Admissions

In an article comparing college acceptances to valentines, Dean Eric J. Furda of Admissions said “the concept of the ‘ideal partner’ may not have a place in the college search process, lest we set ourselves up for disappointment and denial.” However, he said, “in the end, I do believe the vast majority of students find their true love; it just may come from previously unexpected places and takes an open-minded person.”

Admissions Dean Eric J. Furda and Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum, vice provost for university life, discussed Penn’s support system for first-generation and low-income students.

Ezekiel Dixon-Román of the School of Social Policy & Practice wrote about the consequences of breaking away from standardized testing requirements in college admissions.

Dean of Admissions Eric J. Furda recommends college applicants and their parents rethink grades and test scores as the sole measures of their eligibility. Furda encourages his admissions counselors to balance those markers with the “relative growth and trajectory” of potential students.

College enrollment is set to decline, but will see a simultaneous increase in racial diversity, according to Marybeth Gasman of the Graduate School of Education. Gasman suggested that most universities are ill-prepared for the shift and will need to diversify faculty to better accommodate future students.

Dean Eric J. Furda of Admissions offered advice on crafting personal essays. He emphasized the importance of authenticity, writing from one’s own experiences and not trying to be someone else.