The University of Pennsylvania, or Penn, is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is a member of the prestigious Ivy League. Penn stands out in among the Ivy League as the only member of the world-renowned group of schools that accepts undergraduate students into their business school, and they are first among the Ivy League in number of students who study abroad. Penn offers study abroad programs in dozens of countries, which augment the on-campus academic culture of big ideas, big dreams, and seeking solutions to big challenges. Penn received over 54,500 applications last year, and the acceptance rate is 6%.
Before you start your application, you should know that Penn is test-optional for the 2023-24 application cycle. This means that you can send in your ACT or SAT scores, but you don’t have to. This is good news for students who struggle with standardized testing, but it doesn’t mean that they’ve lowered their standards. If you don’t send your scores, they’ll still expect to see exceptional grades, extracurriculars, and essays. If you do send your scores, they should be as exceptional as everything else on your application. Because of the test-optional policy, only students with exceptional scores tend to send them — so we don’t recommend sending scores unless they are nearly perfect.
If Penn is your dream school, send us an email. We help outstanding students get into the best schools in the world.
Before you start the Penn supplement, let’s do some deep breathing. The Penn supplement isn’t particularly long or difficult, but you’ll need to approach it with time and patience. Plan on taking your time with brainstorming, drafting, and editing, as the worst thing you can do is rush.
Penn attracts students who are very academically gifted and are often quite serious about their path in life, but the supplements are a great place to not take yourself too seriously. As you begin drafting based on the guidance below, don’t try to be what Penn wants — be yourself! Tell your stories. Share your perspective. Be truthful not only to what you’ve done, but also to who you are.
Now on to the supplement! The first two questions are the same for all applicants.
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)
We love this prompt because it is a great practice to follow regardless of Penn making it a prompt. It’s also really straightforward, but maybe not in the way you think. Your response to this prompt shouldn’t just be the thank note — that’s to be given to the person you’re writing it to. Instead, your response should tell a story that may include snippets of the thank you note, but focuses mostly on two things: 1. The relationship you have with the person you’re writing it to and 2. The impact or aftermath of you giving it to them — which you should do. The parenthetical from Penn may feel like an aside, but if you don’t reflect on actually delivering the note, they will take notice. They’re opening the door for you to share the note, so not writing at least a little about doing it would feel like a purposeful omission.
Now, it may be the case that you can’t actually hand the note to the person you’re writing it to. If that’s the case, write about it.
Also, and relatedly, if you visit Penn (or any college), you should get into the practice of sending a thank you note to the admissions counselor and/or tour guide you engaged with. If you aren’t sure where to send it, address it to the admissions office with “c/o NAME” in the address, and it will get to where you want it to go!
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 is one of two “why us” essays for Penn, and so you’ll need to start with some research. Before you can start writing, we need you to find something about the Penn community outside of academics that you find exciting. This should be specific to Penn, not simply something about the city of Philadelphia. It can be academic-adjacent, but shouldn’t be a class, department, or major. Then, you’ll write a supplement through the lens of your exploring that thing, layering on relevant experiences from your past to illuminate how Penn will shape you — and how you will shape Penn.
For example, writing about how you’re excited to go vintage shopping on the weekends is a bad idea for this prompt, because you don’t need to go to Penn to go shopping for vintage in Philadelphia. Writing about using a love of vintage and eco-friendly urban living strategies as a jumping-off point for becoming part of the Penn community, however, is a much better idea. Maybe you’ll join the Penn Environmental Group or Students for Environmental Equity, and could even use your love of vintage to create a themed event for the broader Penn community that promotes more sustainable consumption.
Whatever you write about, lean into your passion, and share how you would benefit from Penn — and how Penn would benefit from you.
The final prompt
The last prompt for the Penn supplement is school-specific. We’ve focused on the College of Arts + Sciences, which most students apply to, but the prompt is different for the School of Nursing, The Wharton School, and the School of Engineering and Applied Science (see them here). Dual-degree programs, which there are a number of, also have different final prompts, so it’s important that you select the correct program or school when you are applying, as inter-school transfer is not easy, and is often not even possible.
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.
This is the second “why us” essay and, like with the previous one, you’ll need to start with some research.
The name of the major you want to pursue (even if you aren’t 100% certain, we do need you to pick one for the application)
A class within the major department that you’d like to take
A professor you’d like to study under
You should also find at least one aspect of the Penn curriculum that excites you that isn’t unique to your prospective major. This could be focused on the liberal arts curriculum and the foundational learning all students share, an academic resource that would support you as a student, or an academic tradition that you find exciting.
