<p>So I have a Penn alumni interview coming up and I know that they always ask the questions "why penn" and "describe yourself". If the question is indeed that open-ended, whats the best way to start the "describe yourself" response. I mean I know that I would talk about my EC and volunteer work and my interest and beliefs but how would I start it? It seems that saying: "I participate in xxx club and xxx sports isn't a good starter." </p>
<p>also would it be appropriate to include a personal experience and its effects?</p>
<p>"describe yourself" - well i find myself to be quite a dedicated person. indeed i participate in various clubs such as bla bla which i have been involved with for over three years now. ...</p>
<p>thats a way u could start.</p>
<p>remember that if u make an assertion or claim (such as "im a dedicated person) make sure u ABSOLUTELY back it up (by giving examples showing u are a dedicated person).</p>
<p>I'd go in with two or three themes that you wish to emphasize and to which you can return multiple times. For instance my daughter, who's now a college freshman, emphasized her interest in languages and the fact that she'd studied Arabic, her reading list (which was uncommonly extensive), and her year-long experiences representing our state in a program for HS women. All three were unusual, and all three overlapped - the reading made her interested in other cultures, the program allowed her to meet young women from a variety of backgrounds, etc. That way, instead of forcing interviewers to paint a mental image of you (and having no control over what they paint), it's like giving them a paint-by-numbers kit.</p>
<p>If someone asked you, "what makes you qualified to go to this college?", make sure you answer that question in your answer to "describe yourself."</p>
<p>For example, I don't have a single unifying interest that defines me. I enjoy calculus as much as I enjoy learning about history, or participating in Mock Trial or whatever. I don't have the slightest clue what I want to major in. But that could either be a weakness or a strength. To a question like "describe yourself," I would talk about how I honestly have no unifying interest but, at the same time, I am academically curious in a lot of different fields and I enjoy learning for the sake of learning. Or something like that.</p>
<p>Just be honest but informative at the same time. They want to write a good rec for you.</p>