Undergraduate Student Profiles

Name: Ali Haider Dhanaliwala
Year: 2007
Major(s): Bioengineering
Minor(s): None
Hometown: Hampton, NJ

Why did you choose Penn over other engineering schools?
Location and diversity of subjects are the two main reasons I chose Penn over other engineering schools. I live in a rural/suburban town and I wanted to experience city life. However, few engineering programs are in universities that are located in a city as large as Philadelphia with all the standard amenities, decent public transportation, a diversity of food, and a center for the arts and sciences. Most importantly though is the breadth of the courses taught at Penn. Not only is Penn’s engineering one of the few university to have a bioengineering department, Penn offers courses in practically every subject. Business, linguistics and fine arts are just a few courses that can compliment any curriculum. This is a major draw because it ensures me that if I ever realize bioengineering is not for me then I have plenty of options for either pursuing another major or at least supplementing engineering courses with subjects that are more interesting.

What’s your greatest accomplishment inside the classroom at Penn?
The greatest accomplishment inside the classroom was taking a junior level class as a freshman. This taught me that there is no need to be afraid of the numbers in front of a class, 200 300 and 400 level courses can be as easy as 100 level courses if you are interested in the subject and are willing to take some extra time to learn the basics if necessary. It also taught me the advantage of experimenting with courses outside of the suggested curriculum that may seem too advanced. I found that working hard for a class is usually more rewarding than simply breezing through it.

What do you plan on doing after you graduate from SEAS? How has SEAS helped prepare you for your career?
After graduating SEAS I would like to pursue an M.D./Ph.D and focus on research. I decided to pursue this path because of my experience with SEAS. I acquired information from many sources including advice from professors, lectures on various careers, engineering and non-engineering, as well as advice from peers. In addition, there is a diverse range of research opportunities, which are great tests for finding what interests you. The resources are there, the key is not being shy about using them. Once one learns how to interact with SEAS, it can be an excellent resource for a myriad of opportunities.

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