As you write your response, you’ll start with a story that introduces two things: your academic interest and something about your background that relates to your academic interest. Both should be through the lens of curiosity. For example, you could start by writing about an experience you had while attending an intensive business program one summer, which included simulations. The experience left you with more questions than answers, and you’re excited to pursue those questions at Penn.
That introductory story would lead into writing about a desire to major in economics, sharing the class you’d like to take and professor you’d like to study under, and describing how you want to be involved in Consult for America, a student-run consulting group for small businesses. There are over 1,000 student groups, so it won’t be hard to find one that meshes your personal and academic interests with what the Penn community has to offer.
At the end of the prompt, circle back to your original story, reflecting on where you’ve come from and where you see yourself going with Penn’s help.
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. This information will help you better understand what you could learn by studying at Wharton and what you could do afterward.
Penn’s Wharton School is the only Ivy League business school open to undergraduate students. This makes it both a unique and a highly-sought after program, and every major in Wharton is designed through the lens of business. Economics at Wharton, for example, is practical business economics, whereas economics through the College of Arts and Sciences is more conceptual and big-picture. It’s important to know this because it will impact how you write about your hopes and goals as a student at Wharton.
Before you even get into that, though, you need to address the first part of the prompt by writing about a current (and business-relevant) issue of importance to you that also connects to your prospective course of study. We encourage you to be as specific as you can be with this. Instead of writing about “inflation,” for example, you may want to write about the mismatch between blue-collar salaries and rising food prices. Or, instead of writing about global supply chains, you may want to write about human rights concerns in fast fashion production fueled by micro-trend forecasting via social media. Whatever it is that you’re interested in, zoom in as close as you can and be as specific as you can be before pulling back to link your interest to Wharton and what the college offers. Be sure to be specific by stating your prospective major, a class or two you’d like to take that connects to the area of interest you already stated, and a professor you’d like to study under.
Close the supplement by looking to your future. How will having your Wharton degree help you address, engage with, or correct the issue you focused on?
SCHOOL OF NURSING
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)
To help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about Penn Nursing’s mission and how we promote equity in healthcare. This information will help you develop a stronger understanding of our values and how they align with your own goals and aspirations.
Penn is asking for two things here, both of which are big, and fitting both into 200 words is a challenge.
First, they want you to reflect on the field of nursing, and how the field needs to become more equitable — or equality that is scaled to address the needs of different groups. Whereas equality means everyone gets three marshmallows, equity accounts for the fact Timmy may have brought a marshmallow from home. If Timmy got three as well, he’d have four, but operating with an eye on equity means Timmy would be given two such that everyone ends up with three.
Then, they want you to paint yourself into that picture. Not just what will you do with the Penn degree, but where it will take you beyond the classroom and graduation stage. How, they ask, will you live up to their expectations for you?
It’s a big question, but let yourself dream. Tell a story — personal or more loosely related to your experience — that focused on something about nursing related to equity, and then dream outwards from there on how you’ll learn to be able to fix it, and then what you’ll do once you have the degree.
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, 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)
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. This information will help you develop a stronger understanding of academic pathways within Penn Engineering and how they align with your goals and interests.
This is a more straightforward “Why Us” essay, but there’s a key hidden inside the prompt: “liberal arts.” The Penn Engineering and Applied Science programs aren’t simply science and engineering intensives. The university holds students to a rigorous liberal arts curriculum, and so they don’t simply want to hear about what engineering classes you’ll take, but also why you want the diversified educational program that they emphasize.
Start with a story that leads into your area of academic interest and your prospective major, ideally from previous experience in the field inside or outside of school. Then, share the name of the major you want to pursue, two classes you want to take, and a professor you’d like to study under. After that, it’s time to branch out. What is something in a totally different subject (history, art, language, etc.) that you want to study — and how would it relate to your engineering or applied science pursuits? Maybe you want to gain mastery of Spanish because you are interested in hydroelectric programs in Central America. Or maybe you want to understand the sociopolitical dynamics of Northern Africa to inform a greater understanding of resource management in the region. Whatever you focus on, the key is that your interests should be linked for the reader, showing how your approach at Penn will be truly multidisciplinary and holistic.
Finally, share one or two extracurriculars that you want to join that are related to your major. How will you become better at whatever you are studying through your engagement with fellow students through these activities outside of the classroom?
DMD: DIGITAL MEDIA DESIGN PROGRAM
Why are you interested in the Digital Media Design (DMD) program at the University of Pennsylvania? (400-650 words / 3575 characters**)
Like the previous “why us” essays, this one starts with some research. You need to know the Digital Media Design program inside and out. Why, as just a teenager, are you confident in choosing such a specific and defined path? That’s the question they’ll be looking for you to answer as they read your application — so tell them!
