upenn essay examples

How to Write the University of Pennsylvania Supplemental Essays: Examples + Guide 2024/2025

TABLE OF CONTENTS

What are the upenn supplemental essay prompts.

• How to write each supplemental essay prompt for UPenn
• Prompt #1: "Thank you note" essay
• Prompt #2: Community contribution essay
• Prompt #3: Specialized/dual-degree program prompts

UPenn has a long history (as in, older than the US itself) as a strong academic institution. Founded by Ben Franklin, the university prides itself on helping to educate leaders in both academia and public service.

UPenn’s supplemental essays have for a long time primarily focused on some variation of “Why us?,” offering you a chance to show the school who you are through linking your skills/qualities/values/interests to the awesome things UPenn offers. In other words, how do you and the school fit together?

Additionally, UPenn has several possible prompts for students applying to dual-major or specialized programs.

If you want to get a clearer sense of all that UPenn is looking for, you can explore an extensive, by-the-numbers look at their offerings, from enrollment and tuition statistics to student life and financial aid information, on its Common Data Set . And for insights into how the university envisions itself and its role, and how it wants to grow and evolve, read its strategic plan . Reading through this will give you a strong idea of what UPenn values.

UPenn Supplemental Essay Prompt #1

All Undergraduate 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)

UPenn Supplemental Essay Prompt #2

All Undergraduate 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)

College of Arts and Sciences Essay Prompt

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)

School of Engineering & Applied Science Essay Prompt

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)

School of Nursing Essay Prompt

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)

The Wharton School Essay Prompt

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)

Digital Media Design Program (DMD) Essay Prompt

Why are you interested in the Digital Media Design (DMD) program at the University of Pennsylvania? (400-650 words)

The Huntsman Program in International Studies Essay Prompt

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 Roy and Diana Vagelos Program in Life Sciences & Management (LSM) Essay Prompt

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 Program in Management & Technology (M&T) Essay Prompts

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 maximum)

The Rajendra and Neera Singh Program in Networked and Social Systems Engineering (NETS) Essay Prompt

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)

Nursing and Health Care Management (NHCM) Essay Prompt

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 Roy and Diana Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER) Essay Prompt

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 to Write each Supplemental Essay for UPenn

We’re not positive, but we suspect that UPenn was inspired to create this prompt by one of its more famous professors, Dr. Martin Seligman , who founded and has popularized the field of  Positive Psychology.

Specifically, one tool Seligman created to help people increase their sense of well-being is the Gratitude Visit. Here’s how he describes it:

Close your eyes. Call up the face of someone still alive who years ago did something or said something that changed your life for the better. Someone who you never properly thanked; someone you could meet face-to-face next week. Got a face? Gratitude can make your life happier and more satisfying. When we feel gratitude, we benefit from the pleasant memory of a positive event in our life. Also, when we express our gratitude to others, we strengthen our relationship with them. But sometimes our thank you is said so casually or quickly that it is nearly meaningless. In this exercise … you will have the opportunity to experience what it is like to express your gratitude in a thoughtful, purposeful manner. Your task is to write a letter of gratitude to this individual and deliver it in person. The letter should be concrete and about three hundred words: be specific about what she did for you and how it affected your life. Let her know what you are doing now, and mention how you often remember what she did. Make it sing! Once you have written the testimonial, call the person and tell her you’d like to visit her, but be vague about the purpose of the meeting; this exercise is much more fun when it is a surprise. When you meet her, take your time reading your letter.

We’d recommend approaching UPenn’s prompt using Seligman’s guidance and advice.

Your tone here can be more informal/conversational. Write this as though you’re actually going to give it to the person you’re grateful to. Then, ideally, give it to them.

Some gratitude steps:

Find a quiet space (we’d recommend something like a mountain top or the beach or just climbing a tree, if possible, but you get the idea). 

Grab a pen or pencil and some paper. 

Close your eyes. 

Think about gratitude . Spend some time reflecting on what in your life you’re grateful for.

That last step might be more nebulous for some than others, so for a more concrete way to think about gratitude, just to get your mind in the right space, you can play with a version of a Stoic meditation often called “The Last Time”—it’s easier to feel gratitude for things (even stuff like chores) when we think about the fact that there’ll be a last time we get to experience them, and we probably don’t know it at the time. For example, for a parent, there’s a last time they’ll get to pick up their child and carry them to bed. (Unless your parents are insanely strong and continue doing so into your teens and 20s. In which case, amazing.) 

Think about something you used to do with someone—it can be as simple as playing hide ’n seek with a friend or relative—that you’ve maybe done for the last time (though we’d recommend never giving up hide ’n seek). Visualize that experience with them. Let the gratitude for what they brought to your life wash over you. Then keep following that flavor.

Side note: If you want to explore more tools Seligman and others have built around the science of happiness, head here .

Teacher Karen, I felt like an outsider in programming classes before you arrived. I remember sharing my dream to create an immersive 3D Harry Potter game and receiving laughter and indifference from teachers and peers. Maybe I was the outsider. After all, I was the only girl in the room. I felt lonely and threatened by the overflowing testosterone in class. Amongst hostile comments and harassment from teachers who complimented my appearance but underestimated my ideas, hearing “What is a girl doing here?” became my routine. It all changed when you first walked into class. Quickly, you showed me that STEM could be inclusive, and we became partners, the only two women in the room fighting for themselves and, most importantly, for each other. We stuck together, and you pushed me to improve intellectually and achieve things I had never expected. Thus, thank you for helping me create flying staircases and magical stones and finish my so-dreamed game. Thanks for turning me into a sorceress storyteller who used codes as spells to bring the unimaginable to life. Thank you for showing me that through grit and determination, we can break gender barriers and excel. With love, Juju (197 words) — — —

Tips + Analysis

Be specific. Reading this letter, we get a clear picture of the relationship between these two people, the context in which they interacted, and the specific ways the teacher impacted the student’s life. Think of this letter as a piece of storytelling, eulogizing an experience that’s had a lasting effect on you. Descriptive details like “immersive 3D Harry Potter game,” “overflowing testosterone in class,” and “flying staircases and magical stones” bring the reader into the story in a way that lets them feel the significance of that time. Such details also reveal something unique about this applicant, which helps her stand out.

Show your values and skills. Juju cares about inclusivity and gender equity in the STEM world, and she’s used this essay to show that. She’s also managed to convey some of her coding experience. When choosing your topic, consider what the vignette might demonstrate about what matters to you—ideally something you haven’t shared elsewhere in your application.

Write the letter you’d want to receive. Doesn’t this one make you go, “Awww”? It’s tender, intimate, and honest. The author speaks from her heart, plainly sharing her feelings of not belonging and how it felt to team up with her teacher and fight for each other and themselves. At CEG, we believe that this kind of vulnerability is a key quality that can help set some essays apart from others. Take up Penn’s invitation to be bold and open up—because that’s where the good stuff lies.

You can approach this as a “how will you contribute” prompt.

Essentially, a way to think of this kind of prompt is that it’s a combo of “community” and “why us” prompts: use some of your response to show how you’ve become who you are through the community/ies you’ve been part of, and then show how those experiences shape what you will bring to the college through linking to specific opportunities/groups/details. Connect your unique upbringing, in a very broad sense of the word, with what the school offers and how you will make a great team.

For a full guide to “community” essays , head there, but here’s the short version, plus how to add “how will you contribute” elements:

STEP 1: DECIDE WHAT COMMUNITY YOU WANT TO WRITE ABOUT

Create a “communities” chart by listing all the communities you’re a part of. Keep in mind that communities can be defined by...

Place: groups of people who live/work/play near one another

Action: groups of people who create change in the world by building, doing, or solving something together (Examples: Black Lives Matter, Girls Who Code, March for Our Lives)

Interest: groups of people coming together based on shared interest, experience, or expertise

Circumstance: groups of people brought together either by chance or external events/situations

STEP 2: USE THE BEABIES EXERCISE TO GENERATE YOUR ESSAY CONTENT

You’ll find detail on the BEABIES Exercise + a chart you can use at that link.

