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UPenn Essays: The Best Examples

Writing UPenn essays needs careful consideration and you can start bylearning from our supplemental essay examples . You should also learn how to write a college essay to increase your chance of getting acceptaed. Your cahnces of admission to the University of Pennsylvania are certainly affected by your essays.

The University of Pennsylvania supplemental essays  include fairly standard prompts, such as the “Why this college?” essay and “What do you bring to the community?” essay. But it’s up to you to make these common essay topics your own! Read on to learn how you can stand out in your UPenn essays!

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Article Contents 7 min read

Upenn essays prompt 1.

Considering the specific undergraduate school you have selected, how will you explore your academic and intellectual interests at The University of Pennsylvania? (300-450 words)

Your goal in writing this essay is to convey why you are perfect for UPenn and why UPenn is perfect for you and your academic and professional goals.

The idea here is to write an essay that will show the admissions committee how you are going to benefit from their academic environment and how it will help you grow as an academic and a professional.

I have always excelled academically. I loved school, I enjoyed my lessons, and my teachers were my idols. Apart from sucking in the knowledge my teachers bestowed on me, I always did independent afterschool research to deepen my understanding of new subjects.

From a young age, I knew I would join the “knowledge” business. The best way I knew to go about it would be to create my brand of self-help e-books.I started selling these books – and, to my surprise, they were soon being printed in hard copies.

I soon realized that as “knowledgeable” as I considered myself, I had no idea how to run a business. As my publishing business scaled quickly, I soon realized that I needed more than a degree to run my business efficiently if I wanted to continue to grow.

I started my research and soon found that UPenn was the undergraduate business school for me.  The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is where I want to learn, especially focusing on programs like Entrepreneurship & Innovation Concentration and Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program: Scaling Your Business.

I also intend to share my personal and professional experience with the UPenn community. I hope to join the Penn Social Entrepreneurship Movement (PennSEM) , where I plan to implement both my Wharton education and my past involvement in the business field to help local communities build new social enterprises. In the past, I’ve worked closely with my local Big Sister chapter and would love to use that experience to help PennSEM reach new boundaries in the broader community – beyond campus walls. I can bring my experience in organizing and leading workshops and networking events and help the club reach a wider audience. Most importantly, I can learn about how to lead such organizations from the other members of the club.

At UPenn, I hope to learn how to effectively interact with my peers and fellow entrepreneurship enthusiasts as my journey in the business world has been solo for the most part. When I leave Wharton with my business degree, I know I will become an accomplished business leader who has truly mastered both the theory and practical aspects of entrepreneurship. (442 words)

I apply to UPenn with the blessings and the support of my community on a small island in the Pacific Ocean. My family runs a small hotel on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. We have owned the hotel for three generations – and it continues to provide a livelihood for 20 families who have become part of our family.

When I graduated from the only high school on the island, it was these families that came together to pay for my college tuition, which I hope to use at UPenn. They gave me the responsibility of becoming an efficient business leader who can transform that small hotel into a world-class resort.

I intend to deliver on their expectations by studying in the Business, Energy, Environment, and Sustainability program, which will help me grow the business with consideration for the environment and my community as a whole.

Apart from being one of the top universities in the world, UPenn also has the best research and development facilities. This attracted me because I want to learn in an institution that has a long history as well as the latest innovations in the business field. We also decided that it would be best because we loved that it is a place where I could feel at home with over 130 nationalities on campus. This is the first time I will be traveling far from home. I hope to learn about various cultures and meet as many people as I can by participating in on-campus communities. I aim to join the Penn Environmental Group as I know how important nature is to both the hotel industry as well as humanity as a whole. Living on a small island in the middle of an ocean also gives me a unique perspective on global warming and rising sea levels. I hope to create awareness via workshops and conferences and perhaps even work towards a solution that prevents an irreversible calamity.

I have also set my eyes on the Penn Club Swim. I aim to participate in activities like being a lifeguard and teaching about safety in the water.

I hope to give back to the UPenn community by sharing the personal experiences of my rich culture. We have traditions that are built on the need to rely on one another and I hope to build this sense of closeness and connection with my classmates (439 words)

At Penn, learning and growth happen outside of the classroom, too. How will you explore the community at Penn? Consider how this community will help shape your perspective and identity, and how your identity and perspective will help shape this community. (150-200 words)

This prompt is meant to test how well you will fit in the university’s community as a whole and what kind of knowledge and experience you can bring to the incoming class. The campus hosts thousands of students and they all bring their backgrounds, experiences, cultures, and traditions with them. The question is, how will you contribute to that melting pot, and what will you take from it?

Perhaps, the best advice here would be to delve deep within yourself and consider unique experiences and circumstances that shaped you into who you are today.

By day I am a businessman, and by night, a writer. Well, at least that is the dream I hope to realize at UPenn – that of being a successful, innovative businessman and a writer at the same time.

Although I started writing in high school, I have never really developed that passion because, like every child growing up in a middle-class family, writing wasn’t exactly as encouraged as becoming a doctor, an engineer, or a lawyer. So, I had to put that “hobby” – as my parents called it – on the back burner as I went through school.

I look forward to attending UPenn because it gives me the chance to earn my business degree as well as pursue my writing via clubs like Curiouser, where I can explore the surreal fiction writing sphere, and Penn Innovators in Business , where I will learn to guide the next generation of business leaders with my writing.

 I also get to make my parents happy by becoming a successful businessman with my business degree – two birds one stone, as the saying goes. (186 words)

UPenn essays – example 2.2

I love singing and The Inspiration A Cappella is the UPenn club for me.

Ever since I found out about this club, I have been following the group’s YouTube channel. I’ve enjoyed every single video and dream of being among them. Anyone that has watched the club perform – or even watched their videos – can see how much they work to achieve that harmony. And that is something that can’t be done without a bond being formed among the members.

I want to be a part of that camaraderie. The beauty of acapella is that everyone needs to do their part or it won’t work – I can see how they “sync” and hope that my voice can enrich this already established group in the future. I bring over four years of singing) experience – several high school awards testify to my “prowess” – but, more importantly, I bring my passion for singing. Being an African, music is an inherent part of our culture, and it would be my pleasure to share my experiences and knowledge of our endemic music traditions. I even have ideas of weaving these beats into a work that appeals to the younger generation – in the hopes that they will also want to discover more about the “foreign-yet-familiar” sounds they experience. (200 words)

Writing college application essays is an art that can be mastered with time and practice. Don’t rush the process, take time to understand the question, and formulate your answers with care. Keep improving your draft until you are happy with the final essay. And, don’t forget to use a spell-check or grammar tool.

If at all you find this to be a daunting task, you can go through some sample college essays . They might help spark a few ideas that you can build on to create your admission essays when the time comes.

Alternatively, you can also look for college essay review services to make sure you have the best essay you can submit.

Want more tips for writing?

Do not exceed the word count. You can certainly write less that the required word count, but not more.

The most important thing here is that you address the prompt. Your answer should be built around the prompt and include your unique input, the values you bring to the community, and what you expect to gain when you leave the campus.

You should also include the tangible (technology and facilities) and intangible (school spirit and ethics) assets of the college, as well as the traditions it upholds.

If you can put all these together, then you will have a well-balanced essay.

