2008 Woodie Awards
Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 8/30/07 Section: Opinion
Simeon McMillan | Saying 'No' to school stereotypes
Students should try courses outside their home schools to get the most out of their college experience
Simeon McMillan
Now, I know I'm a little late with this revelation, but I just finished the latest Harry Potter and, I swear, Penn is surprisingly similar to the Hogwarts School of Witchraft and Wizardry!
College students have all the fun like the Gryffindor gang, engineers are awkward and seemingly absent like Ravenclaw, Nursing mirrors Hufflepuff in that everyone knows it's there, but it doesn't add much to the story, and Wharton could make even Draco Malfoy question his morals.
Before some upperclassman brainwashes you into truly believing the Office of Admissions has a magical sorting hat and Amy Gutmann has a pet phoenix, let me inform you that this is not the case. Whether a wide-eyed youngin' or an old-timer like myself, we have all heard the stereotypes. The College = party, Engineering = nerdy, Nursing = ovaries, and Wharton = …well, downright evil.
These unfounded stereotypes taint the way the undergraduate colleges are perceived. Somewhere along the way, taking a Finance class became "selling out," Nursing and liberal-arts courses are often dismissed as "fluff," and anything with the suffix "eering" sends students disappearing faster than Michael Vick's endorsements.
As a Management 100 teaching assistant for the past three years, I have seen almost 180 freshmen work through the social laboratory we create in Huntsman Hall. While I admit my bias, I hate it when disgruntled seniors, emotionally scarred from their B+ three years ago, perpetuate exaggerated tales of supposed back-stabbing, sabotage, and uber-competitive behavior.
I can say unequivocally that these practices are not only surprisingly rare but always reflect negatively on the perpetrator. The atmosphere in Wharton is indeed competitive, but far more collaborative than anyone gives it credit for.
To get the most out of Penn, you need to maximize your major while remembering to take classes outside your home school. Only through diversifying your course load can you get the well-rounded experience our portly patriarch Ben Franklin intended for us. Here's a game plan on how to view course selection within each school.
The College: With the greatest number of departments by far, the college has a plethora of 100-level courses that are perfect for students with a casual interest in a subject. While the Sociology and Psychology Departments are perennial favorites, there are some hidden gems worth exploring in smaller departments such as Music, Religious Studies and African Studies. Where else at Penn can you rock out to Zulu folk tunes for credit?
Engineering: The Engineering School has introductions for each of its majors as well as the all-inclusive "Engineering and Applied Sciences 101: Intro to Engineering." Read course descriptions carefully as several non-intro courses have little to no pre-requisites, allowing a novice to dive right in and hang with the natives.
Nursing: The trinity of Victimology, Criminology, and Forensic Science makes for an eclectic mix of Ivy League textbook knowledge and the grit and drama of actual criminal cases. Guest lecturers from crime laboratories and law enforcement agencies throughout the semester share war stories that make CSI seem boring by comparison. The classes' late afternoon time slots and weekly meetings allow them to fit comfortably into virtually any schedule.
Wharton: Based on the surprisingly high readings of estrogen in Wharton's Marketing classes, I can indeed confirm College students have already laid claim to this department. However, there are more options to explore than just a Consumer Psychology minor. You can never go wrong with a little accounting and finance under your belt. To the freshmen, here's the inside scoop: By junior year, everyone, no matter who you are, interviews with at least one investment bank, so it's best to be prepared for the inevitable future.
If you have room for only one elective, take a serious look at OPIM 101. Despite the cries of agony from its past victims, I mean students, Penn alumni look back on it fondly for the practical experience one gains with the mother of all programs - Microsoft Excel.
Between your high school graduation and NSO, I imagine you are already up to your necks in free advice. When I was a freshman, even the hobos in front of Wawa had tips on what freshmen seminars to take. Whatever you do, leave the Harry Potter stereotypes to the world of fiction. Mix things up and don't let previous biases and assumptions cloud your judgment when constructing your schedule.
Simeon McMillan is a Wharton senior from Nassau County, N.Y. His e-mail address is simeon2@wharton.upenn.edu.
