Philadelphia, PA: Philadelphia, the fifth largest city in the United States, is usually associated with the Liberty Bell and cheese steaks, but it is also home to the prestigious University of Pennsylvania.

Founded by Benjamin Franklin, Penn opened its doors in 1751 with the first academic program not focused on educating the clergy. Instead, according to its website, it would “prepare students for lives of business and public service.” A member of the Ivy League, Penn offers more than 2,000 courses, making it a unique, sophisticated university.

Whatever you plan to study, UPenn will probably cover your interest. The Wharton School of Business is perhaps Penn’s most notable school. In 2005, U.S. News and World Report magazine named it the third most prestigious business school. Most people have heard of Wharton because billionaire Donald J. Trump attended. Altogether, the university offers a wide variety of schools and courses from which to choose.

Walking across campus, one cannot help but notice Penn’s beautiful landscaping and architecture. It is truly an experience to be surrounded by century-old buildings with the downtown skyscrapers as a backdrop. Penn has many parks, libraries and student stores. I think the University of Pennsylvania has the best campus of all the universities I’ve visited.

The average GPA of entering students is around 3.6, and most received an SAT score over 1300. The college has 9,723 undergraduate students and 9,184 graduate and professional students.

Penn as a whole offers the best of everything. Not only does it have many fascinating courses to choose from, it has a unique and sophisticated atmosphere. Whether you want to attend or just visit, you definitely need to experience a college like Penn. Don’t take my word for it, though. As Benjamin Franklin claimed, “Well done is better than well said.” You can find more information at upenn.edu.