You have to remember that supplemental essays are just one part of your entire college application packet. Instead of thinking of the essays as a single entity that can boost (or thwart) your chances, you should think of creating a whole application package that will combine to increase your chances.

So, focus on writing good supplemental essays and combine them with a good application package.

UPenn requires two supplemental essays for new students. But, there are several more that are required by students who seek admission to programs like Digital Media Design, Nursing and Health Care Management (400-650 words), and Seven-Year Bio-Dental Program (250 words). There is also an essay prompt for transfer students about why they transferred from their previous colleges (4510 characters ). More details can be found on the UPenn admissions page .

UPenn also requires potential candidates to write personal essays.

UPenn has set its goal to admit some of the top students by setting its admission GPA to 3.9. That means you will need to have scored almost all A’s to get in. But, you can find out how to get into college with a low GPA if you don’t have that near-perfect score.

The general rule of thumb is to avoid controversy at all costs. While it is good that you have your thoughts and views, your UPenn college admission essay is not exactly the place to express them. Why rattle the cage that will be your home for the coming 4 years?

Yes. Topics to avoid are political and social hot topics that are provocative to anyone on any side of the aisle. In short, if it is in the news and debates and clashes are going on about it, it is a topic best avoided. Again, here too – while it is admirable that you have a stance, your college admission essay is not the platform to express it.

Essays are your chance to explain how you and the university will co-exist for the next few years. While your essay needs to reflect you, there is a limit to how personal you can get. There is a difference between personality – which you should write about – and personal – which you should be careful with.

Your essay should tread lightly on personal topics like romance, trauma, sexual content, and radically offensive topics.

In short, use common sense and ask: would I tell this to a stranger? If the answer is, “no” you should skip the topic.

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October 19, 2023

Tips for Answering the University of Pennsylvania Supplemental Essay Prompts [2023 – 2024]

The University of Pennsylvania, or Penn, was established in 1790 and is one of the oldest universities in America. This prestigious Ivy League school is known for its top-notch research as well as its undergraduate programs that focus on practical applications grounded in a strong liberal arts foundation. It accepts the Common Application or the Coalition Application and requires a Penn writing supplemental in addition to the general Common/Coalition Application essay. Your supplemental essay helps Penn gain a more holistic view of you as a potential student. The Penn website states, “Our ideal candidates are inspired to emulate our founder Benjamin Franklin by applying their knowledge in ‘service to society.’” Through your Common Application, the admissions committee is aware of your grades and test scores, and understands the level of rigor in your curriculum within the context of your high school environment. Use the supplemental essay to demonstrate how you are an ideal match for Penn and how Penn will help you to accomplish your life goals. Illustrate how you engage with and think about the world around you. Communicate your thoughts, values, and perspectives so the admissions committee can understand what is important to you!

Penn offers a binding early decision option with a November 1 deadline. Consider this option if Penn is your first choice, because the rate of admission is higher during the early decision round. In addition, if Penn is your top choice and you have any alumni ties, early decision might be the best approach. In the past, candidates with alumni affiliation received the most consideration during the early decision program. Keep in mind, applying to any school via binding early decision will limit when and how you can apply to other schools. You are allowed to apply early decision to Penn and early action to other nonbinding or nonrestrictive early action programs. Always check with the specific schools for guidelines. 

Before you sit down to begin writing your essays, do your research to learn as much as possible about Penn’s approach to education. Familiarize yourself with the unique character of the school, read through the website, get a sense of the campus and academic atmosphere, visit the campus (if possible), speak with students, and imagine yourself studying at Penn. In short, identify what makes the school a good fit for you. 

Penn is located in the city of Philadelphia and offers an exceptional education in a diverse urban setting on a primarily residential campus. Penn provides many opportunities for students to investigate various areas of interest. The availability of learning hubs is an example of how the school fosters the active and dynamic exploration of ideas. Think about how you might embrace this approach and the overall academic climate at Penn.  

It should come as no surprise that Penn is steeped in tradition. Although the curriculum at Penn is flexible, it has a high-quality liberal arts and science foundation. The four undergraduate schools (College of Arts and Science, Penn Engineering, School of Nursing, and The Wharton School) pride themselves on providing an integrated and functional education. The Penn site states that students “combine theoretical and practical thinking while developing the tools they need to innovate and lead in a world that demands an increasingly broad perspective.” Consider how these values will affect your experience at Penn. 

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)

First, consider your overall application to Penn, because you want to shed light on something you have not mentioned in any detail elsewhere. The person you write to should be someone who has had a positive impact on you – on your life, your way of thinking, your identity, your interests, or in any other significant way. This is a short note, so use concise language to explain what you are thanking them for, how what they did (intentionally or not) affected you, and why you are grateful.

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)

This prompt is meant to address the interplay of how you might add to and benefit from the extracurricular atmosphere at Penn. How will you participate in the Penn community and contribute to it in meaningful ways? You only have 200 words in which to express what excites you most about the Penn community, provide some insight into how you might engage with it, and reveal how you might both enhance and grow from it based on your individual identity and perspective. Among other things, this prompt provides an opportunity to express your cultural background and unique interests. Consider the diverse population of students and their experiences in light of your own identity and perspectives. 

Also consider the Penn community within the context of the city of Philadelphia. Remember that Penn’s founder, Ben Franklin, was focused on service to society, and that begins with the dynamic community around you and expands from there. Overlay your individual story with the community at Penn. This essay requires you to look at your identity and perspective and to consider the ways in which you mesh with the Penn community. How might it affect you, and likewise, what impact might you have on those around you? What do you bring with you based on your life experience? What might you gain though your potential interactions/opportunities/exchanges with others in the community at Penn?

The school-specific prompt will now be unique to the school to which a student is applying. Considering the undergraduate school you have selected, please respond to your school-specific prompt below. (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).

For students applying to the coordinated dual-degree and specialized programs, please answer this question in regard to your single-degree school choice; your interest in the coordinated dual-degree or specialized program may be addressed through the program-specific essay.

For this response, you will address the school-specific prompt (School of Nursing, College of Arts and Science, The Wharton School, or School or Engineering and Applied Science) in 150-200 words.

Although each prompt is slightly different based on the school to which you are applying, the underlying question is the same: how does Penn support your intellectual and academic interests, and how do your goals align with the specific mission of the school? Do your research into your school of choice. How will it prepare you to achieve your goals? You must demonstrate an understanding of yourself by articulating your personal connection to the program’s mission. Consider why you are a good fit for the undergraduate school (College of Arts and Sciences, School of Nursing, The Wharton School, or Penn Engineering). What specific academic, service, and/or research opportunities might enhance your journey and help you accomplish your goals? Include examples of how your personal experiences make the program at Penn a good fit for you. How will the opportunities at Penn expand, nurture, and support your interests and aspirations? In closing, remember to address why you are driven to attend the program at Penn and how a Penn education will help you to effect change in the world.

Students applying to dual-degree and specialized programs should address the prompts above in terms of the single-degree school choice in your response. Your interest in the coordinated or specialized program can be addressed in your program-specific essay. 

