Philadelphia is the fifth largest city in the United States and the largest city in the state of Pennsylvania, having a population of 1,470,151. Philadelphia's original inhabitants were Algonquian Indian tribes. They remained in the area until the mid-1600's when Europeans signed several treaties with them, purchasing their land. In 1681, a Quaker named William Penn was given the title to Pennsylvania by King Charles II of England. In October of 1682, Penn established Philadelphia, or the “city of brotherly love”. Incorporated as a city in 1701, Philadelphia is historically relevant as the Declaration of Independence and US Constitution were drafted there, and the city was an epicenter during the American Revolutionary War.

Philadelphia has a temperate climate, characterized by four seasons. Mild autumns and springs balance hot summers and frigid winters. The city is situated near two rivers, the Schuylkill and the Delaware, with several parks to display the variance of the seasons. One particular park, Fairmount Park, covers 8,000 acres along the shores of the Schuylkill River. The parks in Philadelphia support various outdoor activities throughout the year including hiking, bicycling, sled riding, ice-skating, picnicking, and fishing.

Philadelphia is a city packed with fun and excitement for people of all ages. One of the largest attractions in the city is the South Street area. Known for having a bohemian atmosphere, it has a wide variety of shops, clubs, bars, and restaurants to suit almost everyone's tastes. For those who seek the thrill of nightlife, the music and ambience of the 218 South Club and the Abiline Club can be enjoyed. For connoisseurs of casual and fine dining, Philadelphia offers quite a variety. Philadelphia-invented foods such as the cheese steak can be enjoyed at sandwich shops like Pat's King of Steaks and Geno's Steaks. Philadelphia also offers popular attractions such as the Philadelphia Zoo and the Philadelphia Museum of Natural History, and the actual house where famous writer Edgar Allen Poe lived. As well, the city has pro-sports teams for all genres of fans including the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles, the NBA's 76ers, MLB's Philadelphia Phillies, and NHL's Philadelphia Flyers.

Philadelphia's early economy was primarily based on manufacturing. From the colonial period, its surrounding forests and farmlands were extremely valuable natural resources that contributed to the industrialization of the city. By 1850, it was the world's largest manufacturer of pharmaceutical chemicals as well as a center for industries including textiles, furniture, iron machinery, tools, glass, printing, ships, and publishing. Today, Philadelphia's economy is very diverse, based on a system of commercial, manufacturing, and technological activities, as well as tourism. Several national and international corporations have their headquarters in downtown Philadelphia. In addition, numerous computer, pharmaceutical, and high technology companies have operations in the city. Examples of companies in Philadelphia include Comcast, CIGNA, Lincoln Financial Group Sunoco, Aramark, Crown Holdings Incorporated, GlaxoSmithKline, and Pep Boys.

Private Universities/Colleges

• Philadelphia University
• Drexel University
• LaSalle University

Public Universities/Colleges

• Temple University
• Community College of Philadelphia

Technical/Professional Schools

• The Art Institute of Philadelphia
• Curtis Institute of Music
• Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
• Moore College of Art

Selecting a school and program can be perplexing at times, but students will find an array of programs from which to choose when pursuing an education in Philadelphia. The following are examples of programs offered:

Given so many options, how can a student pick an area of study? Students should begin by a self-assessment. Identify interests, skills, abilities, and talents. A student should also consider their values, perhaps asking questions such as "what is more important, enjoying what I do or having prestige?" and "is my creativity more important to me than job security?"

Many schools provide career development centers as a resource for students, for everything from how to build a great resume to counseling for students that are not sure of themselves.

Jan Harris, the Director of Career Services at the Community College of Philadelphia suggests that students use these resources. “If you are unsure of what you want to major in, seek counseling for additional assistance,” she comments.

A student should look into the economic demands of the region if an interest of residing in the area after graduation develops.

“Greater Philadelphia is home to 17 Fortune 500 companies and 37 Fortune 1000 companies,” says Richard Barnes, Director of Communications for the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. “The cost of living in the region is 50 percent lower than Boston, New York, and San Francisco.”

The flourishing economy in Philadelphia has a few rapidly expanding business sectors as well. “Bioscience, science and chemicals, IT, and financial services are large and expanding,” Barnes says. Philadelphia is also home to more than 80 colleges and universities.

Private Universities

• Philadelphia University - $ 22,070 full time

Public Universities

• Temple University - $ 9,140 full time resident; $ 16,736 full time non-resident

Technical/Professional

• Art Institute of Philadelphia - $ 42,105 (based on a two-year Associate of Applied Arts Degree)

The examples listed are base tuition costs and do not include other costs such as housing fees, meal plans, lab fees, book fees, and other varied fees that schools may apply. It's suggested that students investigate these costs as well.

Also available to students are grants. Awarded on a student's financial need, these do not need to be repaid. Grants may come from the government or from schools themselves. Above and beyond grants are state and Federal loans. These need to be repaid starting six months after conclusion of studies. Examples of such loans are the Perkins, the Federal Plus, and Federal Stafford loans. Out of 10 million applicants annually, 9 million students will receive these loans.

As well, there are scholarships. Scholarships do not need to be repaid. Some are national scholarships that can be obtained by just about any student. Others scholarships have specific criteria that a student must meet in order to be eligible to receive the award. These criteria often based on age, gender, area of residence, ethnicity, and a student's major.

Some examples of scholarships available to students in Philadelphia are as follows:

• The Philadelphia Foundation Scholarships - Several scholarship funds to aid students that meet the academic and geographic criteria
• PHEAA – New Economy Technology Scholarships - Scholarships for undergraduates studying in approved science or technology fields
• SciTech Scholarship
• Technology Scholarship
• The Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program - A merit scholarship for high school seniors of academic excellence accepted at an institution of higher education
• Miss Pennsylvania Scholarships - Up to $7000 for students
• The PA House of Representatives Scholarship Program - Up to $2,500 for students attending a state-related institution of higher education
• The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship - Up to $5,000 for US residents who are undergraduate students in good standing
• Coalition of Higher Education Assistance Organizations Scholarship - $500 to $1000 for students entering sophomore, junior, or senior year with a 3.5 GPA or higher

These are not the only scholarships available to students. Several scholarships with less specific criteria are available to all students. Students are advised to take advantage of these opportunities.

Many internships are unpaid, offering only the experience that a student must have. However, some internships are paid and more so, offer college credits. Several companies in Philadelphia offer internships to students in a variety of fields. A good resource for students is The Philadelphia Center. Having a database of more than 800 internships, the center works with students on a case-by-case basis to fit them with the most advantageous internship. Visit The Philadelphia Center for additional information.

An excellent example of this takes place at the Community College of Philadelphia, where job ‘placement' is actually considered to be career development. “We do career fairs throughout the year, with one large fair in April,” says Jan Harris. “We assist students with resume development and we assist with finding internships. We don't do ‘placement' per se”.

“We teach students how to efficiently job search, and we custom-tailor that for different careers as well,” Harris states. As well, they provide resources for students to locate opportunities. “We have an online system where students and employers can go. Students can post resumes and employers can look at those resumes and recruit them.”