Holistically Healthy: College Admission Essay Sample

His cell phone rang again. Sighing, my father ducked his head apologetically before excusing himself to pick up the call. It was the hospital calling to inform that a patient—an elderly undocumented immigrant—had returned to the emergency room yet again. Fearing her illegal status would be revealed, she delayed seeking the treatment my father had prescribed until her conditions became so severe that she finally went to the emergency room.

It had never occurred to me that a profession so deeply rooted in empirical evidence could also be impacted by ethical, political and demographical factors. But when I began working at my father’s clinic as a receptionist, I started to notice the way medicine linked so many different subjects together to provide a tailored treatment for each patient. The woman with type 2 diabetes was prescribed insulin supplements so she could taste-test her pastries. The veteran with back pain who loved glassblowing was advised a surgery so he wouldn’t have to continuously take pain medication due to his active lifestyle. As I spent more time at the clinic, I saw how my father incorporated snippets of unique patient information into each treatment.

In high school, I studied “Transcultural Healthcare” which analyzed systems of health as well as the variables that affected them in different societies so that patients of all backgrounds could be treated appropriately. With my knowledge from Transcultural and my experiences from working in a clinic, I hope to bring a unique perspective to Penn and build upon my own experiences with those of other—a desire easily accomplished with Penn’s emphasis on interdisciplinary learning. Penn even asks that students fulfill a Cross-Cultural Analysis Requirement in its Foundational Approaches to ensure that students are well-versed in cultures and communities outside of their own, a necessity I realized after studying Transcultural. While many may view the General Education requirement as a hassle, I see it as an advantage, a stepping stone that will provide me the grounds to explore new subject matter and use them to adapt to any concentration within health, whether it be ethics, policy-making, research or even technology.

At Penn, I want to major in the Health and Societies to study medicine in a broader context and understand its impacts on individuals and their communities. I’m extremely excited to enroll in ABCS like HSOC335-401 Healthy Schools when I can collaborate with students from the Political Science department to synthesize our varying perspectives to best improve health in West Philadelphia schools. This is just one of the many opportunities Penn offers for students to thrive outside of a traditional classroom and transform the information they’ve acquired to tangible solutions. The College of Arts and Sciences will push me to grow but also support me through my experimentations and endeavors.

At the College of Arts and Sciences, I will have all the resources necessary for me to achieve and expand my intellectual interests at my disposal. It is at the College of Arts and Sciences that I will integrate what I’ve learned with what I can apply. It is at the College of Arts and Sciences where I will be able to participate in discourse with students of varying disciplines who can provide new insights into the world we share. And it is at the College of Arts and Sciences where I will foster my ability to think critically and creatively to propose new ideas and solutions towards society’s greatest challenges.