Undergraduate / "a powerful research-based institution" Upenn Transfer Essay- Extracurriculars [4]

Considering both the specific undergraduate school or program to which you are applying and the broader University of Pennsylvania community, what academic, research, and/or extracurricular paths do you see yourself exploring at Penn?

In the spirit of Benjamin Franklin, the University of Pennsylvania has evolved into its own community, complete with numerous social and academic organizations. Given that there are over 300 clubs and societies for students to choose from, Penn is a school that offers great diversity to students of various backgrounds and interests. Penn's many clubs and associations would allow these interests to evolve into something much greater and contribute to a larger aggregation of knowledge, one that thrives outside the traditional boundaries of the classroom. After all, part of an education, in my mind, is the ability to apply it for the benefit of others.

I am a firm believer that an education goes only as far as one's leadership qualities allow. What good would a world-class education be without the means to exercise it? One of my biggest regrets during my first semester of college was a lack of participation in student government. While I was able to develop leadership qualities through other activities and clubs, I now see that student government would have allowed for a more profound and engaging use of my leadership qualities. Penn's Undergraduate Student Government would take the responsibility, interpersonal skills, time management and commitment to my fellow peers that I have gained from my high school and college experiences and allow me to apply them to a setting that more accurately mirrors the real world. Penn's Undergraduate Student Government has taken steps to organize student body events such as Hey Day and Spring Fling, in addition to voicing the concerns of students regarding their education. The fact that it actively continues to take steps to improve life at Penn for its students makes it very appealing to me. At Penn, I would like to make a difference; I would like to do whatever I can to improve my fellow colleagues' undergraduate collegiate experience, which would best be achieved by participating in the Student Government.

One of the inherent advantages in attending a powerful research-based institution is the opportunity to pursue academic research in almost any discipline I could think of. Whether it be economics, physics, geology or art history, the University of Pennsylvania would be able to quench my thirst to gain a more profound understanding of any field than what the classroom would be able to supply me with. Learning in a "hands-on" fashion from professors like Dr. Ponzy Lu of the Chemistry department and Dr. Jere Behrman of the Economics department who are the game-changers, so to say, in their respective fields would be a sure way to receive a comprehensive education. No matter what field I would pursue, I would want to leave college with a significant amount of hands-on experience in my area of expertise. As such, I would certainly take advantage of the innumerable research opportunities that Penn would undoubtedly offer me.

In my opinion, there is nothing more attractive about a university than the opportunities it offers its students. With the plethora of clubs, academic organizations and resources Penn offers its students, there is no university I would rather study at. Coming out of Penn, considering the multifaceted education I would receive, there is no question that I would be a more worldly individual, shaping the world around me for the better and giving back to my community as much as it has given me.

Undergraduate / "When learning don't take the easy path" - Your reasons for transferring, etc. [4]

Towards the my high school career, I sometimes wondered to myself, "What made the quality of my education so great? More importantly, how can I enhance my education in college?" Reflecting on my tenure as a student, I can safely say that the elements of my schooling which made my education so great, were the intellectual challenges, the constant interaction with a greater community, and traditions that truly made me belong to that larger community.

Ever since I was young, I was always taught that learning is never done through "taking the easy path." Throughout my career as a student, I adhered to this notion, seldom, if ever, taking the path of least resistance. I am a firm believer in the notion that one learns most effectively when challenged, which is one of the main reasons I want to transfer schools. While I have been intellectually stimulated at Binghamton University, I am often left wanting for more: more of a challenge, more of an opportunity for my curiosity to be piqued. I miss the constant intellectualism I was accustomed to in high school, a large part of what made my high school experience, not to mention my education as a whole, so great. I am looking for a more rigorous academic experience, which is perhaps the most crucial reason for my desire to transfer.

In the same way that a transmission provides a means for an automobile to apply its raw power, a community provides a means for fostering an educated mind, and allowing it to apply its knowledge. In becoming a well-rounded individual, there is no substitute for a close-knit community that helps one develop socially and morally. I firmly believe that nearly as much learning is done outside the classroom as is done in the classroom, which explains why I crave an intimate feel to my college experience, where I would not be just a part of a group of students, but a family bound with rich tradition and culture. Despite being active in numerous organizations and clubs on campus, I do not feel an emotional connection or a sense of camaraderie.

Just like my peers, my goal at the end of college is to become a more worldly, aware, diverse and knowledgeable individual. However, more importantly, I plan using the education I receive in college towards a career in medicine, where, just like my college years, I would be giving back to my community every bit as much as it has given me. With an education adhering to my ideals, I have little doubt that I can achieve these goals.