STEP 3: DO SOME “HOW WILL YOU CONTRIBUTE” RESEARCH

You’ll want to offer a few specific ways that show how the experience/s you’re discussing in your essay will allow you to contribute to the college. The easiest way to do this is to do some “Why Us”-like research and find ways you’ll engage with and contribute to the school’s community. 

STEP 4: PICK A STRUCTURE (NARRATIVE OR MONTAGE)

STEP 5: WRITE A FIRST DRAFT!

Here’s an example essay to illustrate the above approach:

Herding sheep at Washington Crossing Historic Park was my first window into the effects of climate change. Extreme summers forced the sheep to lay lethargically in an 18th century barn as their pastures wilted. Driven to make a difference in climate change awareness at my school, I joined the environmental club, EnAct, and organized a state-wide climate change conference. I tended to the school’s hens after joining the Garden Apprenticeship Program, and I organized book drives, beach sweeps, and trail cleanups while leading the Service Learning committee.  But, I yearn to impact the community beyond one-time initiatives.  At Penn, I want to make long-term, institutional change that will resonate for future generations. As a member of the Penn Environmental Group, I will campaign for the elimination of #6 plastics on campus and help organize GreenFest. I will learn the art of sustainable design through projects like the student-led Climate Action Plan. My experiences leading the Service Learning Committee and EnAct give me the unique perspective of environmentalism through a community lens. Collaborating with a diverse group of peers with unique interests, I will work towards making a dent in what I feel is the largest obstacle facing our generation. — — —

Use clear, direct structural elements. The hook gets us curious both about the student (you’ve been herding sheep?), and about how this connects to UPenn (we have faith she’ll get to the link, provided it doesn’t take too long).

Show how you’ll engage in the future through how you’ve engaged before. The first paragraph shows some nice elements of previous community engagement—driven by some of the student’s core values—that then link to how the student plans to continue that engagement within the Penn community. This shows she’s spent time researching the school and contemplating how she and the school fit together. The connection to core values also increases the reader’s confidence that the student will actually follow through on this at Penn.

Show parts of who you are through showing your values. As mentioned above, the author shows elements of identity through the values that have driven past engagement and will drive future engagement.

Here’s another example:

My friends who attend Wharton don’t talk primarily about the classes or clubs. They talk about the people, specifically how vastly different they are. A term one friend used was anti-me, a person with whom we share so little in common that even casual conversation becomes learning.  That concept of an unknown anti-me excites me. If my dorm neighbor studies at SEAS, perhaps I’ll find myself at PennApps with them, learning to code for the first time. If a classmate writes for Penn Appétit, I’d love to learn about food and tour Philadelphia restaurants with them.  I’m also excited to be someone else’s anti-self. Since Wharton clubs are open to all Penn students, I hope to convince my roommates to join Social Impact Consulting with me (after all, social responsibility transcends major).  As a family business entrepreneur, I’ll bring a client-side perspective to Consult for America. I imagine perpetual mutual learning and PPI Student Group discussions that spill over into late night talks in the Quad. Maybe I’ll even spread my love for R&B music by dragging my friends to a Spring Fling concert. I hope I’ll be a fun anti-self to chat with. — — — 

Take a minute to think about who you think this student is based on the above Community “Why us?” example. 

Like, actually pause and get a picture in your mind.

The “anti-me” idea offers a good window into the student and shows he’s ready for college, as colleges generally see themselves as places that serve to challenge our preconceived notions and cherished ideas. This is something that many people find uncomfortable, as it’s generally more pleasant to feel as though the ways we conceive of ourselves and the world are correct. But learning to ask uncomfortable questions and to have calm but complex dialogue is key to intellectual and emotional maturity. This essay shows a student who seems ready to continue taking steps down that path.

Additionally, he does a nice job weaving in a few different aspects of the Penn community he hopes to engage with, to shape, and to be shaped by.

UPENN College/program-specific supplemental essay prompts

Every UPenn applicant needs to write the essay above, but what other writing you need to do depends on which college/program you’re applying to.

We’ll offer some guidance for each below.

College of Arts and Sciences

This is a standard “Why us?” prompt. You’ll want to be sure to think of this not simply as “Why them?” but as “Why us?”—as in you + the school—and why you’d be a great fit together. One way we sometimes joke about this is to think about the essay as though you’re helping the school understand why your online dating profile and its online dating profile are perfect for each other, and how you’d probably make great partners. 

Always be sure to answer the question the prompt asks—link to specific elements of Penn that will allow you to continue exploring what you believe in and care about, what has shaped you academically and intellectually.

Penn’s website offers many videos charting different Penn students’ experiences. Exploring them may give you a clearer sense of what elements specific to Penn excite or intrigue you.

For a complete guide to the “Why us?” essays, click here . Here’s a condensed version:

Step #1: Do your research.

Spend 1 hr+ researching 10+ reasons why UPenn might be a great fit for you (ideally 3-5 of the reasons will be close to unique to UPenn AND connect back to you).

Step #2: Use this chart to map out your research.

Step #3: Decide on your approach.

Approach #1: The Basic, Solid “Why us?” Essay That Includes a Bunch of Reasons

Here’s an outline for a basic, solid “Why us?” essay:

Clear thesis that names the academic area(s) you want to pursue and maybe charts the path of the essay

Main reason #1 and 3-4 specific details

Main reason #2 and 3-4 specific details

Main reason #3 and 3-4 specific details

An ending that maybe discusses what you’ll give back

Approach #2: The “3-5 Unique Offerings” Strategy

Find 3-5 opportunities that are particular to the school (i.e., available at no other school or no other school you’re applying to), and connect each one back to you.

Approach #3: The “One Value” Strategy

How it works: Identify one core value that links you to the school and tell a story.

Find a way in which you and the school are deeply aligned.

Take your time crafting the essay.

Find a way to be vulnerable.

Could I create a hybrid approach by focusing on a central theme, but still listing a few reasons?

Here are a few example essays, with analysis.

Note that this example was written for when the prompt was 450 words, but the approach and specificity of content is what you want to focus on here. With some cuts, this would work great for the new word count.

Whether proving the Pythagorean theorem or delving into a 13th century Spanish poem, I revel in patterns. I look beneath the numbers and words on the page to understand their history: millennia of mathematical genius that contributed to a formula, contact of two cultures that forever altered the structure of a language, or an economic graph that really represents a mocha fad in Philadelphia. The presence of patterns in language has always fascinated me. Every word we speak bears the burden of ancient wars, socioeconomic disparity, and lost traditions, and continues to affect the lives of citizens today. In the Venezuelan refugee crisis, independence protests in Cataluña, and indigenous inequality in Mexico, language poses a barrier to international productivity. Language has also posed a barrier in my own life, in my relationship with my grandmother. While at Wharton, I want to take advantage of the fact that Penn is one of the only institutions to offer classes in Gujarati. I hope to learn my family’s heritage language and gain a deeper understanding of global linguistic diversity.  The summer before senior year, I had a window into linguistic studies at Penn while interning at the Cultural Evolution of Language Lab. I was exposed to psychology and cognitive linguistics by researching thematic relationships formed in the brain, and in a project about  bilingual code-switching, I had the opportunity to design my own artificial language. I was able to create the language patterns that had intrigued me for years.  After studying linguistic theory and the origins of Hispanic dialects around the world, I have come to realize that my interests lie in the applications of language. That’s where Wharton comes in. By using my knowledge of Spanish and Portuguese culture to analyze economic case studies in Latin America, I hope to merge my language skills with my fascination for economic policy.  The interdisciplinary nature of the Wharton curriculum epitomizes that combination. By studying international negotiations and participating in simulations to derive economic theory, I hope to develop the problem solving and critical thinking skills necessary to understand the deep complexities of societies around the world. I plan to follow the Business Economics Track in the Business Economics & Public Policy concentration, and pursue a secondary concentration in Global Analysis. In classes like Nations, Politics and Markets and Consumers, Firms & Markets in Developing Countries, I will gain a political and cultural perspective of international economics.  I also plan to continue my high school experiences studying Spanish by pursuing a minor in Latin American Studies from the College. I look forward to the course Diplomacy in the Americas in the Penn Model OAS Program, where I will get to combine my interests in Latin American culture, community service, and contemporary politics. At Wharton, a linguist-geek like myself will find a home where students work together to make a change in a complicated world. — — —

Again: clear, direct structural elements. The hook, particularly the 13th-century Spanish poetry reference, gets us curious about who this student is and how her brain works. It also immediately sets up a focus of the essay—patterns and language. There’s a clear thesis in the fifth paragraph that directly links the elements of discovery in the previous paragraphs with UPenn and how it’ll allow her to continue to enhance her exploration. Each paragraph has a clear topic sentence, so even if the reader is reading quickly or skimming, they’ll have a clear sense of where she’s heading. And it closes with a quick conclusion.

