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Penn Admissions Blog

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Dean Whitney Soule

I’ve worked in college admissions for over 30 years, and I focus on building bridges between what ‘has been’ and what ‘can be’ so that the whole process can become less complicated yet still effective for students to find their way into college.  I especially love meeting new students when they arrive each year because it’s so fun to match them to the stories and information that we know from their applications!

I love coffee, running, snacking all day, and laughing.  I also adore dogs.  I spend a lot of time with my nutty English Bulldog, Stella, and I can be very easily distracted by silly dog memes. My favorite location on Penn's campus is the entire stretch of Locust Walk, and I love authentic Philly cheesesteaks. You can reach me at deansoule@admissions.upenn.edu.

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Shawn

Hey! My name is Shawn. I am a student in the School of Engineering and Applied Science pursuing a degree in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and a minor in Engineering Entrepreneurship. Outside of class, I am a part of the Penn Club Swim team and the 180 Degrees Consulting Group on-campus. On the weekend you can often find me off-campus exploring other parts of Philadelphia, particularly Center City and Old City often looking for food, new thrifting and vintage shopping opportunities, or interesting places to take photos.

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Penn Admissions

News and campus updates from the University of Pennsylvania Undergraduate Admissions Office.

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Sydney

Hello, I am Sydney, and no, I am not from Australia! I am currently a student in the School of Nursing pursuing my BSN. My campus activities consist of: the production of the children’s magazine Unearthed where I serve as Social Chair, a member of Sigma Kappa sorority, and serve as student liaison for the Nursing School where I meet with prospective nursing students. When not in my scrubs or spending time at the hospital, I enjoy hanging out with friends, knitting, watching The Office for the 10th time, and trying new restaurants around the city.  

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Alice

 

Hi! I’m Alice, a student in the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in Architecture and minoring in French and Landscape Studies. I’m a member of the Penn Club Waterpolo team, the French Society, CU, SASA, SAIP, Penn Sustainability Consulting, Penn World Scholars and Epsilon Eta, the pre-professional environmental fraternity. When not in the studio, swimming pool or procrastinating on the Schulkyll River Bank, you will find me sampling every chai latte and hot chocolate that Philadelphia has to offer, and hanging out with my friends, of course.

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Karin

Hey there! I’m Karin and I’m a student in the College of Arts and Sciences. At the moment I’m undeclared, but I’m planning on studying International Relations and French and Francophone Studies, with a minor in Legal Studies & History. On-campus, I write for 34th Street Magazine, the premier arts and culture magazine on campus, I present with the College Cognoscenti, sit on the boards of the Admissions Dean’s Advisory Board and Penn Israel Alliance, and I work at Penn Hillel. Off-campus, my favorite thing to do is explore new parts of Philadelphia, and even as a born and bred Philadelphian, I still find myself discovering new parts of the city, often through food! 

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Miles

Hi, I’m Miles! I’m from Boston majoring in Urban Studies, and I’m excited to share my Penn experiences with you. I have a huge passion for public transportation, and one of my goals before I graduate is to ride every mile of SEPTA, documenting it on my blog “Miles in Transit”. I also play the tuba in the Penn Band.

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Sophie

Welcome to my life at Penn! My name is Sophie and I am in the School of Nursing on track to receive my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I truly have a passion for innovation in the healthcare field, particularly improving patient outcomes both from a hands-on perspective as well as through the administrative side. On-campus, I am involved as a member in our campus’s chapters for Camp Kesem and Best Buddies, a general body member of Student Nurses at Penn, an Innovation and Impact committee member for the Wharton Undergraduate Healthcare Club, as well as an active member for my sorority, Chi Omega. 

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Ria

Hi everyone! My name is Ria, and I’m a student in Wharton who is still exploring what all the different concentrations have to offer. I grew up all over but lived in Dubai, U.A.E. before moving to Philadelphia, a city that I absolutely love to explore on the weekends. On-campus, I am involved in Wharton Council, Passion Projects, and work-study at the Development & Alumni Relations department. In my free time, you can catch me reading, doing yoga, and going on walks by the Schuylkill River.

