What Does it Take to Get Into the University of Pennsylvania?

The University Of Pennsylvania, Or UPenn As Its Commonly Known, Is Hailed For Its Tradition Of Service To Its Surrounding Community…

Anyone passionate about social issues and community building would be lucky to be a student at UPenn, with its rigorous, world-renowned academics and prestigious alumni. Of course, because of this the admissions office doesn’t make it easy for students to receive their coveted acceptance letter.

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about how to get into the University of Pennsylvania. We’ll also give you a picture of what life at UPenn looks like, including campus life and extracurricular activities.

If you’re confident that UPenn is the right school for you, you’re joining thousands of high school students across the U.S. who dream about attending this outstanding Ivy League school. We’ll help you take this big step toward making your dream of being a UPenn Quaker a reality!

What You’ll Find In This College Guide

• The University of Pennsylvania’s Ideal Student
• What You Need to Get Accepted Into UPenn
• UPenn’s Campus Life
• From Application to Career: What You’ll Experience at UPenn
• Your Future at the University of Pennsylvania

The University Of Pennsylvania's Ideal Student

With UPenn ranking high among U.S. colleges, there’s no doubt that it attracts hard-working and dedicated students. However, there’s more to this dedication than academics. The ideal UPenn student is someone who is focused on using their skills to serve their communities.

When Benjamin Franklin founded the University of Pennsylvania in 1740, he had a vision for the new college and was determined to set it apart from other colleges by its mark of service. As a result, the admission officers at UPenn will be carefully looking at your test scores, grades, and essays, but they will also be interested to see how you give back to your community.

The average GPA and SAT scores of incoming freshman are:

• GPA: 3.9 (unweighted)
• SAT: 1520
• ACT: 33

Having impressive grades like these is a wonderful start, but the admission officers know there’s more to your story than that. UPenn's values clearly indicate that they are interested in students who use their talents to make their community better.

Underneath the GPA and scores on your application is someone who has goals for their future. You have a chance to show them what you care about and how you give back to your community. While reading your application, UPenn’s admission officers will be looking for traits that mirror service and loyalty.

ACTION AND LEADERSHIP

The University of Pennsylvania’s ideal student loves taking initiative and seeks to improve the state of their surroundings. Natural leaders often feel a pull to do what no one else is willing to do, and this is true of many UPenn students.

DIVERSITY AND VAST BACKGROUND OF EXPERIENCES

The student who values diversity can’t resist an opportunity to try something new. They love learning new and different skills and meeting people from other backgrounds. Branching out is the only way to develop a diverse background and achieve a wider perspective that enables you to serve others effectively.

HONESTY AND SELF-AWARENESS

University of Pennsylvania admissions is known for approaching applications holistically, meaning that they believe every part of the application is interconnected, and each piece directly affects every other part.

As a result, they want to know how you operate in relationships, leadership positions, and uncomfortable situations. In your application, be honest; they want to see the whole picture.

SERVICE AND DEDICATION TO COMMUNITY

Lastly, and probably the most important, is service. UPenn wants to know how you used your talents to serve your community. They want to see a student who saw a problem, and used their strengths to fix it or propose a new idea that brought positive change.

Overall, it’s important to know that UPenn takes a uniquely holistic approach. Everything you include in your application will be considered interconnected and relevant. They won’t let any details slip through their grasp without considering how it reveals your unique personality.

WHAT YOU CAN ACHIEVE: UPENN’S PROGRAMS

You may or may not know exactly what you want to study at UPenn. Regardless, you’ll be a part of one of the most prestigious academic programs in the U.S. Some of these top programs include:

• Business (#1 in the U.S.)
• Finance (#1 in the U.S.)
• Nursing (#1 in the U.S.)
• Philosophy (#2 in the U.S.)

IN SUMMARY: THE IDEAL UPENN STUDENT

The ideal UPenn student takes initiative and uses their strengths to make the community around them better. They’re always focused on how situations can improve and how they can practically use their talents. The student who will thrive at UPenn has a vision for themselves and their community, and is ready to put that vision into action through their education.

What You Need To Get Accepted Into UPenn

If you know that you would be a great fit for the University of Pennsylvania, there’s nothing left to do but prepare to apply. Applying won’t be easy, but it’s a challenge that’s well worth it. UPenn’s acceptance rate for the fall of 2019 was 9.9%. Out of 37,267 applications received, only 3,697 were accepted.

Below, you’ll find all of the University of Pennsylvania’s requirements.

