Episode 38--Busy PhD Weekend

The PhD weekend held by Penn GSE started from (1/31-2/2) Friday Evening to Sunday morning. For graduate assistants, it has been really busy. On Friday evening, we went to a fancy restaurant called Davio's in center city Philadelphia for registration. There, those applicants could socialize and mingle while having a decent dinner. For us, I guess one of the perks of working at GSE Admission Office is that we could also be treated with nice dishes and a cup of wine. The next day, which was the big day for the applicants because they were about to impress GSE faculty/professors  so as to be admitted to their intended program. In the morning, Andrea and I first went to the Club Quarters (hotel) to escort them to the Inn at Penn, where they would be having breakfast and attending academic poster presentation given by some of our GSE faculty members and current PhD students. Around 12 pm, they were escorted to GSE for the lunch and one-on-one interview/conversation with the faculty. The interview lasted from 2pm to 5 pm; each applicant has about 30 minutes to talk with the professor. After that, they were invited to a fancy dinner held in the Penn Museum, which I didn't go. I believe that other GA would blog about that evening event in their blogs if you would like to know more about it. ( They said it was amazing!) As to Sunday, a current student panel was held in the restaurant where we just had dinner Friday evening. After having breakfast, current PhD students did a fantastic presentation to the applicants regarding PhD students lives at Penn as well as living in Philadelphia. I also learned a lot from hearing them, and decided to try out some of their recommended restaurants.