Note that additional essays are required if you are applying to one of the Coordinated Dual Degree and Specialized Programs offered at Penn. These responses have limits that range from 400 to 650 words. Although these individual prompts are not addressed in detail here, keep in mind that each one asks you to share specific examples and experiences that demonstrate your potential for success, along with your enthusiasm for and attraction to the particular program. These programs are a significant commitment, so you need to convey your genuine dedication. The admissions committee uses your essays to determine whether you will be a good match for the particular dual degree or specialized program to which you seek admission. 

This is a competitive application process, and you are up against an increasingly competitive group of applicants. Although Penn withheld admission rates for the Class of 2027 in an effort to put the focus back on students rather than low admissions rates, it received 59,463 undergraduate applications, and only 2,420 enrolled in the first-year class. If we look back at previous years that had fewer total applicants and similar class sizes, the acceptance rate for the Class of 2027 is likely in the 4% to 6% range. 

Here are a few more numbers to consider. Over 90% of the students admitted were in the top 10% of their high school class, with an average SAT score of 1535 and an average ACT score of 34.5. Effectively communicating the intangibles through your essays is the best way to differentiate yourself among this prestigious crowd. Use your essay responses to discuss what is meaningful to you, project the value you could add to the campus community, and convey how Penn is the ideal place for you to achieve your dreams for the future.

Take a deep breath, and try not to be intimidated by this process. Start early to allow yourself enough time to thoroughly research, prepare, and complete all aspects of your application. All these components must come together in a compelling way to present you as a highly competitive applicant. Penn is interested in your personal stories, life experiences, hopes, and aspirations. It seeks to attract and foster great thinkers and future leaders who will play constructive roles in society. Take the appropriate time and invest the necessary energy to reveal your best self!

Marie Todd has been involved in college admissions for more than 20 years. Marie has both counseled applicants to top colleges and evaluated more than 5,000 applications for the University of Michigan’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts; College of Engineering; School of Kinesiology; School of Nursing; and Taubman College of Architecture. Want Marie to help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch .

Related Resources:

• Five Fatal Flaws to Avoid in Your College Application Essays
• Four Ways to Show How You’ll Contribute in the Future
• Three Tips for Parents of Applicants

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, penn community essay: how to approach.

I'm working on my University of Pennsylvania supplemental essays, and I could use some advice on how to approach the community essay. What are some unique ways to convey why I would be a good fit for the Penn community?

When approaching the Penn community essay, it's important to showcase not only how you would contribute to the community but also how you would benefit from being a part of it. Here are a few general tips and ideas to get you started:

1. Research: Do thorough research on the University of Pennsylvania to discover aspects of the community that genuinely resonate with you. Look into clubs, special programs, classes, and campus traditions. Make sure that the factors you choose are unique to Penn and not generic qualities found in every other college.

2. Share your passion: Write about something you're truly passionate about and how it connects with the opportunities and resources available at Penn. For instance, if you're a dedicated environmentalist, mention any specific campus sustainability initiatives or courses that you would like to be a part of, and explain how your background and interests align with these initiatives.

3. Personal anecdote: Incorporate a personal anecdote or experience to illustrate a specific quality or skill set that you possess. For example, if you are resilient and adaptable due to your military family background and frequent moves, connect this trait to how you would adapt to and thrive in a diverse and dynamic community like Penn's.

4. Showcase your perspective: Highlight any unique aspects of your background, life experiences, or identity that could contribute to a diverse and inclusive Penn community. Don't just mention them; explain how you plan to share your perspectives and learn from others to create a positive impact within the campus community.

5. Collaboration and engagement: Demonstrate your ability to engage with others, collaborate, and work towards a common goal. Talk about any specific groups, clubs, or initiatives at Penn where you could apply these skills in impactful ways. For example, if you have experience in organizing service projects, explore clubs or programs like Penn's Civic House that focus on community engagement and service learning.

6. Balance: Consider addressing both the intellectual and social aspects of the Penn community. Mention opportunities to contribute academically (research projects, courses, or organizations) as well as opportunities for personal growth and social engagement (intramural sports, clubs, or events).

7. Be genuine and authentic: Make sure your essay is genuine and reflective of your true aspirations and interests. Avoid overly exaggerated claims or clichéd topics, and focus on your unique strengths and how they align with the University of Pennsylvania's values and culture.

Remember, your goal in writing this essay is to convince the admissions committee that you would be a valuable addition to the Penn community. Be specific, thoughtful, and showcase the unique aspects of your background, experiences, and perspective that would enable you to contribute positively to the Penn community.

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How to write the university of pennsylvania essays, updated for 2024-2025, 2024-2025 essays:.

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)

Explanation:

Identify a meaningful person: Start by thinking about who it is you’d like to thank. It’s okay, and even encouraged to get a bit sentimental here—make sure that you’re choosing someone who has played a special role in your story. This could be anyone from a teacher who has influenced your academic career to a family member who has supported you, a friend who has been there for you during challenging times, or even someone you barely know but who has unexpectedly helped you or made a significant impact on your life. This is a good opportunity to give the admissions committee some insight into the meaningful relationships in your life.

Be Personal and Sincere: The note should be written from the heart. Authenticity is essential. Ensure that the essay communicates your gratitude sincerely and clearly explains the reasons behind your acknowledgment. Highlighting how the relationship has affected you positively is a good way to demonstrate maturity and introspection. To make best use of the brief word count, an anecdote or two can really help get your point across efficiently—show, don’t tell!

Reflect on the experience: After writing your thank-you note, spend a few lines reflecting on the experience. What has it taught you? How has it affected your perspective or actions? Have you learned something about gratitude, empathy, or connection to this individual? Try to tie this reflection back to your personal growth and development.

Stay within the word limit: Stick to 150-200 words, and ensure every word adds value to your message. The thank-you note should be concise, clear, and impactful.

Polish your writing: Even though this prompt may seem less formal than others, you still need to write professionally and coherently. Proofread your work for grammar and spelling mistakes, but make sure that your personality and voice still shine through.

Dear Grandma,

Your work organizing voiceless residents of your retirement community towards productive action in the family council is the roadmap I use for bettering my own community. Your committed work paved a path that I strive to always follow.

You’ve taught me the essence of advocacy, not just through your unquestioning support of me, but by showing what it means to work for the community. I hope to handle life’s obstacles with the grace, resilience, and unwavering conviction that you embody every day.

In the 1940’s, when you were not much older than I am now, you decided to dedicate your young adulthood to educating Japanese children in the face of internment and unimaginable bigotry. Your example showed me that—then as now—people young and old are capable of affecting immense change. Your courage is what I aspire to.

In our long rambling conversations about my world and yours, I’ve learned that empathy, gratitude, and connection are not just virtues, but guiding principles. Thank you for being an extraordinary example of strength and for teaching me to stand up for what is right.

Your loving grandson, Cole

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)

Research the Penn Community: Penn offers a plethora of unique opportunities and programs—from academic and research communities to cultural and interest-based groups. Many of these groups are pre-professional and provide unparalleled opportunities for experiential learning.To demonstrate interest and enthusiasm for the institution, identify specific aspects of the Penn community that align with your interests and values.

Clarify your interests and goals: Now that you’ve done your homework, it’s time to clearly articulate what you are interested in and how you plan to pursue these interests at Penn. Take the specific courses, extracurricular activities, research opportunities, clubs, or community service projects you researched and use them to tell a story of how you hope to navigate the campus. It’s all about translating interest into application on Penn’s campus on your journey to achieving your goals. It is crucial that your writing is as specific as possible. Broad generalities will not fly in this essay.

