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“My self confidence deteriorated every time I got a lower test score or didn’t prepare well for my internships,” she said. Afreen believes the decision was surreal after her struggles as a first-generation immigrant. Coming to the United States was a “cultural shock” for Afreen, and her parents had to work around the clock. “It was big news actually, because I go to a local school, and going to such an elite school — an Ivy League — was almost impossible according to all my friends and my teachers,” Afreen said. “But I think nothing is impossible if you’re really perseverant and really want something.” Before opening her admissions decision, Rebecca Wirtschafter, constantly refreshed her portal for 50 minutes. The website was not working, and when she asked her guidance counselor to check for her, her guidance counselor could not log in either. “I’m sitting there for so long and finally it says ‘view status update.’ I click it, and I just don’t believe it,” Wirtschafter, who is from Boca Raton, Florida, said. “My mom is there with me and my dad had just left because we thought we weren’t going to see it for a little while, I’m screaming and I’m so happy I started crying.” Wirtschafter immediately called her sister, who is a junior at Penn, and she was so happy that she started crying too. Afterwards, Wirtschafter went out to frozen yogurt with her family — their tradition for celebrating everything. Wirtschafter applied to Penn Early Decision and was deferred, so she said that it was a “painful week” for her waiting
for the decision to be released. “I submitted my deposit right away, and I’ve already joined the Facebook group,” she said. Lauren Davidson, who hails from Atlanta, said Penn became her first choice after attending the three-day Penn Early Exploration Program in October for low-income students from historically underrepresented backgrounds. When Davidson opened her acceptance letter, she was at a dinner banquet for another college’s admitted students visiting day, so she could not express her excitement out loud. “I was internally screaming and crying, but I couldn’t actually,” Davidson said. Davidson said she looks forward to interacting with and being part of Penn’s diverse community, and is waiting to see if Penn offers her enough financial aid for her to attend. “I’ve been going to the same school for seven years, so going to a college campus where I can see people from all walks of life and meet new faces is definitely something I am really excited for,” Davidson said. Kathy Wang was on the plane to visit her brother in San Francisco when the Ivy League decisions were released. She opened her Penn portal in the car on the way to the hotel. After a few waitlists and rejections from other schools, Wang was not expecting to be accepted into Penn. “When I opened up Penn’s result, I was really surprised that I got accepted into UPenn,” she said. “I was really happy, I was screaming ‘Oh my gosh, I got into UPenn!’” Wang, who is from Cleveland, plans to attend Quaker Days and make a final decision afterwards. Wang applied to Penn as a cognitive science major and plans to attend medical school to become a doctor.
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There are 100 countries represented in the admitted class, with 14 percent of students hailing from foreign nations. Each year, the University admits approximately half of the incoming class through the Early Decision Program. Penn plans to enroll a class of 2,400 after
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From top left to bottom right: Ryan Afreen, Rebecca Wirtschafter, Lauren Davidson, Kathy Wang, Michael Chen, Layla Murphy, and Christopher Maximos are admitted students to the Class of 2023.
Michael Chen, who is from Vancouver, British Columbia, said he was emotionless when he first opened his acceptance letter, because he initially did not see the word, “Congratulations!” After reading past the formalities of the “on behalf of” that started the letter, Chen said he realized he was accepted and could not believe the decision. “Penn has always been my dream school and the fact that I was able to get in, not only to get into Penn but also LSM, I was just really happy,” Chen said. Chen was accepted into the Roy and Diana Vagelos Program in Life Science and Management, a dual degree program between the College and Wharton. Chen said he felt compatible with Penn’s work-hard vibe when he visited campus last summer, solidifying Penn as his number one school. “One thing that distinguishes Penn from any other school is how busy the people are, how they always have something to do, like a target, and I think that
really fits with who I am as a person,” Chen said. “I want to have that kind of active mindset.” At approximately 1:20 a.m., Layla Murphy opened her acceptance letter with her mom and friend beside her in Cairo, Egypt. Murphy said she was opening eight admission decisions at that time and initially skipped over Penn because she was too nervous. When she finally opened the letter, Murphy, her friend, and her mom “collectively screamed for like a solid 10 seconds, laugh-crying.” “It was all really emotional and loud,” she said. “It was late here so I kept thinking oh my god am I waking my entire building up.” Murphy said with a generous financial aid package and her brother currently attending Penn, the University is a strong contender among the other acceptances she received. A prospective History major, Murphy said some extracurriculars she
First-gen., low-income grad students host panel Panelists spoke of personal experiences COURTNEY DAUB Staff Reporter
At the first annual community discussion for first-generation, low-income graduate students on March 28, panelists described their earliest memories being FGLI and the challenges they faced in academics and being separated from their families. More than five dozen students filled Penn Law’s Levy Conference Center for the dinner and discussion, hosted by Penn First Graduate Association. This gathering follows a year of unprecedented strides in FGLI graduate student advocacy. Graduate and Professional Student Assembly appointed its first ever FGLI deputy in August 2018. In the fall, the Penn First Graduate Association formed as an umbrella group under GAPSA for all FGLI graduate organizations. The panel included professor of Pharmacology Arnaldo Díaz Vázquez, Director of Veterans Upward Bound at Penn Diane Sandefur, professor in the Higher Education Division Manuel González-Canché, and Associate Vice Provost William Gipson. The event, which included panelists answering questions about being FGLI throughout their lives, was a culmination of PFGA’s work for the year, said GAPSA FGLI Deputy Jade Parker, who helped orga-
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nize the event. Díaz Vázquez, who grew up in and attended college in Puerto Rico, said he experienced immense stress over costs of transportation to go to university instead of going to trade school and supporting his family made him feel “awful.” These feelings of guilt were complicated by stress over poor performance upon entering college.
