upenn supplemental essays 2023 24

Essays and Short Answer Prompts

The Penn application process includes a personal essay —which is sent to most schools you apply to—as well as a few short answer prompts . We read your words carefully, as they are yet another window into how you think, what you value, and how you see the world. Through your writing, we get a glimpse of what you might bring to our community—including your voice and creativity. 

Remember, you are the expert on your story. This is an opportunity for you to reflect and understand who you are now, and who you want to be in the future. You have the agency to choose the information you want to share. This is your story: your experiences, your ideas, your perspective.   

A Few Writing Tips

• Review the prompts thoroughly.  Be sure you’re answering the question or prompt being asked. Topics are chosen because the Admissions Committee wants to know specific things about you. If you don’t address them directly, we are left to make decisions regarding your application with incomplete information. 
• Consider your response carefully.  We understand that you may be writing responses for different schools and you may want to reuse material, but be sure to read through your response to make sure it is relevant to the prompt. 
• Double-check your writing.  Give yourself time to revisit your response. Try to avoid rushing your writing process so you have time to revise your work. Ultimately, it is up to you to polish and proofread your writing before you submit. 
• Do your research. Are there classes you’re eager to take? Research opportunities you’d love to pursue? A group or club you want to be a part of? This kind of specificity shows us you’re serious about Penn and have thought about how you’d spend your time here. 

2024-25 Short Answer and Essay Prompts

When answering these prompts, be precise when explaining both why you are applying to Penn and why you have chosen to apply to that specific undergraduate school. Some of our specialized programs will have additional essays to complete, but the  Penn short answer prompts should address your single-degree or single-school choice.  

• Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge. (We encourage you to share this note with that person, if possible, and reflect on the experience!) (150-200 words, only required for first-year applicants) 
• How will you explore community at Penn? Consider how Penn will help shape your perspective, and how your experiences and perspective will help shape Penn. (150-200 words) 
• The school-specific prompt is unique to the school to which you are applying. (For example, all applicants applying to the College of Arts and Sciences will respond to the prompt under the “College of Arts and Sciences” section). Considering the undergraduate school you have selected for your single-degree option, please respond to your school-specific prompt below.  

Transfer Essay (required for all transfer applicants): Please explain your reasons for transferring from your current institution and what you hope to gain by transferring to another institution. (4150 characters) 

Undergraduate School-Specific Short Answer Prompts

For students applying to coordinated dual-degree and specialized programs, please answer this question about your single-degree school choice; your interest in the coordinated dual-degree or specialized program may be addressed through the program-specific essay.  

Penn Nursing intends to meet the health needs of a global, multicultural world by preparing its students to impact healthcare through advancing science. How will you contribute to our mission of promoting equity in healthcare and how will Penn Nursing contribute to your future nursing goals? (150-200 words)

To help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about Penn Nursing’s mission and how we promote equity in healthcare here . This information will help you develop a stronger understanding of our values and how they align with your own goals and aspirations.

The flexible structure of The College of Arts and Sciences’ curriculum is designed to inspire exploration, foster connections, and help you create a path of study through general education courses and a major. What are you curious about and how would you take advantage of opportunities in the arts and sciences? (150-200 words) 

To help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about the  academic offerings within the College of Arts and Sciences .  This information will help you develop a stronger understanding of how the study of the liberal arts aligns with your own goals and aspirations. 

Wharton prepares its students to make an impact by applying business methods and economic theory to real-world problems, including economic, political, and social issues.  Please reflect on a current issue of importance to you and share how you hope a Wharton education would help you to explore it.  (150-200 words) 

To help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about  the foundations of a Wharton education . This information will help you better understand what you could learn by studying at Wharton and what you could do afterward. 

Penn Engineering prepares its students to become leaders in technology by combining a strong foundation in the natural sciences and mathematics with depth of study in focused disciplinary majors. Please share how you plan to pursue your engineering interests at Penn. (150-200 words)

To help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about Penn Engineering and its mission to prepare students for global leadership in technology here . This information will help you develop a stronger understanding of academic pathways within Penn Engineering and how they align with your goals and interests.

Coordinated Dual Degree and Specialized Program Essay Prompts

For students applying to coordinated dual-degree and specialized programs, please answer the program-specific essay below. 

** Numbers marked with double asterisks indicate a character count that only applies to transfer students applying through Common App.  

Discuss how your interests align with the Digital Media Design (DMD) program at the University of Pennsylvania? (400-650 words / 3575 characters**)

We encourage you to learn more about the DMD: Digital Media Design Program .

The Huntsman Program supports the development of globally minded scholars who become engaged citizens, creative innovators, and ethical leaders in the public, private, and non-profit sectors in the United States and internationally. What draws you to a dual-degree program in business and international studies, and how would you use what you learn to contribute to a global issue where business and international affairs intersect? (400-650 words) 

The LSM program aims to provide students with a fundamental understanding of the life sciences and their management with an eye to identifying, advancing, and implementing innovations. What issues would you want to address using the understanding gained from such a program? Note that this essay should be distinct from your single degree essay. (400-650 words) 

• Explain how you will use the M&T program to explore your interest in business, engineering, and the intersection of the two. (400-650 words) 
• Describe a problem that you solved that showed leadership and creativity. (250 words) 

Discuss your interest in nursing and health care management. How might Penn's coordinated dual-degree program in nursing and business help you meet your goals? (400-650 words) 

How do you envision your participation in the Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER) furthering your interests in energy science and technology? Please include any past experiences (ex. academic, research, or extracurricular) that have led to your interest in the program. Additionally, please indicate why you are interested in pursuing dual degrees in science and engineering and which VIPER majors are most interesting to you at this time. (400-650 words) 

Sharing Additional Information

To be your own best advocate, you may give our Admissions Committee more context about you by sharing additional information in your college application. While this is not required, it can help give admissions officers a fuller picture of who you are if you are concerned about any missing information or context. Consider the following guiding questions as you decide to share any additional information:

• Is there additional context you want to provide about how your time is spent outside of the classroom?
• Do you have a long commute to school, or responsibilities within your home or community that may prevent you from engaging in certain activities?
• Has there been a big change in your life that has impacted your grades or participation in activities?
• Is there missing context about your school that you want to provide? 

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

How to Write the UPenn Supplemental Essays 2024-2025

Founded in 1740 by Benjamin Franklin, the University of Pennsylvania is one of America’s eight Ivy League institutions. Its beautiful campus features unique red-and-green-brick buildings, gorgeous tree-lined paths, and lots of tributes to Ben Franklin. UPenn is known for its premier academics, but also for its thriving student life (it’s called “the social Ivy,” and has a strong Greek life).

UPenn also enjoys the benefits of being situated in the heart of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — it’s just a stone’s throw from myriad museums, gardens, cathedrals, and historic sites, including Independence Hall. Students typically describe UPenn as having a highly “pre-professional” mindset, with a large cultural focus on internships, school jobs, and career preparation. All in all, it’s the perfect city refuge for ambitious, can-do students who want to maximize their college experience.

Composite Schools: Depending on their fields of study, students at UPenn will be applying to different colleges that make up the school. Undergraduate education at Penn is separated into four distinct schools: the School of Arts & Sciences, Wharton School of Business, the School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, and the School of Nursing. 

Admissions Rates and Resources: UPenn is a tiny bit easier to get into than more in-demand Ivies, but still enjoys a reputation of exclusivity. In its most recent admissions cycle, UPenn accepted 6% of undergraduate applicants. 

Now, onto the essays! Below, you can see a list of all the prompts we’re going to cover. All applicants must submit the two required essay prompts, listed first. Below these, we’ll break into the supplemental essays for various optional programs open to applicants. 

Read these UPenn essay examples written by real students to inspire your own writing!

UPenn Supplemental Essay Prompts 

All applicants.

Prompt 1: Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge. (We encourage you to share this note with that person, if possible, and reflect on the experience!) (150-200 words)

Prompt 2: How will you explore community at Penn? Consider how Penn will help shape your perspective, and how your experiences and perspective will help shape Penn. (150-200 words)

School-Specific Prompts

College of Arts and Sciences: The flexible structure of The College of Arts and Sciences’ curriculum is designed to inspire exploration, foster connections, and help you create a path of study through general education courses and a major. What are you curious about and how would you take advantage of opportunities in the arts and sciences?

To help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about academic offerings within the College of Arts and Sciences at  college.upenn.edu/prospective . This information will help you develop a stronger understanding of how the study of the liberal arts aligns with your own goals and aspirations. (150-200 words)

School of Engineering and Applied Science:  Penn Engineering prepares its students to become leaders in technology by combining a strong foundation in the natural sciences and mathematics with depth of study in focused disciplinary majors. Please share how you plan to pursue your engineering interests at Penn.

To help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about Penn Engineering and its mission to prepare students for global leadership in technology here. This information will help you develop a stronger understanding of academic pathways within Penn Engineering and how they align with your goals and interests. (150-200 words)

School of Nursing: Penn Nursing intends to meet the health needs of a global, multicultural world by preparing its students to impact healthcare through advancing science. How will you contribute to our mission of promoting equity in healthcare and how will Penn Nursing contribute to your future nursing goals?

To help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about Penn Nursing’s mission and how we promote equity in healthcare here. This information will help you develop a stronger understanding of our values and how they align with your own goals and aspirations. (150-200 words)

The Wharton School: Wharton prepares its students to make an impact by applying business methods and economic theory to real-world problems, including economic, political, and social issues. Please reflect on a current issue of importance to you and share how you hope a Wharton education would help you to explore it.

To help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about the foundations of a Wharton education here. This information will help you better understand what you could learn by studying at Wharton and what you could do afterward. (150-200 words)

The huntsman program, the huntsman program supports the development of globally-minded scholars who become engaged citizens, creative innovators, and ethical leaders in the public, private, and non-profit sectors in the united states and internationally. what draws you to a dual-degree in business and international studies, and how would you use what you learn to make a contribution to a global issue where business and international affairs intersect (400-650 words), the digital media design program.

Discuss how your interests align with the Digital Media Design (DMD) program at the University of Pennsylvania? (400-650 words)

The Life Sciences and Management Program

The lsm program aims to provide students with a fundamental understanding of the life sciences and their management with an eye to identifying, advancing and implementing innovations. what issues would you want to address using the understanding gained from such a program note that this essay should be distinct from your single degree essay. (400-650 words), the jerome fisher management and technology program.

Prompt 1: Explain how you will use the M&T program to explore your interest in business, engineering, and the intersection of the two. (400-650 words)

Prompt 2: Describe a problem that you solved that showed leadership and creativity. (250 words)

The NETS Engineering Program

Describe your interests in modern networked information systems and technologies, such as the internet, and their impact on society, whether in terms of economics, communication, or the creation of beneficial content for society. feel free to draw on examples from your own experiences as a user, developer, or student of technology. (400-650 words), the nursing and healthcare management program, discuss your interest in nursing and health care management. how might penn’s coordinated dual-degree program in nursing and business help you meet your goals (400-650 words), the viper program, how do you envision your participation in the vagelos integrated program in energy research (viper) furthering your interests in energy science and technology please include any past experiences (ex. academic, research, or extracurricular) that have led to your interest in the program. additionally, please indicate why you are interested in pursuing dual degrees in science and engineering and which viper majors are most interesting to you at this time. (400-650 words), all applicants, prompt 1, write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge. (we encourage you to share this note with that person, if possible, and reflect on the experience) (150-200 words).

As you’ve gone through high school, you’ve likely received help from all kinds of people. UPenn wants to give you a chance to practice gratitude and acknowledge a specific person who has positively impacted your high school journey. 

There are two main parts to this prompt: picking the person to thank and writing the note .

Who should you pick? Some commonly-influential folks include:

• Mentors or older students
• Family members
• Religious leaders
• Managers/bosses

If you’re having trouble thinking directly of people, you may want to consider thinking of experiences that shaped who you are and the person most directly involved in that . In fact, this may be more effective. There will probably be thousands of thank you notes written to parents, for example. This is great—no problem there—but execution matters. It’s too easy to fall into the trap of writing a generic note thanking this person for “supporting you no matter what” and for “believing in you.”

This brings us to part two of this prompt: writing the note. Instead of generic pleasantries, you want to share specific experiences where this person really made a difference in your life. How did they support you? How did they show they believed in you? How did this impact you? 

For example, say you want to thank your mother for her support. You might share how she woke up at 6am to run with you each day so you could get extra miles in and work towards your goal of making cross country states (while you didn’t make it, you did place in regionals for the first time!).

Or, maybe you want to thank your history teacher for pushing you. You should share how he worked with you individually after school when you were initially struggling to write the AP Euro DBQs, and how this encouraged you to start tutoring others in math when you say how effective this individual help was. 

Since this essay is only 150-200 words, you likely only have space for 1-2 anecdotes, so choose the ones that stick out to you most (and ones that add additional info to your application rather than repeating it). Unlike your other essays, this one doesn’t need to be a narrative format, and you should simply address the person you’re thanking. Write as if you’re actually writing a regular thank you note to them —no need to be super formal, and do include jokes if that’s how you’d normally interact!

If you do share your note with the person you’re thanking, you don’t have to reflect on the experience in the essay, unless you want to. If you do, save about one-third to one-fourth of the space for your reflection (about 50-60 words). How did it make that person feel? How did it make you feel? How was the experience meaningful for both of you?

The goal of this essay is to see which students are self-aware and humble , so as long as you approach this essay with genuine intentions of thanking this person, you should have a strong response. 

If you want to see some concrete examples of strong responses to this prompt, check out our post dedicated exclusively to analyzing UPenn’s “thank you” prompt!

All Applicants, Prompt 2

How will you explore community at penn consider how penn will help shape your perspective, and how your experiences and perspective will help shape penn. (150-200 words).