Show you’ve done your research. The latter part of the body discusses specific classes and programs the school offers and how they connect to what the student wants to pursue. We get the feeling that she isn’t applying simply because the school is on a ranking list somewhere or that she just skimmed some basic information, but rather that she has taken the time to think about what UPenn offers and how that fits what she wants in an education.

Connect details about the school to your values. We often call this the “so what” element of the essay—don’t just tell UPenn admission officers how great their school is (they know). Get into why those details connect to some of your core values by reflecting on what they will allow you to pursue or explore, and why those things matter to you. Bonus points if you can link details that excite you about the school to things you’ve already done, as the student above does by the Cultural Evolution of Language Lab.

Show us your intellect through your exploration and curiosity. Lines like, “Every word we speak bears the burden of ancient wars, socioeconomic disparity, and lost traditions, and continues to affect the lives of citizens today,” show us that this student has spent time exploring this on a much deeper level than most people tend to.

Here’s another example essay, also written for Penn’s old larger word count:

At heart, I’m both regulatory bureaucrat and capitalistic entrepreneur.  Coming from a small business-owning family, I’ve grown up finding ways to one-up the competition, from boosting website search ranking with unconventional SEO to negotiating with book suppliers to cut costs. After all, our rent depends on our profits.  However, I also hold enormous respect for regulation. I vividly remember seeing my second grade classmate Nelson sprawled on the asphalt in front of the Chinese school we both attended, accidentally run over by his teacher. I later discovered that afterschool was unlicensed: no safety training, no inspections, nothing. Years later, when my mother opened her own afterschool business, I filed the licensing documents and installed government-mandated guardrails. Nelson reminds me that, though burdensome, regulation is crucial.  The afterschool industry taught me the inseparability of business and policy, but also sparked my curiosity concerning how political economics can leverage that relationship for maximal social benefit. In my Democratic Party internship, I examined how to incentivize below-market-rate housing construction without reducing overall supply. At FBLA Nationals, I delivered a presentation on management practices to reduce oil spills, increasing profits while meeting environmental standards. Penn strikes me as a school surprisingly similar to the afterschool industry: an environment where practical learning occurs through doing and where business and policy can be explored in tandem. Penn’s interdisciplinary nature allows me to dive deep into politics while applying business to civics through the Wharton BEPP concentration. As State Chair of CAYPA, I’ve struggled with effectively lobbying businesses, so I’m eager to research Corporate Reputational Dynamics under Professor Abito, investigating the impact of different social activism strategies on business self-regulation. I haven’t seen such research anywhere outside Wharton. Further, Penn’s one-university system would allow me to take non-Wharton classes like Free Speech & Censorship. I’m looking forward to discussions amid the 2020 election, especially debating whether social media hate speech deserves First Amendment protections.  I’m drawn to Penn as a school which will challenge me to apply concepts to current events, as even foundational classes like ACCT102 are taught through case studies and simulations. I saw Penn’s emphasis on practical application during a dialogue with Professor van Bethem, who has already altered my stance on compliance credit trading by contextualizing in terms of environmental policy. I’m excited to merge my FBLA business management background with my CAYPA social advocacy experience through Wharton Impact Venture Associates, a practical, social-impact focused marriage of business and civics (though I believe activism regarding when not to invest is equally effective to compel social progress). Whether I become a leader in the afterschool industry or an elected official regulating it, I know Penn will enable this Capitalist Bureaucrat to catalyze purposeful impact.  — — —

And again (because they’re super helpful), use clear, direct structural elements. Notice how the first line performs a few functions here: It pulls us in—we’re curious what exactly the student means by this claim, plus it shows some of his personality—and there’s a slight wry humor to the juxtaposition. Again, this essay has clear topic sentences, a clear focus in each paragraph, and a clear conclusion, which bookends the essay succinctly and effectively.

Show you’ve done your research. The latter part of the body discusses specific classes and programs that the school offers and how they connect to what the student wants to pursue. We get the feeling that the student isn’t applying simply because the school is on a ranking list somewhere or that he just skimmed some basic information, but rather has taken the time to think about what UPenn offers and how that fits what the student wants in an education.

Show the development of your interest through moments that connect to core values. Each paragraph provides details that show both intellectual and emotional links to his chosen field, and that link to his core values (community involvement, integrity, etc.). And he does a nice job of increasing the degree of his interest and involvement (e.g., internship, FBLA Nationals), illustrating his dedication. Bonus points here for raising the stakes by mentioning his family’s rent in part depends on his work. 

School of Engineering & Applied Science

This is a standard “Why us?” prompt, focused on engineering. You’ll want to be sure to think of this not simply as “Why them?” but as “Why us?”—as in you + the school—and why you’d be a great fit together. One way we sometimes joke about this is to think about the essay as though you’re helping the school understand why your online dating profile and its online dating profile are perfect for each other, and how you’d probably make great partners. 

Here’s an essay example written for when Penn’s word count was much larger, but it’ll give you a clear idea of the direction to head in.

I paddle like there’s a Great White behind me. The wave catches me and I ride it to shore. When I get there, I see a dead baby sea lion, with two more dying further down the beach. Not the work of a shark, but climate change. Fish migrations caused by increasing water temperatures have forced sea lion mothers to venture farther for food, leaving sea lion pups stranded to die. Our world’s amazing creatures and ecosystems are in jeopardy due to humans’ abuse of the environment.  At heart, I’m an environmentalist and an engineer, and an education from UPenn will let me combine my passions and work towards addressing the most pressing problems facing the world. My work with Heal the Bay and Marine Protected Area Watch has been rewarding, but long-term, large scale solutions can only be accomplished through the scientific miracles of engineering. That’s where Penn comes in. At Penn, I want to study materials engineering with a minor in Energy and Sustainability (ENSU) to address global sustainability issues.  Over my last two summers, I have been able to pursue my passion for global solutions by working with the Laboratory for the Chemistry of Construction Materials at UCLA. I studied the crevice corrosion of Ti-6Al-4V, a titanium-aluminium-vanadium alloy, which has applications from medical implants to pipelines and the dissolution kinetics of calcite in cement to sequester CO2. At Penn, I want to continue research with practical and impactful applications. Professor David Pope’s research on the deformation of intermetallic compounds caused by intergranular boundaries, including titanium-aluminium alloys, will allow me to continue my rewarding work on metal defects. Additionally, Professor Cherie Kagan’s research on low-cost solar potovoltolics would let me explore energy technology and its widespread applications.  Penn’s courses will let me expand and adapt my interests. Penn’s Structure of Materials course, which focuses on the structure and bonding properties of various crystalline materials would let me develop and apply the work I have done. At UCLA, I scratched the surface of the nano properties of crystals and bonding with calcite and chelating agents, and it would be interesting to put my work into the greater context of crystalline behavior and characteristics. The Materials for Energy and Environmental Sustainability course sounds absolutely awesome! The class covers new sustainable energy technologies from fuel cells to photovoltaics to wind energy. It will teach me about breakthroughs in sustainable energy and prepare me to one day contribute to the field.  I’m excited to become part of Penn’s larger engineering community. With my fellow engineers, I want to tackle pressing humanitarian issues around the globe through Penn Engineers Without Borders. In 2013, the group worked to improve water quality by building a water distribution system in Cameroon. I’ve previously worked on a water quality project with my Environmental Club at Malibu High, where we replaced corroded drinking fountains with filtration stations that have provided safe water for the community while saving over 30,000 plastic bottles, and the Engineers Without Borders program will give me a greater understanding of the processes of water purification and its uses for humanitarian purposes.  Most importantly, Penn will teach me how to think, approach problems, and look to engineering for solutions. While the classes, programs, and research opportunities available at Penn will give me invaluable insight into engineering and its applications, I believe the most important thing that Penn will give me is the ability to work with equally passionate peers and to combine our critical thinking skills to address the issues we see in the world around us.  I am confident that an education from Penn will develop my ability to think critically and hone my tools to solve problems that I care about. Hopefully, my future work will make a positive difference in protecting the environment, and maybe one day, I’ll sea the sea lions in my hometown circle around my surfboard again. (649 words) — — —

