February 18, 2020

Why I Chose Penn GSE

Posted by Nikki Hunter '20

It is that time of year once again where prospective students are considering their graduate school options. Already, people have reached out interested to learn more about the Education Policy Program at Penn. One of the first questions is always “Why did you choose Penn?”
Why Penn GSE
January 16, 2020

Why I Chose Penn GSE

Posted by Lentner Jaraba '20

Penn GSE is an institution that serves the community it surrounds. It provides various resources to its community, especially to the schools in the city. Two of the resources are research and social justice.
Why Penn GSE
February 21, 2019

Advice on applications as an International Student

Posted by Yuki Okamoto, '20

Hi! This is Yuki, and I would like to provide you with some tips & things to remember regarding graduate school applications as an international student.

1. Start collecting information about the program you are interested in early

Some of the things you could do to learn more about Penn GSE include reading student blogs that provide you with information about...

Coursework Why Penn GSE
November 15, 2018

Why I went to Grad School

Posted by Alexandra Bird, '19

As an undergraduate, I always thought I’d go to graduate school -- I just didn’t know when, or for what. As college graduation approached, I didn’t have a clear idea about what kind of degree I wanted, likely because I was still unclear about what career I wanted to pursue. Though I’d entered college planning on becoming a clinical psychologist, I was leaving with the feeling that I wasn’t...

Why Penn GSE
January 17, 2018

Why Did I Choose Penn?

Posted by Katya Murillo

I have to be honest, my decision to, first, apply and then attend to Penn was a bit serendipitous. As you recall, I am from Southern California, and I am also a first-generation college student. My parents have always been incredibly encouraging and proudof dreams. They do their best to help me in any way they can, but because they have no experience with what I went and am currently going...

Why Penn GSE
December 7, 2017

How Did I End Up Here?

Posted by Katya Murillo

Hi everyone! My name is Katya Murillo, a southern California native. Honestly, growing up in SoCal, I never thought I would want to leave, I mean who would when you have Disneyland, the beach, the mountains, and the dessert all less than a two-hour drive away in any direction? Plus, my favorite part about living in SoCal was being a "short" 6-hour drive from my family in Baja California,...

Why Penn GSE
November 11, 2017

Why I chose Penn GSE?

Posted by Dexter Evans

After graduating from my alma mater, Paul Quinn College, attending a selective elite institution was always in the plan. Admission to graduate school was something I knew I would need, considering my life goals and career trajectory, mainly because of the narrowed focus and collaborative nature professional school provides for its students. This fine-tooth comb was what I desired so that I...

Why Penn GSE
October 18, 2017

Why Did I Choose Penn?

Posted by Birdiana Rodriguez

I visited every institution that I applied to. This was something I did when I applied to undergrad institutions and it served me well in deciding which institutions feltlike the right fit. There were institutions that on paper (or now, online) sounded like great fits, but visiting left me with a different idea. As I walked onto Penn’s campus, on a rainy Saturday in March, I looked around to...

Why Penn GSE
October 13, 2017

Determining Fit for A Graduate School

Posted by Mollie Wraga

One of my program’s favorite things to say is “it depends” when it comes to situations in counseling and mental health. The same can be applied to nearly every situation in life, especially the decision on where to go to graduate school.

Personally, I applied to four schools; three in New Jersey, plus Penn. The three New Jersey schools were “ranked” differently, however their...

Reflections Why Penn GSE
October 3, 2017

Why I Chose Penn

Posted by Terron Graham

I decided to apply to Penn GSE shortly after a stint in a financial role in New York City the summer of my junior year. I had worked for years towards getting this position and I was quickly realizing that it was not the kind of work that would suit me for a career. I was feeling incredibly overwhelmed by the city and the need to be at work for upwards of twelve hours, but incredibly...

Why Penn GSE