Use this short essay to showcase the best parts of yourself outside of the classroom. This doesn’t mean you can’t mention your academic interests, but if you mention the same subject as you did in the first prompt, you should dramatically recontextualize it or illuminate a new aspect of it. 

The word community appears three times – so address your philosophy of community. Do some thinking about what “community” means to you, and what kind of group setting is your ideal. Is it small? Large? Gentle? Raucous? If you have an original, thought-provoking, or culturally-informed definition that you love, feel free to include it. The best essays will be about a deeper topic than simply extracurriculars or collaborative research.

Be specific, and do your UPenn research . Maybe you bring musical talents and want to join the student orchestra. Perhaps you are a Hispanic student who wants to revitalize others’ awareness of their cultural heritage. Poke around UPenn’s website to find specific groups or initiatives that address something you enjoy. As always, if you can use past accomplishments or experiences to illustrate your point, it will be more powerful. For instance, if you have led your soccer team’s community outreach efforts, talk about how the skills you learned on the team will make you better at building a relationship between UPenn and the city of Philadelphia.

Don’t just name-drop an activity. For example, “UPenn’s Black student center, Makuu, is something that interests me” shows a bit of research, but not a lot. It also does not connect the research to the applicant as an individual, or hit on the larger theme of community. A better approach is to be hyper specific:

“ Because I’m interested in Black literary studies, as well as crossover between literature and history, I’m captivated by the way UPenn’s Makuu house brings together young Black academics from various disciplines. As I delve into my field of interest — Black and African modernist poetry — I would love to draw on the knowledge of my colleagues to enrich my work. I’m a firm believer that the more paths we can create between different disciplines of Black studies, the easier it is to explore.”

This answer is specific to the applicant, establishes a potential research track, and shows that they know more about Makuu than just the name.

Identify a challenge you want to pose yourself. Look at the prompt again — the verb “shape” is another word that gets repeated, and it’s backed up by “learning” and “growth.” This prompt is asking about development, so you should identify an area in which you want to evolve, grow, and improve.

Ideally, think about something that challenges you and keeps you from fulfilling your potential — maybe it’s a fear of public speaking, a dislike of volunteering, or a tendency to avoid people who disagree with you. Why do you feel you need to change, and what communities at UPenn could push you out of your comfort zone?

For example, I could plot out my essay like this: 

I’m not an effective writing mentor. I can be too harsh and too direct with my feedback. I can intimidate people I intend to help.

I need to work on my “bedside manner” as a writing mentor. I need to acquire effective strategies and principles to inform me, and I need to work with more mentees to practice.

The student essay tutors program at UPenn’s library will offer me training to improve as a tutor, and by working there I can gain repeated experience in coaching others’ writing.

I will end up as a better communicator, and I can help writers feel confident, an essential skill for an aspiring editor like myself. 

If you’re having trouble coming up with ideas. Ask yourself these questions:

• When was a time I was challenged in an activity? What challenging moments would I want to repeat?
• Look up Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences . These are various kinds of astuteness Garnder posited exist in students to different extents. Is there an intelligence in which I’m lacking, which I want to strengthen? Which activities would help me build this intelligence?
• When have I grown as an individual? How did I change?
• What’s a club or group where I could use my skills for a greater good? 

College of Arts and Sciences

The flexible structure of the college of arts and sciences’ curriculum is designed to inspire exploration, foster connections, and help you create a path of study through general education courses and a major. what are you curious about and how would you take advantage of opportunities in the arts and sciences.

This prompt doesn’t leave you with a lot of space to communicate why you are pursuing your major of choice , so being concise is key. In the limited space available, you need to communicate your interest in the area of study and explain the resources and opportunities at UPenn that will allow you to indulge your curiosity and grow your passion.

When it comes to communicating your interest, there are a few ways you could go about it. A tried and true method is to rely on an anecdote to show the admissions committee either how your interest in the subject matter began or how you engage with the topic in your current life. Remember, anecdotes need to communicate your emotional attachment to your interest by drawing on thoughts, feelings, and physical expression.

You can also demonstrate your interest with specific examples. For example, a student interested in pursuing music could write a sentence about each instrument they play and what excites them about each one. Another tactic you might employ is to share your inner monologue. This might look like a student detailing the conversation in their head when they are researching astronomy topics and how they jump from one subtopic to another.

While expressing your interest in your major is important, the second half of this essay requires you to turn towards UPenn’s offerings. Start scouring the website and look for unique opportunities and resources that not only relate to your interests, but will also help you grow and achieve your goals. Below are a few ideas to inspire your research:

• Look at the course roster and find classes in your major (don’t just pick Biology 101; the more specific, the better!)
• Find professors in your department and the research they conduct
• Explore unique clubs and extracurriculars that align with your interests (there is a finance club on every campus but Penn’s Marketing Undergraduate Student Establishment is highly specific)
• Look into special programs or centers (ie. Center for Particle Cosmology or Linguistics Data Consortium)
• Research Penn-specific study abroad programs and destinations

Especially given the limited amount of space in this prompt, quality over quantity is extremely important; pick one or two opportunities and go into depth about why they excite you, how they relate to you, and what you hope to get out of them rather than name dropping four or five.                                 

If you are able to seamlessly transition from discussing your personal history with your major of choice and the related opportunities at UPenn, you will have a strong essay. You also don’t need to know exactly what you want to study in college to successfully write this essay. If you are applying to Arts and Sciences undecided, these tips will help you respond to this prompt.

School of Engineering and Applied Science

Penn engineering prepares its students to become leaders in technology by combining a strong foundation in the natural sciences and mathematics with depth of study in focused disciplinary majors. please share how you plan to pursue your engineering interests at penn., to help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about penn engineering and its mission to prepare students for global leadership in technology here. this information will help you develop a stronger understanding of academic pathways within penn engineering and how they align with your goals and interests. (150-200 words) .

All this prompt boils down to is “ Why This Major? ”. The Penn admissions committee wants to know three main things:

1. What drew you to engineering?

2. What are your goals? (ie. become a leader in technology as stated in the prompt)

3. How will Penn help you further your interest and achieve your goals?

Let’s break this down step-by-step.

Just as in any “Why Major?” essay, you need to demonstrate your passion for your chosen area of study so admissions officers are confident that you will be a positive addition to the campus. But how do you show that?

The best way is to use anecdotes. College essays that read like stories are infinitely more engaging than ones that restate the prompt and tell the reader who the student is. We need to see it. Take a look at two examples of the types of anecdotes you could use to demonstrate your interest in engineering:

Example 1: “ Seventy degrees with partially cloudy skies, but no rain on the radar. Check. Twenty foot radius cleared of trees and shrubbery. Check. Adoring fans waiting with bated breath outside the launch zone. Check, if you count my mother glancing up from her phone every minute or so. Time to initiate the launch sequence. My dad’s voice boomed out the descending count as I looked over the two-foot-tall rocket. The nose curved for optimal aerodynamicity, the fins 10% smaller than last time to reduce drift, and the parachute stowed away that would surely deploy this time. My dad reached zero and we had liftoff!”

Example 2: “Nothing beats a trip to my grandparents house. And it’s not the paletas my grandma stashes underneath the frozen vegetables or my grandpa’s hand carved chess board that draws me there. It’s the bridge we take to get there. Two miles long, eight lanes wide, and 400 feet in the air, it defies all natural laws. Sticking my head out the window like a puppy tasting the wind, I crane my neck to look at the suspension cables that effortlessly distribute thousands of tons. I want to close my eyes and imagine the barges and cranes flooding the river to construct such a masterpiece, but I can never take my eyes off of the bridge.”

2. What are your goals?

The second thing your essay needs to communicate is what your personal and career aspirations are, relative to engineering. In an essay this short, this doesn’t need to be more than a sentence or two, but including a forward-thinking mindset will show the admissions committee your dedication to the subject. Plus, Penn wants to admit students who will achieve great things, so let them know you have big plans in store!

You can weave your goals into your anecdote or allude to them when you are talking about the Penn resources you want to take advantage of, for example: “ After taking Nanoscale Science and Engineering, I will know the mechanisms needed to scale-down the facial recognition chip to fit it into wearable glasses, so even those with Alzheimer’s can recognize their loved ones. ”

In the prompt, they mention “Penn Engineering prepares its students to become leaders in technology,” so if you can, try to demonstrate how you will be a leader within your engineering field when highlighting a goal of yours.

3. How will Penn help you?

Before you’re done with your essay, you need to connect yourself to UPenn. By this point in your essay, the admissions committee should see you are a passionate, driven, and ambitious student with a bright future ahead of you, but the question Penn admissions officers care about is why should that future be at Penn ?

You’ll need to now bring in a few Penn-specific resources and opportunities—and connect them to you—to seal the deal and demonstrate how you would make the most out of a Penn education.

When it comes to including school resources, we always recommend quality over quantity. Avoid name-dropping three classes, a professor, and two student organizations without any elaboration. Instead, for an essay with a limited word count, focus on one or two Penn resources that align with your passion and explain why you are excited to engage with that opportunity or how it will help you achieve your goals.

It’s a good idea to pick Penn offerings that align with the central theme or anecdote of your essay. For example, a student who’s anecdote was about programming a robot might write about their interest in joining Penn Aerial Robotics to explore the design behind UAVs since they want to go into military development. Another student who told a story about researching devices to cure obscure diseases might talk about the Penn Center for Health, Devices, and Technology and how they want to partner with faculty at the Center to develop new technology.

School of Nursing

Penn nursing intends to meet the health needs of a global, multicultural world by preparing its students to impact healthcare through advancing science. how will you contribute to our mission of promoting equity in healthcare and how will penn nursing contribute to your future nursing goals, to help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about penn nursing’s mission and how we promote equity in healthcare here. this information will help you develop a stronger understanding of our values and how they align with your own goals and aspirations.(150-200 words).

This prompt is a combination of the Why This College and Impact on Community archetypes. It asks you to reflect on two key things:

• How you will contribute to Penn Nursing’s mission of promoting equity in healthcare.
• How Penn Nursing will help you achieve your future nursing goals.

To craft a compelling response, you need to clearly connect your personal values and experiences with Penn Nursing’s mission, to demonstrate your commitment to promoting equity in healthcare. You should also articulate how concrete resources and opportunities at Penn Nursing will help you grow as a nurse and achieve your professional goals, and, in turn, what impact you hope to have on the program. 

In other words, this prompt is twofold. You’ll need to explain why you’re right for Penn Nursing, and why Penn Nursing, as opposed to any other nursing school, is right for you. 

Let’s consider some questions that may help guide your brainstorming. 

• What experiences do you have that highlight your commitment to equity in healthcare? Focus on the equity piece here–if you have an experience that involves equity, but isn’t in the context of healthcare specifically, that’s okay.
• Have you worked, lived, learned, or volunteered in underserved or especially diverse communities? What did you learn or take away from this experience?
• What are your long-term career goals, and how does equity factor into them? Are there particular populations you hope to serve or issues which you hope to address?
• What Penn Nursing programs, initiatives, or aspects are you most interested in, and how do you see them benefiting you during your career, especially as you promote equity in nursing?
• What specific knowledge, skills, or experience do you hope to gain at Penn? How do these abilities relate to health equity? 

Spend some time developing genuine, well-researched responses to each of these questions. If you can’t answer every single one of them, that’s okay, but you should be able to respond to each part of the prompt in a personal, meaningful way: why Penn, why you, and equity in healthcare.

Remember, admissions officers are paging through dozens of applications per day. Their eyes will glaze right over cliché or vague answers, and the last thing you want your application to be is forgettable.

So, what does a good response look like? Consider these hypothetical student topics.

• Aisha has been involved in mental health advocacy throughout high school, particularly focusing on the stigma surrounding mental health in Black communities. She believes that Penn Nursing’s commitment to mental health equity, exemplified by their Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program, will equip her with the knowledge and skills to become a leader in this field.
• Carlos grew up in a rural area where access to healthcare was limited due to income and geography. This area was devastated by the Covid pandemic, and continues to be impacted by vaccine hesitancy. He is passionate about increasing healthcare access and education in rural communities, and thus is drawn to Penn Nursing’s research on how nurse practitioners can bridge the health gap in many rural communities. Carlos hopes to take advantage of the program’s resources to learn how to design effective outreach programs and address the unique challenges of rural healthcare.
• Nadia has volunteered at a free clinic serving a low-income, predominantly undocumented population in her hometown. Her experiences have fueled her desire to specialize in community health nursing. Nadia plans to contribute to Penn Nursing by participating in the Bridging the Gaps program, where she can continue to work with underserved communities while gaining the skills needed to address health disparities on a larger scale.

Notice how each of these examples incorporates information about the student and their background and values into their goals for the future, while also naming specific programs at Penn that are clearly related to their aspirations. And, in all three, equity is a key reason why they’re pursuing a career in nursing in the first place.

Your own story won’t necessarily be as perfectly linear as these examples, and your future goals might not be as well-defined. That’s okay! Penn doesn’t expect you to have everything figured out before you even get to campus.

For example, maybe you’ve volunteered at an animal shelter, and you’ve seen how reluctant people are to adopt animals with even minor ailments. Those experiences sparked your passion to develop a baseline level of medical competency in the overall populace, to alleviate some of the stress on the healthcare system and allow providers to focus on the patients with the greatest need, and you see Penn Nursing’s Community Champions program as the perfect opportunity for you to start working towards that goal in Philadelphia.

So long as you focus on cohesion, make a clear connection to equity, and have a distinctly personal element, you’ll be well on your way to an excellent response that catches the eye of Penn’s admissions committee.

The Wharton School

Wharton prepares its students to make an impact by applying business methods and economic theory to real-world problems, including economic, political, and social issues. please reflect on a current issue of importance to you and share how you hope a wharton education would help you to explore it..