College students have all the fun like the Gryffindor gang, engineers are awkward and seemingly absent like Ravenclaw, Nursing mirrors Hufflepuff in that everyone knows it's there, but it doesn't add much to the story, and Wharton could make even Draco Malfoy question his morals.
Before some upperclassman brainwashes you into truly believing the Office of Admissions has a magical sorting hat and Amy Gutmann has a pet phoenix, let me inform you that this is not the case. Whether a wide-eyed youngin' or an old-timer like myself, we have all heard the stereotypes. The College = party, Engineering = nerdy, Nursing = ovaries, and Wharton = …well, downright evil.
These unfounded stereotypes taint the way the undergraduate colleges are perceived. Somewhere along the way, taking a Finance class became "selling out," Nursing and liberal-arts courses are often dismissed as "fluff," and anything with the suffix "eering" sends students disappearing faster than Michael Vick's endorsements.
As a Management 100 teaching assistant for the past three years, I have seen almost 180 freshmen work through the social laboratory we create in Huntsman Hall. While I admit my bias, I hate it when disgruntled seniors, emotionally scarred from their B+ three years ago, perpetuate exaggerated tales of supposed back-stabbing, sabotage, and uber-competitive behavior.
I can say unequivocally that these practices are not only surprisingly rare but always reflect negatively on the perpetrator. The atmosphere in Wharton is indeed competitive, but far more collaborative than anyone gives it credit for.
To get the most out of Penn, you need to maximize your major while remembering to take classes outside your home school. Only through diversifying your course load can you get the well-rounded experience our portly patriarch Ben Franklin intended for us. Here's a game plan on how to view course selection within each school.
The College: With the greatest number of departments by far, the college has a plethora of 100-level courses that are perfect for students with a casual interest in a subject. While the Sociology and Psychology Departments are perennial favorites, there are some hidden gems worth exploring in smaller departments such as Music, Religious Studies and African Studies. Where else at Penn can you rock out to Zulu folk tunes for credit?
Engineering: The Engineering School has introductions for each of its majors as well as the all-inclusive "Engineering and Applied Sciences 101: Intro to Engineering." Read course descriptions carefully as several non-intro courses have little to no pre-requisites, allowing a novice to dive right in and hang with the natives.
Nursing: The trinity of Victimology, Criminology, and Forensic Science makes for an eclectic mix of Ivy League textbook knowledge and the grit and drama of actual criminal cases. Guest lecturers from crime laboratories and law enforcement agencies throughout the semester share war stories that make CSI seem boring by comparison. The classes' late afternoon time slots and weekly meetings allow them to fit comfortably into virtually any schedule.
Wharton: Based on the surprisingly high readings of estrogen in Wharton's Marketing classes, I can indeed confirm College students have already laid claim to this department. However, there are more options to explore than just a Consumer Psychology minor. You can never go wrong with a little accounting and finance under your belt. To the freshmen, here's the inside scoop: By junior year, everyone, no matter who you are, interviews with at least one investment bank, so it's best to be prepared for the inevitable future.
If you have room for only one elective, take a serious look at OPIM 101. Despite the cries of agony from its past victims, I mean students, Penn alumni look back on it fondly for the practical experience one gains with the mother of all programs - Microsoft Excel.
Between your high school graduation and NSO, I imagine you are already up to your necks in free advice. When I was a freshman, even the hobos in front of Wawa had tips on what freshmen seminars to take. Whatever you do, leave the Harry Potter stereotypes to the world of fiction. Mix things up and don't let previous biases and assumptions cloud your judgment when constructing your schedule.
Simeon McMillan is a Wharton senior from Nassau County, N.Y. His e-mail address is simeon2@wharton.upenn.edu.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
07 Alum
posted 9/04/07 @ 1:32 PM EST
For an article that claims to be saying "no" to stereotypes, I was surprised that Mr. McMillan relied on staid stereotypes to make his arguments. The glaring example, in my view, was this passage:
"Based on the surprisingly high readings of estrogen in Wharton's Marketing classes, I can indeed confirm College students have already laid claim to this department. (Continued…)
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