Consider starting with a hook. Even in a much shorter essay, you can spare a sentence or two to rouse your reader from their essay-reviewing stupor. An evocative image or description, a surprising fact, a tiny anecdote can all get the reader’s attention and make them want to keep reading. Check out our guide to writing hooks for some possible ideas. Here, the author plunges us into an intriguing moment and then a saddening sea lion death, palpably demonstrating their engagement in environmental protection and leading perfectly into the theme of the essay–their plan to address sustainability with engineering. 

Link your experiences to Penn’s offerings. This person describes their research on metal defects at UCLA and then explains how they’d like to continue it by joining Professor David Pope’s research on deformation of intermetallic compounds. They detail the water quality project they worked on with their high school environmental club, and then their desire to join the water purification efforts of Penn Engineers Without Borders. This is the “Me + You” art of the “Why Us?” Essay. Connect your experiences (yep, it’s a kind of bragging, that’s fine) to related opportunities you plan to pursue at Penn. This author does it beautifully here by showing how they’ve engaged on environmental issues and now need Penn’s programs in materials engineering and energy and sustainability to address global sustainability issues.

Show you know your stuff. You really get what this person is into when they talk about “crevice corrosion of Ti-6Al-4V, a titanium-aluminium-vanadium alloy, which has applications from medical implants to pipelines and the dissolution kinetics of calcite in cement to sequester CO2.” You don’t have to get that jargon-y, but if you know some stuff about some stuff, show us. It’s the specific details in essays that make one stand out from another—and thus help you stand out from other applicants.

Cover the territory. This student doesn’t just mention academic opportunities, but also the larger engineering community they want to take part in and engage with, by joining the student org Penn Engineers Without Borders. As you research Penn Engineering, consider all that it has to offer–in academics, research, internships, initiatives, campus clubs and social life. That’s where that “Why Us?” Essay research chart can really come in handy.

School of Nursing

Equity in healthcare is an ever more pressing issue, and Penn is signaling its prominence in the nursing school’s mission. What are your opinions on and interaction with equity in the healthcare field? How have you engaged and/or how do  you hope to engage?

You could address this prompt from a personal perspective–have you or someone you’re close to encountered disparities while attempting to access medical care? If so, share that experience and the perspective on the system you’ve gained from it. Or you could spotlight a particular community that is affected or an aspect of the system where you notice and are concerned about inequity. Perhaps you’ve taken action to address this issue—in healthcare or elsewhere. Describe your efforts and how they promote fairness.

Finally, share how you plan to contribute to a more just healthcare system with the help of a Penn Nursing degree. What specific issues do you wish to tackle, and what will be your role? Give concrete examples that demonstrate your values and intentions to take action–while at Penn and beyond. 

The Wharton School

This is a short “Why Us?” essay that asks how you’ll use a Wharton education in business methods and economic theory to address a real-world issue. 

Think about an economic, political or social issue that most concerns you—ideally, one that you’ve already taken some action to address. It may be unequal access to education within underserved communities, disparate impact of climate change on countries of the global south, or a local issue that affects you or  your community. 

How can you bring business principles and resources to move the needle on that issue? And how will you take advantage of all that Wharton has to offer to make an impact?

It’s linked up top, but here’s the “Why us?” essay guide again and the research chart to gather info on specific opportunities available at Wharton you can discuss in your essay.

Here’s an example written for a past version of this prompt with a larger word count, but it can give you a clear idea of the direction to head with your essay:

The presence of patterns in language has always fascinated me. Every word we speak bears the burden of ancient wars, socioeconomic disparity, and lost traditions, and continues to affect the lives of citizens today. In the Venezuelan refugee crisis, independence protests in Cataluña, and indigenous inequality in Mexico, language poses a barrier to international productivity. The summer before senior year, I had a window into linguistic studies at Penn while interning at the Cultural Evolution of Language Lab. I was exposed to psychology and cognitive linguistics by researching thematic relationships formed in the brain, and in a project about  bilingual code-switching, I had the opportunity to design my own artificial language. I was able to create the language patterns that had intrigued me for years.  After studying linguistic theory and the origins of Hispanic dialects around the world, I have come to realize that my interests lie in the applications of language. That’s where Wharton comes in. By using my knowledge of Spanish and Portuguese culture to analyze economic case studies in Latin America, I hope to merge my language skills with my fascination for economic policy.  The interdisciplinary nature of the Wharton curriculum epitomizes that combination. By studying international negotiations and participating in simulations to derive economic theory, I hope to develop the problem solving and critical thinking skills necessary to understand the deep complexities of societies around the world. I plan to follow the Business Economics Track in the Business Economics & Public Policy concentration, and pursue a secondary concentration in Global Analysis. In classes like Nations, Politics and Markets and Consumers, Firms & Markets in Developing Countries, I will gain a political and cultural perspective of international economics.  I also plan to continue my high school experiences studying Spanish by pursuing a minor in Latin American Studies from the College. I look forward to the course Diplomacy in the Americas in the Penn Model OAS Program, where I will get to combine my interests in Latin American culture, community service, and contemporary politics. At Wharton, a linguist-geek like myself will find a home where students work together to make a change in a complicated world. — — —

Tips + analysis  

Narrow your niche. The more you hone in on a particular problem that concerns you, the stronger your response will be. This student details an atypical interest in bringing language to bear on economic policy, and names specific situations where that could come into play—the Venezuelan refugee crisis, independence protests in Cataluña, and indigenous inequality in Mexico. Make the issue concrete for your reader.

Play on your strengths. It’s evident this student has deeply engaged in linguistics study and its applications, and they take the chance to tout their specialized ability by “geeking out”–discussing bilingual code-switching, language patterns, origin of Hispanic dialects, and designing their own artificial language. Share the expertise or experience you bring to bear to your chosen situation.

Identify Wharton offerings that will help you achieve your goal. Research specific courses, majors, and other campus opportunities. This student named first and second concentrations, course titles, areas of study and minors that would support their further language and business exploration. You’ll probably have room for 2-3 in your shorter essay (maybe 4-5 if you squeeze).

Specialized/dual-degree program supplemental essay prompts

These programs are highly competitive (even more so than admission to UPenn itself). Notice that almost all of them have a word count limit of 650—the same length as your personal statement. They’re expecting you to get into some solid depth and detail regarding how and why you want to pursue this path. Read the prompt carefully, and be sure to respond to all elements of it.

A sample essay for one of the programs (Huntsman) appears below. Though the focus of each prompt is different, the approach is largely the same for many of them—some discussion of how you came to have the interests you do (see “ Why Major ”), then shift into how the program at UPenn specifically fits you and your interests (“ Why us? ” elements), and how you’ll be able to use your education to address specific issues or concerns in the field. 

The sample below focuses mostly on what personal connections and insights have drawn the student to this area.