This essay follows the “ Global Issues ” essay archetype. For this type of essay, it’s extremely important that you pick an issue you are actually passionate about, rather than one you think will seem “impressive” to admissions officers. Your natural interest in the topic will make it easier to write and make the essay more engaging.

Pick an Issue Important to You

You’re given leeway in the prompt to pick any economic, political, or social issue that is close to your heart. Maybe there is one that immediately jumps out at you, or maybe you’re struggling to choose. If you need help narrowing down your choices, start by asking yourself these questions:

• What class are you more drawn to, economics or history/government?
• What type of news articles catch your attention?
• What causes or charities do you donate to or volunteer for?
• What’s a news story that has made you enraged? Upset? Motivated?
• What current events topics do you like to talk about with your friends?

We recommend picking a topic that relates to your interests and experiences that way you can incorporate stories into your essay. A student who is able to connect something they do on a local level to a larger national issue will show the admissions committee their appreciation of micro and macro perspectives. 

For example, a student who’s been volunteering as a tutor for low income elementary students throughout high school might choose public education funding as their topic because they have seen the disparity in resources available to students simply based on the property taxes in the district. Not only does this topic directly relate to their extracurricular interests, but it also provides the student with a chance to use stories and details from their personal experience.

Keep in mind that although Wharton is the business school, your issue does not have to be economically-related, nor do you need to explain the issue’s connection to business. Practically every global issue involves economic theory or the private sector, so it’s more important to pick an issue that is authentically you rather than one that seems better suited to the school.

Explain the Extent of the Problem and Your Connection

The first part of this is pretty straightforward: tell the admissions committee why they should care about this issue as much as you do. Pretend that your reader isn’t familiar with the issue and explain what is going on and why it is important to address it.

The more nuanced part is to explain why this issue is important to you.

This is where anecdotes and personal stories can come into play, but you need to make sure that through these stories you communicate your emotional attachment to the issue. Are you or your community personally affected? How has that impacted your lives? Maybe the issue is not directly related to you but it reminds you of something you’ve faced. In that case, how do you empathize with the people going through the situation?

Since this essay is pretty short, a good portion of the essay should be on your personal connection to the issue. 

How Will Wharton Help You Fix It

Of course since this is a college essay, the prompt doesn’t just want to know about a global issue you care about—it wants to know how you will utilize a Penn education to solve problems. Again, space is limited, so you don’t have the luxury to go into multiple resources that you hope to engage with on campus. Instead, hone in on one or two and make sure to explain their significance.

Whether it’s a professor, class, student organization, research topic, special center, study abroad program, etc, make sure to include how that opportunity will teach you something unique or equip you with specific skills that will allow you to address the issue in the future.

Huntsman Program Applicants

UPenn’s Huntsman Program is a dual degree track in International Studies and Business, which brings together the College of Arts and Sciences and the Wharton School of Business. Its focus is global, and students learn target languages and study foreign affairs with an eye towards becoming internationally-involved, global citizens.

The question admissions officers have for you is a meaty one, so we should break it down into a checklist of key items they’re asking you to address. 

• What draws you to business (B) + international studies (IS)
• A global issue in B + IS
• What you want to learn about B + IS
• How that knowledge is applicable to the global issue 

A logical, competent way to structure this essay would be a narrative format: past to present. The items that compose the question naturally lend themselves to this timeline format, so lean into it if you choose. You can talk about your past interest in a problem, the current state of that problem, and how your collegiate experience in B + IS will make you a citizen better equipped to help solve that problem. 

As always, be specific. Pick not just a broad issue (“refugee crises”), but a subset of the issue that actually seems manageable (“connecting large corporate donors with small charities run by refugees themselves”). From there, look for potential classes offered at UPenn, and student organizations involved in similar missions. It may be worth citing how the Huntsman program has aided the students featured on its website , and discuss how those same opportunities would similarly provide you with a comprehensive education in B + IS.

Demonstrate your cosmopolitanism . If you have a family history that involves living in multiple countries or cultures, you may want to evoke it here. The same goes for any educational, service, or other time spent learning abroad. Even if you’ve never left your home country, demonstrate a keen knowledge of foreign affairs by citing events, specific leaders, certain charities or businesses, etc. 

That said, be wary of “factoids” and surface knowledge . The CollegeVine writer who broke down this prompt last year had a great piece of advice that’s worth emphasizing (and maybe tattooing?): 

“Don’t do what I did. In high school, I focused on international affairs a lot during debate. Unfortunately, I messed up an important interview by talking about a bunch of breaking news instead of tying those events back to the deeper insights I had been describing in my debates.

All this is just to say: don’t mistake superficial ideas for depth of interest. One quick way to test this is to try talking about your essay topic for three minutes. If you run out of things to say about the intersection of global issues and business, you probably are coming at the issue from the wrong angle [and you need to approach it from another direction: themes, morality, ethics, etc].”

What is the philosophy behind your international focus? In addition to showing your knowledge of IS, you should state why you enjoy the field, and why it’s necessary for the world right now. Has your understanding of “the world” and your “self” changed since you first became interested in B + IS? Your understandings of “community,” “collaboration,” “multiculturalism,” “aid,” etc? 

Think of it this way: the prompt asks “what” and “how,” but there’s also a hidden question: “why?”  

Digital Media Design Program Applicants

Discuss how your interests align with the digital media design (dmd) program at the university of pennsylvania (400-650 words).

“ The Digital Media Design Program ,” writes UPenn, “was established in response to what we perceived as a growing rift within the computer graphics and animation industry.” UPenn is one of few schools to offer a specialized curriculum that combines fine arts with computer engineering. However, because the DMD program is so rare, it is also competitive. In this essay, show your interest in digital media design to be sustained rather than temporary.

The prompt you’ll need to respond to asks you 1) what your interests are, and 2) why you need to pursue them at UPenn and through DMD specifically. A good strategy here is a simple T-chart, with “my interests” at the top of one column, and “DMD” at the top of the other. For each of your interests, try to find some feature of DMD, or specific opportunity within the program, that will allow you to explore that interest.

A hypothetical chart could look something like:

While this is a solid starting strategy, there are some more specific things you should mind. 

Why you NEED the interdisciplinary approach . DMD combines a lot of fields that you could study in isolation elsewhere. For a standout application, you need to show why you wouldn’t be content in just the School of Fine Arts or just the School of Engineering. Rather, you should describe the magnetic pull both design and computer sciences have on your mind, and how you’ve integrated them in the past, to the point where they’re inextricable for you.

A problem you can help address. Remember, this whole program was created to solve a perceived problem! Towards the end of your essay, identify a societal or industry-specific problem that the skills set you’d acquire at DMD would help ameliorate, whether it’s user interfaces for apps, computer models for statisticians, or how to make animated fish scales look really, really good. 

Do some digging about the program . Information about DMD is scattered in multiple places, so spend a good hour clicking around and exploring the Internet. There’s some student work on this webpage, a Youtube video , and a description of Penn’s computer graphics facilities . For a program this esoteric, it’s also worth your effort to send a polite email to the Computer Graphics Department at UPenn, asking if there’s any faculty or current students who’d like to chat or answer your questions about the program. This will give you a much more specific sense of how the program would fit your interests, what career resources are available for DMD students, etc. 

The message is the medium. Since this is a design program, convey your design preferences and unique style as much as possible. A successful essay not only convinces admissions officers that you are passionate about design; it gives them a sense of what aesthetics your designs will prioritize. For example, if your style is “minimalist,” you might want to experiment with a “minimalist” writing style: sentence fragments, short sentences, and clipped breaks. If your style is vivid and colorful, engage lots of sensory words, lush descriptions, and (obviously) words for all your favorite shades of colors. 

Life Sciences and Management Program Applicants

The Life Sciences and Management Program is a dual degree that ties together the biology majors in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Wharton School of Business. It’s selective in the number of students it accepts (25), but broad in terms of focus: students pursue everything from agriculture to pharmaceuticals to bioengineering to finance. 

We can break this prompt for the program down into the central requirements, and all the attendant little words that feed into them. Those central requirements are:

• The issue you want to address
• LSM experience – “program,” “understanding,” “eye”
• “Innovation” – “identifying, advancing, implementing”

First, find an issue in the life sciences/life sciences business that speaks to you. This doesn’t have to be a specific problem: it can be an attitude that you feel needs fixing, a lack of collaboration, or an incorrect mindset or paradigm. However, you should have specific examples of personal experiences with it, either from your studies or some other aspect of your life. And you should demonstrate a thorough understanding of it, revealing that you’ve read widely and stayed updated. 

Second, talk about how LSM will help you become the solution . LSM provides its students with an incredible array of resources, including internships, connections, prizes, funds, and mentorship. You should discuss program-specific resources that either touch on the issue specifically or will give you the “eye,” the “understanding” mentioned in the prompt.

• Find granular examples of LSM resources . Their website is so expansive, and so full of student profiles and useful information, that we recommend spending about an hour clicking through and jotting down information that intrigues you. Find specific faculty who work in areas that interest you, or who are engaged in public work in a way you’d admire. Then connect these back to the “issue” you’ve mentioned.
• Justify your interdisciplinary needs . You need to prove that you wouldn’t be be happier in either management or bioscience — you need them both together. Good statements to have in pocket are “only through LSM,” “LSM specifically,” and “LSM’s unique X.” For example, check out LSM’s two program-exclusive courses . Citing these would be a great idea, as would clicking on the faculty links on the same page. 

Lastly, discuss your ideas of innovation. Don’t worry — they’re not expecting you to solve anything now. And actually, if you read the prompt closely, LSM wants their students to be skilled at “identifying, advancing and implementing” innovations, not necessarily inventing them.

Here, it’s less important to propose a solution to your issue than it is to propose a road to that solution, an implementation plan for an extant solution, or a unique definition of “innovation.” You should focus on ideas that are key to management: how does innovation happen, how do we organize people to produce innovation, how do we establish cultures where collaboration is enjoyable? UPenn wants to learn about how you think, about your philosophy.

Jerome Fisher Management and Technology Program Applicants

The Jerome Fisher Management and Technology Program is a dual-degree program that allows students to select an interdisciplinary concentration that melds the schools of Business and Engineering. 

Note: The two essays have very different purposes, so be sure to write them with those distinct goals in mind.

• The first essay is similar to the DMD essay. Remember the T-chart? 
• The second essay is trying to learn how you think and act under pressure. Do you think like an engineer? Can you solve problems creatively? Do you take the lead when circumstances demand it?

M&T Program, Prompt 1

Explain how you will use the m&t program to explore your interest in business, engineering, and the intersection of the two. (400-650 words).

This prompt is similar to the DMD prompt outlined above. It asks you 1) what your interests are, and 2) why you need to pursue them at UPenn and through M&T specifically. So, you can brainstorm using the T-chart format we covered there, with “M&T” in the column previously dedicated to DMD. 

Of course, there are some specific things you should mind for this distinct prompt. 

Why you NEED the interdisciplinary approach . M&T combines a lot of fields that you could study in isolation elsewhere. For a standout application, you need to show why you wouldn’t be content in just the School of Business or just the School of Engineering. Rather, you should describe the magnetic pull both engineering and business have on your mind, and how you’ve integrated them in the past, to the point where they’re inextricable for you.

A problem or curiosity you can help address. Remember, the first words on M&T’s website are “ solving big problems ”! Towards the end of your essay, mention a societal or industry-specific problem that the skills set you’d acquire through M&T would help ameliorate, whether it’s user interfaces for apps or environmentally-friendly polymers.

Do some digging about the program . M&T’s website is vast, so spend a good hour clicking around and exploring, taking notes on details that appeal to you. This will give you a much more specific sense of how the program would fit your interests, what career resources are available for M&T students, etc. We suggest checking out the News section and Alumni profiles .

M&T Program Applicants, Prompt 2

Describe a problem that you solved that showed leadership and creativity. (250 words).

Finding an anecdote that fits the second essay is harder than it may seem. First, think back on times you have been a leader. This can be through some formal position you held, like club president, or it can be leadership in practice rather than in title. It also doesn’t have to strictly involve business and engineering, although it really helps if you’re able to creatively apply it back to your business/tech interests. You should think of this prompt as the short, fun, unbuttoned sequel to the previous one.

Here’s an example. Imagine Lucy is the lead singer in a band, but they’ve been having trouble booking gigs. So Lucy looks for venues they had not considered previously, going to chamber of commerce meetings. She finds out small business owners would like live music for events. Talks go well, and pretty soon, Lucy’s band is playing private events hosted by small businesses.

This anecdote makes a great fit for the essay prompt, because it expands on the idea of “business” without being stuffy or repetitious. It’s fresh, and can allow Lucy to talk about a real topic in business, relevant to M&T — seeking face-to-face connections and word-of-mouth recommendations.

CollegeVine’s breakdown of a Common App essay on problem-solving has some useful tips you can use here, too. For example:

1. Briefly reflect on the pros and cons of your solution! It takes a sophisticated essay to describe a solution, but also to reflect on some errors or things you’d do differently.

2. Brainstorm problems with solutions that you are particularly proud of or that you think are unique or exciting, then pick the most compelling one for M&T.

3. Use anecdotal color: dialogue, varied tone, emotions, jokes, asides. 

To which we should add that here, since you only have 250 words, be short, streamlined, and vivid. Use efficient, active verbs that will pack the maximum amount of punch into such a short passage. 

NETS Engineering Program Applicants

NETS is a unique program in UPenn’s engineering school that foregrounds networks, huge systems, social media, modern computing, and economics. And once again, UPenn has a meaty prompt for you to describe your interest in this opportunity. This one really needs to be broken down and analyzed, since there are a bunch of components.

