What UPenn looks for
- Gratitude shown through specific detail, not generic appreciation.
- A concrete vision of how you'd engage Penn's communities, in both directions.
- School-specific knowledge of your program — named courses, labs, or interdisciplinary paths.
- A two-way fit story: how Penn shapes you and how you'd shape Penn.
UPenn supplemental prompts (2026-27)
Thank-You Note
150-200 wordsRequired“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!)”
How to approach it. Write to a real person and ground the gratitude in specific moments only the two of you would recognize. Penn learns about you through who you choose and what you noticed, so resist the urge to thank someone famous or obvious.
Community at Penn
150-200 wordsRequired“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.”
How to approach it. Name actual Penn communities, clubs, or traditions you'd join and show what you'd bring to them. Make the exchange concrete in both directions so it reads as fit rather than flattery.
College of Arts and Sciences
150-200 wordsRequired“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?”
How to approach it. Answer this only if you're applying to the College, and lean into the curriculum's flexibility with specific courses or cross-disciplinary combinations. Show curiosity that needs Penn's breadth, not a single linear track.
Penn Engineering
150-200 wordsRequired“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.”
How to approach it. Answer this only if you're applying to Penn Engineering, and connect your interests to specific majors, labs, or the liberal-arts breadth Penn emphasizes. Concrete engineering questions you want to pursue read stronger than a love of building things in general.
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UPenn essay FAQ
- How many supplemental essays does UPenn require?
- A thank-you note and a community essay, plus one school-specific essay for the undergraduate program you apply to — each 150-200 words.
- How long are the UPenn supplemental essays?
- Each Penn essay is 150-200 words.
- How can I tell if my UPenn essay is strong?
- Strong Penn essays are specific to real people, real communities, and your actual program rather than generic praise. Halo scores your drafts against a UPenn-specific rubric so you can see where the community and school essays could apply to any school and make them unmistakably Penn.
Sources & official links
- UPenn official website
- UPenn on College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education)
- Prompts and requirements are published by UPenn on its official application and admissions pages.
Prompts shown are from the 2026-27 cycle and reflect each school’s officially published questions. Schools release new supplements each year; we update these guides each cycle.