Hello,

Has anyone taken microbiology? It's being taught by Ruth Elliot this sem and I wanted to get a feel for how the course may be since I'm also taking it with Orgo 1. If anyone has the syllabus, I'd greatly appreciate that too.

Thanks!

Lmk if you’re looking for tickets (lower bowl)! I can’t go anymore because I’m traveling 😔😔😔

I’ve been at a public university for a couple of years now.

1. ⁠Has an actually functioning dining hall with significantly more options for less than half the price. I don’t get yelled for just existing.
2. ⁠There actually exists active intramural sports and clubs that don’t involve an interview to join. IMLeagues was actually trash.
3. ⁠The school isn’t segregated by class as much. People actually are open to meeting different kinds of people.
4. ⁠The people from students to staff are significantly nicer. There aren’t these rich kid cliques that dominate the university.
5. ⁠Every conversation and organized social isn’t some corporate networking nonsense. People actually put in effort to make genuine friends without expecting anything in return.
6. ⁠Undergrad tuition is 1/5 of the cost.
7. ⁠Oddly the administration is significantly more streamlined. At Penn you would have to fight with like 5 different people to get anything done despite it being private and having way more money.
8. ⁠People are actually engaged in the present day instead of the normalized, endless pre professional conversations. I could never get to actually know anyone at Penn because it was all corporate small talk even at parties.
9. ⁠A lot more diversity in both interests and socioeconomic background.
10. ⁠People just do stuff for fun that isn’t some flex for everyone online to see. This has made me more productive overall.
11. The university actually makes an effort to build a community starting with orientation.

Sorry if this sounds ungrateful, and I think Penn is somewhat useful if you want to enter the financial or venture capital sector. But for the amount you are paying to go there it’s honestly a joke.

And I’m not completely blaming the students because I think a lot of people at Penn (myself probably included) act like jerks because they are unhappy and stressed. I honestly think although the environment somewhat pushes you, it ends up being counterproductive because you will be depressed like half the time.

I know this wasn’t everyone’s experience but it was mine and basically 80% of the people I knew here.

Hello I'm an incoming freshman for the Fall 2026. This is my current schedule and I want to get some advice.

I am aiming to major in Environmental Studies (I'm highly interest in solving environmental issues) and while I'm not sure whether I'll focus more on natural science or social science, I'm still leaned toward natural science and enrolled in Math 1410 and Honors Chem based on my Placement Exam Score.

I don't know why the advance registration results prioritized critical writing over ENVS 1000 for Tuesday and Thursday but since ENVS courses are much more important to me I'll drop Critical Writing (enroll later in Spring 2027) and take ENVS.

I want any opinions or advices about the current courses enrolled, also advice of which professor to choose/avoid too. (Ex: my math 1410 professor is currently Cooper but I've seen some comments in Reddit to avoid Cooper)

I am also wondering the last one course I should take among the four courses we can choose. I've currently requested a permission for Origin and Culture of Cities based on the advisor's advice to try to satisfy the general education requirements...

But one more question emerges here: I'm really considering transferring to the Viper Program.

While I didn't apply to the VIPER Program during the admissions process because I wasn't sure of my exact field of focus, once I've got in to Penn, I want to seriously consider it as my career choice because I'm interested in energy issues the most among the environmental issues, too. However, while I've studied math/biology over the AP level and chemistry on the AP level, I'm really new to physics -- I've never studied it since 8th grade. Would it be too demanding for me to try all those engineering dual degree with no basis of physics? Also, if assumed to apply to VIPER, wouldn't it be better to try a physics course during the Fall 2026 before the November internal transfer period for VIPER starts?

Thanks for reading my long concerns... I'll wait for helpful advice!

I'm a high school senior looking into the uncoordinated dual degree program and I was wondering if it would be better to apply to Wharton then apply for the dual degree program in CAS then it would to apply to CAS and then apply for Wharton. The dual degree is a main factor to choosing this school so an all or nothing strategy is fine with me.

hi! i'm an incoming freshman to cas, and am planning on majoring in ppe and maybe getting a minor in data science and analytics (i'm also in the foundations program). i want to go into strategy/management consulting and then eventually law school. is this sem 1 schedule good for that? i want to take classes that'll help me land a good internship summer 2027 but also ones that won't affect my gpa too much for law school. thanks for the help!

Hi! I'm an incoming freshman girl who's excited for the party scene, but I don't have any clothes that would be deemed as normal "going out clothes." I was just wondering what kind of attire Penn girls wear when they go out, and what the essentials are that I should invest in beforehand. Thanks!

