DIVERSITY

University of Pennsylvania Non-Discrimination Policy and Safety StatementThe University of Pennsylvania values diversity and seeks talented students, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds. The University of Pennsylvania does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected class status in the administration of its admissions, financial aid, educational or athletic programs, or other University-administered programs or in its employment practices. Questions or complaints regarding this policy should be directed to the Executive Director of the Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Programs, Sansom Place East, 3600 Chestnut Street, Suite 228, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6106; or (215) 898-6993 (Voice) or (215) 898-7803 (TDD). The University’s annual security and fire safety report is available at www.publicsafety.upenn.edu. The University of Pennsylvania must reserve the right to make changes affecting policies, fees, curricula, or any other matters announcement in this publication or on its website.

Penn Law Student Organizations

www.law.upenn.edu/cf/StudentOrganizations/index.cfm

The University of Pennsylvania Student Organizations

www.vpul.upenn.edu/osl/orgmain.html

NAYHA ZUBAIR

2016

Hometown: Fremont, CA

University of California, Berkeley, BA 2013

At Penn Law, diversity extends beyond what meets the eye. I am a Pakistani-American from California who is interested in Technology Transactions law and constantly on the search for the best burrito in the country. My best friends at school run the gamut from Great Gatsby aficionados who find their passion in trial settings to entrepreneurs with finance backgrounds who are starting their own companies. Though these descriptions may lead to the inference that we share little in common, Penn Law has brought us together rather than pushed us apart. Through various affinity and interest groups, cross-disciplinary academic opportunities, and social clubs, Penn Law allows us to highlight our similarities but understand and value our differences. By bringing together such a diverse group of people, Penn Law trains us to look at problems through different perspectives and, as a result, to become better lawyers.

MARLON AMPRE Y

2016

Hometown: Tulsa, OK

University of Maryland, BA 2009

George Mason University, MED 2011

Here at Penn Law, diversity is not something we are just working towards, instead it is the very culture that creates the learning environment that cultivates some of the world’s greatest legal minds. As an active member of the Black Law Student Association, I feel supported by faculty of all backgrounds who attend meetings and conferences while offering sincere guidance. The Black community at Penn extends beyond the campus. The surrounding Black community and Black Alumni work hard to ensure that we are getting the help we need to diversify the legal profession nationwide upon graduation. Penn Law ensures that the coursework reflects the diverse interests and passions of the student population. The school ensures that we have the brightest legal minds teaching courses on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and economic inequality. Penn’s dedication to diversity within the fabric of the coursework and the culture of the student body truly sets it apart.

To learn more about Penn Law, please contact the

Office of Admissions and Financial Aid

3501 Sansom Street

Philadelphia, PA 19104-6204

215.898.7400

contactadmissions@law.upenn.edu

www.law.upenn.edu/admissions/jd

We value diversity in our community — diversity of thought, background, ethnicity, political ideology, racial heritage, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion,

socio-economic status, age, and service. Students of distinct backgrounds collaborate through our more than 90 student organizations, including our 13 affinity groups

(as listed below):

Asian Pacific American Law Student Association (APALSA)

Black Law Student Association (BLSA)

Christian Legal Society

Eastern European Law Student Association (EELSA)

J. Reuben Clark Law Society

Jewish Law Student Association (JLSA)

Korean American Law Student Network

Lambda Law

Latin American Law Student Association (LALSA)

Muslim Law Student Association (MLSA)

Penn Law Women’s Association (PLWA)

South Asian Law Student Association (SALSA)

Y’allsa

Please visit our website at https://www.law.upenn.edu/cf/StudentOrganizations/index.cfm for further information.

ANJALI BUSHAN

2017

Hometown: Fort Myers, FL

University of Florida, BA 2011

University of Pennsylvania, JD/MSW 2017

To me, diversity means the acceptance of a diversity of perspectives. I felt disconnected from the community I grew up in because I was always reluctant to subscribe to only one set of views. I was drawn to Penn Law because of its recognition of law as an interdisciplinary practice; it is the first place where I have felt that out-of-the box thinking is not only appreciated but nurtured. At Penn Law, there are no limitations on your study of law. Everyone from the professors, to the student affairs staff, to the students themselves is there to listen to your ideas and to support you in making them come to fruition. Penn Law is truly a place that welcomes and loves a diversity of perspectives.

SEFERINA BERCH

2017

Hometown: New York, NY

University of Chicago, BA 2014

While I had always avoided ethnic labels and didn’t become a part of any affinity groups in undergrad, when I got to Penn Law, I found I could actually enjoy the various aspects of my identity. Shortly after I received my acceptance call from Penn Law, members of LALSA (the Latin American Law Student Association) reached out to congratulate me and invited me to brunch during Admitted Students Weekend. Not only were they welcoming, they were comfortably diverse, with a variety of different backgrounds and styles — it was nice to realize there wasn’t some code for how to be the perfect Latina. Not only did LALSA pair every 1L with an upper level mentor, there were always plenty of 2Ls and 3Ls who could give me advice on navigating my first year. Before long, I found myself enjoying the programs and events of a lot of other diversity groups. Indeed, we were all doing the same thing — making Penn Law our own.

