5 things that surprised me about academic life at Wharton
Semester Abroad: Exchange at Penn
Marija, one of the Exchange at Penn Correspondents, shares her experience here at Penn during the Spring 2026 semester. Follow along with the group of correspondents on our blog and look out for their images on the @pennabroad Instagram feed.
- Professors don’t bite
Coming from Bocconi, I was not used to having much interaction with faculty beyond the classroom. I think many students from European universities would share my surprise when I discovered that some professors live in the student residences and organize weekly meet-ups simply to chat over cookies, or that Wharton provides professors with a budget to host small-group dinners with students. Moreover, with just a bit of extra initiative, I had the opportunity to get involved in research and to witness Adam Grant trying out improv in front of a small audience.
- Zero-tech classes
After being able to use my laptop in classes with no questions asked for two and a half years, I was struck to see that in most of my classes it was now prohibited. Many professors are intentionally returning to old-school, zero-technology classrooms, and honestly, I have found it quite refreshing.
- When they say continuous assessment, they really mean it
Mandatory attendance and continuous assessment were things I had been warned about and expected to some extent. Still, I was surprised to find that out of the five classes I’m taking, only one actually has a midterm and a final exam – the others are graded entirely based on assignments and participation. So be prepared for some pretty intensive weeks, but also for much less exam stress and shorter semesters.
- There is something for everyone
Wharton usually allows exchange students to take up to two classes from other schools, so both inside and outside Wharton there are plenty of opportunities to explore your interests, broaden your perspective, and have fun. For me, the best part was being able to take Intro to Positive Psychology as well as Markets, Morality, and the Future of Capitalism, a Wharton class taught by a philosophy professor. There are also many field-based classes that involve volunteering or visiting museums. The one I have been taking is called the Wharton Field Challenge, where we teach financial literacy to juvenile offenders. Last week, for example, we had a very touching guest lecture from a man who was wrongly convicted of murder and spent 28 years in a Philadelphia prison. There are so many truly unique and formative experiences out there.
- Free Fridays!
The good news is that there are no Friday classes at Wharton! With an extended weekend every week, many exchange students use this opportunity to travel to places like New York, Washington, or even Miami. Taking just one day off from classes, I was lucky to have the opportunity to visit San Francisco – probably the coolest city I have ever been to.