And in the blink of an eye, my dream of becoming an Ivy League student became a reality. Since I was accepted into the International Guest Student Program this year, I could not have imagined the number of experiences that were yet to come. But from the very beginning, I had a goal in mind, to make my months at Penn the best possible, to take advantage of every opportunity offered to me, whether academic or enjoy new experiences, and to make my time in the United States a truly complete immersion in American culture.
The start of the program already began with something entirely new, that was adapting to the American student lifestyle and building friendships that would become a permanent part of my daily life. From the very beginning, my greatest excitement was the possibility of becoming a Penn student and having access to the many departments the university offers. What always caught my attention was Wharton, the most prestigious business school in the world, which after this experience not only shaped my academic and personal present, but certainly defined the steps I will take for my future.
Finding My Place at Penn
From the very first months, I made sure to attend all the events, and I take this as a recommendation for everyone. They were essential not only for getting to know all the resources the university offers, but also, without a doubt, for building friendships with those with whom I shared moments throughout the exchange. It was at events like these that I was able to begin my integration as a student by joining student clubs. At first, you are impressed by the high variety of clubs, from those associated with Wharton to others from different departments, so you can be sure that you will find one that suits you. I joined as a member of the Wharton Undergraduate Finance Club, one of the finance organizations. It was an incredible experience, not only because I could interact with many Penn students, but above all with students who shared the same vision for the future and intended to follow similar career paths. It becomes much easier to connect and form friendships when you are part of the same club as others.
Giving Back Through Education
It was throughout these organization fairs that I was able to take another step toward my goal of making the most of my time here. It was there that I discovered the Moelis Access Science Program, which initially caught my attention mainly because of the opportunity to teach for the first time in a school setting. This was an experience I had never had, not even in my home country, but why not embrace the opportunity and try something new? It was the best decision I made. Together with another friend I met in the first weeks, we joined as teachers at Robeson School, where we met our great classroom mentor, Professor Mr. Rowe. These were moments of intense learning, as we experienced firsthand how demanding a teacher’s life is, from grading exams to holding full classrooms to answer students’ questions. I consider this one of the most impactful and meaningful learning experiences I have ever had in my life, and one that I will certainly never forget from my time at Penn.
Professor Mr. Rowe from Robeson School
Learning for the Road Ahead
In addition to the clubs and volunteer experiences I was able to have, if there was one thing that will certainly shape my decisions moving forward, it was the classes. I was able to take courses in several areas, ranging from Philosophy to management. One of the main differences of Penn professors is not only the excellence of their academic background, but especially the market experience that each of them brings, accessible professors with whom, in every conversation, you can discover something new about the market and gain a new insight to apply in your own life. But if there was one class I truly recommend to future students, it is MGMT 2130 – Entrepreneurship through Acquisition, taught by the renowned Professor Richard Perlman, the founder and Executive Chairman of ExamWorks Group, Inc., the global leader in the independent medical exam industry. I certainly learned a lot from someone who, in practice, led his companies to go public and completed more than 100 acquisitions throughout his career. This course will undoubtedly guide me over the next few years, as I learned what “ETA” is, from the process of prospecting new businesses, to valuation, and the completion of a transaction, understanding not only a new concept, but also strengthening my desire to pursue entrepreneurship in the future. Above all, I came to understand the need to initially enter Private Equity to gain experience, so that in the future I can start my own Search Fund and follow my path as an entrepreneur.
Professor Richard Perlman (right) and his partner James Price (left)
Journeys Across the United States
Beyond the classes and extracurricular experiences I was having, there was still one goal I had set for my exchange, that was to enjoy the United States. With the many friends I made here, I was able to travel extensively and have countless experiences I will never forget. The first of these was attending the US Open, a unique experience of watching a Grand Slam, combined with a trip to New York City, which became a regular destination on weekends, where we were able to make the most of this iconic American city.
After that, we did not stop there. We visited the new Universal Studios park, Epic Universe, an experience filled with laughter, especially because it was my first time visiting a theme park exclusively with friends. This is an experience I would certainly recommend to future exchange students, you will not regret it. We also had the opportunity to visit the famous capital of the United States, Washington, D.C., which in my opinion was the most beautiful city I visited, full of landmarks and endless options of places to explore throughout the trip.
As a sports enthusiast, I could not set aside my passion for motorsports or the chance to see Philadelphia teams in action. We attended games of the famous Eagles and 76ers, and I can say that I now have my American football and basketball teams to support. Watching these games with friends made the experience even more unforgettable. In that same spirit, we embarked on another adventure, the one of attending Formula 1 in Las Vegas, one of the greatest spectacles in modern motorsport and my first Formula 1 race experienced on an American circuit. These are moments that I will certainly carry with me forever.
The months passed, winter arrived in Philadelphia, and the semester came to an end. We could not let this moment go by without marking it, and that is when we came up with our final idea for the exchange, the one of taking a cruise to the Bahamas. I had never done anything like that before, but there was no better way to conclude our journey. Feeling some warmth was essential to recharge our energy and move forward into the final week of submissions that was approaching.
A Farewell Filled With Gratitude
And so we arrived at our last week here at Penn, and if there is one feeling I will carry from this entire process, it is gratitude. Gratitude for every opportunity that Penn provided me, with special thanks to Devin Johnson and Lisa Taglang, who guided me throughout the entire process, from questions about the selection process to any issues I had during my time here in Philadelphia. I was able to take advantage of every opportunity offered to me, I participated in clubs, academic programs alongside the Netter Center, engaged with the
Brazilian community, traveled to places in the United States that I will never forget, had contact with some of the world’s leading professors, and built friendships with people from all over the world that I will always carry with me. I fulfilled that lifelong dream not only of becoming an Ivy League student, but of fully enjoying everything that this experience could offer me. If there is something this program encouraged in me, it was not only clarity about what I seek for my future, but also the desire to return. I now aim to pursue my graduate studies here at Penn, because the moments I experienced here were not just experiences, but truly guides that will shape the future Felipe. If there is one thing I can leave for future students, it is based on “enjoying”, enjoy every opportunity you have, whether academic or with the friends you make here. I know that each one of them will be a source of discovering new things or simply great moments. You will certainly leave here transformed, just as I am leaving, not with a feeling of farewell, but fully motivated for what the future has for me.
International Guest Student Program Ambassadors - Fall 2025