During a family barbecue that crowds my house with a hundred hungry relatives, getting a prized lamb chop can be warfare. At one barbecue, my uncle ate every lamb chop straight off the grill. As part of the eldest generation--those who worked in Newark plastic factories to build a life for his children--he could take advantage of the vulnerable without repercussions. The younger generations went hungry and their protests did not survive his public condemnation.  Though this is perhaps a simplification, I’ve come to see this annual family dilemma as a microcosm of oppression. Around the world, the voices of the weakest populations are suppressed by the elite. In the Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación, corrupt judges are a barrier to checking the Mexican president’s power. Centralized government in London prevents educational development in Scotland. And right at home, wealthy organizations like the NRA finance campaigns so the interests of the public are undervalued in policy. The lack of representation halts political progress and economic development worldwide. The voices of the people go unheard.  The Brazilian empire once thrived on democratic institutions, but two-hundred years of centralization and corporatism diminished the voices of the people, especially that of minorities. Meanwhile, industrialization and agribusiness led to inequality between the developed south and the rural north. Today, indigenous communities in the northeast rainforests lack the resources to be represented in policy. Illegal loggers ravage the Amazon, desperate for agricultural land, while indigenous communities suffer violent displacement.  In response to recent inflation and fiscal crisis, the President reduced funding for the government environmental organization, IBAMA, which serves to impede exploitation of the Amazon. But this backfired. International companies like H&M have stopped buying Brazilian resources like leather, and European countries have become reluctant to carry out the planned Mercosur Treaty.  The reduced funding for IBAMA also revealed a deeper issue: inequality and underdevelopment. Loggers and miners are forced to work illegally on protected land just to make a living. Indigenous communities are belittled by the elite, and lack the support of local police. Low literacy rates in these regions inhibit political participation. Loggers and indigenous communities alike need a voice.   My interest in understanding policy and society through the perspective of citizens, rather than governments, draws me to the Huntsman Program. Values entrenched over thousands of years shape a nation’s political culture and economic behavior. After studying the history and governments of six countries in AP Comparative Government and Politics and researching the qualitative impacts of economic policy and foreign relations while at a wealth management firm, I have come to understand that economic and political success is shaped by the people. My passion for Spanish opened my eyes to the religious beliefs, historical inequality, and cultural values that define the changing identities of Latin America. By learning the language, I got to know the people behind the figures. At Huntsman, I’ll expand my knowledge of Latin America by studying Portuguese as my target language. My desire to understand how people's perspectives contribute to Latin American economics and politics leads me to a Wharton concentration in Behavioral Economics, and a second College major in Latin American Studies.  At Huntsman, I hope to gain a global understanding of culture, history, and perspectives, and use that knowledge to effectively give people a voice. As a global political economist, the knowledge I gain at Huntsman will allow me to tailor educational and economic policy to the cultural values and political beliefs entrenched in Brazilian society. A few hours without lamb chops inspired me to listen to people’s voices. To learn about the culture, history, and voices that, ideally, would shape the policy that affects citizens’ lives. There is more to policy than men in suits sitting at a mahogany table. Whether at the micro level of a greedy uncle, or the macro level of the Brazilian government, the voices of the people define success. — — —

Hook your reader. A larger word count means you can use a few lines to entice your reader—and insert some of your personal story. A barbecue family feud, you say? Tell me more. Not only that, these details give a window into where this student comes from, which differentiates them from other candidates. An anecdote, alluring facts, a bold statement can all work as engaging introductions. Check out our guide to writing a solid hook . It also works well to “bookend” your essay by returning to the hook in the conclusion, as this writer did, linking their family rib battle to the global issue of giving voice to the people. Or see our guide for other great ways to end an essay .

Get specific about your issue. This student names oppression of vulnerable communities as a concern, and then illuminates the point with specific examples: corrupt judges in Mexico, British limitations on Scottish education, NRA funding in US politics, and indigenous suffering in the Amazon. Whatever issue you choose, make it concrete by identifying real-world instances so your reader can see what you mean.

Recount your experiences. A successful “Why Us?” Essay links your interests and accomplishments with facets of the Huntsman experience. This student explains how their AP courses and research at a wealth management firm stimulated their desire to understand policy through the perspective of citizens and drew them toward the Huntsman Program. Take the opportunity to share some of your relevant experience.

Research your path at Penn Huntsman. What specific components of a Huntsman education do you plan to avail yourself of to be able to address your issue? Give your reader a clear vision of your plans by naming the particular components that interest you. Here, the student plans to study Portuguese as a target language and pursue a concentration in Behavioral Economics and a second major in Latin American Studies. Tap into courses, professors, programs, research and internship opportunities, and campus groups that will help you achieve your goals.

Here are all the special degree programs and their additional prompts:

DMD: Digital Media Design Program

DMD Prompt: Why are you interested in the Digital Media Design (DMD) program at the University of Pennsylvania? (400-650 words)

Huntsman: The Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business

Huntsman Prompt: 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)

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

LSM Prompt: 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)

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

M&T 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)

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

NETS: The Rajendra and Neera Singh Program in Networked and Social Systems Engineering

NETS Prompt: 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)

NHCM: Nursing and Health Care Management

NHCM Prompt: 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)

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

VIPER Prompt: 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)

Special thanks to Andy for writing this blog post.

Andrew has worked as an educator, consultant, and curriculum writer for the past 15 years, and attended Stanford and Oxford, earning degrees in Political Science and Drama. He feels most at home on mountain tops.

Top Values:  Insight/Growth | Truth | Integrity

18 UPenn Essay Samples That Worked

Updated for the 2024-2025 admissions cycle.

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The University of Pennsylvania, also known as UPenn, is an Ivy League university that provides students from all over the world with a world-class education. With over 4,700 courses, 150 majors, and 500 clubs and organizations, there is truly something for everyone. The school offers over eight specialized programs. This includes the Bio-Dent Seven Year Bio-Dental Program, which allows students to earn an undergraduate degree in biology and a DMD degree from the school of dentistry in only seven years. Undergraduate students can also take classes at Wharton, which is among the most prestigious business schools in the world. Ultimately, the University of Pennsylvania is an outstanding choice for students to create their future, with exceptional academics, cultural events, landmark buildings, and a bustling campus life.

Unique traditions at UPenn

1. The Naked Quad Run: Every year on the night before the last exam, Penn students take off all their clothes except for shoes and sprint around the school's quad. The tradition began in 1997 as a way to celebrunte the end of the semester in a fun and rally way. 2. The Button Game: Penn's button game is an indoor scavenger hunt that takes place during the Spring semester. The game includes making designs out of buttons and other clues located around campus. 3. Senior Tree Planting: For the class of 1996 and beyond, Penn seniors are invited to plant a tree in West Philadelphia in a ceremony. The tree planting ceremony symbolizes the students' commitment to Penn and to the community. 4. The Red Cross Fire Companies: Penn's oldest student-run organizations date back to the 1800s when students formed the Fire Companies. The Fire Companies fought small fires on campus, performed drills to maintain their skill and performed service activities for the local community. 5. Homecoming Heroes: Penn celebrates their student and alumni achievements by designating a select group of Homecoming Heroes. The Heroes were chosen for their exceptional contributions to the University and their dedication to Penn's mission.

Programs at UPenn

1. Wharton Global Ambassadors: A student-run organization that works to establish relationships with like-minded business professionals from all over the world. 2. Penn Community Garden: An organization dedicated to providing fresh produce to individuals and families in need in the nearby community. 3. Penn Program for Public Service: An organization providing a platform for interdisciplinary service projects that promotes meaningful community engagement. 4. Engineering Without Borders: A student-run organization that links engineering technology and knowledge to empower people in developing countries. 5. PennSocial Justice: A student-led organization fostering social activism to create a just and sustainable world.

At a glance…

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Philadelphia, PA

Real Essays from UPenn Admits

Prompt: considering the specific undergraduate school you have selected, describe how you intend to explore your academic and intellectual interests at the university of pennsylvania..

The intersection between environmental science and debate are the two subjects I’ve realized I aspire to study, and Penn can effectively allow me to study their interdisciplinary connections.

