Applicants to the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) need much more than stellar grades and test scores to get there. Upwards of 72,000 students applied for a place in the Class of 2030. Of the approximately 3500 students admitted, 92% performed in the top 10% of their high school class. Because so many applicants are academically qualified, Penn relies on three short supplemental essays in addition to the personal statement required on the Common App to learn more about each student.
Penn’s admissions process is holistic; they want to know the person behind the numbers. Together with your academic profile, your answers help the admissions committee make distinctions between outstanding students. These three short responses are thus your chance to share exactly who you are, what drives your studies, and how you will shape their campus.
Penn takes your essays seriously and urges specificity. They want you to make a strong case for why Penn and why you. Take Penn’s guidance seriously: “a good short answer should sound so much like you that someone who knows you would recognize your voice without seeing your name.”
TTA Top Tip: The Penn admissions website features videos explaining what makes a compelling response. Watch them before you begin writing!
Supplemental Essays Required From Every Applicant
These short answers challenge you to be creative and reflective. Each is designed to understand your values and priorities. Remember that the admissions committee needs to understand what kind of roommate, classmate, and community contributor you will be.
Note: Essay prompt wording is cited directly from the official Penn Undergraduate Admissions site.
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!) (50-200 words)
- What you might think this prompt is looking for: A detailed portrait of someone who has helped you get here.
- What the admissions committee is actually trying to understand: Are you a grateful and empathetic person?
- Top Tip: Admissions officers use this to gauge your humility and your openness to the support of others. The best responses focus on small, highly specific moments of mentorship or kindness.
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. (50-200 words)
- What you might think this question is asking: What clubs will you join?
- What the admissions committee is actually trying to understand: This is another community question, but this one is more high-stakes than the first. On the one hand, you need to distinguish yourself as someone whose unique experience and perspectives will enrich the living and learning experiences of those around you. On the other, you must make a case for why Penn, specifically, is the ideal community for you.
- Top Tip: Penn is not looking for well-rounded students; the admissions committee is looking to build a well-rounded class. They are not just admitting excellent students; they are admitting students to a broad, interconnected cohort that will shape the community as a whole. Write about how your background makes you a unique contributor to a specific opportunity at Penn.
Pick ONE — Your Single-Degree School Prompt
Because applicants to the University of Pennsylvania apply to a specific degree program, the admissions committee requires one additional question to understand your choice. Applicants must answer the question unique to the program to which they are applying. Note that each prompt includes a link to more information and an explicit recommendation to do your homework about the program before answering!
These answers demand specificity. Name the real classes, research, professors, or opportunities at Penn that match your scholarly interests and experience to the program.
TTA Top Tip: Prove that your past academic pursuits have led you directly to Penn’s doorstep.
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. Why are you applying to Nursing, where do you see yourself professionally in the future, and how will you contribute to our mission of promoting equity in healthcare? (50-200 words)
To help inform your response, we encourage you to review Penn Nursing’s mission and approach to equity in healthcare. Reviewing this may help you connect your own professional goals to the specific ways Penn Nursing works to advance equity in healthcare.
College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences is designed to foster discovery and connection. Describe something you are curious about—something you’d like to learn more about or find a new approach to—and how you might pursue that curiosity in the College. (50 to 200 words)
To help inform your response, we encourage you to look at the College’s curriculum and academic offerings. Reviewing the College’s departments and areas of study may help you identify where your curiosity could take shape.
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. Discuss a current issue of importance to you and how you hope a Wharton education would help you explore it. (50-200 words)
To help inform your response, we encourage you to review the foundations of a Wharton education. Reviewing this may help you see how a Wharton education could connect to the issue you choose to write about.
Penn 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. Describe how you plan to pursue your engineering interests at Penn, particularly within the intended major you selected. (50-200 words)
To help inform your response, we encourage you to learn more about Penn Engineering and its mission to prepare students for global leadership in technology. Reviewing the curriculum for your intended major may help you identify specific courses, labs, or research opportunities that connect to your engineering interests.
Coordinated Dual-Degree and Specialized Program Essay Prompts
Some students elect to apply to Penn for a coordinated dual degree or specialized program, in which case they have additional supplemental essays to write. Students applying to one of these coordinated dual-degree and specialized programs should visit the admissions website page for the program-specific essay prompts. As advised above, be specific in your answers about why Penn is an excellent match for you and what you plan to study.
- Huntsman: The Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business
- LSM: The Roy and Diana Vagelos Program in Life Sciences and Management
- NHCM: Nursing and Healthcare Management
- VIPER: The Roy and Diana Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research
- VIC: BSE in Visual and Interactive Computing
Frequently Asked Questions
How many supplements does Penn require for a student applying to the College of Arts and Sciences? Three: two required of every applicant, regardless of degree program, and one additional essay that prompts applicants to explain “why Penn.” Applicants must also complete the personal statement on the Common Application.
What does Penn mean when they caution applicants not to be ‘generic’ in their responses? By “generic,” the admissions committee is essentially telling you not to recycle essays you have written for other applications. They want to understand how you connect to Penn, not just what kind of college student you will make.
In her video about answering the ‘thank-you note’ question, Vice Provost and Dean of Admissions Whitney Soule tells applicants that the response is not used to screen applicants or assess fit. Why then does Penn ask it? More than just a feel-good question about gratitude, this prompt helps the admissions committee understand your ability to be reflective. Your answer also gives them insight into your relationships, your life experiences, your quirks, and even your sense of humor. Although your response is itself not a determinant of outcome, it is used in combination with your other answers to offer a more complete picture of who you are.
All of these essays are essentially asking the same question: Why Penn? How should I prepare before writing each essay? A compelling answer requires research. Spend time reading about the research professors are doing, the kinds of classes that would connect to your interests, and unique organizations or traditions that would enhance your experience. Be specific about how what you have studied and want to learn connect to Penn’s offerings.
How can I ensure that my essays will stand out against the thousands of others? The best way to stand out is to be yourself. That said, also take this as one more opportunity to show the university you know how to write. Add a hook, use imagery, and provide details. When you make a claim, provide evidence. Just be careful not to overwrite: short answers require precision, so trust your nouns and verbs.
Why does Penn give applicants videos to watch, links to programs, and other tips on writing these essays? Penn’s decision to provide ample resources suggests that the admissions committee is not trying to trap or trip up applicants intentionally. The university genuinely wants to learn more about you, not how you interpret a prompt.
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She began her career at Kent School as an English teacher, coach, dormitory faculty member, and assistant athletic director, developing a deep understanding of students both inside and outside the classroom. After earning her master’s degree from Northwestern University, she joined Westminster School, where she ultimately served as Director of College Counseling, guiding students and families through academic planning and highly selective admissions.
Kate later held senior leadership roles at Pomfret School and for 12 years at The Winsor School, where she oversaw grades 5–12 academics, supervised college counseling, conducted mock interviews, and helped shape institutional strategy.
Having worked as a teacher, advisor, college counselor, academic dean, and associate head of school, Kate understands how admissions decisions are made — and how to position students thoughtfully and authentically. Today, she focuses on what she values most: partnering one-on-one with young people to help them tell their stories with confidence and purpose.
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