Notice all the nouns? If you look closely at the prompt, almost all the words are nouns. That means the admissions readers for NETS are going to be on the lookout for applicants who name-drop specific terms, techniques, or systems — the bread-and-butter unit nouns of CS. When composing, you should take care not to sacrifice density of concepts and information for narrative flair, although…

You need to add that *narrative flair*. Since the prompt is mostly nouns, you’ll need to stir in your own action through verbbbbs. Make a list of all the actions you’ve performed while working on information systems. And keep in mind the UPenn example with Tarzan: the verbs should be as vivid as you can afford writing about CS. Did you “formulate” and “organize” an array, or did you “DREDGE” the data set and “FLOOD” the array with numbers and “CONSTELLATE” the data into “WHIRLING” patterns? Don’t be excessive, but liven up your prose to convey your enthusiasm. 

NETS’ website emphasizes creativity, brilliance, and sometimes genius . NETS has a little bit of a god complex: their ideal student is “one of the few” (as the NETS Program website tells us), an “extraordinary” thinker, not an “average mind.” So make sure to let your personality and uniqueness shine through. (Fun fact about the word genius : it comes from a Latin word indicating a unique, endemic spirit.) This means using vivid words and literary devices to showcase your free-thinking. And you can elaborate unabashedly about your accomplishments, as long as you do so with enthusiasm for the work itself, rather than pride in nominal awards. 

We live in a society. All right, gamers, it’s time to rise up and talk about societal issues that resonate with you. “Society” is mentioned twice, which offers you an opportunity to start with your personal experience, then broaden your focus to encompass wider issues. Describe how awareness of this context changed anything about your methods, ethics, or career goals: was there a service you stopped using or a technique you tried learning after reading a piece of news? 

“Draw on examples from your own experiences as a user, developer, or student of technology.” You should really involve all three. 

Conclude with your specific desires for college . Translate your interests into a college context, and state what kinds of coursework you want to do, and what kinds of pre-professional assistance would help you out. Lastly, bring back the “societal” need and identify how you want to contribute as a thinker. 

Nursing and Healthcare Management Program Applicants  

NHCM is a dual degree between the Wharton School of Business and the Nursing School. The program’s prompt is similar to the DMD prompt outlined above. It asks you to 1) identify your interests, and 2) pair those interests with specific resources at UPenn — specifically, those within NHCM. So, you can brainstorm using the same general T-chart format we covered there.

That said, there are some specific things you should mind. 

Why you NEED the interdisciplinary approach . NHCM combines a lot of fields that you could study in isolation elsewhere. For a standout application, you need to show why you wouldn’t be content in just the School of Business or just the School of Nursing. Rather, you should describe the magnetic pull both healthcare and business have on your mind, and how you’ve integrated them in the past, to the point where they’re inextricable for you.

A problem, curiosity, or goal you can pursue. Discuss how your personal experience has shaped your objectives in pursuing nursing — you have space to open in medias res with a personal story, if you want. Towards the end of your essay, mention a societal or industry-specific problem that the skills set you’d acquire through NHCM would help ameliorate, whether it’s how pharma companies can better incorporate the perspective of nurses or how businesses can succeed with their health initiatives.

Do some digging about the program . The NHCM website is very small, so be sure to poke around the internet exploring, taking notes on details that appeal to you. This will give you a much more specific sense of how the program would fit your interests, what career resources are available for NHCS students, etc.

We suggest checking out the Admissions webinars offered by the UPenn school of nursing for opportunities to ask questions. You also might want to politely email the staff member listed under the “Who Can Apply?” section , and ask if there are any faculty or current students who would be open to talking about their experiences in NHCM.

VIPER Program Applicants

The Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research, or VIPER, is a rigorous program that emphasizes student research, publication, and involved mentorship opportunities with faculty. In some ways, its prompt is more like a python than a viper, in that it’s huge and has some additional prompts swallowed up inside.

However, you should note that it has a similar format to the DMD essay, in that it asks you to 1) identify your specific interests and ideal majors and 2) pair those interests with specific resources at UPenn, and within the VIPER program specifically.

And boy, do VIPER students not lack for resources. The T-chart method we discussed earlier can be especially useful here, as you can fill up the VIPER column with all sorts of specific programs, mentorship opportunities, awards, funds, and summer opportunities that call to you. 

Why you NEED the interdisciplinary approach . VIPER combines a lot of fields that you could study in isolation elsewhere. For a standout application, you need to show why you wouldn’t be content in just the School of A&S or just the School of Engineering.

Rather, you should describe the magnetic pull both science and engineering have on your mind, and how you’ve integrated them in the past, to the point where they’re inextricable for you. Describing your dual passions can provide a meaningful segue into “previous research,” as per the prompt — you might have loved a setting in which you practiced both science and engineering, or you might have felt something was “missing” when you solely focused on one or the other. 

A problem, curiosity, or goal you can pursue in college. Discuss how your personal experience has shaped your objectives in pursuing engineering – you have space to open in medias res with a personal story, if you want. If one experience was particularly formative, eye-opening, challenging, or inspiring, this would be a great incident with which to open.

Follow a logical narrative organization. The prompt itself provides you with the easiest way to lay out your essay, and that is: 

Inciting or important experience 

Interest in energy/science as a subject

Further experience

Narrowed and refined interests;  awareness of large-scale dilemmas in the field

Desire for certain exploratory opportunities in college

VIPER programs that fit that desire

How VIPER programs will prepare me to address those large-scale dilemmas and research interests

Do some digging about the program . The VIPER website is extremely comprehensive, so be sure to reserve at least an hour or so for reading, exploring, and taking notes on details that appeal to you. Doing your research thoroughly will give you a much more specific sense of how the program would fit your interests, what career resources are available for VIPER students, etc.

We suggest checking out the information e-sessions offered by The VIPER for opportunities to ask questions. You also might want to politely email the staff member listed on the Prospective Students page if you have any questions, or if you want to ask if there are any faculty or current students who would be open to talking about their experiences in VIPER.

Where to Get Your UPenn Essays Edited For Free

Do you want feedback on your UPenn essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

Need feedback faster? Get a  free, nearly-instantaneous essay review  from Sage, our AI tutor and advisor. Sage will rate your essay, give you suggestions for improvement, and summarize what admissions officers would take away from your writing. Use these tools to improve your chances of acceptance to your dream school!

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UPenn Supplemental Essays 2024-25 – Prompts & Advice

August 7, 2024

The University of Pennsylvania accepted 40% of applicants back in 1980—as of 2024, that figure had plummeted to under 7%. Those wanting to join the Quaker campus a generation ago could gain acceptance simply by producing strong grades and test scores. Today, applicants find themselves in a hyper-competitive admissions process. In 2024-25, they need to find ways to separate themselves from tens of thousands of similarly accomplished peers. This brings us to the topic of this blog: the UPenn supplemental essays.

(Want to learn more about How to Get Into UPenn? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into Penn/Wharton: Admissions Data and Strategies. Here, you’ll find all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

The UPenn supplemental essays present applicants with just the opportunity they need to showcase their unique personality, writing ability, passions, and talents. Further, those who generate responses that are authentic, honest, and compelling can truly capture the attention of a Penn admissions reader.

Below are UPenn’s two general essay prompts for the 2024-25 admissions cycle. The College Transitions team also offers accompanying advice about how to tackle each one.

UPenn Supplemental Essays – Prompt #1

1) Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge. (We encourage you to share this note with that person, if possible, and reflect on the experience!) (150-200 words)  

In essence, this one is about how you express gratitude. A mature young person realizes that their success was not achieved in a vacuum. Rather, it was likely aided by many adults and peers. The target of your letter could be a parent, other relative, teacher, coach, spiritual leader, friend, classmate, fellow team member, or boss. This prompt, which debuted last year, is an excellent opportunity for highly decorated applicants to display their appreciative and humble side. We recommend taking their advice and actually sharing the letter in real life. This will likely make the essay more authentic and from the heart. The more sincere your essay turns out, the better it will likely be received by UPenn (and its intended IRL target!).

UPenn Supplemental Essays – Prompt #2

2) How will you explore community at Penn? Consider how Penn will help shape your perspective and identity, and how your identity and perspective will help shape Penn. (150-200 words)  

Keep in mind that Penn has already seen the President’s Volunteer Service Award and the impressive number of hours you volunteered at multiple nonprofit organizations. They know that you have been an active member of your high school/local community. The admissions committee now desires to understand precisely how you will contribute to  their  community of almost 10,000 undergraduate students. Highlighting the link between your past efforts and future aims is critical here. For example, if you dedicated many hours working with people with Alzheimer’s Disease throughout high school, it will be more impactful when you now express your commitment to joining Penn’s Alzheimer’s Buddies organization.

The strongest Penn community essays show evidence of meaningful school-specific research. This research process will actually give you a better idea of how you would sincerely like to become engaged at each prospective school on your list. Admissions officers will appreciate a Penn-centric answer far more than a generic (often recycled from app to app) response. Moreover, given the word count, you’ll be able to produce the strongest response if you focus on just one or two specific aspects of your identity and perspective.

UPenn Supplemental Essays – School & Program-Specific Prompts

In addition to the above, you’ll also need to write an essay that is specific to the undergraduate school or coordinated dual-degree program you’re applying to. Below, we’ve covered how to approach the most popular choices:

1) The College of Arts and Sciences

The flexible structure of The College of Arts and Sciences’ curriculum is designed to inspire exploration, foster connections, and help you create a path of study through general education courses and a major. What are you curious about and how would you take advantage of opportunities in the arts and sciences? (150-200 words) 

To help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about academic offerings within the College of Arts and Sciences at  college.upenn.edu/prospective . This information will help you develop a stronger understanding of how the study of the liberal arts aligns with your own goals and aspirations.

UPenn Supplemental Essays (Continued)

In this essay, admissions officers want to see evidence of your drive, passion, and intellectual ambition. Further, they want to learn your specific plans for continuing to be academically engaged while at the University of Pennsylvania. Great things to highlight here include:

• Firstly, specific courses offered in your discipline of interest at UPenn.
• Next,  Penn professors  whose work/research/writings you find fascinating and how you would ideally like to connect with them as an undergraduate.
• Additionally, academically-focused student organizations  at Penn.
• Undergraduate research opportunities  in the summer or during the school year as well as independent research you would like to conduct under faculty supervision.
• Lastly,  study abroad opportunities.

In addition to Penn-specific offerings that you are dying to take advantage of, you can also cite past experiences which will ideally be tied into future ventures. For example, if you were captain of the robotics team in high school—and hope to continue robotics in college—you might note why you’re interested in joining the UPennalizers, Penn’s student-run robotic soccer team.

2) School of Engineering and Applied Science

Penn Engineering prepares its students to become leaders in technology by combining a strong foundation in the natural sciences and mathematics with depth of study in focused disciplinary majors. Please share how you plan to pursue your engineering interests at Penn. (150-200 words)

To help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about Penn Engineering and its mission to prepare students for global leadership in technology  here . This information will help you develop a stronger understanding of academic pathways within Penn Engineering and how they align with your goals and interests.

Similar to the prompt for the College of Arts and Sciences, you’ll want to research Penn’s engineering offerings. You’ll want to pay particular attention to those related to your primary major of interest. You can discuss several that you find most compelling. Great things to highlight here include:

• Specific courses  offered in your discipline of interest at UPenn.
• Penn professors  whose work/research/writings you find fascinating and how you would ideally like to connect with them as an undergraduate.
• Academically-focused  student organizations  at Penn.
• Undergraduate research opportunities  in the summer or during the school year. Also, independent research you would like to conduct under faculty supervision.

3) School of Nursing

Penn Nursing intends to meet the health needs of a global, multicultural world by preparing its students to impact healthcare through advancing science. How will you contribute to our mission of promoting equity in healthcare and how will Penn Nursing contribute to your future nursing goals? (150-200 words)

To help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about Penn Nursing’s mission and how we promote equity in healthcare  here .  This information will help you develop a stronger understanding of our values and how they align with your own goals and aspirations.

There are two prongs to this prompt. First, the admissions committee wants to understand how you think scientific advancements and increased equity will impact nursing as a profession. Since you’re applying to this program, it’s likely that you believe in the benefit of both objectives. Therefore, you don’t need to spend time convincing the admissions committee that you’re on board. Instead, and based on what you understand about the nursing field, consider discussing what types of positive impact you could have on patient outcomes and/or healthcare in general. Lastly, if you don’t know much about the current landscape, be sure to do some research.

Second, Penn wants to understand how you—as a nursing student—will contribute to the mission of promoting equity in particular. Based on what you know about Penn’s nursing programs and initiatives (which, again, will require some research) how do you see yourself getting involved?

4) The Wharton School

Wharton prepares its students to make an impact by applying business methods and economic theory to real-world problems, including economic, political, and social issues. Please reflect on a current issue of importance to you and share how you hope a Wharton education would help you to explore it. (150-200 words)  

To help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about the foundations of a Wharton education   here . This information will help you better understand what you could learn by studying at Wharton and what you could do afterward.

To craft a strong response to this prompt, you’ll first need to choose an issue that is important to you. The issue can be on either a global, regional, or community scale. If you pick something general (and popular), like climate change or AI, consider choosing a specific angle that relates to you personally. For example, while “climate change” in general is an absolutely massive undertaking that will be difficult to differentiate, discussing the impact of flooding on your city’s downtown businesses could be far more specific and accessible.

