I just got back from the University of Pennsylvania informantion session at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Sunset and Beverly.  I thought it was a wonderful event - a great info session.  Granted, Alexandra Santiago, the Regional Director of Admission for Southern California, went over basic stuff, but if you hadn’t been to a Penn info session before, which I’m sure was the majority of the people, it was very informative.  We also listened to the Dean of Admission, Eric Furda, speak on the application.  The great part about tonight, I thought, was how personal and personable Furda was.  He even went so far as to give a few tips and pointers on the app and early vs. regular deadline decision making.  A great (and ethnically diverse) video complemented Santiago’s and Furda’s speaking.

I didn’t get a chance to take any pictures, but below I’ve included a picture of the ballroom in which the sessione was held.  It’s from the Beverly Hills Hotel website».  The pictures shows rounds of 10, but we were seated classroom style.  Every seat in the house was filled.  Actuallu, before you take a look at the picture, here are a few numbers:

• There were about 450 people in attendence.
• When Eric Furda asked who was applying to Penn early decision, less than 20 kids raised their hands.
• When Penn alumni were asked to stand, only 2 parents in the audience stood up.