University of Pennsylvania - Academics

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

Penn students tend to be genuinely impressed with the knowledge and commitment of their professors but concede that, now and then, an uninterested or uninteresting teacher can slip into one’s schedule. While members of the faculty are usually more than willing to get to know their students, in larger classes, the student must take the initiative by attending office hours or requesting research opportunities. The University definitely encourages students to make this effort and will pay for lunch with a professor at the faculty lounge. Penn students who speak to upperclassmen and “shop around” for courses usually end up enjoying their course-load immensely; the enormous amount of classes offered at Penn (the course book is the size of a phone book) practically guarantees ample opportunities to find ideal classes and professors for each student.

Ben Franklin founded Penn with the idea that the young people of Philadelphia should receive a well-rounded and pre-professional, not just a religious, education. Many things have changed since 1749, but Penn is still a remarkably well-rounded school. The business program may be unsurpassed, but practically every department at Penn is strong and will provide students with knowledgeable professors and a wide area of relevant classes. Despite the fact that the undergraduate school is populated by almost 10,000 students, the majority of classes are comprised of less than 20.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

Most professors are... Most professors are highly-accessible and passionate about their respective fields. They welcome questions and are able to effectively stimulate student interest in their courses. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

The teachers are absolutely... The teachers are absolutely fantastic! Every single one I've ever had was very approachable, and office hours are usually right after class. I've only had one who I would call boring, but I've had many who I would call exceptional. Learning something like your econ teacher worked on the Federal Reserve Board or your physics professor has a few constants named after him is commonplace. The quality of the professors here is positively unparalleled. Penn's workload varies by school, but it's always rigorous. One of the main selling points for me was that Penn is known as the "Social Ivy," so work is always accompanied by play. Don't let that fool you, though, because there is always plenty of work to go around. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

I have enjoyed both the breadth... I have enjoyed both the breadth and depth of the classes made available to me. The requirements are flexible enough to permit a wide range of study. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

It all depends on the school... It all depends on the school you’re in. In Wharton, the professors are world-class, but the class is structured in such a way that you’re always competing, and sometimes a 95 percent means a ‘B-.’ Engineering kids have it tough; their classes are really hard. Their professors are pretty good, but not to the caliber of the other professors in the other schools. The College is a mixed bag of tricks—you’ll get your good ones, and you’ll get you bad ones—more good than bad. The College professors, in my opinion, are the best. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

The great thing about Penn,... The great thing about Penn, compared to a lot of the other Ivies, is that the freshman classes are all actually taught by professors and not just teaching assistants (TAs). All my professors, so far, have been great (with those couple exceptions that you are going to find anywhere). The good ones are amazing, and those on the lower end are, at worst, very intelligent but boring. 12345 Academics Report

Facts

Did You Know?

In 1778, University Provost William Smith was serving prison time due to a political struggle with the Provincial Congress of Philadelphia and chose to continue teaching his moral philosophy class from Philadelphia’s Old City Jail.

Penn’s first commencement took place on May 17th, 1757, with a graduating class of just seven.

Penn is home to America’s first medical school (1765), business school (1881), and law classes (1850).

The team of architects who designed the winning rebuilding plan at Ground Zero in New York City is headed by an architect from the University of Pennsylvania, Daniel Libeskind.

Honors and Awards Bestowed Upon the Faculty at Penn:
• 2 National Medals of Science
• 28 Guggenheim Fellows
• 21 Fulbright Scholars
• 2 Nobel Prizes
• 11 National Academy of Sciences
• 3 National Academy of Engineering
• 11 Institute of Medicine
• 23 NEH Fellows

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