Demonstrate Contribution: Universities value students who not only take advantage of opportunities but also contribute to their campus community. Show how your unique experiences and perspectives will enrich the Penn community. This could be a special cultural background, personal experiences, skills, or interests you will bring to the table.

Discuss the impact of Penn on your perspective: Address how being a part of the Penn community would shape your worldview and future career aspirations. Demonstrate not only how you would contribute to the Penn community, but how the Penn community will contribute to your own academic, personal, and intellectual growth.

Since the start of my Senior year, I’ve developed youth engagement and outreach strategies to maximize their involvement in the campaign for California’s Education Chief. Within a democracy, I believe civic process participation is an individual’s primary responsibility. Justice Louis Brandeis phrased it perfectly: “The most important [political] office, and the one which all of us can and should fill, is that of private citizen.”

As a student, I see my civic responsibility as paramount, resounding not in the ballot box but boldly through ideas and actions. From volunteering with ReadNow, a campaign to expand educational access to low-income communities, to canvassing and door-knocking with Senator Eileen Smith’s congressional campaign, I learned firsthand what it means to be civically engaged.

By engaging in the myriad opportunities for civic engagement at Penn, including the Netter Center and the University Assisted Community Schools program, I hope to engage Philadelphia students in Penn’s push for civic engagement. I want to use my time at the ‘civic Ivy’ to create structures for engagement in school governance and connect students to Penn education policy researchers. Only at Penn will I find a university community devoted to the civic engagement that has transformed my life.

College of Arts and Sciences Specific 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)

Identify where your curiosity resides: The first step in approaching this prompt is to reflect on the places your intellectual curiosity most frequently leads you. Do you have a love of studying the planets and how their heavenly movements relate to astrophysics? Is Victorian history through the lenses of antique fashion and beautification processes your niche interest? Are you a mathematician with a passion for its applications in theoretical physics? Whatever your key curiosities are, make sure that the connection between them and the narrative conveyed throughout your application are aligned. In other words, this interest shouldn’t come completely out of left field in the eyes of admissions officers!

Detail your itinerary of exploration: Now that you’ve identified the topic that piques your interest, it’s time for you to clarify precisely how you’ll transform it from a curiosity to a course of study at UPenn. Don’t be afraid to get creative as you illuminate the classes, research opportunities, and extracurricular commitments that will enable your understanding of the topic to ramify throughout your studies. It’s important that while you’re weaving the journey of exploration you hope to follow in the College of Arts and Sciences in this essay, the connection to your curiosity is clear and the academic experiences you hope to savor are specific.

Politics became my passion at nine years old when I began staying up late watching The West Wing with my parents. Much of the jargon flew over my head, but picking up tidbits of foreign policy and political theory that I would then research and pore over for hours eventually pieced together a certified passion for it.

With Penn’s unique opportunities for experiential learning in education policy and government, the College of Arts and Sciences is the perfect place for me to explore the roles of privilege and power in the American experience. Through programs such as Penn in Washington and the Penn Program for Public Service Summer Internship, I want to perfect my role as a private citizen. In the process, I’ll learn key strategies for ameliorating sociopolitical maladies such as racism, sexism, and religious discrimination.

With Penn’s stimulating curriculum and unique approach to learning, I hope to immerse myself in the passion for government that I have had since I was nine. Whether I pursue a career in public policy, political office, the law, or even film and television, I know that Political Science at Penn will give me the platform necessary to be a true leader.

Wharton Specific 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)

Introspection and Action: When this prompt invites you to “reflect” upon an issue close to your heart, it subtly implies two dimensions of reflection: introspection and action. In terms of introspection, you should think about your life experiences, academic studies and personal background and how they have directly impacted your fervor for whichever issue drives you the most. The relevant actions you’ve taken regarding the issue, on the other hand, will help ground your reflection in tangible involvement. Including both sides of reflection will ensure that you avoid hollow platitudes and lofty pleas for world peace and instead showcase—with evidence—the matters in the world that matter most to you.

The Wharton Effect: Now that you’ve merged introspection with action to describe the global issue you’re most passionate about resolving, it’s time to introduce the role Wharton will play in your journey. It’s critical that you do your research beforehand and identify the niche professors, internships, research opportunities, and other offerings that will prove indispensable in your pursuit of crafting a better world through the lens you identified. Business can be an irreplaceable tool for positive change, so make sure you explain precisely how you’ll wield it at Wharton and beyond.

School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Specific Prompt:

Penn Engineering prepares its students to become leaders in technology, by combining a strong foundation in the natural sciences and mathematics, exploration in the liberal arts, and depth of study in focused disciplinary majors. Please share how you hope to explore your engineering interests at Penn. (150-200 words)

Diversity of interests: Penn Engineering seeks students with deeply multifaceted intellectual interests, not just one-dimensional students with a myopic lens on STEM. Think about the layered context and real-world applications of your desired degree – how will it contribute to the betterment of the world? Which auxiliary topics, subjects and areas will you need to supplement your STEM education, and how will UPenn in particular offer the perfect coursework and infrastructure to do so?

Depth, breadth and specificity: Dive into the details! Which specific interdisciplinary options, research opportunities, study abroad programs, professors and classes at Penn will advance you in your journey towards becoming an engineer with purpose? True leadership evolves from embracing healthy challenges, insisting on persistence, and making a practice out of thriving outside of your comfort zone. How will Penn Engineering shape your intellectual exploration and character development?

Dual degree programs (such as M&T or the Huntsman program) also have additional program specific essays.

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Exploring Community

A big part of your college experience will be the communities you join, so we encourage you to explore the opportunities Penn offers for you to explore your interests and connect with others outside the classroom.

College isn't just about academics! The communities you'll join and the place you'll make for yourself within them will shape your time here in important ways. Our community is an exceptional mix of cultural identities, socioeconomic backgrounds, religious beliefs, sexual orientations, and more.

We embrace diversity in a way that enables students to be who they are and to learn and grow by interacting with others. Maybe you'll continue to engage in a passion you've always had. Maybe you'll step outside of your comfort zone and discover new ones. Whether it's celebrating your culture, immersing yourself in the arts, focusing on your wellness, or getting support, there are numerous resources and hubs on Penn's campus to help you find your place.

In fact, community is so important to us here at Penn that our application supplement asks you to respond to the following prompt:

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.

To help you consider this question, we encourage you to explore some of the resource centers and hubs at Penn, many of which are part of Penn's University Life division. You can find these and many others in the sub-navigation on this page. In addition to the listed centers and hubs, you'll find some of the more than 700+ student clubs and organizations to create your own path as you learn and grow on campus and in the incredible city of Philadelphia !

Look around. See what excites you. And if you don't find what you're looking for? Our students are constantly forming new clubs that align with their interest. Because this is Penn, and here, we find a way—or we make one.

17 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.

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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

University of Pennsylvania Essay Examples (And Why They Worked)

The following University of Pennsylvania essay examples were written by several different authors who were admitted to UPenn. All names have been redacted for anonymity. Please note that CollegeAdvisor.com has shared these essays with admissions officers at University of Pennsylvania in order to deter potential plagiarism.