CHET ECKMAN

2017

Hometown: Ephrata, PA

Northeastern University, BS 2012

Penn Law has a reputation for being a particularly LGBTQ friendly law school. When I learned that around 10% of our student body is openly LGBTQ, I realized that Penn would absolutely live up to its reputation. As someone who had never been immediately open about my sexuality in professional or academic circles, I was drawn to Penn Law as a place where I could be forthcoming from my first day on campus. For the first time, I have become fully involved in the LGBTQ community. Penn Law’s support for Lambda and gay students (by funding political/social events, incorporating gay characters into exams, attending rallies downtown, etc.) allows gay students to truly feel comfortable at school and to therefore contribute more fully to the tough discussions facing the legal community from the outset of their legal careers. I cannot imagine a more fantastic place to be an LGBTQ law student and could not be more thrilled with my choice to attend Penn Law. Penn Law is a place where diversity of thought is truly valued and distinctiveness is celebrated. Whether you’re a gay, first-generation college graduate from Amish country like me or someone entirely different, your unique perspective will be celebrated in our Penn Law community.

KAI YI XIE

2016

Hometown: Hamilton, New Zealand and Bethesda, Maryland

University of Maryland, BS 2012, M.Eng 2015

Penn Law isn’t a place where complacency lives. It isn’t where students rest easily on their belief systems. Respectful and insightful dialogue bridges and celebrates differences between viewpoints, life experiences, academic backgrounds, and ages through both class and extracurricular activities. As a student research fellow in the Center for Technology, Innovation, and Competition, my prior training in biomedical engineering and theoretical math has been challenged and complimented by top scholars at Penn Law studying the economics of patent law and innovation. On Law Review, I’ve had the opportunity to learn, discuss, and debate multifaceted legal issues with renowned scholars and jurists. But these experiences are my own; a Penn Law student has enough flexibility and support to pursue their own passions through numerous clubs, both social and academic, and in phenomenal opportunities that are in Philadelphia.

NATE HANCOCK

2016

Hometown: Sandy, UT

Brigham Young University, BA 2013

Before coming to Penn Law, I had spent most of my life in Salt Lake City, where nearly everyone around me shared the same perspective on life, politics, and religion. Although I love Utah and consider it a wonderful place, I always wondered about my place in society because I did not share the same background or values of my peers. I grew up with a proud Brazilian mother who did all that she could to hold her culture close and teach her children Brazilian traditions. I knew my upbringing was different than that of those around me, and though I often felt pressured, I refused to assimilate to the dominate culture. When I started at Penn Law, I quickly realized that the great variety of student groups and initiatives could make anyone, including myself, feel a sense of self, a sense of community, and an overall feeling of acceptance. This is probably because every person you meet understands the importance of ideological, political, social, and ethnic diversity. As a member of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society, I see this firsthand. Attending Penn Law has been the best decision because the school truly embraces and encourages diversity and individuality. Simply put, I have found my place in the Penn Law community.

KENDRA SANDIDGE

2016

Hometown: Roselle, NJ

University of Pennsylvania, BA 2008, JD/MBA 2016

At Penn Law, we are one community, made up of many voices, with differing perspectives and varying experiences. During orientation, Dean Post reminded my incoming class of our collective breadth by highlighting the many unique accomplishments and multifarious paths we had taken to Fitts Auditorium. It was inspiring and encouraging. As an African-American woman who worked for five years before beginning at Penn Law, I felt a sense of belonging, and I was excited to meet those around me. While there were not many faces that looked like mine, each one was welcoming. It is this diversity that has enriched my time at Penn Law.

There is no pre-law educational requirement or even

a specific recommended course of study for admission

to Penn Law. Strength of character, breadth of knowledge,

and intellectual maturity constitute the base upon which

our legal education builds. As such, Penn Law seeks to enroll

individuals who have demonstrated outstanding academic success,

who are intellectually curious, and who possess superior writing, oral

communication, and analytical skills. Importantly, we also seek individuals

who will positively contribute to the Penn Law community, and ultimately, to

the legal profession, based on their diverse backgrounds, their personal and

professional experiences, and any challenges or obstacles that they may have

overcome. The Admissions Committee considers numerous factors in the admissions

process, including the student’s academic record, course selection and grade trends, the

LSAT score, letters of recommendation, leadership, community service, extracurricular

activities, professional and life experiences, and the applicant’s examples of written

expression (LSAT writing sample, personal statement, and optional essays). Importantly,

the Admissions Committee bases its decision on all material submitted on behalf

of each candidate. Though an applicant’s academic record and LSAT score are

significant factors in the review process, they are not the sole factors. We do not

have numerical “cut-offs” in the application process, nor do we employ the use of

an admissions index.