How will you explore your intellectual and academic interests at the University of Pennsylvania? Please answer this question given the specific undergraduate school to which you are applying. (400-650 words)
Penn’s vast research opportunities, service-learning mission, and flexible curriculum offer me manifold opportunities to explore different disciplines and to forge my own path. What differentiates Penn from many other universities is that it encourages academic breadth, allowing its students to enroll in courses at its other schools. I am currently interested in various subjects so I plan on acquiring another minor(s)—potentially ASL and Deaf Studies, Landscape Studies, Consumer Psychology, and/or the Biological Basis of Behavior and Health Service Management—in addition to my Mathematics major. It is incredibly refreshing and relieving to know that I am not restricted to one specific discipline or school for all four years of my undergraduate; starting freshman year, I can simultaneously enroll in an engrossing, rigorous math course – MATH 116, for example – at the College and also take an assortment of classes pertaining to my interests at Wharton or the School of Design.
Since deafness is an integral component of my identity, I am particularly interested in expanding research on its connection to music through Penn’s Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program (PURM) or the completion of an ASL minor. I am uncertain of what I will eventually choose to do, but I hope that a faculty member in PURM, an optimal program for me since I have minimal formal research experience, will also be interested in conducting research on music and deafness, or on a closely-related topic. The research skills and knowledge I gain from PURM will prepare me well for the Capstone ABCS course, LING 077, of the ASL minor, which allows me to meet and interact with the Deaf community in Philadelphia. I am deeply attracted by Penn’s emphasis on community involvement because I want to serve others, using my education with a purpose and for a greater good, and to apply my knowledge beyond the boundaries of a traditional classroom setting.
As for extracurriculars, I plan to continue and expand on my high school involvements at Penn. I love playing tennis and staying active so I will join Penn’s club tennis team. I am also passionate about my Korean heritage so I plan on joining the Korean Student Association in order to promote cultural awareness at Penn and earnestly invite other students to learn more about it. I will also found a club dedicated to music and service—something similar to my youth ensemble—or become involved with the Civic House. These are just a few of the ways I will engage myself on and off of Penn’s campus, but I am considering joining a different extracurricular, one that I have never done before, since Penn offers so many opportunities to try and learn something new.
Finally, traveling to new places is one of my favorite things to do because I love learning about how other countries’ cultures and beliefs differ from those of America. I plan to combine my passions for traveling and academia by applying to one of the numerous Penn Abroad programs. In addition to studying abroad, I am strongly considering the International Internships Placement, another way for me to learn more about deafness and its influence on communities outside of America. The internship would preferably take place in a hospital, for I might want to become a doctor specializing in ears, although this career plan is not set in stone: I am aware of the possibility that my career interests may shift at Penn, where I will be exposed to new ideas, disciplines, and perspectives. Even if that happens, I firmly believe that Penn’s diverse resources and challenging, yet stimulating undergraduate experience will help me to achieve my goals and to give back to the community. I look forward to learning from renowned professors and my inspirational peers, serving the community, whether it be in Philadelphia or in an international location, and exploring the vibrant city with my friends during the next four years.
Published in Successful College Essays, Successful UPenn Essays