For more help with your UPenn supplemental essays, check out our 2020-2021 University of Pennsylvania Essay Guide ! For more guidance on personal essays and the college application process in general, sign up for a monthly plan to work with an admissions coach 1-on-1.

How did you discover your intellectual and academic interests, and how will you explore them at the University of Pennsylvania? Please respond considering the specific undergraduate school you have selected. (300-450 words)

For students applying to the coordinated dual-degree and specialized programs, please answer these questions in regard to your single-degree school choice; your interest in the coordinated dual-degree or specialized program may be addressed through the program-specific essay.

Make no mistake—in my family, Saturday night Scrabble is no slight affair. For the better part of my childhood, I struggled to get the upper hand against my parents’ eloquent lexicon. Eventually, I found the solution in a paper by Dutch economist Jacques Polack, the architect of the International Monetary Fund: in it, he outlined how to best leverage the scarcity of the tiles involved, applying economic principles to optimize the otherwise-mundane game. Aside from revamping my Scrabble skills, his research taught me that business economics govern everything from the global economy to a board game.

Gradually, economics also became a cornerstone of my day-to-day life. Now, when my 6:35 AM alarm rings, I consider the Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility before slapping the snooze button — will my nine minutes of fragmented slumber garner more utility than the alternative (a cup of freshly brewed coffee)? In debate rounds, I’ve found that the root cause of political and social problems can be found by delving into interest rates, quantitative easing, or volatility indices. However, only after working with Congressman DeSaulnier did I realize the far-sweeping effects of economic legislation. One of my most memorable projects — preparing a brief scrutinizing the social, political, and economic effects of H.R. 4674 (the College Affordability Act) — showed that even minor decreases to college tuition tackled cyclical poverty through education, with the resulting butterfly effect benefitting millions. I was hooked. After convincing the Congressman to become a co-author, I aspired to one day use economic and political principles to author similarly innovative policy.

The Business Economics and Public Policy concentration at the Wharton School offers the perfect opportunity to intertwine those passions. I appreciate Wharton’s holistic approach to teaching the global economy: courses like Nations, Politics, and Markets cover the big picture of the international markets, while Housing Markets dissects the minutiae of a single industry, isolating areas that need improvement. I also look forward to courses like Professor Eisenhower’s Communication and the Presidency — effective communication is still the bridge that turns effective ideas into tangible social change. I hope to put those lessons to use by brainstorming legislation at the Wharton Public Policy Initiative, where I’ll have the opportunity to collaborate with a uniquely diverse student body, challenge my preconceptions, and catalyze novel ideas. Clubs like the Penn International Impact Consulting offer the opportunity to collaborate with NGOs an ocean away, simultaneously letting me have a tangible social impact and helping me develop an international network. These four years at Penn will leave me with more than just a degree. From mastering the economics of Scrabble to pioneering solutions to society’s most pressing problems, they’re the first step to having a global impact.

Why this University of Pennsylvania essay worked, according to an ex admissions officer

This essay is playfully clever. The author begins with a simple game of scrabble but quickly we are transported into economic theory, which they begin to apply to all their daily happenings. The author brings us into a parallel world where everything can be analysed, and potentially solved, in economic terms. They are specific and cite actual laws and cases. We realize that this student lives, eats, and breaths in this economically obsessive universe. This is when the author brings us back to our own campus.

They speak about their own achievements and how they will translate to the community at UPenn. They refers to specific classes, professors, and clubs that are offered at University of Pennsylvania. We can visualize this person on our campus, but they do not leave it there. They wrap up their 4 years at Penn, and by doing this we see a graduate. They then reference how, with these Penn experiences, they can impact the world. It all began with a scrabble game and we are returned to the scrabble table with a clear image of what this student can accomplish with an offer from University of Pennsylvania. Remember, beyond writing a great essay, students must be prepared to ace every part of the admissions process. Take our quiz below to find out just how much you know about college admissions!

I was eight when my first business idea struck. Each day, classmates would approach me with a string of questions about homework: Is Russia in Europe or Asia? What’s the commutative property? How do you spell ‘satisfied’? One day, my third-grade self thought, Why not charge a quarter for each answer?

After hearing my proposition, my dad laughed so hard he could barely repeat it to my mom. “She’s born for business!” he exclaimed.

His words stuck with me. Years later, those words propelled me to take Wharton’s Coursera Marketing class, which left me fascinated by the psychology behind marketing: Why do all the girls at school wear Lululemon leggings when Nike’s are cheaper? Why is SmartWorld Coffee right next to Starbucks? Even calculus problems on price optimization made me wonder, How do businesses price their products? As I explored, I uncovered the answers to many of these questions, even making my own findings in product-pricing last year. “Born for business” or not, I realized that I had discovered something I truly loved.

Last July, at Leadership in the Business World (LBW), I not only nurtured my burgeoning passion for business, I also experienced a glimpse of what attending Wharton would be like.

Between case studies, site visits, and discussion-based lectures, LBW embodied the interactive learning culture I thrive in. Analyzing the merits of Google’s growing power with Professor McCaffrey challenged my preconceptions of monopolies, and discussions about customer centricity with Professor Fader left me with a new perspective on equity versus efficiency. Everything I learned was both thought-provoking and engaging; I was eager for more.

And I did get more — in the form of hands-on learning. In the first week, I made investments as a venture capitalist in the Startup Game simulation; by the last week, I was pitching a startup to a panel of investors. No matter what it was, I could practice what I had learned in context. I was excited to discover that this reflects Wharton as a whole. When my Teaching Assistant, Mona, described her Management 100 project, I felt a sense of déjà vu: the desire for practical application that motivated her to help local immigrants grow their businesses also guides my own endeavors. For example, after LBW, I applied my knowledge of customer segmentation while establishing a service organization to partner with Key Club. Recognizing that the key psychographic was stay-at-home/team-mom type parents, I quickly attracted 30 dedicated members. In essence, Penn students engage with their education in a way that’s directly relevant to the world — a practice that matches my own learning style perfectly.

Furthermore, at Wharton, I can unify my core interests in business and civic engagement. Behavioral Economics — a concentration rarely offered by undergraduate business programs — would deepen my understanding of the human decision-making process, helping me answer questions about everything from athletic wear to coffee. Meanwhile, a secondary concentration in Social Impact and Responsibility would help me approach business problems through a social impact lens. Together, both concentrations would teach me to apply my business acumen toward my love of service.

Beyond the classroom, I hope to join the Social Impact Consulting Group (SIC), where I plan to implement both my Wharton education and my past involvement with nonprofits to help local communities. Over the last few years, I’ve worked intimately with the local Big Brother/Big Sister chapter, and I would love to use that experience to help the Philadelphia chapter that Penn’s SIC Group counsels.

In short, I’ve fallen in love with Penn in its entirety. Between the strong theme of practical application and the 6AM runs along Spruce Street, the eclectic atmosphere of the Kelly Writers House and the Greek Lady French Toast, Penn is the perfect blend of vitality, collaboration, and interdisciplinary learning. It is this community that I hope to make my home for the next four years.

