University of Pennsylvania - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

Students at Penn love Philadelphia. Most wanted to study at an urban college for the excitement and opportunity one can provide, and their wishes are more than fulfilled at Penn’s West Philly location. Center City, with its streets full of restaurants, theaters, and other hot spots, is a short walk away, and the historical richness of Old City is just a hop, skip, jump, and a cab ride from the heart of Penn’s campus. Speaking of campus, unlike most urban schools, Penn actually has one, which allows students to relax, play sports, toss a ball, ride a bike, or catch some sun on the grassy expanses of college green or the many courtyards around the dorms.

Unique, vibrant, and artsy, the city of Philadelphia has absolutely everything a student could want. Music, food, sports, and more universities than Boston, as well as sections of the city which retain their friendly neighborhood feel, set Philly apart as a diverse and exciting place to go to school. On a given weekend, a Penn student could easily take a walk along Walnut Street, spend some time at the zoo, browse one of over 100 art museums, enjoy a meal at one of Philadelphia’s excellent restaurants, and then spend some time at trendy South Street’s many shops. While Philadelphia offers all of this and more, it lacks the crowded jostle of New York, providing a comfortable college setting for even those students without any previous urban experience.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

Believe it or not, the city of... Believe it or not, the city of Philly has a lot to offer. You can head down to King of Prussia or Liberty Place for some nice shopping, or you can go down to South Street or Penn’s Landing to check out some very interesting people and shops. Philly can get a bit rough sometimes, especially in West Philly, but it just seems to add a bit more color to the whole campus. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

There is an amazing historical... There is an amazing historical district in Philadelphia that I totally recommend visiting. There are loads of museums, fabulous theatre, opera, sports, and South Street. I could go on and on. There’s just so much to do, and I’ve barely touched on it after my first year here. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

If you are going to stay away from... If you are going to stay away from any place in Philly, stay away from North and West Philly, which are the high-crime areas. Fairmont Park, which is home to the museum art, is probably the nicest area in the city. South Street is pretty trendy, as are Delaware and Columbus Avenues. Center City has a lot of shopping and restaurants . . . very ritzy, but nice. Lastly, go for King of Prussia, the biggest indoor shopping mall on the East Coast. There are seven or eight department stores plus somewhere between 400 and 500 other stores. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

It is a city, but at the same... It is a city, but at the same time, there is a campus atmosphere. You can choose one, the other, or both; I like both. There are other universities around, but they’re not worth going to. There’s tons of stuff to visit in Philly and the surrounding areas. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

The atmosphere at Penn is great.... The atmosphere at Penn is great. On campus, there are always different activities going on—people playing Frisbee, break-dancing, lounging on the college green, or just sitting and talking. The campus is actually quite beautiful; they did a really good job with the landscaping—there are big grass quads and ivy-covered buildings. You don’t even realize that you are right next to the city. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Facts

Did You Know?

5 Fun Facts about Philly:
• Philadelphia is a city of firsts. The city is home to the first insane asylum, the first electronic computer (ENIAC developed at Penn), America’s first university (yes, Penn itself), and the US’ first zoo.
• The stairs that Rocky Balboa climbs victoriously in the first Rocky movie are none other than those which lead to the main entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
• King of Prussia Mall, located in a suburb right outside of Philly is the East Coast’s largest mall and the second-largest in the country, dwarfed only by The Mall of America.
• Philly’s official nickname is “The City of Brotherly Love” because it was perhaps the first city in the world to tolerate all religions. Penn’s mascot, the Quaker, was picked in homage to Billy Penn himself to reflect this aspect of Philly’s history.
• Philadelphia boasts over 100 art museums, many of which can be found along the Ben Franklin Parkway, designed to mimic the Champs-Elysees. The Rodin Museum houses the second-largest collection of the artist’s sculptures in the world (Paris is the only city with larger) and the Academy of Natural Sciences holds dinosaur remains, a live butterfly house, and much more

Famous Philadelphians:
Marian Anderson
Donald Bartholomew
John Barrymore
Ed Bacon
Boyz II Men
Alexander Calder
Wilt Chamberlain
Bill Cosby
Stuart Davis
Walter E. Diemer
Oliver Evans
W.C. Fields
Henry George
Grace Kelly
Patti Labelle
Mario Lanz
Tara Lipinski
George McClellan
Margaret Mead
Cecil B. Moore
Man Ray
Betsy Ross
Will Smith
The Three Stooges

Local Slang:
Wiz-with – The proper way to order a cheesesteak with cheese-wiz and onions. (For no onions simply say “Wiz-without.” See? It’s easy!)
Hoagie – Commonly known as a sub or a hero.
Wawa – Found in Philly and south New Jersey, this is basically a 7-Eleven where you can get a ‘fresh’ sandwich 24 hours a day.

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