THE APPLICATION

When you apply to UPenn, you’ll be applying to one of their four undergraduate schools: the College of Arts and Sciences, The School of Nursing, Penn Engineering, and The Wharton School of Business.

You can fill out your application with either of these two options:

• The Common Application
• The Coalition Application

Each of these websites will guide you through UPenn’s application. On this general part of the application, you’ll provide the basics like your personal information, test scores (UPenn accepts both SAT and ACT scores), and extracurricular activities.

You’ll have to write a personal essay and the required “Penn Supplement”, otherwise known as the Penn-specific essay. This additional essay gives you a chance to showcase why you want to go to UPenn specifically. If you’re applying to a specific program like Artificial Intelligence, International Studies and Business, Nursing, or the Bio-Dental Program, you’ll have to answer questions related to those fields as well.

THE APPLICATION FEE

The application fee for UPenn is $75, and fee waivers are available for students who qualify. In order to find out if you’re eligible for fee waiver, contact your high school counselor or UPenn’s admissions office. They will take you through the process of properly obtaining a fee waiver.

ADDITIONAL FORMS

Next, you’ll need to provide your official high school transcripts, and a mid-year school report which you’ll send in halfway through your senior year.

You’ll also need to provide a Counselor recommendation and two teacher evaluations. It’s important that you request these materials sooner in the year; teachers are busy and it might take some time for them to get the letter back to you.

There are also several documents you’ll need to send in if you’re planning on applying for financial aid.

DEADLINES

• Early Action and Early Decision: November 1st
• Regular Decision: January 5th

Early action and regular decision are non binding while early decision is a binding agreement immediately upon acceptance. Early decision and action will solicit a response by mid-December. The answer for regular decision is usually delivered around April 1st.

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS

Some supplementary materials are available for you to submit with your application if you wish. While these are not required and UPenn’s admissions office won’t force you to complete them, we strongly encourage you to consider them an essential part of your application. This is doubly true because of how competitive UPenn’s admissions is.

For example, if you’re applying for an arts program, you may submit a sample of your work or an additional letter of recommendation.

INTERVIEW

If UPenn’s admissions officers want to learn more about you after reading your application, UPenn may schedule an interview with you. This interview would be with a UPenn alumni volunteer, and is simply a casual conversation meant to get to know you better.

CAN I GET INTO UPENN?

No college admissions process is straight-forward, and UPenn is certainly no exception. They have so many factors and elements they consider when it comes to selecting their incoming class, and all of them are competitive.

However, getting into UPenn is possible. Many students manage to do it every year!

Before you get to work on your application, get to know the school a little better. Understand their holistic approach and their values. When it comes to applying to UPenn, you’ll want to work smarter, not harder. In this case, focus on your service-mindedness. How did you serve your community during high school? How did you lead your fellow classmates?

By smartly putting together your application packet, you’ll be showing them an application you can be proud of (and hopefully one that will impress them as well)!

UPenn's Campus Life

Up until now, UPenn has sounded like a college that only focuses on academics and community service, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. While they place a strong emphasis on education and service, they also have a thriving campus life they’re proud to show incoming students every year.

Here’s what you can expect from the University of Pennsylvania’s campus culture:

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES & CLUBS

UPenn is located in the heart of downtown Philadelphia, a city rich in historical and cultural value. Because of this, many of UPenn’s extracurricular activities involve the arts.

UPenn has top-notch facilities like art galleries, performing arts centers, libraries, and their very own radio. These hubs are home to clubs and groups for students to share their mutual interest in the arts and culture.

For performing artists, UPenn offers clubs in music, media, entertainment, and production. There are specific clubs for Fashion and even Music Production, giving every student something that’s close to their hobbies and interests.

Since UPenn is so service-focused, many student organizations also have a strong emphasis on activism, and often promote important elements of civic mindedness and serving the community like voter registration, participation in peaceful protests or marches, and staying up to date on national news.

SPORTS

UPenn is a proud member of the Ivy League and has successful athletic programs for football, soccer, rowing, and cross country, among others. UPenn also offers several Intramural Sports programs for students who want to play sports non-competitively.

In addition to sports, UPenn places a strong emphasis on the health and well-being of their students. This is why their state-of-the-art recreational facilities provide opportunities for students to workout and relieve any stress they may be feeling due to their rigorous academic schedule.

GREEK LIFE

UPenn is home to 48 sororities and fraternities. These organizations are home to students who want to strive towards a certain goal together, whether that be outreach to their surrounding community or to their classmates on campus.

UPenn takes pride in Greek Life’s presence on campus, and the students who belong to these organizations find a close-knit family they can rely on throughout their education.

