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West Chester University of Pennsylvania

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

Ashley Super

Philadelphia, PA
Political Science
Senior

There’s diversity, understanding and approachable professors, the community is nice. Everyone says ‘hi’ to you – that was one of the first things I noticed.

Ashley Super, who transferred to West Chester in her sophomore year, says the environment makes one of the university’s strongest impressions. “There’s diversity, understanding and approachable professors, the community is nice. Everyone says ‘hi’ to you – that was one of the first things I noticed.”

Civility wasn’t something she encountered much in her youth. Abused as a child and shuffled from home to home as a ward of the state, Ashley initially put education on the back burner. In high school she was transferred to Three Rivers Youth (TRY), a Pittsburgh shelter program where she learned the value of education and where it could take her. By her senior year she was taking college-level classes.

Her experience as an at-risk youth determined to succeed brought her to the attention of the local United Way, which, like TRY, features her in an online video testimonial. On behalf of United Way, she also gives motivational speeches about her tumultuous past, educating community and business leaders on the value of supporting social programs, often for at-risk youth.

At West Chester, Ashley found her passion in international relations. She promotes the diversity of language and culture on campus as executive board member and cultural liaison for Alpha Mu Gamma, the national collegiate foreign language honors society. Her goal is to attend Harvard Law School and become an advocate for people who don’t have a voice, both within the United States and in third world countries.

Her concept of success? “When you can take everything you’ve learned and hold onto it, apply it in everyday situations and in every opportunity you are given. You have to be dedicated. Use what you learn and don’t be afraid to represent where you come from.”

WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY PROFILE

Community

West Chester University is located in the Borough of West Chester, the seat of government in Chester County since 1786. With a population of about 20,000, the borough is small enough to have the pleasant aspects of a tree-shaded small town yet large enough to contain essential services and a vibrant and diverse community. Students can walk to West Chester’s many stores, restaurants, banks and churches. Philadelphia is 25 miles to the east and Wilmington, 17 miles to the south, putting the libraries, museums and other cultural and historical resources of both cities in easy reach. Valley Forge, the Brandywine Battlefield, Longwood Gardens and other historical attractions are nearby. New York and Washington are easily accessible by car or train.

Profile

West Chester enrolls 15,411 students – 13,297 undergraduates and 2,114 graduate students. Among the undergraduate population, 9,343 are female and 6,068, male; 2,637 are minorities. The university offers more than 80 undergraduate and 70 master’s degree and graduate certificate programs. The largest school in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and the fourth-largest university in the Philadelphia area, West Chester is a leading resource and partner in fostering the region’s economic, social and cultural vitality. Its 400-acre campus is situated in the beautiful, historically significant Brandywine Valley. With roots dating back to 1812, West Chester has evolved into a comprehensive university that excels in teacher education, business, health, natural and social sciences, music and the arts. Ranked among Kiplinger’s 100 best values in public colleges for its academic quality and affordability, the university is committed to providing access and serving the educational needs of a diverse student body.

Most Popular Programs

Elementary education, psychology, management, communication studies, music, criminal justice, accounting, health and physical education, early childhood education (pre-K to Grade 4), biology, nursing, special education, history and marketing.

Highlighted Programs

Pharmaceutical Product Development – The curriculum for the bachelor of science in pharmaceutical product development was developed through extensive dialog with key leaders in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. While the primary focus is on drug development and discovery, the versatility of the program enables students to become proficient in numerous areas. This innovative curriculum is coupled with up to two summers of paid internships in the industry. Capstone courses are taught by experts from large pharmaceutical firms and small biotech companies such as AstraZeneca, Cephalon, Endo Pharmaceuticals, ICON Clinical Research, Johnson & Johnson, ProMetrics, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Viropharma. Graduates of the program enter the industry, graduate or medical schools with a breadth of understanding that previously took several years of industry experience to acquire.

Honors College -- At West Chester University, honors is more than a matter of strong grades. Honors implies a decision to use the gift of knowledge to be an active problem solver in both the campus community and in the world. The Honors College develops leaders through service. In their capstone projects, students identify and investigate a problem in a community business, nonprofit agency or research laboratory, and then work to solve the problem. They play an active role in the problem-solving effort and contribute a minimum of ten hours each week to help solve the problem. Students will interact with the CEO, senior officer(s) and/or senior investigators of the business, agency or laboratory, who will serve as leadership models for students.

Intercollegiate Athletics

Men’s - Baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis and track and field.

Women’s - Basketball, cheerleading, cross country, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, rugby, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field and volleyball.