By: Undergraduate Applicant49   

Subject:   Succesful UPenn Applicant4

Question: Engineers will face many challenges over the next twenty years. Which of these challenges seems most appealing to you, and how do you plan to help meet it?

With energy sources being depleted at an incredible rate, the need to engineer practical, renewable sources of energy is becoming increasingly important. In only 100-200 years, oil reserves will be nearly used up, and natural gas will be used up shortly after that. As demands for energy increase with the development of the third world and since energy is necessary to the prosperity of all nations, engineers must devise practical, affordable, and environmentally sound solutions to the upcoming energy crisis. I do not believe the future of renewable energy research will lie in proliferation of nuclear power plants or in spending billions of dollars on fusion research. Rather, I predict engineers will devise a product to affordably harness a less dangerous energy source. For example, we can harness wind power and solar energy to produce electricity. Unfortunately, such energy sources are not utilized practically to any real extent in my homeland of Turkey, although there are some instances of practical utilization in the United States. I do believe that wind power can be exploited as an auxiliary energy source. By installing a large number of wind turbines in convenient places, we can convert wind energy to electric energy for consumption by homes and industry. Even though this process has its own challenges like placing a ridiculous number of turbines across a country at great expense and getting a meteorological map of the country, I believe these problems are surmountable. Moreover, such an energy source can help us to save the environment.

Question: What characteristic of Penn and yourself make the University a particularly good match for you? Briefly describe how you envision your first year in college. How will your presence be known on campus?

I have the difficult task of being the “first.” I will be the first one in my family who has ever studied overseas, and while I find this idea fascinating, I realize it will not be easy. Without having anyone around to advise me about the new life I will face, I have had to figure out everything by myself. If I am to make a mistake in selecting a college, I will bear the full burden of that mistake. As I begin to realize this, I understand that I will need to find the inner strength and self-reliance to face difficult changes alone, but I know I have the personal strength to do this.

In addition, because I am the first in my family to be educated abroad, my ten-year old sister looks up to me in awe. She fully expects to follow in my footsteps and to be educated in the legendary land that I am constantly speaking of. As a result, I must be careful in what I do since she will follow in my tracks. Thinking about these consequences, I decided that nothing would be easy for me, but that whatever I faced, I would never give up. With the hopes of my little sister on the line, I am not going to thwart her dreams of studying in the States. My father was the first person in his family who earned a university diploma, and my receiving an excellent US education would vindicate the hard work he did to make this possible for me.

When I first saw the booklet of University of Pennsylvania on my counselor's desk, I knew right away that this was the school I wanted to be part of. The University of Pennsylvania offers me much more than an education. It also offers me the opportunity to learn how to be an individual who can fulfill society’s needs both now and in the future. Moreover, since UPenn has a long history of “firsts, ” I knew that I would fit in the dynamic, inventive atmosphere. Since the responsibility of being the “first” is great, I believe that UPenn, with many students in similar situations, would provide me the support I need to excel in this very important academic community.

If I am admitted to the college, I will not fool around trying to get situated; instead, I will work to integrate myself into the campus community from the very beginning to become a contributing member of my class. In a familiar environment surrounded by people who share my drive and determination, I will work to display the strength and eagerness to learn and to achieve in my eyes. My success in the lessons and achievements in friendship will be enough to recognize me in hundreds of students. I will be the first person in my family who attends a college in the States that knows the privilege of 'being first'.

Question: How did you spend last summer?

Last summer I learned a lot about life from outside the classroom. Previous summers, I had attended summer camps in France and in England, but this time I spent my whole summer working in a local travel agency called Firefly Travel Agency and at a McDonalds. Even though I was frustrated at the beginning, at the end of the summer I was glad to endure such an experience. During the month that I spent guiding tourists around Marmaris, I learned many important interpersonal skills. Under the bright sun, I had the opportunity to not only visit many very interesting sites but to also practice my English at the same time. Exposed to many people of different cultures, I enjoyed helping people very much. When I returned from Marmaris to my hometown of Ýstanbul, I found working in McDonalds to be an even more difficult challenge. While certainly not mentally taxing, the job required me to stand on my feet constantly and to not rely on others for help. As days passed and I completed my training in each station, I realized that I could still enjoy myself. Now, I was preparing the hamburgers that I had eaten hundreds of times before without recognizing how grueling the process was. Both working in the kitchen as the cashier, I got a sense of the business world from the level of the lowest employee. I ended the summer very content and quite motivated to excel at college to avoid mindless, unskilled work like my McDonald’s job.