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Chinaza

I am from Los Angeles, California potentially double majoring in Africana Studies and Philosophy. I am a Robeson Cooper Scholar and a Benjamin Franklin Scholar. I am involved in the Penn Political Union, The PolybianSociety, Penn Reading Initiative, Ase Academy, and I am doing research with the Penn Slavery Project. In my free time, I love to hang out with friends, explore campus and Philly and read. Join me as I navigate Penn as a low-income, minority student. I'm very excited to share my journey with you all!

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Alexandra

I am a student in the College of Arts and Sciences from Johannesburg, South Africa, majoring in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. On-campus, I'm part of the Penn Debate Society, in Penn's Benjamin Franklin Scholars program, an undergraduate research fellow for the Andrea Mitchell Center, and a member of Chi Omega Fraternity. I'm also a research assistant at Penn Medicine's HIV/AIDS prevention program. In my free time, I love to cook, eat, explore Philly and unashamedly run-up to any dog I see on Penn's campus for cuddles. Join me as I navigate life 8,020 miles away from home, in the wonderful, sometimes overwhelming world that is Penn.

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Queenie

I am majoring in Psychology. South Philadelphia, born and raised, I decided to attend a college 15 minutes away from home. Despite being so close to home, Penn has led me to pursue many interesting experiences and adventures that are normally far out of my comfort zone such as traveling to Singapore and Malaysia, joining a sorority, and managing an entire cultural show production.


As an aspiring counselor/therapist, I not only love helping my friends through their own journeys of self-discovery but I’m also a big fan of my own self-reflection through various mediums like blogging, writing, and painting. In my blog posts, I aim to be completely candid and true to how my experiences made me who I am today and to help inspire self-reflection in others as well.

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Kaylah

My name is Kaylah and I am in the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in Science, Technology, and Society concentrating on biotechnology and biomedicine and minoring in Cognitive Science. I am interested in the fields of public health, nutrition and social determinants of health. One of my favorite extracurricular activities on campus is volunteering throughout the Philadelphia area through my community service fraternity: Alpha Phi Omega. Being a peer advisor, major advisor, member of various African-American community organizations and Penn Appétit, as well as an RA in Harnwell College House are some of the other things that take up my time!

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Izzy

Hi, my name is Izzy and I am in the College of Arts and Sciences, studying English with a concentration in Creative Writing. My work has been published in the Red Cedar Review, F-Word magazine, r.kv.r.y. the quarterly literary journal, and the Penn Review. I currently write for Penn Appetit and can often be found in the Kelly Writers House or Van Pelt library circulation desk. When I'm not writing or rewriting, I am exploring Philadelphia's flavorful food scene, looking at rescue cats online, or making DIY gifts for my friends.  

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Julia

As a senior, I found the college process to be overwhelming, exciting, and, above all, confusing. Now, as a current student in the College of Arts and Sciences, I couldn’t be happier with my decision. While I loved my childhood in New York suburbia, there’s something special about the urban energy of Philadelphia. At Penn, I’m part of the design department for the Daily Pennsylvanian, a social media editor for 34th Street, Penn’s arts and culture magazine, a member of the Spring Fling planning committee, and an Upstander Initiative mentor. While I’m passionate about art and journalism, I’m also a huge foodie. If on campus, I would highly suggest the banana whips with chocolate chips at HipCityVeg. I love traditions, exploring (whether that be on campus or off), and meeting new people— all of which makes Penn the perfect fit for me.