HOUSING & FOOD

Living on campus is absolutely essential to a student’s experience, which is why it is a requirement for all first-year undergraduate students. However, many students choose to stay on campus all four years due to their positive experience in the dorms.

UPenn’s housing options consist of 12 college houses and an apartment-style residence hall for graduate students. Every college house on campus has its own culture and serves its own purpose. Of course, moving off campus is also an option available to anyone in the sophomore, junior, or senior classes, with some students choosing to live in downtown Philadelphia.

Most students walk to class. However, Philadelphia has a bus system that students can use if they don’t live within walking distance of the campus.

UPenn’s dining program caters to every student. There are over 10 retail dining locations on campus as well as cafeterias. There are several dining plans to choose from, and they differ for freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors.

SOCIAL LIFE

Overall, the social life on UPenn’s campus provides nearly everything you can imagine for students. Whatever you’re interested in, there will be a place for you. Greek life organizations host events on campus, as do the numerous clubs and student activity organizations.

Many students take advantage of what Philadelphia has to offer for a social scene. Since the campus is located so close to the downtown area, it’s easy to get off campus and enjoy the city. Philadelphia has a thriving music scene, museums that commemorate its historical richness, clubs, bars, and parks for students to enjoy.

HERE’S A “TOAST” TO DEAR OLD PENN...

During your first home football game, don’t be alarmed when people start throwing toast onto the field. It’s tradition! During the fight song, students in the stands hurl toasted slices of bread towards the grass.

Apparently, this tradition started all the way back during Prohibition, wherein a fit of anger the students of UPenn sarcastically brought toast to throw on the fight song line. “Here’s a toast to dear Old Penn…” Since they couldn’t actually make a toast with alcohol, they brought their own toast instead!

From Application To Career: What You'll Experience At UPenn

After reading about all that UPenn has to offer, you’re probably more than ready to start your application. Before you begin this exciting process, let’s review the most important parts of your experience at UPenn , and hopefully set you up for success.

YOUR APPLICATION

When applying to UPenn, remember that they take a holistic approach to every application. Every facet of your application will be considered relevant because to UPenn’s admission officers, every part is interconnected.

They want to see impressive grades, but also your community service efforts. Since UPenn is so service-focused, that part of your application will be high on their list of priorities.

YOUR ESSAY

For your UPenn application, you’ll be writing two essays: a personal essay and a Penn-specific essay. The personal essay may ask you about a personal experience shaped your life or how you’ve strived to serve your community.

The 2019-20 Penn-specific essay prompts allowed students to write about why they would be a good fit for the University of Pennsylvania. If you’re planning on applying to a dual program, there are additional questions for you to answer regarding your experience in that field and why you want to pursue it.

YOUR COLLEGE YEARS

UPenn offers such a well-rounded and diverse experience. If you get accepted, it would be a good idea to challenge yourself and see how many groups, clubs, and activities you can try out while you’re there.

Being a student at UPenn will have its difficulties of course, and you’ll learn a lot through their rigorous academic structure. But, don’t spend all your time in one place. You’ll want to look back on your four years of college and see that you tried new activities, met new people, and had an overall authentic UPenn experience.

YOUR CAREER

UPenn has a history of launching their graduates into their careers with gusto. The connections that being a student at UPenn bring you are endless. Even if you’re unsure of what you’d like to pursue after college, having a UPenn degree will set you up for success.

UPenn has an entire Career Services department that feature job listings, career fairs, and career counseling. 46% of the class of 2018 took advantage of their services. Here’s what they’re doing now:

• 72 percent accepted full-time employment in their desired field upon graduation
• The median starting salary for these graduates was $75,000
• 27 percent accepted positions in a Finance-related field

Some notable alumni of UPenn include singer John Legend, actress Elizabeth Banks, Dr. Mehmet Oz, and political activist Noam Chomsky.

Your Future At The University Of Pennsylvania

Studying at the University of Pennsylvania will no doubt set you up for success. You’ll be joining a long list of notable alumni who went on to do great things for their communities, and ultimately, the world.

UPenn offers an unparalleled academic experience combined with an exciting and diverse campus life. These two components combined with worldwide connections gives you the best college experience you could ask for.

Of course, getting into UPenn is no easy task, and here at WeAdmit we understand how overwhelming the college application process can be. If your sights are set on UPenn, consider getting in touch with one of our professional college counselors to see how we can help you perfect your application and transition into college life with ease!

Reach Out To One Of Our Counselors Today, And Get Started On Your Path To The University Of Pennsylvania!