenges at Penn, as Penn offers a variety of courses not seen at most institutions in the world.
Penn's Intellectual Mission was conceived by Benjamin Franklin in 1740, making Penn the first college in the country to teach the sciences, economics, modern languages, public law, and applied mathematics. See
more information.
7. Am I able to take courses at the graduate level while an undergraduate?
For information about high school academics, see Application Process FAQs as well as the Opinion Forum.
ANSWER: Undergraduates are not limited to courses
taught at the undergraduate level. Students are encouraged to challenge themselves well beyond introductory courses. Faculty members from the twelve graduate schools at Penn such as the Graduate School of Education, the Graduate School of Fine Arts, the Law School, the Veterinary School, and the Medical School are involved with teaching undergraduates.
Also, visit the Academics
section of the Reference Guide to learn more about the submatriculation programs.
