very cool!
really cool.
I am impressed that Penn and Women in Computer Science (WiCS) have been working to attract and actively support talented girls to CS. In addition to Femme Hacks, they have established a mentoring program so underclassmen young ladies have an older peer to go to for support and guidance. Penn is also sponsoring students to attend the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing conference. They also have active organizations like WiCS and the Society of Women Engineers. All of these opportunities provide almost endless opportunities for students to learn, gain hands on experience, build contacts, find internships, get actively involved, and contribute to a growing and vibrant community.
Additionally, Penn provides have great coed opportunities like Hack4impact, PennHacks, Weiss Tech House, the TechTrek trip to San Francisco, special program opportunities like DMD and NETS, the opportunity to sub-matriculate into the Masters program, and study abroad opportunities. Plus, students have the opportunity to take classes in Wharton and The College via the One Penn policy, and to attend a university with some of the highest paying CS job offers and placement percentages in the country, at a school known for students who are able to develop unequalled social and professional connections.
By sending a clear message that women in CS are important and valued, Penn has been able to raise the percentage of women in the program, while attracting amazingly talented girls who have grades and test scores that are better than the boys, and are choosing Penn as their top choice over many other excellent options.
I hope current applicants will take the time to investigate everything Penn offers. The world-class CS program is only the tip of the iceberg. Opportunities at Penn to make your college experience amazing are basically limited by the number of hours in the day and your willingness to pursue them.
Women in Computer Science
http://www.seas.upenn.edu/~wics/
Femme Hacks
http://femmehacks.io
Society of Women Engineers
https://fling.seas.upenn.edu/~swe/cgi-bin/
Hack4impact
http://hack4impact.org/about/
Digital Media Design
http://cg.cis.upenn.edu/dmd_program.html
Network and Social Systems Engineering
http://www.nets.upenn.edu
Weiss Tech House
http://weisstech.upenn.edu
Outcomes
http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/files/SEAS_CPSurvey_2014.pdf
Sub-matriculation
http://www.seas.upenn.edu/undergraduate/degrees/submatriculation.php