As a student of Penn’s College of Arts and Sciences, I’ll seek to explore these subjects further with the people who piqued my curiosity in the first place. For example, Professor Kok-Chor Tan wrote a paper on the relationship between justice and wildlife protection, which prompted my interest in the intersections of philosophy and our ecosystem. I’d take his Philosophy of Law course (PHIL-1450) to learn about distributive justice in law, so I can strengthen my capabilities to campaign for eco-policies in the Philadelphia area, like the “Keep Philly Green & Water Clean” initiative.

Additionally, I’d also want to pursue research with professors like Cary Coglianese, who wrote a paper on policymakers’ failing responses to climate change, which I cited in a debate on the need for radical change in environmental legislation. The opportunity to learn both within the classroom and collaborate with Penn’s exceptional faculty makes me eager to become a Quaker.

Essay by Michael

Music producer and Philosophy connoisseur @ Penn

Prompt: 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)

Dear Aditi,

I remember the first time we met: a Book Bowl contest, where we religiously read 20 chapter books in order to win an American-British dictionary. Remember when we held our books up proudly as we were announced middle school champions? But, that was already six years ago and now we’ve grown and moved on to another common interest - dark Russian literature. 

Thank you for being a steadfast companion for the past six years, standing by my side through the evolution of interests and countless discussions and debates we’ve shared: from arguing about which boy was better in The Selection series in middle school, to fanning over Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment in AP Literature. 

As we approach the end of one era, I wanted to acknowledge the significant impact you’ve had on my life. Once we graduate from college, I’ll be waiting to rent an apartment with you in New York as we promised each other so many years ago. Here’s to our enduring bond, as tight as the bound pages of a book, and the many adventures that wait for us. 

With love, Annie

Essay by Anastasia Poliakova

Pre-Law Track Freshman @ Harvard University

Prompt: 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)

At Penn, I’m excited to immerse myself in a community that values diversity, collaboration, and intellectual curiosity. Coming from a background where mental health advocacy and technology education are central to my identity, I hope to contribute to conversations that challenge norms and push for inclusivity. I plan to join groups like Active Minds, where I can continue my work in mental health advocacy, particularly within culturally diverse communities, fostering open dialogues and providing support for students facing similar challenges.

Penn’s emphasis on interdisciplinary learning will allow me to broaden my perspective, integrating my passion for engineering with social impact initiatives. I’m particularly drawn to the Netter Center for Community Partnerships, where I can engage in service-learning projects that connect my technical skills with real-world community needs.

I also look forward to the exchange of ideas that will occur in Penn’s residential communities. Living among peers from diverse backgrounds will not only enrich my understanding of global issues but also allow me to share my experiences as a Japanese American navigating mental health challenges. Together, we can build a community that is empathetic, innovative, and committed to making a positive impact both on campus and beyond.

Essay by Michael Sato

Stanford EE and CS '27 (Double Major) | Energized about all things energy: energy-efficient hardware, renewable energy, and energy drinks!

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Someone with the same interests, stats, and background as you

How to Write the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) Supplemental Essays (with Examples!) [UPDATED FOR 2024-2025]

Let’s talk about how to write University of Pennsylvania supplemental essays (with examples)...

How do you write the University Pennsylvania’s supplemental essays, Lisa?  The essays prompts are all over the place, and I don’t know where to start!

The supplemental essays for The University of Pennsylvania (usually called, “Penn” or “UPenn”) are out, and I’m already getting calls for how to start writing them!

It’s no surprise.  The University of Pennsylvania is one of the oldest and most selective universities in the United States.  With a history that dates back to pre-revolutionary days (and Ben Franklin!) and a admissions rate of under 6%(!), Penn puts its applicants under the microscope with its application to put together the best class it can every  year.  (Some facts about admissions at Penn ). 

For this year (2024-2025), that means Penn’s application includes three supplemental essay prompts…

What Are the UPenn Supplemental Essay Prompts?

Two of Penn’s supplemental essays are required for all first-year applicants.

One of UPenn's most famous supplemental essays is about thanking someone.

UPenn Supplemental Essay #1:  The “Thank You” Essay

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)

UPenn Supplemental Essay #2:  The Community Essay

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) 

UPenn Supplemental Essay #3:  The School-Specific Essay

The third essay in Penn’s application is school-specific.  Each of the four undergraduate colleges (the College of Arts & Sciences, Wharton, The School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and the School of Nursing) at Penn have their own school specific essays which are required.

Each of the University of Pennsylvania's undergraduate schools has its own school-specific supplemental essay prompt.

The UPenn College of Arts & Sciences Supplemental Essay Promp:  

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 UPenn School of Engineering & Applied Sciences Supplemental Essay Prompt:

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)

The Wharton School Supplemental Essay Prompt:

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) 

The University of Pennsylvania's famous Wharton School of Business has its own supplemental essay prompt.

The UPenn School of Nursing Essay Prompt:

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)

Let’s start unpacking these supplemental essays!

How to Write the UPenn “Thank You” Essay (with an Example!)

The UPenn “Thank You” essays is one of those supplemental essays that I really identify with a specific school.  For me, it’s up there with the Stanford Roommate in that respect, and like the Stanford, UPenn is definitely looking for some specific points in your answer to this prompt.

Why is Penn Asking this Question?  What Is this Supplemental Essay About?

As all my students know, my first question is, “Why is Penn asking this question?  What is Penn looking for in this supplemental essay?”

Let’s take a step back, re-read, and think about this for a moment:

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!)  

Penn is asking you to thank someone you have not acknowledged.  What does that mean?  

In other words, you have to take a step back and identify someone who has done something for you, something meaningful , and write them a thank you.

The reason Penn is asking this question is that in identifying this person (and by extension, what this meaningful thing they’ve done for you), you are by extension, telling them a lot about what’s important to you and what your values are.  

College Essay Coach Tip:  Whenever a college asks you a question like “What are you most proud of?”, “What inspires you?”, or this kind of “Thank someone”-type essay, it’s always really an essay about your values.

Let's talk about how to write UPenn's "Thank you" supplemental essay...

How to Write the UPenn “Thank You” Essay

Okay, now that you understand what this supplemental essay is about, let’s talk about the 3 major points you need to hit to answer this supplemental essay prompt well:

UPenn “Thank You Essay” Point #1:  The Person and What They Did For You

Clearly, the first point that you need to hit with this essay is identifying someone that you want to thank and what they did for you.

That sounds simple, but I would strongly recommend that you put some real thought into this.  

The knee-jerk reaction for many students is to write this essay about a parent but I would ask you to think twice about that.

First of all, this essay is supposed to thank someone that you have not thanked and acknowledged, and in most cases, that’s really not the case with a parent.  

More importantly, though, for purposes of this essay, the universe of what you could probably thank your parent for is usually so vast that it’s basically impossible to contain in the space of 150-200 words.  This essay works much better if you can identify something very specific to thank someone for.

That’s why if you see successful versions of this essay, they’re often about thanking a teacher, a coach, a teammate, friend, etc. for something very specific:  “Thank you for driving me home from practice when I didn’t have a ride” or “Thank you for helping me with my labs during lunchtime when you really didn’t have to.”

UPenn “Thank You Essay” Point #2:  Why This Was Important

The real crux of the UPenn “Thank You Essay” is why what this person did so important that you remember it and why you want to thank them.

Again, being specific is going to help you a lot there, so while you probably could thank a lot of folks for their “support” and “guidance” because it was really important to you, it’s going to be much easier if you can be specific.  More importantly, your essay is going to be much more vibrant and feel much more heartfelt this way:  “Thank you for always answering all my questions after class, even on Thursdays when that meant we were usually 15 minutes into lunchtime. My parents think it’s odd that a girl can be so interested in physics, so the fact that you’ve always answered my questions has meant a lot me…”

As with many essays, it’s often not so much the “what” as it is the “why”, and what does it say about what is important to you  Donuts in the morning may not sound important, but if they were a sign that someone cared at a difficult time in your life, they could have meant the world to you.

