For Shristi Mapchan C’25, the University provides the perfect balance of academic rigor, extracurricular enrichment, and social engagement. “Penn has given me opportunities to grow and challenge myself intellectually and professionally, while also forming amazing, lasting friendships,” she says.
Her extensive involvement in clubs and organizations has allowed Shristi to foster meaningful relationships while enhancing her Penn experience beyond the classroom. With PENNaach—Penn’s premier all-female South Asian fusion dance troupe—Shristi performs student-choreographed pieces in campus events and showcases with teammates who have become family. Her additional contributions to the Nepali Student Association, Sigma Psi Zeta Sorority, Inc., Oracle Senior Honor Society, and Asian Pacific American Leadership Initiative have helped her form a solid foundation of friendship and connection to carry her through her undergraduate journey.
Through the generosity of alumni donors, Shristi has received essential funding to empower her education. “From financial aid, to fully funded summer research opportunities, to the gifts that make Penn Global Seminars accessible—because of alumni philanthropy, I have experienced things I never thought possible.”
During her final year as an undergraduate, Shristi is excited to continue making memories that are—as she says—“quintessentially college”: “I look forward to attending football games, wearing my red and blue gear, and learning from professors who are the founders of their fields.”
Shristi plans to continue her education in medical school, after which she will work as a physician focused on expanding healthcare to under-resourced populations, including immigrants, refugees, and communities of color. Regardless of the precise path she takes, she knows her experiences at the University have prepared her to succeed—and the Penn community will continue to support her dreams and endeavors. “The Penn alumni network is so broad and generous, and I’ve connected with many inspiring mentors through my studies and extracurricular organizations. No matter where I go, I know I will find people who will help guide me to find my place—both personally and professionally—for the rest of my life.”
Favorite Place to Eat Near Campus
