Undergraduate / Penn why essay; I want to be a psychologist [5]

Describe the academic programs and unique characteristics of the University of Pennsylvania that most interest you. Why do these interests make you a good match for Penn? (Do not exceed one page.)

"Benjamin Franklin was one of the founding fathers of the United States and a leading author, scientist, inventor, politician, diplomat..."
" Also the founder of University of Pennsylvania." I mumbled to myself.

Benjamin Franklin has been my childhood hero and Penn remains my dream. As the first American university I learn about, UPenn never fails to excite me whenever I hear about its name.

As an Ivy League member with a psychology department which has a history of over 120 years, Penn's prestigious position in psychology intrigues me. Psychology is a scientific study about how people think, plan and behave. While most psychologists are spending their lives working on traditional ways to explain mental diseases psychoanalytically or biomedically , avant-garde psychologists from UPenn like Martin Seligman and Paul Rozin are trying to create new category, positive psychology, to solve the problem. The new philosophy of psychology posted by Dr. Seligman indicates that " Psychology should be able to help document what kind of families result in children who flourish, what work settings support the greatest satisfaction among workers, what policies result in the strongest civic engagement, and how our lives can be most worth living", with which I strongly agree. And I also feel like taking up the challenge to devote all my life into this promising field. Therefore, with my knowledge, I will be able to consult, not only elites from developed countries who are trying to flourish happiness, but also average citizens from developing countries who are struggling against depression. With its dominant professors and ample research opportunities, Penn will be the right and only place that enables me to realize my dream.

I want to be a psychologist in the future; however, I am also interested in science, women's study and children's education. Penn's spirit of freedom, which is initiated by Benjamin Franklin and keeps thriving today, allows its students tremendous flexibility to choose from various academic resources. I believe that all academic areas relate to each other in some way. Benjamin Franklin, a polymath himself, proved the fact that everything we learn, no matter how irrelevant it seems, will finally makes a difference in our success.

The historic and dynamic city , Philadelphia, is another reason I apply to Penn. Once the capital of United States, Philadelphia is left many historic properties, such as the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Born in a city which was also the capital of ancient State of Yue over 2200 years, I cherish history and believe it still has the value in present days. On the other hand, I can also easily imagine myself wandering around the modern areas of this city, dazzled by the all the skyscrapers and modern art galleries. Similarly, my hometown which is located in one of the most developed areas in China, Yangtz River Delta, is also experiencing its thrive in economy and culture. Either because of the similarity between my hometown and Philadelphia or my name coinciding with Penn, I feel this place much like home and thus I can involve myself heart and soul.

I hope next fall, sitting in the Levy Park, I can proudly greet people like"Hey, my name is Penn, and welcome to the university of me."