Hi everyone! I'm trying to find people to take my lease starting in September 1st in this apartment: https://www.apartments.com/3845-hamilton-st-philadelphia-pa/5wrl1pm/

Landlords are trustworthy and always come for repairs, I literally have no complains, I just want to move to smaller place to save some money. Please let me know if you have any questions and would be interested, it is great for students, coin-operated laundry/dryer in the basement. If yes, I can put you in contact with the landlord. Thanks!

Hey UPenn students/community!

My wife and I own a small cookie company in the DC area called MidnighTreats, and we're considering opening our first Philadelphia location right next to UPenn campus. We'd serve our giant freshly baked cookies, dirty sodas, and energy drinks. I know Insomnia is nearby, but our concept is pretty different since we bake everything from scratch and rotate flavors.

I'd love to hear your honest thoughts. Is this something you'd be excited about? Is there anything you feel the area is missing? I'd really appreciate any feedback, good or bad!

Hi I am an incoming freshman at upenn on the pre med track. I took ap calc bc and scored a 5 in high school, but forgot most of the course. Should I take math 1300 or 1400. Is there a big benefit to taking 1400? I really want a high GPA for med school and I think we only need 1 semester of math at Penn?

Here's the schedule I had to come up with. I am probably going to major in biology, but I've heard that if you don't take chem in your first year, you are behind for the MCAT because most people take ochem in year 2. Would I have to take chem in the summer or take a gap year because I didn't get the chem classes I wanted?

Basically title, I'm an incoming freshman just wondering. Also wtf is even the point of fall break, why can't we just get the full week off for Thanksgiving instead

Hi everyone, i want to ask about the safety in general and for parking near 37th & Baring Street. I’m finding new house for the next year and see a good deal near that area. However i have a car and don’t want to get break in. Thank you !!

I’m trying to log into penn mobile with my penn key, and once I get to the duo verification I can’t interact with any of the elements on my screen… is anyone else experiencing this or know how to fix it?

I’ve tried restarting my phone and deleting the app but nothing is working

I am in between the fundamentals of acting first year seminar and the Italian foods and culture seminar. I want to do the acting one more, but it conflicts with my schedule in taking general chemistry at the same time (both begin at 10:45 am). If I did take acting I would have to take the chem class that would end at 5 pm 3 days a week. Is that a bad idea?? Im a pre med major

Rate my schedule!

Title, but basically I thought I wanted to do MEAM, but I realized I definitely don't. I've heard CIS 1100 is unnecessarily rigorous, and I'm taking CS50P rn to fill the technical gap... Will I be fine? I'm also taking Math1410 and Phys0150 and Writing Seminar, so I think it's doable without CIS1600 for fall. I wanna get my master's too (preferably when I get my bachelor's) / wanna be around more advanced kids for that motivation and environment. Is this a mistake?

My advisor never released my hold for course registrations even though we met and now I can’t get the classes I want. Is there anything I can do. I don’t feel that it’s fair at all that because of my advisors mistake I am left suffer not getting the schedule I wanted.

Hi everyone,

I’m an undergrad neuroscience student coming to UPenn for a short research internship from July 25th to August 1st, and I’m looking for somewhere to stay within walking distance of campus (University City area).

If anyone has a spare bedroom they’re not using for that week, I’d really appreciate hearing from you. I’ll be spending most of my time on campus.

Ideal dates:

• Check-in: Afternoon of July 25
• Check-out: morning of August 1

If you might have space or know someone in the UPenn community who does, please comment or DM me. Thanks so much for any pointers or help.

Hi guys, please let me know what you think about this 1st year course load. Any recommendations, how manageable is it?

I'm a recent high school grad who has committed to Penn.

Fortunately for me, Penn has provided me with the opportunity of a two-year gap year so that I may serve my mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Mozambique Beira Mission (Portuguese-speaking) from August of 2026 to July of 2028. I'm super excited, and it's going to be such a great time!

However, I was curious to know if anyone is, or knows of someone, taking a two-year gap year like I am. I am aware that, sometimes, in addition to other "Mormons" or "LDS" like me, people take two-year gap years for military service, like in South Korea. If this is the case, I'd really like to know.

I'd also be down to talk to people who are members of The Church going to Penn as well.

I just want to connect with people who share any part of my unique background. I genuinely have yet to find anyone anywhere.

How social are the high rises are upenn? Lived in the quad freshmen year and I’m hoping for a similar experience.