Columnist Diya Choksey argues that the College of Arts & Sciences name contributes to the school's branding problem.
Credit: Abhiram Juvvadi“Yes, you go to the College, but which one — Wharton?”
As a first-year student trying to explain my proudest achievement to my family back in India, I’ve had this exact conversation enough times that I just start nodding along to “Wharton.”
Don’t get me wrong — I love being in the College of Arts and Sciences. I firmly believe that a liberal arts education is essential for building a flexible skillset and quenching a thirst for knowledge that preprofessional paths just can’t. Our founding father said it best: “Professional education relies on the sustenance of the arts and sciences and could not exist without them.”
But here’s my gripe: the name.
With apologies to Shakespeare, I believe that in this case, a rose by another name would smell far sweeter. While our peers — Harvard and Yale — get away with calling their only undergraduate division simply the “College,” that simplicity doesn’t quite work at Penn. Here, where Wharton is a global brand and the School of Engineering and Applied Science is synonymous with engineering innovation, “College of Arts and Sciences” for our largest undergraduate school feels … bland. Forgettable, even.
Names like “Princeton College” or “Columbia College” evoke prestige. Meanwhile, have you ever seen a College of Arts and Sciences sweatshirt? Exactly.
Names matter. They do more than build pride; they create recognition, credibility, and a sense of community. Look at Princeton’s rebranding from the “College of New Jersey,” or Columbia’s shift from the colonial “Kings College.” These changes were more than cosmetic — they were strategic moves that shaped each school’s identity.
Here at Penn, Wharton students enjoy perks like free printing and private study rooms (yes, I’m still a bit salty). Would a sharper brand for the College boost alumni pride, engagement, and even funding? Probably.
I spoke with 2004 College graduate Radha Goenka who noted, “Wharton students had a stronger identity because of their small class size and name. The College? It always felt more … vague.”
First year Ella Lucarelli echoed this sentiment: “The name ‘Arts and Sciences’ doesn’t capture the incredible range of what we have — from pre-med to law to humanities. We deserve something better.”
This sentiment is more than just personal: It’s reflected in Penn’s investment priorities. SEAS recently celebrated the opening of the $29 million Amy Gutmann Hall for data science, and Wharton’s Academic Research Building opened in 2020 and was described as “critical space” for growth. Meanwhile, the College rarely sees new, exclusive buildings. Writing seminars are often squeezed into Stuart Weitzman Hall simply because there isn’t enough space elsewhere.
It’s clear that the problem goes deeper than just a name — it’s about visibility and investment. Despite being the largest undergraduate division at Penn, the College is treated like an afterthought — a reality that plays out in both campus facilities and the branding game. And that needs to change. It’s high time we start recognizing and celebrating the College for its incredible resources and invaluable contribution to Penn’s academic life.
The College’s branding challenge isn’t unique to our campus. The name of our university itself results in constant confusion with Penn State and debates like “Is it Penn or UPenn?” Some alumni even launched a petition to change it, arguing for “better recognition and a more distinct identity.”
Renaming the entire university might be a tad unrealistic, but the recent renaming of University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School gives me hope for our beloved College. Perhaps future generations will name drop “Franklin College” with pride — a sweatshirt-worthy name more in line with the genius of our founder.
Until then, I’ll continue dodging the “Arts and Crafts” comments and borrowing my Wharton friends’ free printing privileges.
DIYA CHOKSEY is a College first year studying cognitive science from Mumbai, India. Her email is dchoksey@sas.upenn.edu.
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