Question: Most people belong to many different communities-groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong and describe that community and your place with in.

Basketball had always been my favorite sport since the day my father registered me in a basketball course when I was only eight. Unfortunately, because I am from Turkey, people objected to my playing a 'masculine sport.' Surprisingly, most of the opposition came from my female friends and relatives. Despite their advice, I never considered quitting. When I entered Robert College, I had the chance of a lifetime with the opportunity to compete on a girls’ basketball team in an official league.

My female friends said that basketball was a sport that was impossible for girls to succeed in and they always found a way to escape playing basketball during physical education classes. This attitude only spurred me on to practice and play harder. I respected basketball as a profession. The court was the place where I felt most comfortable and most powerful. I liked the team spirit that filled the air before the matches, and I adored the camps and practices we had before big tournaments. With the opportunity to form lasting bonds with many different girls, I was obsessed and fascinated by the sport. My interest spilled over to inspire my teammates, and my desire and dedication to basketball led me to be named captain when I was in just the 7th grade; I am still captain of the team to this day. Through my way, I never forgot the advice that my coach gave: Quitters never win and winners never quit and till now I have always tried to be the winner.

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 Essay Number: 1110 - Posted on: Mar 31, 1999   Expires on: May 1, 1999 CollegeGate LLC  * CollegeGate LLC *

By: Undergraduate Applicant48   

Subject:   Succesful UPenn Applicant3

What characteristics of Penn, and yourself, make the University a particularly good match for you? Briefly describe how you envision your first year in college. How will your presence be known on campus?

5a.

John F. Kennedy said, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." I see academics as a similar two-way interaction: in the classroom, I will do much more than take up valuable space. Because of the broad range of experiences I have had, my knowledge of many subjects is thorough. These experiences will help me perform well in any class, as I have learned how to use my time efficiently. Time management is very important to me, because one needs free time with which to engage in other activities -- from research to athletics.

I have an everlasting thirst for knowledge. When I know little about a topic, I try to expand my kwowledge to quench that thirst. I look to others for knowledge, but now blindly: if I don't believe in someone's ideas, I will stand up for my own beliefs. My mind is open to new ideas.

While work in the classroom is of utmost importance to me, activities outside the classroom are just as important. In this area, I have much to offer. I am an alto saxophone player in both the jazz and concert bands. This is only one way I spend my time, however. I am very interested in the Internet and create web pages for people (I also fix and build computers). I love inline skating and hockey. I am also a die-hard Republican, and I am very involved in politics. In fact, I am the vice-president of the Teenage Republicans club.

Athletics have played a major role in my life. Lacrosse is one of my passions, and I am a defenseman on the lacrosse team. For me, sports combine a competitive spirit with the individual spirit of being part of a team. I also play roller hockey every weekend and am always ready to play a pickup game of basketball or football.

Despite the fact that I have lived in Florida all of my life, my background is somewhat diverse. My parents are both originally from India, and my grandfather was a missionary. It is from him that I must get my strong set of values. My other grandfather was an Indian ambassador to many countries, which is where I get my love of politics. I have visited India three times and have been there for months at a time. The differences between their society and ours have given me a broader outlook on life.

Indeed, my vast array of experiences gives me a well-rounded perspective on the world. I am a synthesis of two conflicting backgrounds, and this has helped shape my personality. These experiences would make me contribute to the diverse UPenn campus. In return, there are many things I hope to gain from my college experience. I have a fairly accurate idea of what I want to do with my life, and that involves the Wharton School at Penn. Wharton School is the best business school in the world, and there I would gain knowledge that would give me limitless possibilities in my journey through life.

Moreover, Penn is in Philadelphia, a city rich in culture and art. Penn will introduce me to new and various things, and I hope to develop new interests from this exposure. I strongly believe one should be exposed to many things throughout one's life. During my high school years, I have been very involved in school and community activities. In Penn, I hope to continue my involvement in new clubs and activities. My goal is to find a balance between my studies and my social life, and I hope to offer my leadership qualities to my college community.