UPenn vs. Penn State: What's the difference?

I've been hearing a lot about UPenn and Penn State but I'm a little confused about the differences between these two universities. Can anyone help me understand the main differences between UPenn and Penn State? Thanks!

Sure! The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) and Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) are two distinct institutions that differ in many ways, including prestige, size, location, academic strengths, and campus experience. Here's a comparison of the two:

1. Prestige & selectivity: UPenn is an Ivy League institution and highly selective, with an acceptance rate of around 6%. Penn State is a public university and less selective, with an acceptance rate of around 50%. UPenn is generally considered more prestigious due to its Ivy League status and highly ranked programs.

2. Size: Penn State has a larger student population with over 40,000 undergraduate students, whereas UPenn has a smaller undergraduate population of around 10,500 students. The overall campus size and experience will differ as well due to this difference in student population sizes.

3. Location: UPenn is located in Philadelphia, a large urban area on the East Coast, while Penn State's main University Park campus is in State College, a smaller college town in central Pennsylvania. The atmosphere and accessibility to resources like internships, cultural experiences, and nightlife will vary greatly between the two locations.

4. Academic strengths: Although both universities have strong programs across various disciplines, UPenn is particularly known for its undergraduate business school (Wharton), as well as strong programs in nursing, engineering, and the social sciences. Penn State is well-respected for its engineering, business, and agricultural programs. Your choice may depend on your intended major and the specific strengths of each school.

5. Campus experience: UPenn has a compact, urban campus at the heart of Philadelphia, while Penn State's University Park campus spans a large area in a more rural setting with extensive green spaces and traditional college town ambiance. Students' living experiences, extracurricular activities, and the overall campus culture will differ based on these factors.

6. Athletics: Penn State is known for its competitive Big Ten athletic teams, especially football, and has a very active and enthusiastic student fan base - the White Out game in particular is the stuff of legend. UPenn competes in the Division I Ivy League, which is less sports-oriented compared to the Big Ten. Attending games and the importance of sports culture will differ between the two schools.

Ultimately, the decision between UPenn and Penn State will depend on your academic and personal preferences, as well as the atmosphere and opportunities that best suit your interests and needs. It's essential to research and visit both campuses if possible to get a better understanding of the differences between the two institutions.

If you end up applying to one or both of these institutions, I'd suggest checking out CollegeVine's blog, which has posts breaking down each of their school-specific supplemental essays:

- UPenn: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-upenn-supplemental-essays

- Penn State: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-penn-state-essays/

Good luck!