<p>I knew people would either call me insecure or say I dont know anything about the school by bringing up this question, but i think the fact that the method you believe should be used to answer the question is that it "takes exactly 4 minutes to look up on the internet" shows how flawed the question is.</p>
<p>A lot of things take little time to do. If one can't spend four minutes doing some simple research then they definitely don't belong at the school. It's a small thing to ask of an applicant. Those short-answers aren't supposed to even be that indepth! It's really not a huge burden for anyone choosing to apply to Penn. </p>
<p>Calling this question "insecure of Penn" would be like calling a prenupt an example of an "insecure marriage". They are both very much business-oriented functions. Penn wants to make sure that people are serious about applying.</p>
<p>ok w/e, its not a big deal, i just thought it was odd. I don't see how I'm suddenly serious about applying because I took the time to answer a 4 minute question.</p>
<p>In my mind it's only one level of weeding out the flippant-applicants (ie. "Eh I have to do research? Screw that. I don't even really wanna apply here.")</p>
<p>ares153, what most students don't realize until they actually go off to school is that a university's faculty is their greatest resource. it seems like penn is trying to get students thinking this way as early as possible (in the application) to make students aware of what they have access to at penn. i support this short answer question. while it isn't a serious full-length essay, they are forcing you to show them how you can take advantage of a great faculty. i can't blame you for seeing the question from your perspective b/c you've never been to college, but try to approach it with a more constructive and less doubtful attitude.</p>
<p>heyyyy salient, the israeli one. how is israel treating you? my friend just got back from there a few days ago. ;)</p>
<p>if that question was on the app when i was applying, i think i wouldve just said screw it. lol, that's what i did on the columbia - manadatory rec from a math teacher? i hate that bastard, screw it!</p>
<p>Sorry, I really like Penn's questions and actually think that they are two of the best questions out there. If you can't describe what it is in particular about a university that exictes you, what in particular you are exicted about studying there, and who you are excited to study with, you shouldn't be applying to that school.</p>
<p>I think it's a very interesting addition to the app. Perhaps they also want to see how interested you are in the major or school you selected. For instance, if you are applying to the College, you shouldn't be picking faculty from SEAS, NUR, or WH. I don't know, just another thought.</p>
<p>Nope, they're just insecure, plain and simple. There's some cold comfort for you!</p>
<p>i rlly dont think they are insecure, i really think tht between a student that apply just for the sake of it and a student that love upenn, it could be seen through easily from that question. i really don't understand how a school can be 'insecure', they have so many applicants with wonderful stats, true, some mite be aiming for harvard or sth, but im sure they have more than enough students with wonderful stats that wants to go to upenn. thats just a way to differentiate who does and who doesnt. Wouldnt it be nice for the school if all of the students love the school? thts sth i think penn wants to create, becuz they will surely benefit from it, instead of ppl who got in but doesnt love the school. and i actualy like tht question, cuz i think its so easy to answer. and just like some said, it can rlly screen out many ppl that goes 'screw it'. I go 'screw it' for some of the applications from other schools, because i dont wanna spend time for them, but for penn, im willing to : )</p>