Tell Your Own Story

Bright and early Saturday morning we had a tour of the University of Pennsylvania. We were still exhausted from the chaos of canceled flights, train rides, and heavy luggage of the night before, but were still very excited for what UPenn had to offer. On our walk from the hotel to get a bite of food, then to the university, we got a pleasant introduction to Philadelphia's beauty. The city is very clean, greenery traces the sidewalks and the campus, and the weather is enjoyable. 

Our first stop was the information session. We walked into the auditorium just as the presentation began, a sea of eager individuals filled the hundreds of seats, the ceiling rose high, and a smartly dressed women gestured on the stage at her PowerPoint. We scurried to find five empty seats. The setting of the session sharply contrasted that of Vanderbilt and was a tad intimidating. But as the presentation went on, I found that the philosophy behind the university resonates with me, and the environment became welcoming. 

The woman, an admissions officer named Beth, centered her presentation not on the prestige of UPenn or the high standards required for a student to be admitted, but instead on how the university fosters the myriad of intellectual or social endeavors that students have. She highlighted this principle by tying it to the university's founder, Benjamin Franklin, a man of many hats. Franklin was an inventor, a philosopher, a philanthropist, a printer, a politician, the list continues. Beth proclaimed that UPenn seeks to have all it's students emulate Franklin's behavior, all our interests - no matter how different - should be actively pursued. 

The presentation, featuring Benjamin Franklin.

In her PowerPoint she gave a few examples of students who are studying vastly different topics, one nursing and creative writing, another, film and social activism. The notion of no limitations on our intellectual interests intrigued me; I find it quite hard to settle on one topic that I'd like to study - my interests range from English to Environmental Justice. 

What you would expect out of a tour of an Ivy League university is the laundry list of criteria to be admitted. However, Beth never mentioned the SAT, ACT, GPA requirements, or the acceptance rate of the school. Instead, she simply said that admissions reviews applications holistically, every part of the application is a different puzzle piece of an individual's story. Because she did that, I felt more comfortable. I wasn't sitting in a room full of robot geniuses and UPenn students aren't that either, I was reminded that they're human - just like me.

Beth explained that schools are relying less and less on test scores, and more on the values and story of an individual. That stuck with me. These numbers matter, but we make them more important than they really are. I don't think numbers are an accurate representation of one's intelligence and I've decided to not include them in this blog because I don't want to perpetuate that culture. 

The second part was the tour of the campus. We walked through the campus guided by Brianna. The buildings were old, but had a modern interior; green trees and lawns sprawled across the campus; and the environment was calming. She told us about the buildings that we passed and the programs they housed. UPenn's  study abroad program allows one to choose to study anywhere from a week to an entire semester. The school is known as the 'Social Ivy' for it's competitive yet supportive nature. There is a supportive community for people of all walks of life, whether it be your religious, racial, gender, or sexual identity. And there is support with academics with the libraries being open at the late and early hours of the day and two free and accommodating tutors provided during your freshman year. 

The canopy of trees on the campus

Brianna told us how professors live in apartments in the dorm buildings, she remarked that there were days when she ate dinner with them and had the ability to talk to them about more than just academics. One of her professors even baked hundred of cookies every Tuesday for students. I liked that students have the ability to foster a meaningful relationship with instructors. It makes education worthwhile when we can understand that our teachers are empathetic and approachable. 

UPenn has a very safe campus: cameras span most areas, emergency phones are on every corner, and a transportation bus is offered for late nights of studying. The university ensures that students are safe. 

Brianna noted that there is always something to do in Philadelphia. In addition to the social events held by the school, the city has plenty to do and she has never found herself bored.

Philadelphia!

The academically challenging, supportive, friendly, and genuine environment at UPenn has encouraged me to apply to the school. I can see myself walking down the paths under the canopy of green trees, studying in libraries, and exploring the nearby city of Philly. We'll see what these next few months of college app season have to offer.

Us in UPenn gear in front of the mini Love sign.