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Anova

I’m a California native from the Silicon Valley in the Life Sciences and Management dual-degree program between the College and Wharton. On campus, I’m involved in 180 Degrees Consulting, the Student Federal Credit Union, and the Penn Undergraduate Biotech Society. Additionally, I’m working with a professor in London on Health Economics Research. In my free time, I love exploring restaurants (ask me for my color-coded restaurant week spreadsheet), painting, traveling, and most of all taking a nap outside on College Green.

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Zach

Welcome to the world of Penn! I am in the College studying Politics, Philosophy, and Economics with a concentration in Choice and Behavior. I came to Penn last year as a transfer student from a small liberal arts school up north and I have absolutely loved my time here. When I am not writing my stream of consciousness on this blog, I am working at the Admissions Visitor Center, volunteering with Penn Best Buddies, doing research on management and organizational behavior with a brilliant Penn professor, and thinking about the law with Phi Alpha Delta, Penn’s only pre-law professional fraternity. I love leisurely strolls on Locust, cold brew from Saxbys, and all the Magic Carpet cookies on this side of the Schuylkill! Tag along for what will undoubtedly be a fantastic ride!

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Kelsey

I'm a bona fide chai tea latte lover hailing from Rockville, Maryland, a D.C. suburb. I am in the Nursing and Healthcare Management dual degree between the School of Nursing and the Wharton School of Business. When I'm not at clinical, in class, or preparing for clinical, I'm taking care of business as the President of Student Nurses at Penn. On the side, I'm a member of Wharton Women, the Wharton Undergraduate Healthcare Club, and Zeta Tau Alpha. I'm a gallery assistant at Lindsay Rapp Gallery in Old City on the weekends, and this is my happy place to escape to when I'm stressed. For fun, I like running, dancing (I still take a ballet class!), exploring Philly, baking study cookies with my roommates, and looking at pictures of cats (or if I'm lucky, actually being with one).

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Antía

My name is Antía, I was born and raised in Mexico City to Spanish parents and I’m currently studying in the Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business. On-campus, I’m very involved with the Latino community through Wharton Latino and Mex@Penn, two organizations where I not only made some of my closest friends but further found a home away from home. I love spending my free time doing yoga and running, exploring restaurants and boutiques in downtown Philadelphia, trying out different coffee shops, and going to galleries and museums. I hope this blog will help you get a sense of what life at Penn is like and all the opportunities and unbelievable people here.

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Nina

I'm majoring in Nursing and minoring in Creative Writing. Although I grew up on a farm in South Jersey, my heart lies in the city. As for my campus involvement, I'm a dancer in Penn Masti, a radio DJ at WQHS Radio, and co-chair of Penn SNUGS (Penn Student Nurses Understanding Gender and Sexuality). I'm constantly caught in a daydream, have a passion for helping others, and plan on building myself an extraordinary life. Join me on my journey!

All photos are mine unless otherwise noted.

 

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Seung-Hyun

I'm majoring in English with minors in Asian American Studies and Theatre Arts. As an aspiring multidisciplinary scholar and artist, I love to theorize and philosophize - basically overthinking too much about anything and everything. I am strongly passionate about civil and human rights, social and environmental justice, and just about anything that involves helping people and empathizing beyond boundaries. I hope to combine my activist/scholarly interests with my artistic practice in theater, film, and storytelling! 

I was born in Busan, South Korea, but moved to the flat suburbs of Southern California when I was six. I decided to come to Penn partially because I needed public transport and hated driving. Living in Philly has been full of new discoveries and growths, and I'm so glad to have called this place my home for the past three years. I've also traveled extensively during my time at Penn, interning in Israel and India and studying abroad in London. Hoping to wander some more this year and after graduation!

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Olivia

I am from Wilmington, Delaware, studying Computer Science with interests in creative writing, art, entrepreneurship, and data science. On-campus, I'm involved in a publication, a volunteer organization, religious life, and Greek life. I've loved learning more about Penn and the students here and taking advantage of all the great opportunities Penn and Philly have to offer. In my free time, I love running, cooking, exploring the city, and spending time with friends and family.

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