My first visit to Philadelphia was a unique one. With car keys for the second time, the world at my disposal, and a desire to try a cheesesteak for the first time, I took the two-hour drive to Philly. While I dispensed my entire paycheck throughout the duration of the trip, my only regret remains trying Pat’s and Geno’s and perhaps also losing my car privilege for three months. In all seriousness, knowing I’d only have time to visit 1-2 places, I decided to do a self-guided tour of Penn, a school I had already researched extensively. Nestled in a bastion of intellectualism, culture, and history in a city I dared to learn so much from stood this behemoth of a school, and it was after this tour that I decided to apply to UPenn’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

My experience with engineering began with taking apart my dad’s Dell Inspiron desktop. Fascinated by the complex arrangement of the parts and the intricate designs that lined the parts themselves, I was too young to understand what the term “engineering” even encompassed. Engineering to me was not just about building computers, which I’d eventually pursue, but optimization. I was obsessed with choosing graphics cards and CPU’s, always pursuing maximum efficiency in terms of size, speed, and price of the final product. Naturally, this kickstarted my journey into circuitry; I still remember by first series circuit. The logic behind the placement of the wires excited me. The troubleshooting required when I wasn’t met with success filled me with purpose. Later, the power to utilize my Arduino to power code into my projects rendered my options limitless.

Indeed, my rather bizarre voyage to campus affirmed my intuition that UPenn was the school for me, but it was the substance of my research that confirmed that the SEAS, in particular, was compatible with my academic goals and interests. To my delight, I discovered that as stringent as an electrical engineering degree at Penn would be, I could also apply to earn a minor in Energy and Sustainability. Beginning with the Engineering Probability course (ESE 301), I’d start off learning what I love, combinatorics and advanced topics such as the Bernoulli schema that I am already studying outside of school now. Even more exciting would be the culmination of my entire Penn education during my senior year, when I’d partake in the Senior Design competition. Through this project competition, I’d have the privilege of applying real-world knowledge obtained at Penn by presenting my work to expert judges in my field.

In addition to my passion for electricity and circuitry, I am deeply interested in biomimicry, a field that became the cornerstone of my studies outside of school because of a simple realization: all around me lies genius. Thus biomimicry, the practice of applying designs and process from nature to engineering, one that I’m determined to develop with an Energy and Sustainability minor by applying energy-storing processes of leaves to solar cells—a longstanding point of research outside of school—constantly motivates me. While this aspect of engineering is one that I haven’t tangibly sought out in high school through formal clubs or competitions because of my work commitments, my extensive personal studies through books and online resources have instilled in me a desire to explore it further in college. Fascinatingly enough, I’d find a home to do this at Penn, where the engineering blog even has a hashtag for coverage of biomimicry. A few weeks ago, I even bookmarked an article about a student researcher developing a method to render the production of biofuel more efficient by mimicking giant clams, only to later discover that the article was published by UPenn. Ultimately, attending Penn would mean an opportunity to not only learn from the best, but also access resources to better the world around me, following in the footsteps of so many other Penn innovators.

What I like about this essay is that the author begins with a casual air. We envision a typical high school senior who grabs the car keys and has a day-trip adventure. They are a tourist exploring the very specific cultural highlights of Philly and entering the University of Pennsylvania campus. Almost with this student’s first step into the gates, we realize this “typical high school senior” is completely immersed in the world of engineering. They take us from an endearing story of taking apart a family computer as a child to discussions of circuitry, logic, wires, and powercodes.

For most of us, this conversation would go over our heads. However, the story remains clear, and the student’s pure love of engineering is unmistakable. This student speaks the engineering language. The author then explains where this passion for engineering will lead them. They let us know what principles they hope to discover next. They mention their goals, their minor, what they will take as a senior (bringing us four years in), and they finish by creating a place for themselves amongst the collection of UPenn innovators that have come before.

There is an energy to this person’s essay that suggests pure progression. They will take advantage of every minute on campus. This essay embodies the transformation of a kid with a Philly Cheesesteak to a veritable scholar, and I would be excited to have this transformation evolve on the University of Pennsylvania campus.

3:31 PM: Notebook and camera clutched in each arm, I prowl the streets of Detroit.

3:54 PM: As I find myself hunting along a line of apartments encased by steel-frame construction, I figure it might make for a story. What is going on here?

3:55 PM: I ask an African-American woman who slumps against the charred-brick wall, surrounded by a sea of translucent trash bags. She tells me, and I am horrified.

Horrified to know she was kicked out. Horrified to learn that the developers had doubled the rent, cut the power, harassed her and threatened to burn down her apartment when she fought to stay. Horrified to hear that she hated her dark skin, hated the way she was born.

Horrified , that the Webster Dictionary taught me gentrification means positive change.

While the woman I had encountered was in dire straits, her undoing was the making of me. In talking with her, my eyes were opened to the atrocities that ordinary people live through, and I could no longer sit back and allow them to go unnoticed. As a journalist, I have the ability to give voice to the silenced, to take someone’s story and broadcast it over an intercom. That day, I wrote her story in hopes that even one more person might understand her story and learn of the ugly in a word disguised by the good.

Since then, I have strived to reach larger audiences. Through writing articles and meeting with legislators through The Borgen Project, I have continued to immerse myself in poverty matters and deepened my interest in the intersection of Sociology and Economics while growing as a writer. While researching, I find myself investigating urban sprawl or income disparity, and hundreds of questions flood my mind. At Penn, the possibility of pursuing my curiosities are embedded in both the school’s academics and geography.

With twofold interests in urban matters, I seek The College’s Urban Sociology concentration with an Economic Policy minor; this, I find conducive to exploring both the socio-political and economic nuances of poverty alleviation. Additionally, I am concerned about gentrification, and educating myself on the matter in one of the most gentrified cities in America provides the natural setting for first-hand observation and research. Fairmount, located only two miles outside of Penn, is a neighborhood undergoing excessive black gentrification in Philadelphia. One day, I hope to work alongside mentors such as Dr. Grazian–whose expertise spans both the economic and social dynamics of Philadelphia neighborhoods–and direct a case study detailing effects of Fairmount gentrification. In developing a multifaceted worldview, it is my ideal to pursue my intellectual interests at the University of Pennsylvania, in a place itself as culturally rich as Philadelphia.

The University of Pennsylvania, with its strong emphasis on pre-professional learning is ideal as a learning environment. That focus is what drives many students with an eye to the future. We hope to apply our learning, impact the real world in ways that inspire change.

I find the Cognitive Science program, specifically its concentration in Language and Mind most appealing. As someone who places great emphasis in words, the idea of analyzing the cognitive aspects behind linguistics, whether philosophically, psychologically, or computationally draws upon various fields that showcase various perspectives on the meanings of language. It’s fascinating that despite the various languages and cultures there can be a biological scientific breakdown explaining the complex processes underlying syntax and semantics.

I am fascinated with the study of semantics, especially as it relates to both personality and gender. Because the World Well-Being Project touches on the topic of extroversion versus introversion, I would hope to be involved. This topic has interested me since reading Quiet by Susan Cain, which I also wrote about for Teen Line’s blogs. The language of both gender and personality are particularly intriguing; research suggests that for males, possessive pronouns are strongly associated with relationships like girlfriend and husband while for females, the nouns existed primarily on their own. List of most used words also differ along personality traits. I wonder why researchers persist in correlating the language to the Big Five Traits (which carry their own significant connotations) rather than to other classificatory systems.