UPenn “Thank You Essay” Point #3:  What Has the Impact Been On You

Something of an extension of Point #2, in thinking about why this has been so important to you, consider what the longer-term impact has been for you.

Did this specific act, no matter how how small (like donuts!) just remind you that someone cared?  For example: 

“With my parents so worried about my sister while she was in the hospital, they’d often forget about things around the house, like groceries.  Having a donut waiting for me at practice every morning reminded me that someone cared when it seemed like so many things in my life were totally out of my control.  

During practice, you always used to tell us that “It’s the little things that matter”, and I didn’t really understand what you were getting at.  Well, I finally get it.  They really do.”

Here's an example of the UPenn "Thank you" supplemental essay example...

An Example of the UPenn “Thank You Essay”

Dear Mrs. ________,

I don’t know if I’ve ever really said this, but thank you for driving me home from orchestra rehearsal over these last two years.

I know you’d always say that you’d have pick up Jen anyway, so it wasn’t a big deal, but it was a big deal to me.  With my mom working the evening shift at the hospital most days, there was no way that I would have been able to be a part of orchestra otherwise.

Music has always been a big part of my life, and getting to explore it in orchestra, playing with other people, and being creative with them has been one of my favorite experiences in high school and one I will always treasure.  

I will always remember our conversations in the car after rehearsal.  I had never really thought about putting my name down for concertmaster before, but your encouragement started me thinking that maybe I really could, and I did!  

This past year as concertmaster has taught me a lot about myself and what can be possible.  You played a huge role in making it possible for me.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart,

[Name]    

Tugs at the heartstrings, no?

Let's talk about how to write the University of Pennsylvania supplemental essay on community.

How to Write the UPenn Community Essay (with an Example!)

As all of my students know, I’m convinced that colleges are obsessed with the concept of “community.”  Supplemental essay prompts about “community,” how you think about community, communities you’ve belonged to, how will you contribute to our community… well, they’re one of the most common required essay prompts, and chances are you were asked to submit several of these kinds of supplemental essays during your college application process.

The UPenn Community essay is no exception:

Let’s take this apart…

I may be being slightly facetious when I say that colleges are obsessed with communities, but there really is good reason for it.  

If you step back and think about it for a moment, what colleges and universities are are communities.  Yes, they’re institutions, but they’re communities of students, faculty, and staff coming together under the big college community umbrella.  It’s really no wonder that one of the things that colleges most want to find out about you is how you interact as a member of a community, contribute to your community, and how you think about your role in a community.

Now, let’s talk about how to answer UPenn’s version of the community essay, and the 2 main points you need to hit. 

As you write the UPenn supplemental essay on community, think about your own community and perspectives.

UPenn Community Essay Point #1:  Your Experiences and Perspective

The first point that you need to hit in the UPenn community essay is all about you:  Tell us about your experiences and perspective, and specifically how it centers around the idea of community.

So sit and think about this for a moment.  What are the communities that you belong to?  Of course, there’s the obvious: your hometown, your school, your church, your neighborhood, etc.  But there’s also the less obvious.  Are the communities that you belong to around an activity you’ve participated in?  What about places you’ve lived in and groups you’ve belonged to in the past?

The point of a community essay isn’t that your name is down on some community roll call somewhere.  What colleges want to know about is how do you think about a group that is greater than yourself?  How do you interact with that group?  And how do you play some role within it?

Be expansive as you need to be!  But write some notes down about the communities you belong to, how you think about your role in them, and how you’ve contributed to them.

Now, comes the fun part!   

UPenn Community Essay Point #2:  You and the Penn Community

This is where the UPenn community essay turns into a “Why Penn?” essay.  And I call this fun part because you get to do some research into Penn and imagine yourself there.  

And as you are looking up things things that you would want to do at Penn, you get imagine yourself interacting that that Penn community.  What would you participate in?  What are the groups that you would want to be a part of?  And what would it be like for Penn to have you there?

As I said, this will be a bit of legwork, but it should also be fun!  

Putting together the UPenn Community Essay

Now, as you have your note for both of these points, take a look at them side by side.  How do you they connect?  Are any of them related?  Where is there an overlap or relationship that can pull an essay together?

This is a case where I think an example of an essay will really help!

Here is an example of the UPenn supplemental essay on community

An Example of the UPenn Community Essay

Moving from Singapore to NYC was a culture shock.  Singapore is clean, famously so, with a lack of trash anywhere public, so NYC “trash” day was eye-opening to say the least.

I’ve since embraced all the messily beautiful aspects of my new hometown, but living in Singapore instilled in me an unwavering sense that we have a responsibility to maintaining where we live for each other.

For me, that has meant making a commitment to the environment that we all live in.  Since middle school, I have volunteered with the Long Island Conservancy in its clean-up projects and now lead the children’s conservancy hikes.  At my high school, I have led our Climate Action initiatives and organized a city conference on environmental issues.

At Penn, I would plan to become an active member of the Penn Environmental group, organizing events and bringing speakers to campus and also apply to become a member of the Student Advisory Group for the Environment (SAGE). I also hope to participate in many late-night dorm discussions about the climate, our future, and other things because I think having conversations with classmates of many perspectives is the lifeblood of university life and community.

Let's talk about how to write each of Penn's  have school-specific supplemental essay prompts  (including Wharton!).

Each of the University of Pennsylvania’s undergraduate schools has a school specific essay.  Depending on whether you are applying to the College of Arts & Sciences, The College of Engineering & Applied Sciences, The Wharton School of Business, or the School of Nursing, you will be writing one of the supplemental essays.

The UPenn Supplemental Essay: The College of Arts and Sciences

Here’s the supplemental essay prompt for the Penn’s College of Arts & Sciences:

This is a pretty straightforward “why us?” kind of an essay. and a rather short one at that.  If you’re still relatively early in your college essay-writing process, you’ll probably be writing more than a few of these types of essays and if you’ve already been at, you’re probably an old hand.

Still, let’s take this apart for a minute…

Why Does UPenn Ask This Supplemental Essay Question?

Well, as I’ve said, this is a pretty common and straightforward question.  In this question, Penn wants to get a sense of whether you and Penn would be a “good fit” for each other.

Are your interests a good fit for Penn?  And does what Penn offers make sense for you and your interests?

Let's talk about how to write the UPenn Supplemental essay for the College of Arts & Sciences.

How to Write UPenn’s Supplemental Essay for the College of Arts & Sciences

As I said, this isn’t mean to be a long essay, but there are two key points that you need to hit in this essay…

UPenn Supplemental Essay for Arts & Sciences Point #1:  You and Your Interests

The first question that you need to answer for this essay is all about you:  What are you curious about?  

In other words, what are your interests?  And to answer this question well, think about how how your interests came about?  Was there a moment that sparked your curiosity about this area or is it something you’ve always been interested in?  And how have you furthered your interest in this over time?

This is still a short essay, but Penn needs to know that your curiosity comes from you as opposed to your parents, teachers, coaches, etc.

UPenn Supplemental Essay for Arts & Sciences Point #2:  You and Penn

The second part of this essay is about Penn and how you would be furthering your interests at Penn.

This means it’s time for a little legwork, and it should be fun!  Take a look around Penn’s information (i.e. its website) and see what you can find about the subjects you’re interested in and what opportunities may be available around them like research, programs, year abroad, student groups, etc.  Note down the things that sound interesting to you.

Also, if you know anybody who is at Penn or recent graduate, they would also be terrific resources for you to interview about this.  Reach out and ask them about life at Penn, and if they have similar interests, ask them about what they’ve done.  This can give you a real perspective on what these activities are and campus life is like.

The more specific to Penn you can be, the better your essay will be, so take your time and really think about what is unique to Penn that draws you to it.

Once you’ve done your research, sit down and really try to visualize what your life at Penn would look like.  What would you want to participate in?  How would you be spending your time?

