Meet the Cognos
College Cognoscenti are dedicated student volunteers who are happy to answer your questions about what it’s like to be a student in the College of Arts and Sciences.
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Hometown: Washington, DC
Major: Major: English
Minor: Legal Studies and History
My favorite thing about the College: My favorite thing about the College is how passionate everyone is about what they’re learning! Everyone wants to collaborate and take on new opportunities. I got connect with so many of my best classes and experiences in the College just by talking to people, especially upperclassmen in my major.
Hometown: Pasadena, CA
Major: Biology
Minor: Neuroscience & Healthcare Management
Campus Involvement: Penn Pre-Med Association, Penn Student Government: Nominations and Elections Committee, Penn Pakistan Society, West Philadelphia Tutoring Project
My favorite thing about the College is the diversity of classes that I have taken/can take. I always have fun choosing my classes during advanced registration because it feels like I'm "shopping" for my classes. While I've taken a number of large, intro classes like General Chemistry and Calculus II, I've particularly enjoyed my smaller classes like Spanish Literature and Writing Seminar. I have made lifelong friendships in these classes and gained knowledge about topics beyond the scope of my major, which I believe is a very unique experience to the College.
Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico
Major: Cinema & Media Studies, Psychology
Campus Involvement: Mex@Penn, Wharton Latino, PURM (Undergraduate Research Assistant at the Perelman School of Medicine)
My favorite thing about the College: It is hard to pick just one thing, but I have to say that the variety of classes offered in CAS is incredible. As a Cinema and Media Studies major I have been able to take very specific courses on topics that I find very interesting, such as composer Stephen Sondheim, and Method Acting. I love that anyone interested can take these classes, so I have gotten to meet some great people that have very different majors but are interested in these topics. I find that most of my classes are very fun, seminars are very good opportunities to get to meet some of the Penn Faculty better since these classes are a lot smaller. The College has some really amazing professors that are experts in a wide range of topics. I also love the variety of language classes offered, it is great that people can learn languages that you normally wouldn't have the resources for.
Hometown: Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
Intended Major: Psychology
Intended Minor: undecided :/
Campus Involvement: Mex@penn, Wharton Latino
My favorite thing about the College is how easy it is to get to know people through class discussions and debates. I really enjoy hearing other people's input on topics covered in class. The small class size for some of the courses makes it easy to form relationships with your peers as you get used to interacting with them regularly. As a first year student, I found this to be a good way to make friends.
Hometown: Hackensack, NJ
Major: Economics
Minors: Statistics
Campus Involvement: Penn Climate Ventures, Wharton Asia Exchange, PURM, Penn Innovators in Business, Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program, Koreans at Penn
Favorite thing about the College:I am able to explore different fields of study ranging from fields like Music, Political Science, Mathematics, and Eastern Asian Languages and Civilizations. In turn, I am encouraged to meet students from diverse backgrounds. These experiences allow me to enhance my understanding of the world in a broader context and hone my interpersonal skills.
Hometown: Commack, NY
Major: History
Minors: American Public Policy, Asian American Studies
Campus Involvement: ASPIRE, a mentorship organization for Asian American high school students in Philly, TedxPenn, and the Transfer Student Organization (TSO)
Favorite thing about the College: I love the interdisciplinary and flexible nature of the College curriculum. As a history major, I'm able to explore the intersections between sociology, international relations, or ethnic studies, through the lens of the historical method. Our ability to take courses at Wharton allowed me to pursue a minor thfrough the Business Economics and Public Policy department, whilst building upon my qualitative skills in History. There are also a plethora of research opportunities for all majors, STEM or humanities, allowing them to explore any subject areas they may be interested in.
Hometown:Philadelphia, PA
Major: Neuroscience Minor: Computer Science, Health Care Management
Campus Involvement: The Daily Pennsylvanian, Penn Traditions, Nigerians at Penn, GlobeMed, MedLife, The Record Yearbook, Research Assistant at CHOP, Penn Chapter of the American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative (PALCSI), Volunteers around the World (VAW).
Favorite thing about Penn: I love meeting new people from all different kinds of backgrounds and learning about their cultures. Penn students strive for excellence and are always willing and eager to help their fellow peers succeed and reach their goals, a characteristic that makes Penn stand out.
Tsering S.
Hometown: Queens, New York City
Intended Major: Political Science Intended Minor: Psychology
Campus Involvement: Figure Skating Club, Educational Pipeline, John Marshall Pre-Law Honor Society, Nepali Association, Penn KDSAP, Mindcore RATP, Matriculate
Favorite Thing About The College: My favorite thing about the College is the interdisciplinary curriculum it has to offer for students. As someone whose interests lie in numerous areas, I was able to take a variety of classes that fascinated me in one way or another, all while fulfilling the general education requirements. You can combine two completely disparate areas of study and take the classes that really pique your curiosity. With over 50 offered majors and numerous concentrations, I knew I would find what I loved learning in the College and had acquired invaluable knowledge and skills within many disciplines that will prove to be indispensable after my four years here. If you have any questions, whether it is about my experience being a freshman or about what the College has to offer, please don't hesitate to reach out!
Hometown: New York, NY
Major: Political Science
Minor: Survey Research and Data Analytics
Minor: Survey Research and Data Analytics
Campus Involvement: PORES Research Fellowship, Penn Dems, Penn Hillel, Habitat for Humanity, Penn Leads the Vote
My favorite thing about the College: I love that the College encourages exploration both inside and outside the classroom! There are so many opportunities to discover new interests by taking classes in a wide variety of fields, as well as through research and clubs. The college curriculum is really flexible and interdisciplinary, and I love being able to carve out my own unique path based on my interests. It's also great to be surrounded by peers who are similarly passionate about learning and exploring all that the College has to offer.
Leilei H.
Hometown: New York, NY
Major: Computational Biology Minor: Computer Science, Health Care Management
Campus Involvement: Alpha Phi Omega, MERT, Matriculate
Favorite thing about Penn: I really appreciate the people I have met at Penn. I love how everyone is so incredibly motivated and excited about something important to them. Learning from these diverse perspectives has taught me a lot about myself and what I value. Being with students at Penn has encouraged me to improve and find my own path. I have found that my peers are willing to help and happy to see me succeed. There is no other group of people that I would want to learn from and grow with!
Hometown: Reno, NV
Major: Neuroscience
Minor: Computational Neuroscience
Campus Involvement: MERT, BEI@Penn, PENNaach
Favorite thing about the College: I really appreciate the supportive nature of the College and its students. Regardless of major, the College does an amazing job of ensuring that every student finds their place at Penn. The College curriculum not only allows students to pursue their passions but to also discover new interests outside of the classroom. Collaboration plays a significant role inside and outside the classroom. My peers are extremely motivated and supportive individuals, and I have learned so much from them. Penn and the College are wonderful places for growth, and there is no other place I would rather be!
Hometown: Vancouver, Canada / Beijing, China
Major: VIPER Dual Degree: Physics + Materials Science and Engineering
Campus Involvement: MSE Society and Makerspace, Chinese Student Association, UnEarthed Magazine, DoubleSpeak, KCECH BioSphere, French Circle
Favorite thing about the College: As someone who has —and greatly values having— diverse interests, I love how the College allows us to pursue our multifaceted passions. There are ample opportunities to engage with and contribute to communities and clubs in all shapes, sizes, and disciplines. I can make friends whose interests are widely different from mine, and meet people with identities and ideals that span the entire globe. Through my interactions with the College's interdisciplinary and intercultural community, I discover more, and appreciate more about myself – and the amazing world around me!