U. is 'cool' school, mag reports

It's official the University is a hip place to be. Or so says seventeen magazine. In seventeen's September issue, the University is listed as one of the eight "coolest schools" in the country. "Ivy without the attitude. Academically rigorous, but user-friendly. Applications up 27% since '92," the magazine writes about the University. Admissions Dean Lee Stetson said yesterday that he could not describe the University in any better light. "I think it reflects that Penn is on the cutting edge in the minds of students and an exciting and dynamic place to be for their education," Stetson said. Seventeen talked to high school counselors around the country to see what universities their students are talking about. "The writer of the story talked to a lot of people about where students were going and what was cool," said Rory Evans, associate articles editor for the magazine. "Then he talked to people in admissions." Stetson said part of the increased interest in the University can be attributed to the attitudes that administrators and faculty have tried to convey. "We work arduously as an institution to inform students and impress upon them the quality of the undergraduate experience at Penn," he said. From 1991 to 1992, applications to the University have risen from 9,800 to 12,400, Stetson said. He said the increase is evidence that students' attitudes are filtering back to their homes, improving the University's reputation. College senior Kristin Greene said she thinks the University is definitely a cool school. "People are really proud of [the University]," she said. "This is evident in attendance at football games and in the participation in singing the songs." Among the other colleges listed by seventeen are Evergreen State College, University of Washington, Rice University, Wellesley College, Emory University, Georgetown University and Spelman College. Evans said the story in seventeen could potentially have a big effect in drawing applicants to the universities listed. "Ideally, 10 million people will be seeing that Penn is a hot school," she said. Stetson said he has seen an increase in visitors to campus and Scholastic Aptitude Test scores sent to the University in recent months. Still, he said, having the University in the news can only help. "Any good news about Penn is helpful to our recruiting effort," he said.