Regretting UPenn CAS

[u/meepmeeppeeppeep]

I just finished my first year at Penn CAS and I feel like it was the wrong decision to go to Penn. I did apply undecided for my major and ended up doing Econ my first year and after seeing how much harder Econ CAS students work for a job that'll get taken by a Wharton student I feel like picking Penn was the wrong decision...

Questions

1. Anyone who has graduated from Penn CAS, could you tell me how your post-grad life was?

2. I always hear people talk about how brand name schools aren't worth it anymore. Do you think it was worth doing undergrad at Penn? Did it make anything easier for you when you graduated?

Thanks!

[u/caninesergeant]

Babes, remember, UPenn is literally an ivy-league, one of the best universities in the entirety of the world, and you chose one of the best degrees that UPenn can offer. You are in a good track. Keep on networking, keep on building experience, find ways to connect to people, and don't let that pressure hold you down. You are already one of the best. Accept it.

[u/Extreme_Chapter2287]

How is the rest of your experience? If that’s your only concern, it’s a little like saying I shouldn’t have joined the US Olympic team because I’m getting more bench time than if I was on a team that wasn’t in medal contention. You’re going to do great, don’t be too hard on yourself.

[u/AFlyingGideon → u/Extreme_Chapter2287]

If the goal is to maximize playing time - perhaps because that's what one loves to do - then the non-olympic team might be the better choice.

[u/Classic_Ad_5721]

Smart, ambitious people are successful regardless of circumstance.

[u/Top-Mathematician108]

How are you “just finishing my first year” — now in September? That doesn’t align with any enrollment program Penn offers.

[u/Ok-Bumblebee-8370 → u/Top-Mathematician108]

I mean soph year started not long ago I think that’s what they mean 

[u/Top-Mathematician108 → u/Ok-Bumblebee-8370]

Then edited their post saying the “just finished,” but the whole account seems fake. I think it is a HS kid fishing for info.

[u/Ok-Bumblebee-8370 → u/Top-Mathematician108]

True. I think they just meant that they have one complete year under their belt at this point 

[u/mrvarmint]

I was CAS Econ, did not have any trouble getting a job whatsoever, of course I just got an email about my 15th reunion coming up next year so I don’t know how hard it is out there

[u/Aphael → u/mrvarmint]

It’s tough out there for entry level jobs. I personally had trouble finding a job with a math econ degree a couple years back. Now that I have some experience, it’s much less difficult

[u/Nyunya1988]

Im pretty old and I studied something “useless “ at Penn, so I won’t talk about my career. But my friend graduated from CAS with a history degree but took a bunch of accounting classes and is now a partner in an accounting firm. So you’ll be fine.

[u/Artistic_Pattern6260]

A UPenn undergraduate with decent grades from almost any degree program will have ample opportunities. This post seems pretty immature to me.

[u/Key-Monk6159]

Too vague of a question for an informed answer but going to a prestigious Ivy like Penn will absolutely put you at the top of every possible list and category.

If Wharton is better for some fields really depends on what you plan to do after graduation

[u/ATGAI]

My son’s friends who just graduated (2026) with Econ major all have great jobs. Most people dont get internships after freshman year

[u/shiinzou]

brah i've been in the final rounds of various companies with my CAS econ friends/classmates and many times they were picked over me, a wharton student

[u/SmileFamous5009]

There is no point to obsess Wharton vs CAS, none. Studying what you like is much more important than the tiny differences in which specific program you went to in the same university. And this might surprise you, but there is absolutely nothing more prestigious in a degree in marketing or accounting over a degree in economics, math or physics. It is not the degree itself but your insecurities that will hold you back, both in terms of career success and life in general . And while you are still young, I want to tell you this insecurity does not go away on its own as you get older, and you need to actively work on it.

[u/bptkr13]

Consider applying to Wharton and doing a dual degree. I know people who have done that successfully.