Two other UPenn labs offer me routes to follow my current interests: The Cultural Evolution of Language lab under Dr. Roberts and the Cognition and Development Lab under Dr. Weisberg.

In the last decade, texting lingo has changed the way many speak. I find myself wondering whether spoken language will lose its richness as common vocabulary shortens and simplifies. The idea of experimental semiotics that Dr. Roberts utilizes is fascinating in that we can watch how a newly-created language progresses, thrives, or decays.

The Cognition and Development Lab under Dr. Weisberg, on the other hand, focuses primarily on development, interviewing children and exploring what exactly is going on when they enact pretend stories. I still remember one instance of my five-year-old self playing pretend princess at an after school program; a fifth grader had snapped at me in annoyance to stop using the word “pretend” in our play activity. The next five minutes had me tripping over my own words, finally giving up in frustration when for some reason, I couldn’t avoid saying pretend in my games. The rest of the day was spent sitting in a huff in the corner, hugging a pillow. Thinking back, I can’t fathom why I enjoyed living in a fantasy. It seems out of character to the Katie today. Discovering how play helps with growth is one of the major questions surrounding the study of children; its effects on cognition could be impactful in parenting theories because fantasy play probably has a significant role in the development of the brain.

While not an academic interest, acapella singing remains intellectually stimulating to me. Joining groups like Pennyo or Pennsori will allow me to practice singing and speaking in Mandarin or Korean. These include musical genres that I have been exploring for several years, allowing me to learn about culturally embedded vehicles for aesthetic language. They will provide me with another way to explore language and culture.

The differences between the word clouds can be read into farther than simply, girls say “I love you” more and guys talk about video games – rather, there are small details that are indicative, whether of true gender differences or cultural norm commonalities. The language of personality, on the other hand brings up questions – why use the Big Five standard over others? The traits are often associated with a strongly positive or negative implication in society – which directly correlates to the words found in the clouds. It would be interesting to analyze social media aspects on neutral traits as well, as shown with the introversion/extroversion in order to find correlations between how language is use and how differently it is processed by personality categorizations like the more detail-oriented versus big idea thinkers.

At Penn, learning and growth happen outside of the classrooms, too. How will you explore the community at Penn? Consider how this community will help shape your perspective and identity, and how your identity and perspective will help shape this community. (150-200 words)

Philadelphia is known as the City of Brotherly Love, and Penn lives up to that ethos. The community there is uniquely supportive, diverse, and vibrant. Having competed as a member of the USA Debate Team, I look forward to bringing my experience to the Penn Debate Society, and hopefully, representing the school at the World University Debating Championships., Beyond competing at tournaments, I appreciate last year’s collaboration debate with The Economist and the Bard Prison Initiative; to broaden the team’s horizons, I’d love to arrange similar events with other think tanks, nonprofits, or community organizations.

After four years of pick-up basketball at Sycamore Valley Park, I look forward to joining the intramural team, where I’d connect with the Penn community on the court while getting some much-needed practice on my jump shot. To preserve my tradition of attending Friday prayers, I’ll join the Muslim Student Association. Both through social gatherings or community work at the Masjid al-Jamia, I’m excited to work with a community of Muslims from around the world. Finally, I hope to join the Penn Student Government–it’d be both a new experience and help me gain experience advocating for the interests of the student body.

Too often, I have found myself walled-in by hard lines and expectations. At school, I belong to multiple circles, but I find myself contributing only a portion of my personality to each. In my community, there is just no all-encompassing space.

Penn makes a family out of us multipotentialites. Penn students refuse to be defined by one thing, a unique culture through which I can thrive as a liberal-arts-focused student enthusiastic about STEM. As a creative writer, I’ve gravitated towards writing science-fiction, imagining futuristic worlds where people online-shop for faces, or where simulation technology has allowed us to learn history by experiencing it. By writing for t-art, I am afforded the possibility of acting as a liaison between the Humanities and STEM worlds through innovative creative expression. On other days, I see myself merging my skills as an urban sociologist and journalist to report about the surrounding city through The Daily Pennsylvanian . On Mondays and Thursdays, I might find myself playing Mahler with the Penn Symphony Orchestra. Above all, I envision myself strolling through Locust Walk each day, tracing the footsteps of Andrea Mitchell to Elizabeth Banks, chatting with friends about the first presidential debate to the origin of “irregardless.”

This essay is successful because the author clearly starts in a place that is limiting their potential. They are excited and curious to spread their proverbial wings. The author has carefully researched opportunities at UPenn and seamlessly interwoven their own accomplishments and talents, with cited academic and extracurricular UPenn opportunities.

This author creates a very clear image of what type of contributor they will be on our campus. Their interests are diverse and limitless, or so it seems. The author’s specificity in mentioning the days the Orchestra plays, the Locust Walk, and past UPenn scholars shows their love for the school. This essay describes a person who is ready to blossom, has intellectual and cultural curiosity, and will add to the community at University of Pennsylvania.

These University of Pennsylvania essay examples were compiled by the advising team at CollegeAdvisor.com . If you want to get help writing your University of Pennsylvania essay supplements from CollegeAdvisor.com Admissions Experts , register with CollegeAdvisor.com today.

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From Ulysses to romantasy, this site encourages you to explore banned books

John Mark Ockerbloom has created a unique browsable database that examines book censorship past and present. “I think that if people understand what's in the books and where they come from, it will give them a measure of respect for them, whether they like the books or not.”

30 years ago, when Digital Library Strategist and Metadata Architect John Mark Ockerbloom was a student at Carnegie Mellon University, he noticed what he saw as a troubling trend: more and more university administrators and faculty members were advocating for the censorship of content on message boards, websites, and other aspects of the then-nascent internet. “Our university administration decided that it had to stop some of the discussion boards on Usenet because they were worried that they would be seen as harmful to minors. I was worried that both at the university and in the country, there would be a big clamp down in censorship of the ‘net.” In particular, this effort to censor sexual content reminded him of a very different moment in time. “One of the people who was clamping down on these things was an English professor, and he was also talking about how much he liked Ulysses , James Joyce’s book. And I’m going, you realize that what you’re trying to do to the internet is what people tried to do to Ulysses ?”

In response, he decided to create an off-shoot of his already-popular Online Books project, dedicated to books in the public domain that had been banned or otherwise censored in the past. In a detailed essay , he laid out many of the most significant cases of book censorship across history, from England’s prosecution of Thomas Paine over The Rights of Man to the Soviet Union’s bans on the Bible and the Qur'an. And, of course, he covered instances of censorship in United States history—including Ulysses , which was barred from sale in the U.S., largely due to its sexual content, until 1933.

“At the time I thought I was largely bringing up books as a quaint thing of the past, and that we didn’t really have to worry about banning books anymore in this country,” Ockerbloom observes. “And more recently, it’s turned out that maybe we do.”

Today, efforts to ban or censor books are again in the news, and the target is often libraries. According to the American Library Association , 4,240 unique book titles were targeted for removal from schools and libraries in 2023, a 65% increase compared to the year before, and the highest levels documented in 20 years of tracking.

