My name is Teodora, and I am currently studying in the Jerome Fisher Management and Technology Program at the University of Pennsylvania. I graduated from the American College of Sofia (ACS) in 2023, and my journey to U.S. colleges began during my high school years.

Preparation

I started seriously considering applying to U.S. colleges in 11th grade, as it was a common topic of discussion at school. Since it had been mentioned in my family multiple times before that, I knew that these colleges look for students who explore a variety of interests and pursue their passions, so I was seeking opportunities to do just that.

Ballet was a significant part of my life for about ten years, and during high school, I decided to try something new by joining the basketball club. I also got involved with school clubs that organized fundraisers and community events. Additionally, I was active in the Student Council, serving as Co-Chair of a committee for a year and as a member of committees during the rest of the years.

Among all my activities, my greatest passion was physics. From 9th to 12th grade, I participated in national and international physics competitions, dedicating my weekends to out-of-school courses and attending summer physics camps led by Teodosii Teodosiev, who some of you might have heard about. I joined the science club at ACS, eventually becoming its President by 12th grade. Additionally, I co-founded a programming club with a friend in 10th grade that we developed and led until our senior year.

Throughout the years I was also actively involved with the annual International Science Fair FISSION at ACS. Starting out as a volunteer and club member, I eventually became one of the four leaders in the organization of the yearly tradition in my final year of high school. All of these were activities and passions I was excited for and put a lot of effort into. In the meantime I remained committed to excelling academically, understanding the importance of strong grades for college applications.

Preparing for the SAT was another key focus in 11th grade, since my scores for the English section weren’t very high, and after a few months of private classes specifically for the exam my score was exactly the same, but I submitted it and also took the TOEFL as a language-proficiency exam. 

Application

When it came to the application process, I began researching specific colleges and universities in 11th grade. At first glance, many colleges seemed quite similar based on their websites and the interviews I found online. Looking for deeper insight, I reached out to a few Bulgarian students who were studying in the U.S. at the time and asked them about their experiences, both with the application process and campus life. Their advice provided me with a clearer picture of what it’s like to live and study at a U.S. college, as well as how students spend their time outside of academics.

I applied to 19 colleges in total, but was only accepted into three: Penn, Dartmouth, and Trinity College in Connecticut. Out of the three, only one gave me a satisfactory financial aid offer. Being accepted to two Ivy League colleges, I realised that the challenge was yet to come in both cases. After making my decision and moving to the U.S., I met a lot more Bulgarian students in nearby cities, which helped me build an initial network in this new environment.

Penn’s application process followed a structure similar to most other colleges, involving essays and a list of extracurricular activities submitted through the Common App. And no, I did not have an interview with them. One unique aspect of Penn’s application process, however, is that you apply directly to one of its four undergraduate schools rather than the university as a whole. The schools mainly differ by the majors they offer and their degree requirements.

For example, the popular Wharton School (the business school) offers a single economics major emphasizing business leadership with a wide variety of available concentrations. In contrast, the College of Arts and Sciences also offers an economics major, but with a theoretical and mathematical focus. The School of Engineering and Applied Sciences provides specialized engineering programs with fewer social science and humanities requirements and engineering courses from an industry perspective compared to STEM majors in the College of Arts and Sciences. The School of Nursing focuses on nursing programs, while general pre-med programs are housed in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Choosing your school matters because switching between them after acceptance is difficult (not impossible). On the other hand, changing your major within your enrolled school is much more flexible. Unlike some other universities, you can start classes within your major from your first semester at Penn rather than having to wait for one or two years. Additionally, Penn is known for its prestigious coordinated dual-degree programs, combining the education of two undergraduate schools with a specific goal—such as management and technology, management and biological sciences, molecular research, or energy research. Generally, it is possible to transfer into these programs after the first year, but it is way easier to apply together through the additional essays in Common App.