González-Canché said he first became aware of being low-income during his time in a prestigious Mexican high school. His feelings of exclusion continued into college, where he said in Mexico, most people attending college are not FGLI. The panelists described how being FGLI aids them in their current work and allows them to act as role models for students and family. “Feel proud that you’re opening a path,” Díaz Vázquez said to the crowd of students, adding that he shares his story with others and helps students build networks. The event ended with panelists talking about the misconception that FGLI students seek special treatment. “I realize that there are super wealthy folks out there who are buy- Diane Sandefur ing their children’s way into highly selective universities. We don’t have that Sandefur decided to go to col- opportunity nor would we want lege after getting married and hav- that opportunity,” Sandefur said. ing two kids. She described the She added that FGLI students struggle of balancing work, school, want to accomplish the work by and family. their own merit instead of being “There was no social time,” treated differently than other people. Sandefur said. “I would never atGonzález-Canché added that tend anything like [this event].” whenever he got a job he thought
“I realize that there are super wealthy folks out there who are buying their children’s way into highly selective universities.”
people just gave it to him because he’s Mexican instead of because of his own work. While he believes more in himself now, he doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with getting extra support or attention for being FGLI. “We left our families, we left everything to be here,” GonzálezCanché said. Angélica Gutiérrez, first year graduate student pursuing a masters degree in education, said seeing two Latino faculty on the panel was particularly important for her. “Coming to a space like this it reminds you that you do belong here,” Gutiérrez said. “[The event] was a good grounding reminder that we are here because we deserve to be here. We are part of this bigger community.” The presence of Latino faculty on the panel was also important for Biridiana Rodriguez, who received her master’s degree in Educational Policy in 2018. Rodriguez said that the event shows a greater commitment at Penn not just to recognize FGLI students, but students who are FGLI and identify as queer or as a person of color. Parker said that she hopes attendees will get a sense of community from the event and be inspired to get involved with advocacy. “We’re often siloed into our different programs and don’t have the time to come together,” Parker said. “I’m curious and excited to see where [FGLI graduate advocacy] goes.”
would like to participate in if she were to come to Penn are the Bloomers, Kelly Writers House, and The Daily Pennsylvanian. “I’ve been to campus a lot of times and I know I love the feeling of it and the vibe of it and I love Philly,” she said. Christopher Maximos, who is from Netcong, New Jersey, got home just before Ivy League decision time at 7 p.m. While waiting for the decisions to load, he sat staring at the wall, imagining in his head what it would be like to attend each school. When Maximos saw that he was accepted, he screamed for “a solid five minutes” and then cried with his parents. “My hand was shaking so badly that I couldn’t even read the words,” Maximos said. “Then I saw a piece of confetti, and I was like ‘this is it.’” “It was just a wonderful moment; it felt like the culmination of four years of work and just excitement about what’s left to come,” Maximos added.
“we are excited about the opportunity of bringing these distinctive student voices together” - Eric Furda
admitting 1,279 students through Early Decision. “As admissions officers, we are excited about the opportunity of bringing these distinctive student voices together, hoping they can realize an even stronger collective identity through the curriculum and community spaces on our campus and in the city of Philadelphia,” Furda said in his blog.
Live music • Film • Dance • Theater Art Education • Community
Intricate Machines with Aizuri String Quartet
Apr 3, 2019 @ 7:30 PM Admission is $15 at the door Come see three rising NYC stars at The Rotunda! The award-winning Aizuri Quartet will perform at The Rotunda as part of their Intricate Machines tour. The Aizuris show how exciting and vital the modern string quartet can be, and for those who love classical music and all of the contemporary arts, this is not a program to miss! For more details, see: www.imaizuri.com
Bad Sex and Other Problematic Analogies by Stephanie C. Kernisan
Apr 5, 2019 @ 8:00 PM Admission is $15 Alternatively titled “confessions of an unintentionally whitepassing, mixed, fat, queer, feminist, switchy witch.” Bad Sex explores heartache and healing with humor and humility. This show is part essay reading, part stand-up routine, part musical event written and performed by Stephanie C. Kernisan.
Philly BalkanFest 2019
Apr 7, 2019 @ 2:00 PM Tickets @ http://phillybalkanfest2019.bpt.me Announcing the first ever Philadelphia festival of Balkan music and culture! We have assembled a full program with events all afternoon, taking over the whole building with non-stop music performances in both the concert stage room and the spectacular dance hall beneath the great rotunda, plus food trucks, dance workshops, and more spanning the Balkan folk traditions, and beyond!
As an alcohol-free/smoke-free venue, The Rotunda provides an invaluable social alternative for all ages.
4014 Walnut • TheRotunda.org
$800
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Also available, fully renovated 1BR, $950.00
Reply to Mark at govmc3527@gmail.com or 215-880-8527
Open 6 Days a Week (CLOSED TUESDAYS) FREE Delivery Lunch and Dinner Buffet Present your Student ID for
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(215) 662-0818 | 60 South 38th Street