After choosing an issue and sharing why it’s important to you, you’ll then need to discuss how Wharton’s specific offerings will help you explore it. Excellent possibilities include:

5) DMD: Digital Media Design Program

Discuss how your interests align with the Digital Media Design (DMD) program at the University of Pennsylvania? (400-650 words)

6) Huntsman: The Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business

The Huntsman Program supports the development of globally-minded scholars who become engaged citizens, creative innovators, and ethical leaders in the public, private, and non-profit sectors in the United States and internationally. What draws you to a dual-degree in business and international studies, and how would you use what you learn to make a contribution to a global issue where business and international affairs intersect? (400-650 words)

7) LSM: The Roy and Diana Vagelos Program in Life Sciences and Management

The LSM program aims to provide students with a fundamental understanding of the life sciences and their management with an eye to identifying, advancing and implementing innovations. What issues would you want to address using the understanding gained from such a program? Note that this essay should be distinct from your single degree essay. (400-650 words)

8) M&T: The Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology

• Explain how you will use the M&T program to explore your interest in business, engineering, and the intersection of the two. (400-650 words)
• Describe a problem that you solved that showed leadership and creativity. (250 words)

9) NHCM: Nursing and Healthcare Management

Discuss your interest in nursing and health care management. How might Penn’s coordinated dual-degree program in nursing and business help you meet your goals? (400-650 words)

10) VIPER: The Roy and Diana Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research

How do you envision your participation in the Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER) furthering your interests in energy science and technology? Please include any past experiences (ex. academic, research, or extracurricular) that have led to your interest in the program. Additionally, please indicate why you are interested in pursuing dual degrees in science and engineering and which VIPER majors are most interesting to you at this time.  (400-650 words)

How important are the UPenn supplemental essays?

There are six factors that UPenn considers “very important” in evaluating a candidate and the essays are among them. In addition to the essays, UPenn gives the greatest consideration to the rigor of an applicant’s secondary school record. Of equal consideration are GPA, standardized test scores, recommendations, and character/personal qualities.

UPenn Supplemental Essays – Want Personalized Essay Assistance?

In conclusion, if you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your UPenn supplemental essays, we encourage you to get a quote  today.

Looking for additional writing resources? Check out the following blogs:

• Common App Essay Prompts
• 10 Instructive Common App Essay Examples
• College Application Essay Topics to Avoid
• How to Quickly Format Your Common App Essay
• Should I Complete Optional College Essays?
• How to Brainstorm a College Essay
• 25 Inspiring College Essay Topics
• “Why This College?” Essay Examples
• How to Write the Community Essay
• College Essay

Andrew Belasco

A licensed counselor and published researcher, Andrew's experience in the field of college admissions and transition spans two decades. He has previously served as a high school counselor, consultant and author for Kaplan Test Prep, and advisor to U.S. Congress, reporting on issues related to college admissions and financial aid.

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University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Early Decision: Nov 1

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 5

University of Pennsylvania 2024-25 Application Essay Question Explanations 

The Requirements: 3 essays of 150-200 words

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Community , Why

How to Write Compelling University of Pennsylvania Supplemental Essays

The supplemental questions below cover ideas that admissions sees as important for building UPenn’s incoming class, so take this opportunity to provide them with greater insight into what has shaped you and how you might contribute to the UPenn community once you arrive on campus. UPenn seeks students “who are drawn to other people and who are curious about everything,” two qualities that you can incorporate into your responses using stories from your life, infused with details and lessons learned along the way. Keep reading to learn how to write winning UPenn essays! 

University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) Prompt Breakdowns

Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge. (we encourage you to share this note with that person, if possible, and reflect on the experience) (150-200 words).

Gratitude is quickly becoming a practice we are encouraged to connect to and reflect on regularly, hence the popularity of gratitude journals and exercises. (Brainstorming method alert!) It’s not a surprise, therefore, that the admissions department at UPenn wants to learn about what you value and how you express gratitude. Think about times when you have felt acknowledged, heard, and seen; moments when you have felt that swelling in your chest, as your heart grows three sizes. Who would you like to thank and why? What impact did they have on your life? How did their actions affect the way you think or approach new ventures? Remember that this essay or “note” needs to reveal information about how you process, appreciate, and/or draw inspiration from the action of others. Ultimately, admissions wants to know more about how you relate to others in the world and how you repurpose good intentions. Bonus points if you share your “thank you” note with the associated party after hitting submit!

How will you explore community at Penn? Consider how Penn will help shape your perspective, and how your experiences and perspective will help shape Penn. (150-200 words)

Admissions wants to know how you will participate in the Penn campus community, so start by thinking about what you’d like to do when you’re not cramming for exams or soaking up your professors’ sage wisdom (a little website research could come in handy here). If that hypothetical exercise is not producing quality ideas, think about the here and now. Where can you be found when your homework is done? How do you spend your weekends? Think of an activity or topic that gets you interacting and connecting with other like-minded peers. Once you have something in mind, explore Penn’s website to see if they have a similar group or community that you’d like to join. Admissions wants to know what your area of influence will look like at UPenn: an on-campus job, a unique hobby, or maybe an organization to which you contribute innovative ideas and exquisite cake decorating skills (bake sale, anyone?). Finally, remember to address how UPenn will shape your perspective and vice versa. Will the Black Wharton Undergraduate Association help you to explore your entrepreneurial interests? Will your plethora of non-profit internship and volunteering experiences make you a fantastic addition to and a natural leader in the Social Impact Consulting Group? Whatever you write about, make sure your response to this prompt shows that you have put some serious thought into what your life will look like at UPenn. 

If Applying to Wharton:

Wharton prepares its students to make an impact by applying business methods and economic theory to real-world problems, including economic, political, and social issues. please reflect on a current issue of importance to you and share how you hope a wharton education would help you to explore it. (150-200 words)  , to help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about the foundations of a wharton education here. this information will help you better understand what you could learn by studying at wharton and what you could do afterward., if applying to arts and sciences:, the flexible structure of the college of arts and sciences’ curriculum is designed to inspire exploration, foster connections, and help you create a path of study through general education courses and a major. what are you curious about and how would you take advantage of opportunities in the arts and sciences (150-200 words) , to help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about academic offerings within the college of arts and sciences at college.upenn.edu/prospective. this information will help you develop a stronger understanding of how the study of the liberal arts aligns with your own goals and aspirations., if applying to engineering: , penn engineering prepares its students to become leaders in technology by combining a strong foundation in the natural sciences and mathematics with depth of study in focused disciplinary majors. please share how you plan to pursue your engineering interests at penn. (150-200 words)., to help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about penn engineering and its mission to prepare students for global leadership in technology here . this information will help you develop a stronger understanding of academic pathways within penn engineering and how they align with your goals and interests., if applying to nursing:, penn nursing intends to meet the health needs of a global, multicultural world by preparing its students to impact healthcare through advancing science. how will you contribute to our mission of promoting equity in healthcare and how will penn nursing contribute to your future nursing goals (150-200 words), to help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about penn nursing’s mission and how we promote equity in healthcare here .  this information will help you develop a stronger understanding of our values and how they align with your own goals and aspirations..

With each of these prompts, admissions is hoping to gain insight into your goals and ambitions. Whether you’re hoping to combat societal issues through business, explore your curiosity through The College of Arts and Sciences’ curriculum, become a leader in tech, or promote equity in healthcare, your response should reveal new information about your passions, motivations, and vision for the future. Since you only have 150-200 words to work with here, you won’t be able to walk admissions through your journey to the college of your choice, but you can offer insight into the kind of work you’d like to do and the impact you’d like to have post-graduation. Just keep in mind that the best responses will cite specific resources at Penn in order to show that it is Penn, specifically, that will be instrumental to your future success.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Penn Essays

We have been reading UPenn essays for over twenty years now, so we know a thing or two about the most common mistakes students make. The most common mistakes to avoid are repeating the prompt in your essay (don’t waste your words), trying to sound like an academic (admissions wants to hear your authentic voice!), and using cliches (they’re ineffective and—let’s face it—lazy).

Why Choose College Essay Advisors for UPenn Essays

We at College Essay Advisors have been guiding students one-on-one through the essay writing process for the UPenn supplements for over twenty years. We take a holistic approach to these essays, considering each student’s application package as a whole and identifying their strengths to highlight. Our Advisors accommodate each student’s scheduling needs to virtually brainstorm, draft, and revise winning essays. It’s incredibly important to us that each student’s voice is preserved, and we pride ourselves in helping students to write successful UPenn essays that differentiate them from similarly qualified applicants. For more information, submit a contact form below or review our one-on-one advising services or list of student acceptances .

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How To Answer UPenn's 2024/25 Supplemental Essays: Tips & Insights

Essay Requirements

How to Answer Prompt 1

What UPenn Looks For

Essay Examples

I often get questions from students about how to tackle UPenn's supplemental essays. How do you craft a compelling response? What makes an application truly stand out in such a competitive pool?

As a former admissions officer at the University of Pennsylvania, I’ve reviewed countless applications. Let’s break down UPenn’s supplemental essays: what the prompts are, how to approach them, and common pitfalls to avoid.

With an acceptance rate of around 5.8% , UPenn is one of the most selective universities in the country. Your application needs to be exceptional to gain admission .

While your grades , test scores , and extracurriculars provide a snapshot of your academic and personal accomplishments, the supplemental essays offer a unique opportunity for you to share your story and your voice directly with the admissions committee.

This is your moment to explain why UPenn is the perfect match for you and how you will enrich its vibrant community.

UPenn’s Supplemental Essay Requirements & Prompts

UPenn accepts applications through both the Common Application and the Coalition Application , and they don’t prefer either over the other.

Besides the personal statement of the Common App or the Coalition App , you’ll need to write 3 essays answering 3 different prompts:

Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge. (We encourage you to share this note with that person, if possible, and reflect on the experience!) (150-200 words, only required for first-year applicants)

How will you explore community at Penn? Consider how Penn will help shape your perspective, and how your experiences and perspective will help shape Penn. (150-200 words)

A school-specific prompt that is unique to the school to which you are applying. (For example, all applicants applying to the College of Arts and Sciences will respond to a prompt specific to the College of Arts and Sciences).

What did Upenn students write their Common App essays about?

Prompt #1: How You Should Answer it

The first prompt is quite unique, which I actually find refreshing. At first glance, it might seem a bit unconventional and could throw you off, but this is exactly where the opportunity lies. This prompt allows you to be creative and express yourself in a way that can really make your application stand out.

1. Write about yourself, not the person

The key to tackling this prompt is to remember that while you’re technically being asked to thank someone, the real focus should be on what this person has done to inspire you , challenge you, or set you on a meaningful path. It’s not just about the person themselves, but about how they’ve influenced your life and shaped who you are today.

2. Find unique perspectives

Consider this example: One applicant wrote a heartfelt thank-you note to the person who discovered antihistamines. At first, this might seem like an odd choice, but the story behind it was powerful.

This student suffered from severe seasonal allergies that could have easily kept them indoors and away from their passion for environmental work.

Instead, antihistamines allowed them to engage fully in outdoor activities and pursue their interests. This example stood out to me because it showed how a seemingly small discovery had a profound impact on the student's life, enabling them to follow their passions.

Notice that the essay was less about the person who invented antihistamines and more about the freedom and opportunities their discovery provided to the student.

When approaching this prompt, think about someone who has genuinely impacted you. This could be someone famous, like the inventor of a life-changing technology.

3. Address the second part of the prompt

Another way to make your response stand out is by thoughtfully addressing the second part of the prompt, which asks you to imagine what it would be like if you had the opportunity to actually give this thank-you note to the person.

This is usually included as a postscript at the end of your essay, signing off with your name and adding a “P.S.” that reflects on the imagined moment.

This might look something like, “P.S. Seeing the look of gratitude on their face made the experience of delivering this note even more inspiring.”

By doing this, you not only complete the prompt fully but also show that you’ve thought deeply about the experience and the impact it could have on both you and the person you're thanking.

Mistakes To Avoid

1. focusing too much on the person.

One common mistake applicants make with this prompt is focusing too much on the person they are thanking, often spending the bulk of the essay describing that person's qualities, achievements, and how wonderful they are.

While it's natural to want to praise someone who has made a significant impact on your life, remember that this essay is part of your application, not theirs.

The admissions committee wants to learn more about you as a student and as a person, not the person you are thanking. Again, the key is to highlight how this person's influence has shaped you—what it says about your values, character, and growth.

2. Making a generic choice

Another frequent pitfall is choosing someone too obvious or generic, like a parent, teacher, or coach. While writing about parents or teachers can certainly be profound, it needs to offer a unique perspective that makes you stand out.

For example, thanking a parent for always being supportive is a common theme and doesn’t offer much insight into what makes your experiences or your response to those experiences distinctive.

Instead, try to think about specific, unique ways that a person’s influence has shaped your path. Did a teacher challenge you in an unexpected way that changed your perspective on learning? Did a mentor introduce you to a field you had never considered before, sparking a passion that you have pursued ever since?

Even if you choose someone who might initially seem like a common choice, focus on a unique story or aspect of your relationship that others might not think of.

UPenn Prompt #2: How You Should Answer it

The second prompt is a classic "community" question, which is common in many college applications. UPenn’s version of this prompt asks you to reflect on a community that you’re deeply invested in and how you will continue to engage with that community or a similar one once you’re on campus.

1. Showcase your connection to your community

What UPenn is really looking for here is a genuine connection to a community that has significantly impacted you or that you have had a meaningful role in. When thinking about which community to write about, consider the ones you are most passionate about .

This could be a cultural group, a local organization, an online forum, or any other group where you’ve felt a strong sense of belonging and purpose.

2. Highlight your passion to giving back to community

UPenn places a strong emphasis on community engagement and giving back, so think about an element of service or involvement that you’re truly passionate about. It shouldn’t be a one-time volunteer experience, like a single shift at a soup kitchen.

Instead, it should be something that demonstrates a long-term commitment and genuine interest. For example, maybe you started a non-profit organization in your hometown and have continued to find ways to expand its impact. Maybe this involvement has taught you valuable lessons about leadership, empathy, and resilience, which you can bring to UPenn.

While your chosen community doesn’t necessarily have to be service-oriented, essays about service tend to be powerful because they often reveal a deep commitment and a genuine passion.

Whatever you choose, make sure it’s something you are already invested in, not just something you hope to be involved in in the future.

Admissions officers want to see evidence of your dedication and impact, so pick a community that has been a significant part of your life and one where you’ve made meaningful contributions.

