<p>So, I’ve been looking at the variety of organizations at UPenn and I was wondering just in general, how focused is UPenn on a global outlook (like say compared to Swarthmore’s dedication or Yale’s).</p>
<p>Also, is service a focus for UPenn students? Like, is participating in service projects/volunteering at a global level (not necessarily abroad, but with an international focus) common?</p>
<p>I would say Penn can be very globally focused if you look in the right places. First, Penn has one of, if not, the largest international student population of american universities. I have met people from literally everywhere, and it definitely helps create a global consciousness on campus.</p>
<p>I have had several friends work on Public Health projects in countries like Honduras, Guatemala, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Botswana. I have others who have started or worked in microfinance projects in West Africa. Then there’s others like me, who just take a lot of classes on International Affairs and International Politics.</p>
<p>Then there’s the study abroad options, which will you allow to study pretty much anywhere. </p>
<p>So yes, I would say Penn is as competitive as any other school out there.</p>
<p>My most recent Penn-grad cousin was an IR major, spent his junior year in France, got a scholarship to Oxford following graduation, and did research for his MPhil thesis in Japan and France. So he was very internationally focused. One of the things he really liked most about Penn was making friends with people from all over the world. When the tsunami hit a few years ago, he had several close friends who were directly affected, because they lived where it hit.</p>
<p>Penn is very international. It’s in a maor city which naturally gives it an edge over less urban schools, and it has both the highest percentage and highest raw number of international students in the Ivy League.</p>
<p>The International House (located just off Penn’s campus at 37th & Chestnut) is another great international resource. It holds international students not just going to Penn, but several other Philly-area schools. There are also abundant international culture/student organizations that do everything from hold culture events to throwing parties to helping students get jobs/internships abroad.</p>
<p>And of course the Penn IR department is sweet.</p>