Tell the story of you finding this passion, specifically and with emotional depth. Instead of trying to be perfect, feel comfortable incorporating a challenge, fallibility, or even a failure, into your essay, because showing that you’ve maintained your interest through hardship illustrates resiliency and confidence in your path.
You’ll also want to be specific about why you want to pursue this degree at Penn. What is it — specifically — about the DMD program that has attracted you to it? The more details you can give, the better, because in addition to wanting to see certainty in your path in the essay, application readers will be looking for proof that you truly know the program you’re asserting you want to attend.
You have a lot of room for this essay (up to 650 words), so don’t skimp on details. Paint a picture of the future you want for yourself, and make it clear how Penn is going to get you there.
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 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 Huntsman Program is an exceptionally competitive dual-degree program. Students live together, learn together, and are required to complete a study abroad program — resulting in a dynamic, immersive, and global education in business and international studies. For the Huntsman-specific supplement, they are asking for a modified or, rather, augmented “Why us?” essay. They want to know why you want to study business and international studies together and what you plan to do with your degree to contribute to addressing a global issue. Because of the breadth of this question, we recommend really focusing your essay on the big picture, instead of spending too much time in the nitty gritty of the program, like a specific class you may want to take.
To do this, we recommend telling a story from your life that frames your dual interests in business and international studies. It could be a program you participated in, a class you took, or an experience you had, but it should then be connected to the global issue that you’ll be mentioning later in the essay. They want to know how you’ve made the decision to apply to Huntsman, but also what you’ll do with the degree once you have it, which is why the global issue part of the prompt is so important.
If you don’t already, read up on international business news before writing this essay so that you can pull together a response that is timely, informed, and (crucially) factually correct.
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)
Before you start this essay, take note of the last line. By specifying that this essay can’t be a repeat of another essay submitted, they’re letting you know that students have tried to simply reuse another essay — and it hasn’t worked. Now that that’s clear, it’s time to address the LSM essay.
Like many of the dual-degree program essays, they aren’t as interested in you describing what you like about the program as they are curious about what you’d do with the degree to improve the world. They want to admit students who are going to push for innovation, equity, and global change, so you need to present yourself as that type of person.
To do this, you need to be informed. Research the program by exploring the program website, especially graduate profiles, and use what previous and current students have done as inspiration. Tell the story of what you plan to do with your degree, and consider making it an immersive essay, not simply a rundown of your hopes and dreams.
M&T: THE JEROME FISHER PROGRAM IN MANAGEMENT AND TECH
M&T has two essays that you’ll need to tackle.
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)
First, this is the “why us.” You need to make the case really clearly for yourself as a student in the program, not simply as a student at Penn with an interest in business and engineering. Afterall, someone can take courses in both business and engineering at Penn without being in M&T — so why M&T?
Start with your interest before you heard about the program, setting up your credentials through a story that highlights why these two things intersect for you. Maybe it was an internship, a work experience, or a mentor. Then, you’ll bring in the M&T program as the logical next step in your academic journey, specifying aspects of the program that are especially interesting to you. You should also name at least two courses you’d like to take, and at least one professor you’d like to study under and why you’re attracted to learning from them.
As you’re writing, remember that simply being interested in both business and engineering isn’t enough. This needs to go beyond that, and one way to show your commitment is by projecting into the future. After you’ve described how you’ll use the M&T program while a student, how will having your degree launch you into your professional life, and what do you hope to accomplish?
Describe a problem that you solved that showed leadership and creativity. (250 words)
The second prompt for M&T is a common type of question for college supplements. Interestingly, though, they’re not asking about a “challenge” you faced, but a “problem” you solved. We really like this solutions-oriented framing, and you shouldn’t worry about finding something ‘big’ to write your answer about. The best essays for this prompt center on seemingly small things but that, through the solution-seeking process, have big impacts.
NETS: THE RAJENDRA AND NEERA SINGH PROGRAM IN NETWORKED AND SOCIAL SYSTEMS ENGINEERING
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 / 3575 characters**)
This is the only supplement for Penn that has a published character limit, and we have no idea why they include it but it is on brand for the type of program that it is. For this supplement, they aren’t looking for a “why us,” as much as a “why you.” Why is it that you want to study modern networked information systems and technologies? They would like you to really lay this out for them, ideally through your past experiences engaging with the subject from the inside (as a developer), from the outside (as a user), and from the perspective of academia (as a student).
We work with our students to identify a story from their life that can show all three of these through one narrative thread, so that the essay is a cohesive story that doesn’t jump between examples. Remember that they don’t want a bulleted list of what you’ve done so far, but an essay that shows them why these things matter to you and how they’ve led you on to the academic journey you’re on.
