How big is the difference between UPenn and WUSTL?

Question

I am currently looking at both of these schools and like Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) a bit better than University of Pennsylvania, but I am wondering how much better is UPenn than WUSTL considering I am interested in neuroscience and the other natural sciences? Is there a big difference between their academic rigor and would businesses look very strongly towards a UPenn student over a WUSTL student?

Answer 1

The are pretty much equal but WUSL is quite a bit easier to get into if you apply ED. WU has an inferiority complex, it's the safety school for all those who are strong ivy candidates. They love kids who show them the love ED. If you're borderline, it's a good strategy.

Answer 2

First of all, neuroscience is better described as a life science than a natural science.  

Wash U and U Penn are both very highly regarded schools, and the difference in how people look at them is negligible compared to how you do at those schools.  They are both top-notch schools of high "academic rigor," if that's the terminology you want to use.  If you like Wash U better, then go with Wash U.  They have comparable bio and bio-related programs, anyways.  I'll say that you'll get a fantastic undergraduate experience at both.  Wash U, in particular, has an unusually high amount of professor-student interaction.  I got a scholarship there, and although I turned it down for another school, it was an extremely difficult decision, and I'll always have a bit of a soft spot for that school (and I never even attended it!).  

Answer 3

A lot depends on who you are and what you want to do. If you are sure you want to study neuroscience, you should know the SAT scores of the entering students for this particular major. That will help tell you which school is stronger. Also you might look at the employers who recruit at the school. My son thinks he wants to work at Apple. Apple interviews only at the top 10 electrical engineering schools. Neither of these two schools have the strongest engineering school. Penn is ranked higher than WUSTL, so for most majors, it would provide more placement opportunities, but you need to have a rank of schools for neuroscience. Who are the best employers and where do they recruit?

You may not want to go with the best employers, in which case this wouldn't matter. Another issue is where do you want to live upon graduation because more of Penn's recruiters are on the east coast. Each school should be able to hand you a list of recruiters in your field.

Another criteria is where your abilities will lie in comparison to the other students. If Penn students have better SAT scores but you work harder than most students, then attending Penn may be fine. If your scores are lower and your work ethic is average then WUSTL may be a better fit.

There was one study done comparing Penn grades with Penn State grads. Supposedly, students who were accepted at Penn but attended Penn State earned the same salaries as there Penn counterparts.  

Three of my relatives attended Penn, so I have a slight knowledge of the school.  

Answer 4

If you are talking about undergraduate education, then both schools are great, and the differences in the quality of education are minor.