My Background

Hi! I’m Noemí. I’m from the Costa Brava, specifically from a small seaside town called Palafrugell. My mother is Cuban, and my father is Catalan, so I like to say I’m Cuban-Catalan.

I did all my schooling in Palafrugell. I went to a Vedruna school, which is a semi-private, very typical local school. Later, I moved to a different town nearby, Palamós, for Bachillerato (our final two years of high school). I was actually meant to do my first year of Bachillerato in Canada on a scholarship from the Amancio Ortega Foundation, but the COVID pandemic canceled the program. That was heartbreaking for me, but I still decided to switch towns to change my surroundings a bit. I paid for my Baccalaureate with state scholarships I earned thanks to my grades in ESO (our equivalent of middle school).

Stats

I did the Spanish national curriculum (not IB or A-Levels). I finished Bachillerato with a 9.9 GPA out of 10. I didn’t submit SAT scores because I took the test twice, did terribly both times, and decided to apply test-optional. I’ve never been good at standardized tests, and thankfully, many schools in the U.S. allowed test-optional applications that year. For the TOEFL, I got a 115 out of 120.

Why Study Abroad?

I had always dreamed of studying abroad. Since I was little, I knew I wanted something more. My town started to feel small for me. Initially, I looked into the UK, but Brexit made the financial side too difficult. I also considered Canada, the Netherlands, and even New Zealand. But eventually, I focused on the U.S. because of the liberal arts system. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to study, and the American system let me explore before committing to one field. That flexibility was a huge plus for me.

Why UPenn?

UPenn wasn’t my dream school at first. I particularly liked its location in Philadelphia, close to both New York and Washington, D.C. I applied to many universities and slowly started falling in love with UPenn during the application process. I was waitlisted at a few schools, including Columbia (which later accepted me!), but UPenn admitted me early during regular decision. Once I got in, I felt like it was the right place — and I absolutely loved it. I wouldn’t change it for anything!

Financial Aid

I didn’t apply for any specific scholarships. I just applied for need-based financial aid through UPenn using the CSS Profile and its extra forms. UPenn is need-aware for international students, but I was lucky because they offered me full aid. That includes tuition, housing, food, health insurance, and even two round-trip flights home per year. In my first year, I submitted documents from my family. But now that I’m financially independent, I just submit my own.

My Major

I’m double majoring in Neuroscience and Psychology. I applied initially thinking I’d do Cognitive Science, but then I took a Neuroscience class and absolutely loved it. At UPenn, you don’t have to declare your major until sophomore year, which I’m very thankful for, as it gave me time to explore and figure out what I really wanted. About 75% of Penn students end up changing their intended major, so I’m definitely not alone!

Extracurriculars

To be honest, I didn’t have the “perfect” extracurricular profile. I came from a small town with limited opportunities. I wasn’t competing in national Olympiads or founding startups. But I tried to make my activities sound meaningful. I had a cultural project at home where we hosted discussions and writing workshops. I was involved in my town’s youth associations. I also worked at the local market. Through the Amancio Ortega Foundation, due to the cancellation of the exchange year in Canada because of COVID, we did a couple of enrichment courses with Cambridge and MIT, and I included that in my application. My extracurriculars were simple but real. I think what made the difference were my essays.

Essays

I like to believe my personal essay and supplements were my strongest points. I put a lot of thought and heart into them. I’m a very reflective person, and I think that came through. My main essay was a metaphorical story told from the perspective of a flower, reflecting my personal growth. For me, the important thing in my essays wasn't listing achievements, but rather being authentic.

How It’s Going

In August 2022, it was my first time traveling abroad and so far away. At first, I didn't join many clubs because I needed time to adjust academically and emotionally. Later, I became deeply involved in several mental health-related clubs, such as: Penn Wellness Student Coalition (where I organize Wellness Week), Peer Counseling (Benjamins), offering emotional support among students, Penn Reproductive Justice, where I teach sexual and menstrual health workshops in schools, and International Student Assembly, my first point of support at UPenn. 

I want to also talk about "Penn Face," a phenomenon in which students appear to have everything under control, when in reality many struggle to maintain academic, social, and personal balance. As an international student from a humble background, I felt this pressure strongly. However, I found a support network in my closest international friends, with whom I now share a very special relationship.

Plans After Graduation

Right now, I’ve found my passion in research, specifically, studying the female brain during pregnancy and its connection to mental health. I’m fascinated by conditions like postpartum depression, anxiety, and psychosis, and I’m currently working in a lab where I feel truly inspired.

After my graduation on May 2026, I might take a gap year to work, but my long-term goal is to pursue a PhD, potentially in Clinical Psychology, while continuing neuroscience research. I aspire to follow the scientist-practitioner model. That way, I can ask better research questions and apply my findings to real people. Neuroimaging and women’s mental health are fields I’d love to keep exploring.

My Tips

I will always recommend being authentic, thoroughly researching colleges, and not being afraid of not seeming "impressive enough". I firmly believe that if you're not accepted to a college, it's not because you're not good enough, but because it might not have been the right place for you. I also suggest researching professors or specific research at colleges that interest you and mentioning them in your essays, especially in the UPenn supplement, where your academic and social interest in the community is highly valued.