An Example of the UPenn Supplemental Essay (Arts & Sciences):

Again, this will be a short essay, but here’s an example of what one could be like:

My curiosity for physics started with a simple  flying static ring demonstration in high school. Since then, my curiosity has taken me to a quantum physics class at Princeton, and then research in optics and quantum entanglement under a mentor from the University of Pennsylvania.

Physics fascinates me and Penn would be the ideal place for me to continue my interests and research in this field.  Ideally, I would like to work in the lab of one of Penn’s research groups in physics, in particular the Condensed Matter research group. Condensed matter relates heavily with my own research in quantum physics, and Penn has one of the few labs on the forefront of this cutting-edge area of physics in the U.S.. I would be thrilled to meet and work under scientists who are fascinated by this area of physics.

At Penn, I would also plan on taking the physics honors program and would like to write a senior thesis in the area of quantum physics.  I am also keenly interested in sharing my interests with other physics students through groups like the Physics Student club taking part in public lectures, events, and internship opportunities.

Let's talk about how to write the UPenn supplemental essay for Engineering and Applied Sciences.

The UPenn Supplemental Essay: The School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Here is the supplemental essay prompt for Penn’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences:

Okay, what strikes you about this question right off the bat?

Well, like the supplemental essay for Penn’s College of Arts and Sciences, this is a pretty straightforward “why us?” kind of an essay, so if you’ve already taken a look at my guide to the supplemental essay for the College of Arts & Sciences, you already know what this is about.

If you haven’t…

Why Does UPenn Engineering Ask This Supplemental Essay Question?

This is a pretty common and straightforward question.  In this question, Penn Engineering wants to get a sense of whether you and they would be a “good fit” for each other.

Are your engineering interests a good fit for Penn?  And does what the Engineering School offers make sense for you and what you’re interested in?

How to Write UPenn’s Supplemental Essay for the School of Engineering

Like with the essay for the College of Arts & Sciences, this isn’t going to be a long essay, but there are two key points that you need to hit…

UPenn Supplemental Essay for Engineering Point #1:  You and Your Engineering Interests

Even though this essay is set-up as a “What are you going to do at Penn?”. embedded in this question is still the basic, “What are you interested in and why?

Now, since you’re applying to the School of Engineering, part of your interests are already obvious.  This more of a question of making your interests more specific and personal.

As with the essay for the School of Arts and Sciences, the second part of this essay is about Penn and how you would be furthering your interests at Penn.

Let’s take a look at an example…

Here is an example of the UPenn supplemental essay for engineering.

An Example of the UPenn Supplemental Essay (Engineering & Applied Sciences):

Growing up, I would be transfixed every time as we traversed the bay by car on our way to my grandmother’s home in faraway Marin.  How were we suspended in mid-air far above the crashing bay?

In high school, taking chemistry and physics classes at the University of San Francisco, I fell in love with material science and the role of materials in constructing structures. I have spent the last year interning with Professor C______’s group at the University of California at Berkeley studying structural alloys and the electroplasticty of metals.

Penn’s School of Engineering would be the ideal place for me to continue my interests and research in materials science and construction.  Penn’s Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter has been the home of leading research in the area of materials science in structure for decades, and the work of Professor Kevin Turner in fracture toughness in architecture is exactly the kind of research that I would love to participate in.

Outside of the classroom, I have been deeply involved in Habitat for Humanity, and would look forward to becoming in active in Penn’s Engineers without Borders chapter, connecting my civil engineering and materials science studies with my humanitarian interests.

Now,  let’s turn to Wharton…

Let's talk about how to write the supplemental essay for UPenn's Wharton School of Business..

The UPenn Supplemental Essay: The Wharton School

Here is the supplemental essay prompt for Penn’s Wharton School of Business:

Now, this supplemental essay is somewhat different than the one for the College of Arts & Sciences or the School of Engineering.  This prompt is asking for something somewhat different of you.

Let’s break this down…

Why Does UPenn/Wharton Ask This Supplemental Essay Question?

Unlike the supplemental essay prompts for Penn’s College of Arts & Sciences or Penn’s School of Engineering, this essay prompt is not quite the same straightforward “Why us?” type of question.

Instead, Wharton’s supplemental essay prompt combines a couple of elements.  First, in asking about an issue that’s important to you, Wharton is posing a values question.  In asking you explain why a specific global issue is important to you, Wharton is trying to find out what your core values are. 

The second part of the question is a variation of a “Why us?” question.  In asking how you believe a Wharton education will help you explore this issue, Wharton is trying to find out what you think could be unique about a Wharton education.

The guidance that Wharton provides is helpful here.  By prefacing the question with:

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… 

It’s pretty clear that Wharton wants to get a sense of how you may one day use your Wharton education to solve a global issue.  Can you write an essay that can paint that picture?

Let’s unpack this for a minute…

One key to answering the UPenn Wharton supplemental essay is getting clear on "Why Wharton?"

How to Write UPenn’s Supplemental Essay for the Wharton School of Business

Wharton’s supplemental essay prompt is short, but let’s talk about how to actually answer these two key points.

UPenn Supplemental Essay for Wharton Point #1:  Current Issue Important to You

The first point that you have address in the Wharton supplemental essay is to identify a current that’s important to you.

This sounds simpler than it is because there are a couple of things to note about this point.  First, this needs to be a current issue that’s important to you, so think about issues that are personally important to you, not just from a global “More than 600,000 people sleep on the streets each night in the U.S.” kind of way.  If you can identify and issue and say something about how it’s personally meaningful to you, this essay will resonate much more.

On that note, this essay will also resonate far more if you can speak to some demonstrated commitment to solving this issue in the past.  So whether it’s participating in beach clean-ups since you could walk, serving at a food shelter during your winter breaks, or hosting talks on climate change at your school, think about how you’ve worked to solve this issue in some way in the past.

UPenn Supplemental Essay for Wharton Point #2:  Why Wharton?

The second part of this essay is along the lines of a standard “Why us?” type of essay.  So again, like with the other Penn “Why us?” essays, it’s time to do a little research and the interesting and unique aspects of a Wharton education can help you explore this issue that is important to you.

Now, with this question, Penn and Wharton do give you a little extra guidance:

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. 

which points you to Wharton’s own “Why Wharton?” page, which is probably a good place for you to start your thinking at!

What does this actually look like put together?

Let's take a look at an example of the supplemental essay for UPenn's Wharton School of Business!

An Example of the UPenn Supplemental Essay for Wharton

As the son of a minister, taking care of the unhoused in our community has been a way of life.  After my father’s Sunday sermon, my entire family would help run the church’s kitchen for those in need. As I became older, I led our church’s food and clothing drives for the unhoused.  

At times, I would get frustrated.  Sure we could serve Thanksgiving dinner to forty people, but how could we solve this issue in the long-term?  I interned for Congressman __________ because I wanted to make a greater difference.  What I learned is that the growing numbers of unhoused is a complex problem that involves many issues and has no easy solutions.

Wharton is the ideal place for me to continue exploring how to solve this problem.  Of course, Wharton’s world-class education in economics would be instrumental, but I would also take advantage of the flexible curriculum to take classes in other areas that have contributed to the issue of the unhoused such as Political Science, Urban Studies, and Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE).  In addition, I plan to apply to study abroad at Fudan University in Shanghai to gain a global perspective on the issues involved.

Need more help with your college essays?  

Check out my college essay coaching !  

And for additional help with your college applications, check out my college admissions consulting and college interview preparation and coaching .

Are you applying to NYU? Check out my blog on How to Write the NYU Supplemental Essay (with an Example!) .

Or How to Write the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (UNC) Supplemental Essays (with Examples!)

Check out my blogs on popular college admissions topics like:

How to Write the Perfect Hook for Your College Essay

How to Write a College Essay about Leadership (with Examples!)

9 Good Questions to Ask During Your College Interview

What Not to Write About in Your College Essay

How to Write a Medical School Interview Thank You Letter or Email

How to Write the UNC Chapel Hill Supplemental Essays (with Examples!) [UPDATED FOR 2024-2025] (Copy)

How to write the nyu supplemental essay (with an example) [updated for 2024-2025].

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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!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

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?