3. Show personal growth

As you write, consider addressing both your contributions to the community and what you’ve learned from being a part of it. Remember, UPenn isn’t just looking for students who want to “save the world” but for those who are also eager to learn from others, work collaboratively, and show openness to diverse perspectives and ideas.

Reflect on how your experiences have shaped you and how you’ve grown from engaging with people from different backgrounds and viewpoints.

1. Writing too generally or vageuly

A common mistake students make with this prompt is being too general in their response. For example, stating that you want to join UPenn’s rugby team because you were part of a rugby club in high school, or saying that yoga is important to you and you want to continue practicing it in college.

While these statements might be true, they don't demonstrate any significant impact. The university isn't just looking to hear about what activities you want to continue at college; they want to understand how you will make a meaningful contribution to the UPenn campus and the broader West Philadelphia community.

To avoid falling into this trap, focus on describing a deeper level of involvement. Think about the ways you have already made a difference in a community and how you intend to bring that same level of commitment to UPenn.

For example, rather than simply stating that you enjoy playing rugby, you could talk about how you organized a charity rugby tournament in high school to raise money for a local cause. This shows initiative, leadership , and a willingness to use your interests to benefit others.

Avoid vague statements like “I want to continue doing yoga at UPenn.” Instead, focus on how yoga has helped you build a sense of mindfulness and resilience, and discuss how you plan to share these practices with the broader community by, for example, starting a yoga program for stress relief during finals or volunteering to teach yoga at a local community center in West Philadelphia.

2. Focusing on academics

For this prompt, I would advise against focusing on an academic community, especially since there’s another essay prompt specifically geared towards academics. Instead, use this essay to showcase a different side of yourself and what drives you outside the classroom.

How Talia Got Into Penn with Crimson

UPenn Prompt #3: How You Should Answer it

This prompt is typically the classic “Why UPenn?” or “Why Us?” question, tailored to the specific school or program you're applying to within the university.

The goal here is to demonstrate a clear, well-researched understanding of what makes UPenn the perfect place for you to pursue your academic and professional goals.

1. Do your research

To answer this prompt effectively, you’ll need to do a lot of research before you start writing. You should delve deeply into the unique opportunities available within your intended major or program.

For example, if you’re applying to the College of Arts and Sciences, you could highlight the flexibility of the curriculum, which allows students to explore interdisciplinary interests and customize their education.

When researching, look for specific higher-level courses that align with your academic interests and future goals. Think about the theories, concepts, or methodologies taught in these courses and how they will help you achieve your long-term aspirations.

Showing that you’ve thought carefully about your academic path at UPenn will demonstrate that you’re serious about your studies and have a clear plan for your education.

2. Relate the opportunities to you and your experiences

Explore the faculty members in your department of interest. Look into their research areas and see if any align with your own interests or previous work.

Mentioning specific faculty whose work excites you and explaining why it resonates with you can be a great way to show that you've done your homework and are genuinely interested in the academic community at UPenn.

Consider the undergraduate research opportunities that UPenn offers. Whether it’s through specific labs, research centers, or interdisciplinary projects, find opportunities that connect with your interests and could help you achieve your goals.

Discussing these opportunities shows that you are proactive about your education and are looking to take full advantage of what UPenn has to offer.

Most importantly, make sure your essay ties everything back to your own experiences, achievements, and future aspirations. It’s not enough to simply list what you like about UPenn—you need to explain why these elements are important to you and how they will help you grow.

Demonstrate how the unique resources at UPenn, from courses to faculty to extracurriculars, fit into the larger picture of your academic journey and career goals .

1. Not making your answer specific to UPenn

One of the most common mistakes students make with this prompt is not making their answer unique enough to UPenn. If your essay could easily apply to another university, like Cornell or NYU , then it's not specific enough.

For instance, saying you want to study abroad or that you're excited about a strong liberal arts education isn't compelling because these are opportunities offered by many schools. This prompt is really about demonstrating why UPenn is the perfect fit for you, and why no other university can offer the same unique combination of resources, culture, and opportunities that align with your goals.

2. Not demonstrating your knowledge of UPenn

The admissions committee is looking for clear, focused answers that demonstrate your knowledge of UPenn and your fit for the university. Start your essay with a strong statement that directly addresses why UPenn is your ideal choice, and maintain that focus throughout.

To avoid this pitfall, think about what makes UPenn distinct from other universities. Ask yourself: “Why UPenn and not another school?” Be specific about the programs, courses, faculty, research opportunities, and campus culture that make UPenn the best place for you. Highlight how these aspects uniquely align with your personal interests, experiences, and future aspirations.

With a limited number of words, you need to be concise and get straight to the point. Don't waste time on generic statements or overly broad introductions.

What Do UPenn Admissions Officers Look for in These Essays?

Besides the points I mentioned above, there are several key characteristics that UPenn admissions officers look for in these essays. Understanding these traits and making sure they're reflected in your writing will help make your application stand out.

1. Good writing quality 

This is a fundamental expectation for any university application, but it's particularly crucial for UPenn. Your essays should be clear, concise, and free of errors. 

Good writing is not about using fancy language or complex sentences—it's about effectively communicating your ideas in a way that is both engaging and easy to understand. Make sure to proofread your essays carefully and have others review them to catch any typos or grammatical mistakes. 

Pay special attention to details like spelling the names of faculty members correctly and ensuring your essay is well-structured and coherent.

2. Leadership

UPenn values applicants who demonstrate strong leadership skills. Things showing initiative and making an impact in your community. 

For instance, if you’ve started your own nonprofit organization or led a significant project, make sure to highlight this in your essays.

Admissions officers are interested in seeing how you have used your leadership abilities to address challenges, mobilize others, and create change. Moreover, they want to know how you will bring this same level of initiative to UPenn. 

Make a clear connection between your past leadership experiences and the specific opportunities at UPenn where you could apply these skills, such as joining a student organization or engaging in community projects.

3. Intellectual Curiosity

Another critical trait UPenn looks for is intellectual curiosity. For academic prompts, it’s important to showcase a genuine passion for a subject and a desire to learn more. This means going beyond simply listing your academic achievements. 

Reflect on what excites you about your chosen field and discuss the steps you’ve already taken to explore this interest. Have you pursued independent research, taken online courses, or engaged with related extracurricular activities? 

Then, connect this curiosity to specific opportunities at UPenn, such as particular courses, research programs, or faculty whose work intrigues you.

While they’re not expecting you to have your entire life planned out, admissions officers do want to see that you’ve thought about how a UPenn education will help you delve deeper into your passions and develop your intellectual interests further.

UPenn Essay Examples

The best inspiration for a good essay is other well-written essays. Here are a few essay examples from AdmitYogi written by successful applicants who got admitted to UPenn:

Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge. (200 words)

To my third grade teacher [Name Redacted],

Thank you for all that you did to help me get accustomed to life in the US after living in Ethiopia for two years. Thank you for showing me how to properly write on lined paper, for telling me to point all fingers up when raising my hand, and for teaching me how to type since everyone had learned the year before. Thank you for always making sure I felt comfortable, for always greeting me in the halls, and for introducing me to sports fiction novels.

Thank you for putting up with all my talking in class, for always answering my text messages at six o’clock telling you that I had just woken up, and for staying late with me after school until my mother picked me up. Thank you for treating my little brother with the same kindness seven years later when he was your student, and thank you for all the kind messages that you send to my family. Without you, [Name Redacted], I would not have thrived in this new environment and enjoyed each second of my elementary school years. Most importantly, thank you for being you.

How will you explore community at Penn? (200 words)

Throughout my life, I have moved thirteen times. My parents, Ethiopian immigrants, separated when I was three years old, and since then I have lived in various parts of the world. When I was six years old, I lived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for two years and became fluent in Amharic and Ge’ez. My childhood has introduced me to a multitude of different languages and cultures, as I lived with friends and family from Cameroon, Cape Verde, and India.

As a result, I have always been fascinated by languages, and how each has a different grammatical structure, writing system, and phonetics. I have learned six languages so far, and hope to continue my passion in college by taking Linguistics courses.

At UPenn, I am looking forward to meeting people from all over the world and contributing towards building a multi-cultural campus. By joining the African Students Association and connecting with other Ethiopian students, I hope to share my story with others and hear theirs as well. I am excited for the next chapter in my life and hope that it is spent at Penn.

[School-specific] What are you curious about and how would you take advantage of opportunities in the arts and sciences? (200 words)

Since a young age, I have always loved learning languages. My passion started when I was just six years old when my father was teaching Amharic to a student at Boston University. He sometimes dragged me along with him, promising me twenty dollars every time I helped him. I reluctantly went and served the role of “Assistant Professor”.

He never paid me any money, but after the class ended, I didn't even care about the money anymore. I was amazed by the concept of languages, and my father, who studied archaeology, saw this newly formed interest of mine and began to teach me Ge’ez, an ancient Semitic language of Ethiopia.

Since then, my love for languages has only grown stronger. I regularly watch videos by polyglots and play Geoguessr, where knowing the alphabet of languages comes in handy. At school, I have had the opportunity to learn Mandarin, Latin, Italian, and Ancient Greek, while also learning Amharic and Ge’ez at home.

At UPenn, I will be able to take a linguistics course for the first time while also continuing my passion for the Classics. I hope to take courses such as Black Classicisms taught by Professor Greenwood.

How Ken Got Into UPenn Wharton with Crimson

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Key Resources & Further Reading

• Acing your College Application Essay: 5 Expert Tips to Make it Stand Out from the Rest
• MIT Supplemental Essay
• Northwestern Supplemental Essay
• Harvard Supplemental Essay
• Columbia Supplemental Essay
• Princeton Supplemental Essay
• Cornell Supplemental Essay
• Brown Supplemental Essay
• UPenn Supplemental Essay
• Dartmouth Supplemental Essay
• Johns Hopkins Supplemental Essay
• University of Chicago Supplemental Essay
• NYU Supplemental Essay
• How to Tackle Every Type of Supplemental Essay
• What are the Most Unusual US College Supplemental Essay Prompts?

About the Author

Eileen Dougherty

UPenn Former Admissions Officer

A seasoned college admissions expert with nearly 10 years of experience working in college admissions offices, including a role as an Admissions Officer at the University of Pennsylvania. Eileen earned a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from The Pennsylvania State University and has over 5 years of experience in admissions consulting. Her guidance has helped students gain acceptance into top institutions such as UPenn, NYU, USC and more.

More Articles

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How to Write the UPenn Supplemental Essays 2024–2025

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The University of Pennsylvania , located in Philadelphia, PA is an Ivy League university with notable alumni including Elon Musk, John Legend, and Noam Chomsky . Known as “Penn” or “UPenn,” this university also boasts an impressive faculty, from Jeb Bush to Adam Grant. It’s no surprise, then, that their admissions statistics are just as intimidating—only 4.1% of applicants were accepted into the Class of 2027. In this article, we’ll cover how to nail your UPenn supplemental essays.

Applications are evaluated holistically at the University of Pennsylvania, and students who can demonstrate intelligence, empathy, and personality in their supplemental essays will be most successful. Let’s dive right in.

University of Pennsylvania’s 2024-2025 Prompts

There are two kinds of essays you need to write for your UPenn application, for a total of three essays (unless you choose to apply to a specialized or dual degree program, or you are a transfer student, in which case you will have to write additional essays not addressed in this article). The first two essays are required for all first-year undergraduate applicants, while the third essay is specific to the school at UPenn to which you are applying.

Supplemental Short Answer Prompts

Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge. (we encourage you to share this note with that person, if possible, and reflect on the experience) (150-200 words), how will you explore community at penn consider how penn will help shape your perspective, and how your experiences and perspective will help shape penn. (150-200 words), undergraduate school academic short answer prompts, penn nursing intends to meet the health needs of society in a global and multicultural world by preparing its students to impact healthcare by advancing science and promoting equity. what do you think this means for the future of nursing, and how do you see yourself contributing to our mission of promoting equity in healthcare (150-200 words).

• The flexible structure of The College of Arts and Sciences’ curriculum is designed to inspire exploration, foster connections, and help you create a path of study through general education courses and a major. What are you curious about and how would you take advantage of opportunities in the arts and sciences? (150-200 words)
• Wharton prepares its students to make an impact by applying business methods and economic theory to real-world problems, including economic, political, and social issues.  Please reflect on a current issue of importance to you and share how you hope a Wharton education would help you to explore it.  (150-200 words)

Penn Engineering prepares its students to become leaders in technology, by combining a strong foundation in the natural sciences and mathematics, exploration in the liberal arts, and depth of study in focused disciplinary majors. Please share how you hope to explore your engineering interests at Penn. (150-200 words)

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This prompt asks you to reflect on your relationships, and in particular, a relationship that has shaped you significantly and deserves acknowledgment. Admissions officers ask these kinds of questions in order to better understand your maturity level and ability to express authentic gratitude to those who have helped you in your life’s journey. 

It’s less important who you thank, and more important how you thank them. Use specific details and/or anecdotes in your letter, and make it clear that you didn’t take their contributions to your life for granted. Also, bear in mind that this kind of essay prompt often gives rise to clichéd responses. Review each phrase in your essay and consider whether it sounds like a cliché—have you read this phrase before in a book? Have you heard someone say this phrase before? If you want your essay to stand out, the language needs to stand out as well.

This essay question requires you to discuss your intended contributions to the community at UPenn in addition to your own past experiences in communities. You’ll also need to briefly discuss or imply through your discussions of past and future community interactions how your unique perspective influences your interactions within communities. That’s a lot to discuss in only 150-200 words: your past interactions with communities, your current perspective on community engagement, and your future intended exploration of the community at UPenn.

How can you fit so much information into one short essay? You can consider this essay to be akin to a “Why UPenn?” essay. You could talk about how your past experiences in communities make UPenn’s community a perfect fit for you, due to your unique perspective on the world.

