University of Pennsylvania Reviews

"The school is awesome and I love the program. People are very hardworking and driven."

"Overall a great program. Could use some more varied course offerings"

"Strong preparation for career. Works hard to implement new types of training in the program to keep up with the demands of medical careers including working on physician patient interactions, critical analysis of clinical studies, etc. Philadelphia is a city that is fun to live in and has a reasonable cost of living."

"Very good program, nice group of students. Workload is hard, especially during years when you are both TA'ing and taking courses yourself. Mostly friendly, supportive faculty. Some of the rules surrounding teaching/exam requirements do not make much sense and/or are not transparent enough. Overall, great program."

"The psychology graduate program at Penn is challenging, rewarding, and very supportive."

"I truly do feel that I am receiving the best possible education that is directed to what I intent to learn and use for the rest of my life. Everything I could possibly need to help my education is within reach at this school. The only down fall is the cost of it's education."

"The amount of support available to MFAs at Penn is incredible - killer faculty coming through with diverse opinions all the time. Everyone is genuinely invested in helping you make your best work. Program is interdisciplinary so we are required to take two courses outside of the dept. This becomes hugely influential to studio practice. Also, Penn has a wealth of resources at fingertips. Philadelphia is also a great place to be in art school. Close enough/accessible to NYC but far enough to keep prices down."

"The best kept secret in all things MFA. Great location and access to galleries and a design network in NYC, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C., as well as personal support that may not be as available as other top MFA programs. The faculty is outstanding - several of whom were just in the Whitney Biennial. I went to RISD for undergrad and actually feel just as if not much more supported in my studio at Penn. Penn should be in the top 10 MFA programs for Fine Art."

"The faculty is very accessible and they legitimately want you to succeed. There are many social events if you desire to attend. The campus and surrounding city blocks are very secure, with Penn security on many street corners."

"The Fels community is intimate and supportive of one another such that students feel more like extended family than classmates. The spirit of public service is infused into the curriculum, even in the quantitative courses like statistics and economics (which constitute a significant part of the academic coursework). The organic, familial style of instruction and administrative decision-making might feel slower for those used to fast-paced corporate settings, but it very accurately reflects the atmosphere of the government/non-profit sector."

"The instructors at the University are great. They not only teach us the theories, but provide us support and feedback in our professional development. The administration gives us frequent updates about different events happening on campus and they are very responsive to our demands. The workload is well balanced as well. The biggest downside is the tuition. Our program does not provide any scholarships or grants. I think they could do a better job helping students finance their education. The area directly surrounding Penn's campus is pretty safe, but as I have learned, you do not want to wander off more than a couple blocks away. Rent prices in the surrounding area are quite high, compared with the rest of Philadelphia."

"Walk-able location, great faculty and staff. But, tuition and health insurance is pricey."

"Great program that provides diverse education to assist students in obtaining employments in many educational and counseling environments. Faculty are helpful in providing assistance to support students along their academic journey."

"Really great school with so much support and challenging stretch assignments!"

"Achieving the highest quality of academia and knowledge within an Institution that is highly competitive and energetic. Constantly busy and sometimes fatigued but I actually enjoy a stable environment."

"I think that there are a lot of benefits to attending the University of Pennsylvania ranging from the connections that you can make to the large variety of classes that you can take. However, it is such an extremely stressful and competitive experience that people start to lose the desire to learn and simply want to get to the top of the class."

"Great program and definitely prepared me. One can definitely tell that Penn has the #2 Midwifery program in the country. I received superb education and made connections that will last a life time. They gave me a chance...and I succeeded (a WV native at an Ivy League University). Very pricey...too pricey...but I'm happy with the decision I made."

"University of Pennsylvania Pre-health Post-bacc program would help you prepare for medical/dental/veterinary school. Classes are rigorous and you need to work hard to get good grades. Program is overall well-structured, but faculty support is weak."

"University of Pennsylvania offer quality education! It is an institution that offers great support from faculty and staff. The alumni and networking after graduation is amazing!"

"Pros- amazing networks, great professors, intelligence Cons- money"