In July of 1778, what is now known as the University of Pennsylvania was known as something a bit different: the capital of the United States. This stint as the nation’s political center during the Revolutionary War is just one of the many episodes in Penn’s storied history. It is not only one of America’s first colleges, but also the first university offering both undergraduate and graduate education (a status gained with the founding of the first medical school in the country in 1765). Penn’s alumni include billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, famed suffragette Alice Paul, recording artist John Legend, and former President Donald Trump. Faculty at Penn have included civil rights icon W. E. B. Du Bois, Pulitzer Prize-winning composer George Crumb, and President Joe Biden.

In addition, Penn offers seven specialized dual-degree and interdisciplinary programs: The Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology (M & T)  (a B.S. in Economics from The Wharton School and either a BSE in Engineering or a BAS in Engineering from Penn Engineering), the Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business (a B.A. in International Studies from the School of Arts and Sciences and a B.S. in Economics from The Wharton School), Nursing and Health Care Management (a B.S. from Penn Nursing Science and a B.S. in Economics from The Wharton School), the Roy and Diana Vagelos Program in Life Sciences and Management (LSM) (a B.S. in Economics from The Wharton School and a B.A. from the College of Arts & Sciences in a life science discipline), the Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER) (a bachelor’s degree from the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering and Applied Science), the Computer and Cognitive Science Program (B.A. from the College of Arts and Sciences and either a BSE in Engineering or a BAS in Engineering from Penn Engineering), and the Accelerated 7 year Bio-Dental Program (a bachelor’s degree plus a dental degree from Penn Dental Medicine).

Student life on campus accounts for some of the liveliest in the Ivy League with a multitude of performing arts, comedy, Greek, affinity, and academic organizations. The Philomathean Society (founded in 1813), a collegiate literary society, is the oldest student group on campus, and one of the oldest literary societies in the country. Organizations such as the Glee Club, Penn Band, and the Mask and Wig Club are also some of the oldest and most renowned undergraduate organizations in the country. Penn is known for the strength of its LGBTQ+ community and history of queer activism. Additionally, athletics have a strong presence on campus with many teams taking home Ivy League championships, and in the case of the men’s and women’s fencing teams, national championships.

Today, the University of Pennsylvania is regarded as one of the best universities in the world, educating civically-minded world leaders on a West Philadelphia campus known for its physical beauty, public art installations, and proximity to many historical neighborhoods in the greater city area. Penn received about $1.6 billion in research funding in 2021, the highest in the Ivy League. Those with entrepreneurial, cultural, and scientific ambitions turn to Penn to be on the cutting edge of many fields. 

While it has historically been one of the less competitive Ivies when it comes to admissions, Penn has followed a recent trend of increasingly competitive cycles that demand more and more from applicants. For the Class of 2027, Penn received a record 59,465 applications, but only admitted 3,474, for an acceptance rate of 5.84%, the lowest in the school’s history. According to their admissions office, Penn looks for candidates who “emulate our founder Benjamin Franklin by applying their knowledge in ’service to society’ to our community, the city of Philadelphia, and the wider world.” Demonstrating this level of civic commitment on the application is no small feat, so New Ivies is happy to help you with this process!

What are University of Pennsylvania looking for?

We look for students who aspire to develop and refine their talents and abilities within Penn's liberal arts-based, practical, and interdisciplinary learning environment. When our Admissions Selection Committee reads applications (and yes, we do read all of them), we look for students who are inspired to emulate our founder Benjamin Franklin by being in “service to society”—to our community, the city of Philadelphia, and the wider world.

Our Comprehensive Review Process

What are we looking for when we review your application? Ultimately, we want to understand how you might embody Penn's mission and values, embrace our academic opportunities, and contribute to our community. We carefully consider each application through a comprehensive, whole-person review. This means we're looking at all of your application as we make our decision, and don't favor any one component of your application. It also means we consider the entirety of your context and the story you share with us. Together, this allows us to get a sense of what you might bring to the Penn community, and what we may be able to offer you!

Our admissions committee meets in teams to discuss all parts of your application so we can look beyond the words on the page to discover the intangible qualities that make you authentically you. Our approach comes from understanding that you are more than the individual parts of your application. Through what you share with us, we hope to learn more about what you care about, your academic interests, your resilience, and your story.

When we review your application, we're asking the following questions to better understand you :

• What do the classes you've taken and academic experiences you've had in high school tell us about you as a learner?
• What are your interests?
• How have you spent your time and energy outside of class?
• What brings you joy or sustains you?
• Who or what inspires you?
• What is important to know about your unique experiences to better understand you?
• How do you contribute to the communities you are currently part of?
• What inspired you to apply to Penn and what do you hope to get out of the experience?
• How do you hope to contribute to the Penn community?

For more information on our comprehensive review process, Penn offers workshops throughout the admissions cycle that can help you better prepare for the application.

We appreciate that attending Penn is a tradition for many families. The Admissions Office identifies legacy applicants based on the information provided in a student’s application and defines “legacy” as being either a child or grandchild of alumni. Legacies who apply to Penn—like all applicants—receive thorough consideration in the application process.

Admissions Statistics

ADMISSION INFORMATION

APPLICATION DATES & DEADLINES

Additional essay questions of the application.

Students will be asked to respond to the three following prompts in their application to Penn:

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, only required for first-year applicants)

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)

3. 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 a prompt specific to the College of Arts and Sciences).