Alternatively, you could focus on a particular past experience in a community and how you hope to recreate or improve upon this experience while at UPenn. Demonstrate your research into UPenn by naming specific programs or aspects of UPenn’s community which speak to you!

These prompts are specific to UPenn’s various schools: Penn Nursing , The College of Arts and Sciences , Wharton , and Penn Engineering . You don’t have to know your major going into a UPenn application, but you do need to know your school of choice. Moreover, each school has unique resources and opportunities which you should remark upon in your essay. 

Note that students in all schools can take courses in other schools but transferring between them is very challenging; therefore, be sure to apply to the school which is genuinely most appropriate to your interests. Don’t apply to one school hoping to switch to another!

This essay prompt not only expects the student to have looked into the opportunities at Penn Nursing, but also that the student has been thinking and processing their thoughts about the global future of nursing. In this essay, you should consider presenting 1-2 programs, courses, extracurriculars, or other opportunities at Penn Nursing which you would like to take advantage of as a student and express how these opportunities would prepare you to contribute to Penn Nursing’s mission of promoting equity in healthcare.

Alternatively, you could focus your essay on your intended future contributions to the field of healthcare with brief discussion of how Penn Nursing will help further your goals. You could also discuss your perspective on the future of healthcare, ideally through a global lens which addresses scientific advancements and the promotion of equity in a multicultural landscape. One of the challenges of this prompt is addressing all of the topics it mentions. In your response, do your best to hint at each one, whether directly or indirectly.

The flexible structure of The College of Arts and Sciences’ curriculum is designed to inspire exploration, foster connections, and help you create a path of study through general education courses and a major. What are you curious about and how would you take advantage of opportunities in the arts and sciences?  (150-200 words)

The challenge with applying to The College of Arts and Sciences at UPenn, versus one of the other schools, is that it has the least specific curriculum. Thus, your essay should point out 1-2 specific programs, courses, professors, or other opportunities which you have researched and have determined are most interesting to you. 

Even if you’re undecided about your major, you can still discuss subjects which have sparked your curiosity and enthusiasm in the past. You can talk about academic topics that you get lost in, projects which have wiled away many hours, and questions you hope to investigate while a student at UPenn. Then, your excitement for the future opportunities at UPenn which you hope to take advantage of will make sense in the narrative of your academic journey.

Highlight your curiosity in your response by “showing” and not “telling.” Many students fall into the trap of telling the reader that they are curious, but just saying you are passionate about biology or you love history is neither memorable to read nor particularly credible to the reader. Clarify your curiosity, excitement, or passion for learning through specific details and genuine enthusiasm. Write an essay that could be written by no one else—every sentence should be specific to you and your perspectives and experiences!

Wharton prepares its students to make an impact by applying business methods and economic theory to real-world problems, including economic, political, and social issues.  Please reflect on a current issue of importance to you and share how you hope a Wharton education would help you to explore it.   (150-200 words)

Many students apply to Wharton without a motivation beyond making money or attending a prestigious name-brand institution. Of course, these are legitimate motivations. But Wharton is more than a pre-professional program and UPenn is ultimately an academically focused institution seeking academically motivated students. 

Before writing this essay, consider researching economic, political, and/or social issues which are relevant today, and narrow down your research topics to those which are most interesting to you. Consider how one of these issues could serve as a useful and engaging long-term research project. Develop a question which is specific, timely, and—most importantly—fascinating to you. 

Then, you can compose an essay which revolves around this question and remarks upon how various opportunities at Wharton will help you develop a nuanced answer to this question. Mention by name a class you could take, a professor under whom you could conduct research, or another academic program which would help you become more informed on this issue. Be as specific as possible in your response, while also being sure to tie your curiosity about this question to the opportunities at Wharton which relate to this question. 

In this essay response, you should elucidate your engineering interests and how you intend to explore these interests at UPenn. That means naming specific programs, courses, professors, and other opportunities at Penn Engineering that excite you. In addition, mention opportunities across disciplines, as the admissions officers are seeking students who will engage in UPenn’s curricula with both depth and breadth: depth of study into specific topics of interest and breadth of topics across interests.

Ideally, your essay will address more than just academics, albeit briefly. The prompt mentions “leaders in technology”; if admissions officers are looking for students who will become leaders in technology, then describing how you seek to be a leader on campus or pursue innovation through extracurriculars will help round out your essay’s narrative.

If you need help polishing up your UPenn College supplemental essays, check out our College Essay Review service. You can receive detailed feedback from Ivy League consultants in as little as 24 hours.

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How to Write the UPenn Supplemental Essays

Bertrand cooper.

• Last Updated on September 29, 2024

Table of Contents

If you aim to join the ranks of UPenn’s elite students, you’ll need more than good grades and high test scores. Supplemental essays play a crucial and specific role, providing an opportunity to demonstrate your character, aspirations, and unique fit for UPenn. In this guide, we’ll take you step-by-step through the process of crafting compelling UPenn supplemental essays.

Writing Supplemental Essays

What is a supplemental essay.

Most competitive colleges and universities require supplemental essays in addition to the Common App personal statement . Before diving into the specifics of the UPenn supplemental essays, you need to understand the basics that apply to all supplemental essays.

Tips for Writing Supplemental Essays

• Answer Every Part of the Prompt . Many supplementals essays want to know more than one thing sure you answer everything the prompt is asking.
• Be Direct and Specific. Colleges want facts and information instead of piece of creative writing. Use a direct approach with specific details to support your answer to the prompt.
• Research . Many supplemental essays require research about a specific school. The key is to learn as much as you can about college, like classes, notable faculty, research program, service opportunities, etc. that would be a good fit for you.
• Show Your Genuine Enthusiasm . Colleges want to admit students who demonstrate genuine interest in attending their schools. Make sure your enthusiasm reads through your writing.

For more a more comprehensive breakdown, visit our Ultimate Guide to Writing Supplemental Essays.

UPenn Supplemental Essay Specifics

While it’s important to research before writing your essays, it’s a good idea to examine the prompts beforehand to help guide your research.

For the 2023-24 year, there were two UPenn supplemental essays required of all students: 

• Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge. (We encourage you to share this note with that person, if possible, and reflect on the experience!) (150-200 words, only required for first year applicants)
• How will you explore community at Penn? Consider how Penn will help shape your perspective, and how your experiences and perspective will help shape Penn. (150-200 words)

The third of the required UPenn supplemental essays varies depending on your school or program:  

The school-specific prompt will now be unique to the school to which a student is applying. Considering the undergraduate school you have selected, please respond to your school-specific prompt below.

As an example, if you apply to The Wharton School of Business , the third prompt will be: 

• Wharton prepares its students to make an impact by applying business methods and economic theory to real-world problems, including economic, political, and social issues.  Please reflect on a current issue of importance to you and share how you hope a Wharton education would help you to explore it.   (150-200 words)

But if you’re applying to the College of Arts and Sciences , your third prompt will be: 

• The flexible structure of The College of Arts and Sciences’ curriculum is designed to inspire exploration, foster connections, and help you create a path of study through general education courses and a major. What are you curious about and how would you take advantage of opportunities in the arts and sciences?  (150-200 words)

For students applying to one of the Coordinated Dual Degree or Specialized Programs, your third prompt will respond to your single-degree school choice . However, you’ll also have a fourth prompt that is specific to your program.

Lastly, if you are a transfer student, you will likely not be a first year student. That means, you do not need to write Prompt 1, BUT you will need to write an essay to explain your reasons for transferring from your current institution and what you hope to gain by transferring to another institution.

To summarize, completing your UPenn supplemental essays requires responding to at least three prompts.

• Single degree program students will write three.
• Dual Degree and Specialized Program students will need to write four.
• Your third and/or fourth essay is based on the specific school and/or program. 

Timeline for UPenn Supplemental Essays

At the earliest, you will be able to submit your application on November 1st, which means you ideally want to start on your UPenn Supplemental Essays in July or August. Keep in mind that these essays require research. So, if you wait until the fall to start writing, you may be juggling research demands with school work. 

Writing the UPenn Supplemental Essays

Though short in length, the UPenn supplemental essays are not necessarily easier than the personal statement. In fact, supplemental essays are often more demanding in terms of the research and attention to detail required. The UPenn Supplemental Essays, in particular, require a clear strategy to be successful.  

A simple approach is to take each prompt and convert its key questions and information into bullet points that isolate the specifics you need to answer the prompt fully. 

Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge. (We encourage you to share this note with that person, if possible, and reflect on the experience!)

Unlike many other supplementals, this question does not require school research. But it does have two parts: 

• Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge.
• Share this note with that person, if possible, and reflect on the experience. 

If a highly selective school tells you something is optional but desirable, then it really isn’t optional—not if you want the best odds of acceptance. The goal is to do both bullets. This means you’ll need to consider the time required to send your thank-you note to the recipient, the time they’ll need to respond, and the time you’ll need to reflect on the response. 

It’s also important to notice a key element of the first bullet point: you need to select someone that you have not thanked before. Someone you have already thanked is not a good candidate. 

To get started, make a list of people who fill you with gratitude for specific reasons. Before writing your essay, contact your chosen person to confirm they’ll be free to respond to your note. Once you select someone and confirm their availability, you can start writing your letter. 

How will you explore community at Penn? Consider how Penn will help shape your perspective, and how your experiences and perspective will help shape Penn.

We will again convert its important information and “asks” into bullet points: 

• How will you explore community at Penn? 
• How Penn will help shape your perspective?
• How your experiences and perspective will help shape Penn? 

A successful response to this prompt will answer all three bullet points. If at the end, for example, your response does not show how your experiences/perspective will shape Penn, then that will count against you.

This essay requires research. To gather material you can use to produce a standout response, research community at Penn through four avenues:

• Campus life (what every student is likely to experience)
• Major/Program (what students in your major/program experience)
• Sports/Clubs/etc. (focus on those you intend to participate in)
• Personal Identity (what students with your identities have access to) 

The university website will have a ton of information to reflect each of these avenues. You can supplement the website research with tours (either virtual or in-person), YouTube videos, and contacting admissions directly.

The goal of this research is to find aspects about the communities at UPenn that genuinely excite you so that you can easily answer all three bullet points needed to respond to this prompt. Keep the search going until you find something that excites you. 

When you begin writing about your research, it’s important to be specific and go beyond broad descriptions. For example, note this example of a broad sentence that lacks detail and specificity to any one college:

“At UPenn, there are numerous clubs and organizations where I can make an impact…” Compare this example that demonstrates research and is unique to Penn:

“In 2023, the Penn Lens Club put together a photo exhibit that featured one of my favorite objects to examine in portrait…” 

For a deeper dive into the “Why this College?” essay, visit our blog post on the subject.

The third required essay also requires research. Visit UPenn’s Preparing Your Application webpage for more details and links to where you should spend time researching. Again, before diving into research, it’s useful to break down the questions into simpler bullet points.

Here are some examples of current school-specific prompts: 

Penn Nursing intends to meet the health needs of society in a global and multicultural world by preparing its students to impact healthcare by advancing science and promoting equity. What do you think this means for the future of nursing, and how do you see yourself contributing to our mission of promoting equity in healthcare?

• Penn Nursing intends to meet the health needs of society in a global and multicultural world by preparing its students to impact healthcare by advancing science and promoting equity.
• What do you think this (first bullet) means for the future of nursing?
• How do you see yourself contributing to our mission of promoting equity in healthcare?

The flexible structure of The College of Arts and Sciences’ curriculum is designed to inspire exploration, foster connections, and help you create a path of study through general education courses and a major. What are you curious about and how would you take advantage of opportunities in the arts and sciences?

• What are you curious about? 
• “The opportunities” refers to the way the curriculum is designed. So what the second bullet is really asking is how would you take advantage of a curriculum “designed to inspire exploration, foster connections, and help create a path of study through general education courses and a major.” 
• Additionally, you can talk about the opportunities you learn about reading within the recommended research links. 

Wharton prepares its students to make an impact by applying business methods and economic theory to real-world problems, including economic, political, and social issues.  Please reflect on a current issue of importance to you and share how you hope a Wharton education would help you to explore it

• Please reflect on a current issue of importance to you.
• To understand the second bullet, you need to remember what a “Wharton Education” includes: it prepares students to apply business methods and economic theory. So you need to show how either business methods or economic theory or both (as taught by Wharton) would help you with the issue you choose. 

Penn Engineering prepares its students to become leaders in technology, by combining a strong foundation in the natural sciences and mathematics, exploration in the liberal arts, and depth of study in focused disciplinary majors. Please share how you hope to explore your engineering interests at Penn.

• Quick Tip: identify/make a list of your engineering interests.
• Answer the first bullet by explaining how a foundation in natural sciences, mathematics, liberal arts, and your disciplinary major will help you explore your interests. 

For students applying to coordinated Dual Degree programs or Specialized programs, the demands can be rather different from the other supplementals, and with much longer word counts. However, the steps for approaching prompts are the same.

The UPenn Supplemental Essays provide a distinct challenge compared to the personal statement and even compared to other supplementals. However, if you start early and adopt a clear strategy, you can write an essay that genuinely communicates you excitement and readiness to attend UPenn.

When writing any college essay, a great way to ensure success is to get feedback. Having someone else review, edit and offer suggestions on your writing is the best way to level-up each draft and get noticed by admissions. To learn more about the essay services at HelloCollege , including one-on-one time with an expert essay coach, contact us about a consultation today.

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How to Ace the 2024-2025 UPenn Supplemental Essay Prompts

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Cece Gilmore is a Content Writer at Scholarships360. Cece earned her undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University. While at ASU, she was the education editor as well as a published staff reporter at Downtown Devil. Cece was also the co-host of her own radio show on Blaze Radio ASU.

Bill Jack has over a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. Since 2008, he has worked at Colby College, Wesleyan University, University of Maine at Farmington, and Bates College.

Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

Most students who apply to schools as prestigious as the University of Pennsylvania have impressive academic and extracurricular records. If you want your application to shine above the rest, the UPenn supplemental essays are your opportunity! 

UPenn has three required prompts. Each ask students to share how UPenn will fulfill their goals, in and out of the classroom. The challenge is crafting a sincere yet differentiated answer to these “Why UPenn” essays.  Let’s discuss how to ace each prompt. Our tips include questions that will help you draw upon the best examples from your own experiences.  

Also see: How to answer the Common App essay prompts

“Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge. (We encourage you to share this note with that person, if possible, and reflect on the experience!”) (150-200 words)

This prompt asks you something that many colleges do not– they want to know about your relationships. This is great because it shows the admissions committee a glimpse into what type of person you are, and what you care about. Gratitude tells a lot about a person, so whoever you decide to write to, make sure that it is sincere and truthful. 

This prompt is to be written with between 150 and 200 words. Depending on how you feel about writing, this can be seen as a whole lot of writing or not enough space to say how you really feel. Either way, if you just write from your heart with this prompt, you can always go back and edit it to get the word count correct. 

Questions to consider: 

• Who has helped you the most in your life?
• What are you grateful for?
• Have you experienced something big that a family member or friend helped you through?

“How will you explore community at Penn? Consider how Penn will help shape your perspective and identity, and how your identity and perspective will help shape Penn.” (150-200 words)

This prompt acknowledges the social aspect of attending a college or university. One of the big things that many higher education institutions look for in a student is that they are more than just their academics. Penn is big on community, so this prompt is asking you how you will benefit from the community that the school offers, and also how the community will benefit from your involvement. 

For many students, the most difficult part about writing college supplemental essays is writing about themselves. For this prompt, UPenn wants to know about your positive attributes. It is okay to hype yourself up– actually, that is what they want to hear! So although it may seem awkward at first to talk about what you have to offer in their community, it is important that you start to get comfortable writing in that way about yourself. 

Here are some questions you could ask yourself: 

• Are you a part of a community at home?
• What are you looking for in a college when it comes to community?
• What do you feel are the most important parts of your identity that you can see in the community around you?

Related : How to write a “Why This College” essay (With example!)

Prompt #3 Undergraduate School-Specific Short Answer Prompts

For these essays, make sure that you do your research on the specific school and their mission. You do not want to just repeat what is already on your transcript, resume, or application. This is a place that you need to deep dive into the parts of your academics where you may not have been able to elaborate in your application. It will be important to connect your previous academic experiences to what you want your future academics to look like at UPenn.

You will want to talk about your goals and aspirations academically and intellectually in college. Be sure to connect to things that are specific to UPenn, such as certain professors you are looking forward to working with, research opportunities that UPenn offers that other schools don’t, or classes that you are excited about. 

Here are some questions you could ask yourself when answering the specific undergraduate school-specific prompts: 

• What major are you interested in?
• Do you plan to study abroad?
• What topics are you interested in researching?
• What most excites you academically?

Here are the various schools within the University of Pennsylvania:

School of nursing.

Penn Nursing intends to meet the health needs of a global, multicultural world by preparing its students to impact healthcare through advancing science. How will you contribute to our mission of promoting equity in healthcare and how will Penn Nursing contribute to your future nursing goals? (150-200 words)

Before you start writing, learn all about Penn’s School of Nursing as you connect what is offered to how you can make the world a better place as a nurse.

College of Arts and Sciences

The flexible structure of The College of Arts and Sciences’ curriculum is designed to inspire exploration, foster connections, and help you create a path of study through general education courses and a major. What are you curious about and how would you take advantage of opportunities in the arts and sciences? (150-200 words) 

The  academic offerings within the College of Arts and Sciences are amazing and vast. Spend time getting familiar with the offerings and how you will make the most of opportunities if accepted to the UPenn College of Arts and Sciences. 

The Wharton School

Wharton prepares its students to make an impact by applying business methods and economic theory to real-world problems, including economic, political, and social issues.  Please reflect on a current issue of importance to you and share how you hope a Wharton education would help you to explore it.  (150-200 words) 

Learn everything you can about the foundations of a Wharton education so you can share how you will make the most of a renowned Wharton School education.  

The School of Engineering and Applied Science

Penn Engineering prepares its students to become leaders in technology by combining a strong foundation in the natural sciences and mathematics with depth of study in focused disciplinary majors. Please share how you plan to pursue your engineering interests at Penn. (150-200 words)

Before you start writing, learn all about Penn Engineering and its mission and how you can make the most of the resources offered.

See Also:   How to write an essay about yourself

Specialized and dual degree program prompts

UPenn offers special (and particularly competitive) programs . They each require a separate essay, with a bit longer word limit of 400-650. If you are interested in one of these tracks, be sure to get very specific in your answers. Make a list of concrete examples for how your chosen program satisfies your academic and personal aspirations. Given that these are such unique paths, showcase what you have been exposed to that has led you to develop this niche interest. Outline exactly how you envision this program setting you up for professional success. This is not the time to downplay your enthusiasm for the subject matter and confidence that you are a great candidate! 

Also see:  How to write a 500 word essay

Transfer Essay

“Please explain your reasons for transferring from your current institution and what you hope to gain by transferring to another institution. (4150 characters) ”

Also see : How to transfer colleges

This prompt is specifically for students who are wanting to transfer to UPenn from another institution. Although 4150 characters may seem like a great deal of words, remember that this is your opportunity to share your story and tell the university about who you are as a student, as a person, as a community member, and as a friend. 

It is a great idea to lean in on the second half of this prompt. What do you hope to gain from transferring to another college? Usually, when a person transfers to another university, it is because they were not getting everything they wanted out of the college that they started at. One thing that you need to remember is that you do not want to speak badly about your previous institution– this can be a bad look, depending on who is reading the essay. Be sure that you are focusing on yourself, and try to remain positive.

• If you had a bad experience at your previous institution, how can you turn that around to be positive?
• What are you looking forward to academically with UPenn?
• What are you looking forward to in the community with UPenn?

Final thoughts

After reading the above pointers, you should be ready to tackle the UPenn supplemental essays! Don’t shy away from injecting your personality into the prompts. Also know that you can never do too much research in finding examples to reference. Because these prompts are pretty open-ended, trimming your answers to 250 words is sometimes the trickiest part. Get all of your initial thoughts down, and then revise. You got this! 

Additional resources

As you complete the UPenn supplemental essays, you’ve probably got a lot on your plate. Luckily, we can help you navigate it. Check out our guides on when to apply to college , how many colleges to apply to , and how to plan a college tour . We can also provide you with vetted, custom-matched scholarship opportunities which automatically update every day – make sure to try out our scholarship search tool . Best of luck with your admissions process!

Other colleges to consider

• Columbia University (New York, NY)
• University of Chicago (Chicago, IL)
• Duke University (Durham, NC)
• Princeton University (Princeton, NJ)
• Dartmouth College (Hanover, NH)

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How to Write the University of Pennsylvania Supplemental Essays 2023-2024

September 13, 2023

When you sit down to craft your University of Pennsylvania supplemental essays, consider how your passion for UPenn sets you apart. Perhaps you're captivated by the opportunity to integrate your chosen major with your volunteer work through Penn's exceptional community engagement programs. Or maybe it was the charm of Philadelphia's historic buildings and cobblestone streets that stole your heart during your campus visit. Regardless, if you truly believe that Penn could be your home for the next four years, now is the time to articulate your reasons and aspirations on paper. To assist you in tackling this year's essay questions, I have meticulously analyzed each prompt, provided various approaches to addressing them, and shared additional tips to ensure you can excel in your University of Pennsylvania supplemental essays for the 2023-2024 application cycle.

Penn-Specific Essays for All Applicants

Regardless of which school or dual-degree program within Penn you’re applying to, all students have to answer the two required questions. Considering that 93% of applicants got rejected this year, your goal in writing the University of Pennsylvania supplemental essays 2023-2024 should be to stand out in demonstrating an unprecedented commitment to the home of the Quakers. 

1. Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge. (We encourage you to share this note with that person, if possible, and reflect on the experience!) (150-200 words)  

To become a valuable community member of any college, developing strong relationships and getting along with your peers is essential. The University of Pennsylvania recognizes the importance of these qualities, which is why they have introduced the prompt asking applicants to write a thank-you note to someone they have not yet thanked. This prompt aims to assess how applicants value others' presence in their lives, how they express gratitude, and what they truly value.

When considering who to thank and for what, think beyond the obvious choices. While thanking a parent or guardian for their hard work and dedication in raising you is a valid option, you can also take an unexpected route. Consider thanking the person who supports your theater troupe, the staff member at your school who goes above and beyond their duties, or a friend who consistently gives you rides to and from activities. By choosing someone unexpected, you can showcase your ability to recognize and appreciate the individuals who have made a significant impact on your life.

Additionally, instead of just stating what you did or why you are thankful, take the opportunity to convey your emotions and the impact the person has had on you. Your tone should be directed towards the person you are thanking, rather than the admissions officer who will be reading your essay. 

Remember, the purpose of this essay is not just to showcase your writing skills, but also to provide insights into your character and values. Use this opportunity to highlight your ability to appreciate others, demonstrate empathy and kindness, and showcase the qualities that make you a valuable member of any community. By expressing your gratitude and acknowledging the impact others have had on your life, you will undoubtedly stand out in the University of Pennsylvania supplemental essays for the 2023-2024 application cycle.

2. How will you explore community at Penn? Consider how Penn will help shape your perspective, and how your experiences and perspective will help shape Penn. (150-200 words)

This prompt serves as an opportunity for the admissions officers to understand what makes you a unique person and which parts of campus you will contribute to the most. They want to see your passion and dedication to making a positive impact within the Penn community. Whether it is through student government, community service organizations, or cultural clubs, Penn is seeking individuals who will actively engage in and enhance the campus community.

While you can definitely mention which student organizations you hope to participate in at UPenn, focus on 1-2 of your most meaningful extracurricular experiences and highlight how your experiences can help shape Penn’s community. This is a chance for you to showcase your ability to connect your personal experiences to the larger Penn community. How will your unique perspective and background contribute to the diversity and inclusivity of the campus? How will your involvement in specific organizations or activities enrich your own growth and development? These are the types of questions you should consider when crafting your response.

Remember, Penn is looking for students who not only excel academically but also demonstrate a genuine commitment to being active and engaged members of the campus community. Use this prompt to showcase your leadership abilities, your passion for making a difference, and your desire to contribute to the vibrant and diverse community at Penn.

Dual-Degree Specific Questions

The school-specific prompt will now be unique to the school to which a student is applying. Considering the undergraduate school you have selected, please respond to your school-specific prompt below.For students applying to the coordinated dual-degree and specialized programs, please answer this question in regard to your single-degree school choice; your interest in the coordinated dual-degree or specialized program may be addressed through the program-specific essay.

If you’re applying to one of UPenn’s dual-degree programs, you’ll have to write additional essays. To answer the University of Pennsylvania supplemental essays 2023-2024 for each of these highly competitive programs, you have to convey how you’ve pursued the intersection of the respective fields, as well as why you’re choosing Penn’s very specific programs over schools that are already specialized. 

In your response, dive into details about discovering your love for your prospective field, whether it’s engineering, business, or biology. Was there one instance that catalyzed your passion and goals? How have you explored the subject of your interest since? How has your curiosity about the topic grown? The majority of your essay should be dedicated to tying your interest in what the specific Penn school has to offer. Admissions officers must have no doubt that you have done thorough research on both the college and what Penn looks for as a whole. 

For example, Penn Engineering values students who are able to apply their distinguished background in physics and math into innovation, design, and scientific discoveries. You can talk about some ways that you’re excited to elevate your passion for engineering and entrepreneurship through Penn’s Clarks Scholars Program for leadership in engineering. Or you might dedicate your essay to your plans to advocate for minority representation in engineering through the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Undergraduate Research Program .

An easy mistake to make in this essay would be to write about Penn in a broad and general sense when the prompt clearly asks you to write about the specific college you’re applying to. Think about that school, what makes it unique, and how it can help you reach your aspirations. If you could recycle this response for another school’s supplemental essays, it’s time to start a new draft.

Additional Tips for Writing the UPenn Supplemental Essays 2023-2024

Here are some final tips to get you on the right track for your University of Pennsylvania supplemental essays 2023-2024.

• Don’t underestimate the power of your extracurriculars: Admissions officers want to know what makes you tick outside the classroom. Don’t just shrug off this essay and repeat information you’ve already included in your activities list. They want to know about your perspective and identity. Your activities could have shifted your views in a way that you might not have even realized before sitting down to write the essay. And you won’t be able to analyze their impact properly if you don’t look at them from a more nuanced angle.
• If you’re pursuing a dual-degree, don’t write about it in the first two questions: Your response should only talk about the main school within Penn you’re applying to. For example, if you’re applying to the Life Sciences and Management program, which falls under both Wharton and the College of Arts and Science, you must pick either Wharton or the College of Arts and Sciences as your main school of choice. You’ll get a chance to elaborate on your interest in the specific program later.

The supplemental essays for the University of Pennsylvania are specifically designed to assess whether you would be a good fit for one of the colleges within UPenn. By thoroughly researching and understanding the distinct characteristics of each college, you can craft compelling responses that will persuade admissions officers that they are making the right decision, bringing you one step closer to becoming a proud Quaker. You've got this!

If you are looking for a college admissions counselor to help maximize your chances of getting into your dream school, we can help! InGenius Prep has helped more than 6,000 students around the world gain admission into the most competitive schools including Harvard, Yale, MIT, Johns Hopkins, Cornell, NYU, and more. Sign up for a free strategy call today and join the 6,000+ students we've helped get accepted into their dream schools. 

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