Dean Furda Admits All
Photo (with edits) by Julia Ellis / The Daily Pennsylvanian
October 27, 2009 at 6:00 pm
Last week, we indulged our hate nostalgia for the days of college applications and read questions for Penn Dean of Admissions Eric Furda through The Choice. Fortunately, parents have completely calmed down about the process, College Board dissolved the SAT, and instead of essays, applicants just have to win at leap frog. Sike! Everything still sucks.
But, like a glorious ray of Philly sunshine, our own Dean Furda managed to assuage the fears of some soon-to-be 2014 parents in the New York Times’ week-long series of questions and answers.
You can read his kernels of wisdom here. Although we already got in, it's never too early to plan for your future Quaker babies!
Right from the get-go Furda reveals a super-secret hardcore test admissions offices utilize to weed out the unworthy.
"I would suggest to all applicants that they need to demonstrate their knowledge about the school(s) to which they are applying and why that institution is appealing to them intellectually, academically, socially etc."Such as, knowing which University of Pennsylvania they're actually applying to.
"Admissions offices want their applicants to be knowledgeable about their school, and studies have shown that the campus visit is the best way to experience and learn about the school; I know this to be the case for Penn. However, we recognize that a campus visit is not always possible.
Penn’s location in Philadelphia, the sixth largest city in the U.S., makes it easy to travel to, if cost (and time) wasn’t an issue, but we know it is"It's not like admissions values the campus visits or anything, and it's not like Philly isn't totally easy to get to, and even though it's the sixth largest city in the US of course it's an issue for you. You know, you're always pulling this crap. I mean really, this relationship is totally 70-30 right now. Put in some effort or it's never going to work out.
"Admissions officers want to hear a 17-18-year-old voice, not a 40-50-year-old voice."Unless it's this 40-50-year-old voice.
“This may be a case where supplemental material is appropriate through an arts supplement or research that we can have evaluated by our faculty. Just be sure the school accepts supplements.”Penn’s favorite supplement is Vitamin D, although we’ll accept Potassium as well.
As Dean Furda's answers continue until Friday, here's a few questions still burning in the minds of over-achieving parents and students everywhere:
"Princeton tried to admit freshmen who are critical/independent/out-of the-box thinkers, self-starters, creative inovators, and difficulty overcomers... Does Penn look for the same type of tools students as Princeton?"You can have this one, Princeton. Maybe “overcomers” is a real word in Jersey.
"how will a suspension for 3 days from a high school effect the possibility to be admitted to your school"Everyone knows street cred gets you into college.