In response to this new trend, Ockerbloom has expanded and relaunched his Banned Books site just in time for Banned Books Week 2024. Now, instead of a single, informational page, Ockerbloom has created a unique browsable database that explores book censorship past and present and seeks to connect readers with the books themselves. This new Banned Books database is one of many personal projects Ockerbloom pursues in his free time to connect with and serve people outside the Penn community, including scholars and students around the world.

We recently sat down with him to learn more about this project, the books he chooses to feature, and how his perspective on banned and censored books has changed over the years.

This interview has been edited for space and clarity.

The phrase “banned books” can mean a lot of different things. What makes a book “banned” to you?

People can certainly object to books. They can say, “I hate this book,” or “This book is saying hateful things, and I don't want to read it. I think my friend shouldn't read it.” That's criticism, and that might be warranted, or it might not be, but that’s not banning.

What I consider banning is when somebody is trying to use some form of coercion to say, “You can't write this book or publish this book,” or “We want to stop people from reading this book.” It’s one thing If somebody says, “Gee, this book is in my middle school library. I'm not sure it's appropriate for this age. I'll ask the librarian about it, and they'll decide what to do." But if they come in and they say, “Nobody should be reading this. I'm going to force people to stop reading it,” that’s where I think they cross the line.

What is the goal of your Banned Books site? What do you hope people take away from it?

I want to raise awareness of where censorship is happening, because I think that's something people need to be concerned about. But I also just want raise awareness about the books themselves and get people to read them. So if a book is available for free online, I'll point to the online copy. If it's not available online, I'll point to how you can get it from your library or buy it from a bookstore. I've also got links to forums where people can read more about the book, like Wikipedia, or discuss the book, like LibraryThing or Goodreads.

One of the things I really like about books, and for that matter about universities, is that they are a form of conversation at a very large scale. They reach out over time and space to different places. And one of the things that I'm trying to do with the site is encourage people to actually participate in these conversations by reading the books, by talking about the books, by understanding how the books have been received, and so on.

What are some changes you’ve made to the site for this year’s Banned Books Week?

I've turned it from one very long page with links to a database where you can look up books and learn more about the way they have been challenged. What I try to do on the site is not just give a list of books that have been challenged. I want to be able to show who objected to the book, why they objected to it, and what they were trying to do. And, when possible, I give sources for that information.

For example, I’ve added a long database entry about various ways the Bible has been censored over time, and I’ve connected that entry to an entry about the Qur'an , which has also been censored—sometimes in some of the same places, and sometimes in different places. And I suspect many readers may have different levels of comfort, say, with one versus the other.

What I’m hoping is that by looking at these books, people will get a better idea of the whole story behind them--not just the specific bits of it that bother people, but also what the author was trying to convey and how it fits into the context in which it arose. And I think that if people understand what's in the books and where they come from, hopefully that will give them a measure of respect for them, whether they like the books or not.

Has your thinking about book censorship changed over the years?

Yes, there are a few ways it has. For instance, one area of book censorship that I was completely ignorant about when I started this was the fact that prisons very heavily censor reading materials, including educational books, or books that might criticize prison conditions. It's surprising how wide the range of censorship is in a number of those places. I haven't yet put incidents of that on the site, but I'm hoping to do that going forward as well.

There’s another thing I've been thinking more about, especially as I've been at a university for a while. I’ve come to understand that when you’re creating a space, whether it’s at a university or in a large online forum like social media, that you’re going to want to have the space encourage certain kinds of discussion. And that means there’s a legitimate need to ensure you're not creating an atmosphere that's destructive to the people that you want to be in this space.

If people are threatening your students, for example, you want to shut that down right away. Likewise, there's been a lot of kerfuffle over whether or not social media sites should be censored. And you soon realize, if you deal with online discussions, that if you put no moderation at all in a discussion, things become a cesspool and people do not want to participate. So it's legitimate to say, as a as a site owner, “Okay, we're going to encourage this sort of speech and have these other sorts of speech go elsewhere.” And the important thing is you're saying go elsewhere. You're not saying you're going to outlaw this sort of thing.

I’m relatively okay with the idea of any specific site saying no, we're not going to allow this sort of thing, as long as a) you've got a lot of sites to choose from, and b) you don’t have the government leaning on a site and telling them what to do.

Are there other projects or initiatives that you’d encourage our readers to look at during Banned Books Week?

I would encourage people to check out the Penn Libraries Banned Books Collection , as well as the work of faculty and others at Penn who have written about these issues. Sigal Ben-Porath of the Graduate School of Education has written and spoken on banned books and related issues . And history professor Sophia Rosenfeld has also dealt with issues of democracy and free expression in both the past and present. She recently had an op-ed in the New York Times titled "I Teach a Class on Free Speech. My Students Can Show Us the Way Forward."

Scholars like these are outspoken in various ways, but also want to make sure that students learn lots of different points of view, and that they learn how to speak for themselves and to support the right to expression in all kinds of ways. 

Rebecca Ortenberg

Digital Content Manager

September 23, 2024

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How You Should Think About Writing your UPenn Essays

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Aja Altenhof in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info.

What’s Covered:

The supplemental essay prompts for upenn.

• What Does UPenn Look for When Evaluating Essays?

What You Should Write About in Your Essays

The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) requires its applicants to submit a personal essay, most frequently through the Common Application, and three supplemental essays in addition. There are additional supplemental essays that are required for some applicants, such as those for particular programs or transferring from another school. 

The three supplemental essays required for all applicants are: 

• “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)  
• “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) 
• “Considering the specific undergraduate school you have selected, describe how you intend to explore your academic and intellectual interests at the University of Pennsylvania.” (150-200 words) 

If you are looking for an overview of UPenn’s supplemental essays and advice on how to write your responses, check out this article on CollegeVine. 

What Does UPenn Look for When Evaluating Essays? 

UPenn refers to their essays as a way to learn what applicants value, how they see the world, and what their voices will bring to the school’s community. In a nutshell, the admissions officers at the University of Pennsylvania are trying to get to know you through your responses. 

The admissions office suggests that applicants review each prompt thoroughly, consider responses carefully, and double-check their writing. As such, organizing your thoughts, writing intentional responses, and proofreading your UPenn essays is key to the process. 

Keep in Mind Your Common App Essay

Remember that UPenn is also evaluating your 650-word personal statement, most likely submitted through the Common App. Supplemental essays are an opportunity to highlight another aspect of yourself, instead just revisiting other application materials. 

If possible, consider this when writing both your Common App essay and supplemental essays. Applicants should not focus on something that has already been covered in another part of their application. For example, because UPenn’s third prompt asks you to discuss an academic interest, writing about your intended major in your Common App essay might make finding a topic for your supplemental essays more difficult.. Writing a unique Common App essay helps applicants avoid this overlap and keep things engaging for the admissions officers reviewing your application.

Show Different Sides of Yourself

If you are unsure how to ensure each essay is distinct, start by trying to brainstorm what the fundamental elements of your personality are, the values you hold, and the experiences you have had. Then, for each supplemental essay prompt, see if you can focus on a different item in that list. Because the admissions officers are using these essays to get to know you as a person, you want to make sure that your essays touch on different aspects of who you are.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the tone of your essays should vary, as well. Submitting some essays that are more serious, while keeping others lighthearted, is more likely to keep the reader interested. It also allows you to show off different sides of your writing style and personality. 

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