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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Local Atmosphere at University of Pennsylvania
A+
Great Place to Live
Philly has a ton of history and a lot of culture. You really get a feeling like you're in a place that changed the fate of the U.S. Beyond that, the night life is a lot of fun. Septa is a cheap way to get downtown and enjoy the city life. I love it here
May 09, 2012
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Local Atmosphere at University of Pennsylvania
lkahler
Environmental Studies '13
3.8
B+
Open Community
West Philadelphia is where the university is situated. An open campus means an opportunity of interaction with not just students, but people of the local area; this is true also when going off campus, to walk around the beautiful old townhouse lined streets, each unique and worth a second to observe- either due to their interesting choice in decor including color scheme, or because of their stately, old presence.
There are many local restaurants that support the school community, from chain stores, to the more unique locally owned locals. There are places tucked away on the aforementioned streets that invites you to explore the area.
Mar 29, 2012
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Local Atmosphere at University of Pennsylvania
mwinslow
Urban Studies and Affairs '15
5.0
A+
Ivy League in a Lively City
Although some students are too "scared" of West Philly horror stories or decide to not take advantage of the Philly area, Philadelphia is an awesome place to live. Whenever you get bored of campus, there's always something to do in Philadelphia. Tons of restaurants, Old City has a great night life, Center City has tons of shopping, Fitler's Square and the Schuykill River Park have a family-oriented, clean environment. There's literally endless possibilities. Philadelphia is a young city, filled with creative people.
Feb 20, 2012
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User rating for University of Pennsylvania - Local Atmosphere is
4.6 out of 5
based on 24 user reviews.
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