UPenn Supplemental Essays 2025-26 – Prompts & Advice

August 26, 2025

The University of Pennsylvania accepted 40% of applicants back in 1980—as of 2025, that figure had plummeted to 4.2%. Those wanting to join the Quaker campus a generation ago could gain acceptance simply by producing strong grades and test scores. Today, applicants find themselves in a hyper-competitive admissions process. In 2025-26, they need to find ways to separate themselves from tens of thousands of similarly accomplished peers. This brings us to the topic of this blog: the UPenn supplemental essays.

Want to learn more about how to create a strong application to Penn? In addition to our blog entitled: How to Get Into Penn/Wharton: Admissions Data and Strategies, head to College Transitions Gateway for all our best free tools and resources, including an admissions calculator for 170+ institutions, college planning guides & templates, and example essays from accepted students.

College Transitions Gateway

Create a free account or sign in to access expert planning guides, explore successful essays and applications, download email and resume templates, try the admissions calculator, and unlock exclusive scholarship opportunities.

The UPenn supplemental essays present applicants with just the opportunity they need to showcase their unique personality, writing ability, passions, and talents. Further, those who generate responses that are authentic, honest, and compelling can truly capture the attention of a Penn admissions reader.

Below are UPenn’s two general essay prompts for the 2025-26 admissions cycle. The College Transitions team also offers accompanying advice about how to tackle each one.

UPenn Supplemental Essays – Prompt #1

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)

In essence, this one is about how you express gratitude. A mature young person realizes that their success was not achieved in a vacuum. Rather, it was likely aided by many adults and peers. The target of your letter could be a parent, other relative, teacher, coach, spiritual leader, friend, classmate, fellow team member, or boss. This prompt, which debuted last year, is an excellent opportunity for highly decorated applicants to display their appreciative and humble side. We recommend taking their advice and actually sharing the letter in real life. This will likely make the essay more authentic and from the heart. The more sincere your essay turns out, the better it will likely be received by UPenn (and its intended IRL target!).

UPenn Supplemental Essays – Prompt #2

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)

While last year’s prompt asked students to reflect on their “identity and perspective,” this year’s prompt asks students to reflect on their “experiences and perspective.” Slightly different wording; same approach.

Keep in mind that Penn has already seen the President’s Volunteer Service Award and the impressive number of hours you volunteered at multiple nonprofit organizations. They know that you have been an active member of your high school/local community. The admissions committee now desires to understand precisely how you will contribute to their community of almost 10,000 undergraduate students. As such, the strongest Penn community essays not only highlight a clear link between your past efforts and future aims but also show evidence of meaningful school-specific research.

For example, if you dedicated many hours working with people with Alzheimer’s Disease throughout high school, think about how that experience will strengthen your specific contributions to the Penn community. It could be a direct link, such as your hope to join the Alzheimer’s Buddies organization, or an indirect one—as a pre-law student, perhaps you’ll bring your skills in interpreting nonverbal cues & communication to the mock trial team.

Finally, given the word count, you’ll be able to produce the strongest response if you focus on just one or two specific aspects of your experiences and perspective.

UPenn Supplemental Essays – School & Program-Specific Prompts

In addition to the above, you’ll also need to write an essay that is specific to the undergraduate school or coordinated dual-degree program you’re applying to. Below, we’ve covered how to approach the most popular choices:

1) The 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? (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.

In this essay, admissions officers want to see evidence of your drive, passion, and intellectual ambition. Further, they want to learn your specific plans for continuing to be academically engaged while at the University of Pennsylvania. Great things to highlight here include:

Firstly, specific courses offered in your discipline of interest at UPenn.
Next, Penn professors whose work/research/writings you find fascinating and how you would ideally like to connect with them as an undergraduate.
Additionally, academically-focused student organizations at Penn.
Undergraduate research opportunities in the summer or during the school year as well as independent research you would like to conduct under faculty supervision.
Lastly, study abroad opportunities.

In addition to Penn-specific offerings that you are dying to take advantage of, you can also cite past experiences that will ideally be tied to future ventures. For example, if you were captain of the robotics team in high school—and hope to continue robotics in college—you might note why you’re interested in joining the UPennalizers, Penn’s student-run robotic soccer team.

