“Prestigious” doesn’t even begin to accurately describe the
University of Pennsylvania. It's one of the most prominent universities in the world, especially since it's part of the ever-so-famous Ivy League. This title alone already conjures up claims of prestige and admiration for academic excellence. But does UPenn, as many affectionately call it, deserve such praise? Yes, it does! For centuries, the University of Pennsylvania has provided high-quality education to its many students. It has also evolved with the times, starting as a fairly exclusive schools for white youth to becoming a fairly diverse academic institution that welcomes and champions a myriad of different ideas.
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History of The University of Pennsylvania
One of America's founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin, also founded the University of Pennsylvania. This is how you know that it's truly one of the most historic universities in the country! in 1740, a group of locals built a great preaching hall for traveling Anglican evangelist, George Whitefield. It became the largest building in
Philadelphia at the time and was supposed to include a charity school, but a lack of funds made it impossible for them to have that. Instead, in 1749, Benjamin Franklin put forth his “Public Academy of Philadelphia” proposal for the site. On June 1755, his academy, which was then named the College of Philadelphia, was chartered. This was the start of UPenn.
What Does The University of Pennsylvania Look Like?
With its centuries-long history, the University of Pennsylvania's campus is now a mix of both old and school buildings scattered throughout various
central neighborhoods in Philadelphia. In many ways, this serves as a physical manifestation of the school's ties to its traditions and its past while continuing its unending legacy of preparing young people for the future. College Hall, the university's oldest building located in West Philadelphia, was designed by Thomas Webb Richards and was completed in 1873. It evoked a Victorian Gothic style and features a statue of school founder Benjamin Franklin, which was sculpted by John J. Boyle.
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The University of Pennsylvania Student Body
UPenn is one of the biggest schools in Philadelphia, at least with its student body. Today, the school welcomes over 23,000 students per year, including both new enrollees and those returning who have yet to graduate. To break it down even further, it commonly has around 9,700 undergraduates and over 13,300 postgraduates. This makes UPenn one of those fairly unique universities that have considerably more postgraduates than undergraduates. It's usually the other way around. Moreover, about 19% of the school's entire student body is made up of international students, which is fairly big compared to other Ivy League Schools.
The University of Pennsylvania's Best Programs and Courses
It's admittedly hard to pinpoint which of UPenn's majors are the most popular. The school is simply known as one of the best in the country, hence, no matter your field, you're assured of getting a proper high-quality education here. Nevertheless, The university's most respected programs include its Law School, School of Medicine, Wharton School of Business, and School of Education. This is further emphasized by the school's most notable alumni. The University of Pennsylvania has produced American presidents (some also taught here), foreign heads of state, countless politicians, and prominent businessmen.
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The University of Pennsylvania's Prerequisites
To say that it's hard to get into the University of Pennsylvania is a gross understatement! With a notoriously low acceptance rate of only 6%, it's no surprise that many people consider it impossible to get into this school. But it is still possible! The university's top applicants include those who rank in the top 10% in their high school class or have a GPA of around 3.9 or higher. As far as standardized test scores are concerned, you'll need at least an SAT score of 1570 and an ACT score of 35.
How Much Does It Cost to Study at The University of Pennsylvania?
Not only is it hard to get into UPenn in the first place, but you'll also have to contend with its high tuition fees. It's safe to say that the University of Pennsylvania is one of the most expensive schools in Philadelphia. Its annual tuition typically ranges from around $60,000.00 to $70,000.00 per year, which includes both a $900.00 technology fee and a $700.00 clinical fee. There's also the $445.00 New Student Orientation (NSO) Fee, which is just a one-time payment fee but still pretty pricey just the same. Various laboratories also impose their own usage fees.
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Where is The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia?
As already mentioned, the University of Pennsylvania's campus is spread throughout the entire city of Philadelphia. Its main campus, College Hall, is in West Philadelphia, alongside the school's other old buildings which make up the University of Pennsylvania Campus Historic District. Its famous Charles Patterson Van Pelt Library, on the other hand, is on Walnut Street nearer to the City Center. Hence, it's fairly easy to find a place to stay near the campus. There are many
luxury apartments to rent in Philadelphia that are only a few steps away or even right beside various school buildings.
The University of Pennsylvania's Famous Graduates
UPenn's alumni list reads like a who's who of various influential figures in American history. As already mentioned, a couple of US Presidents studied and even worked here. William Henry Harrison, the 9th president, and Donald Trump, the 45th president, both graduated from here. Joe Biden, the 46th president, also served as a Benjamin Franklin Presidential Practice Professor at the University of Pennsylvania. The school produced countless US Representatives too, including William Huntington Kirkpatrick, Henry Latimer, Caleb Layron, James Armstrong, and more. They all prove that UPenn truly is one of the best schools for Americans who want to become leaders someday.
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The University of Pennsylvania is more than just a prestigious school that provides high-quality education. Its dedication to training young minds and honing them to lead the world in the future is part of what makes it one of the top schools in Philadelphia.