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)
Like the other “Why us?” essays, you need to do some research before you start writing when it comes to this prompt. Penn knows their program inside and out, but they want to know how you in particular will use it to reach your goals. What are classes you’re excited to take, programs you’d love to take part in, and at least one professor you’re hoping to study under? Be as specific as you can, and use a story about how you came to your interest in nursing, or an experience you’ve already had in healthcare, as a way into the essay that grounds it in your lived reality.
If you are writing about previous healthcare experience, however, be sure to only write about things that you are appropriately certified or licensed to do in the United States. For example, if you are a lifeguard, EMT, or have a wilderness first aid certificate, you could write about experiences related to earning those certifications or subsequent experiences that required you to use them. As you are sharing your experiences, be sure to keep any patient identities private, as a key part of healthcare is confidentiality and showing your respect for confidentiality now will emphasize the seriousness with which you take your future career.
SEVEN-YEAR BIO-DENTAL PROGRAM
The seven-year bio-dental program has a lot of supplements (5, 250-word ones, to be exact), so you’ll want to start these well in advance of the deadline.
Please list any predental or premedical experience. This experience can include but is not limited to observation in a private practice, dental clinic, or hospital setting; dental assisting; dental laboratory work; dental or medical research; etc. Please include time allotted to each activity, dates of attendance, location, and a description of your experience. If you do not have any predental or premedical experience, please indicate what you have done or plan to do in order to explore dentistry as a career. (250 words)
You’re in high school, so they don’t expect you to have a ton to put here, but they do expect you to have done something that has confirmed for you that this is the path you want to take. If you haven’t done an internship with a dental clinic or dentist and have time to do an internship before pressing submit, we highly recommend doing so. Regardless of your experience, though, you need to, at the absolute minimum, make the case for how you know you want to go into dental.
Do you have relatives who are dentists or are in dental school? If so, indicate the name of each relative, his/her relationship to you, the school attended, and the dates attended. (250 words)
Again, you may or may not have much to put here, but you need to put something. Even if it is saying that you don’t have any relatives to include, go on to mention someone who you know who is a dentist, even if not a relative, that has influenced your path.
Describe any activities which demonstrate your ability to work with your hands. (250 words)
As a dentist, you’ll rely a lot on your hands. While many dental skills are trained, a certain level of coordination is necessary. This is a great place to show off how dexterous you are, and activities like knitting, woodworking, cross-stich, beading, or even chopping veggies for a catering job one summer are all valid inclusions. Tell a story that highlights one or more of whatever examples you have from your life, emphasizing the physicality of the activity.
What activities have you performed that demonstrate your ability to work effectively with people? (250 words)
This is the same prompt as above, but with a different target. Instead of focusing on you, solo, working with your hands, they want to know that you’ll be able to work collaboratively, and be a thoughtful team player. If you’ve been on a sports team, in a theater production, worked as a camp counselor, or led a club, you most likely have an experience you can write about for this one that highlights your ability to work with others.
Please explain your reasons for selecting dentistry. Please include what interests you the most about dentistry as well as what interests you least. (250 words)
This prompt is interesting, because it ends with something we really don’t see much in the world of college admissions: they want you to be honest about what doesn’t excite you. That’s a little bit scary for a lot of students because it requires measured transparency. We say “measured” because you have to be careful not to lean too hard into what you’re not excited about. To avoid emphasizing the negative, try the sandwich method. Start with a story that is focused on what you’re most passionate about, then include something you’re not as pumped about as an aspect of the larger (and primarily positive) story, then finish by returning to and building upon why you want to become a dentist. This will fulfill the prompt without losing an overall positive mindset.
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)
This prompt is “why us?” and resume all in one. By applying to this program, you are sticking a stake in the ground and proclaiming that you are certain that you want to pursue a very specific academic track in science and engineering, so you’ll need to back that up with some evidence that, first, you know what you’re getting into and, second, you’re qualified to get into it. Share what you’ve done previously in detail, and don’t try to be too humble. They need to know that you’re the real deal. You also need to talk about the VIPER major you want to pursue in detail, because in addition to convincing them that you’re awesome in general, you need to show them that you’re a perfect fit for what they offer.
While this supplement doesn’t necessarily need to be ‘story forward’, we do still recommend opening and closing the supplement with first-person anecdotes that set the tone for the essay as earnest, passionate, thoughtful, and self-aware.
Penn is an outstanding college that seeks out students who are driven, determined, and self-starting. Show them that you are all of that and more in your supplement, and you’ve got a major head start.
If you’re planning on applying to Penn, send us an email. We have a proven track record helping students find their home in the Ivy League.