2) 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, particularly within the intended major you selected. (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.

Similar to the prompt for the College of Arts and Sciences, you’ll want to research Penn’s engineering offerings before you start writing. Pay particular attention to those related to your primary major of interest. Then, you can discuss several that you find most compelling. Great things to highlight here include:

Specific courses offered in your discipline of interest at UPenn.
Penn professors whose work/research/writings you find fascinating and how you would ideally like to connect with them as an undergraduate.
Academically-focused student organizations at Penn.
Undergraduate research opportunities in the summer or during the school year. Also, independent research you would like to conduct under faculty supervision.

3) School of Nursing

Penn Nursing intends to meet the health needs of society in a global and multicultural world by preparing its students to impact healthcare by advancing science. Why have you decided to apply to Nursing? Where do you see yourself professionally in the future and how will you contribute to our mission of promoting equity in healthcare? (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.

There are two prongs to this prompt. Firstly, the admissions committee wants to understand why you have decided to apply to their Nursing program. What experiences have you had that influenced your desire to become a nurse? What are your future career goals?

Secondly, Penn wants to understand how you—as a nursing student—will contribute to their mission of promoting equity in healthcare. (If you don’t know much about the current landscape, be sure to do some research.) Based on what you know about Penn’s nursing programs and initiatives (which, again, will require some research), how do you see yourself getting involved?

4) 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.  (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.

To craft a strong response to this prompt, you’ll first need to choose an issue that is important to you. The issue can be on either a global, regional, or community scale. If you pick something general (and popular), like climate change or AI, consider choosing a specific angle that relates to you personally. For example, while “climate change” in general is an absolutely massive undertaking that will be difficult to differentiate, discussing the impact of flooding on your city’s downtown businesses could be far more specific and accessible.

After choosing an issue and sharing why it’s important to you, discuss how Wharton’s specific offerings will help you explore it. Excellent possibilities include:

Specific courses offered in your discipline of interest at UPenn.
Penn professors whose work/research/writings you find fascinating and how you would ideally like to connect with them as an undergraduate.
Academically-focused student organizations at Penn.
Wharton’s research centers and initiatives.

5) DMD: Digital Media Design Program

Discuss how your interests align with the Digital Media Design (DMD) program at the University of Pennsylvania? (400-650 words)

6) Huntsman: The Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business

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? (400-600 words)
Applicants to the Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business must select one of eleven target languages. (Note: Applicants select language from a dropdown box.) Tell us about your background and interest in the target language you selected. (50-125 words)

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

The Vagelos Life Sciences & Management (LSM) program brings together two powerful modes of understanding—scientific inquiry and strategic thinking—to prepare students to engage thoughtfully and creatively with some of the most complex challenges of our time. Reflecting on this intersection, what questions, problems, or opportunities would you hope to explore through LSM? How might the integration of life sciences and management shape your approach to these challenges?

Your response should go beyond how LSM might advance your career and instead focus on the ideas, values, or issues that animate your interest in the program. Please ensure that this essay is distinct from your single-degree application. (400-650 words)

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

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)

9) NHCM: Nursing and Healthcare Management

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)

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

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 the VIPER majors listed above. (400-650 words)
If you were to join the Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER), which science major and which engineering major are most interesting to you at this time? (200 words)

How important are the UPenn supplemental essays?

There are six factors that UPenn considers “very important” in evaluating a candidate and the essays are among them. In addition to the essays, UPenn gives the greatest consideration to the rigor of an applicant’s secondary school record. Of equal consideration are GPA, standardized test scores, recommendations, and character/personal qualities.

Want Personalized Essay Assistance?

In conclusion, if you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your UPenn supplemental essays, we encourage you to get a quote today.

Looking for additional writing resources? Check out the following blogs:

bookmark

College Admissions

Andrew Belasco

A licensed counselor and published researcher, Andrew's experience in the field of college admissions and transition spans two decades. He has previously served as a high school counselor, consultant and author for Kaplan Test Prep, and advisor to U.S. Congress, reporting on issues related to college admissions and financial aid.