University of Pennsylvania
Application Dates & Deadlines
Early Decision: November 1, 2023
Regular Decision: January 5, 2024
Application Fee: $75 or fee waiver for those who qualify
Common App or Coalition Application & Penn-specific Essay
Official High School Transcript
School Report
Early Decision Agreement (only if applying for Early Decision)
Mid-Year Report
Early Decision: Required February 15, 2024 if student is deferred
Regular Decision: Must be submitted directly by the school as soon as mid-year grades are available
Final Report
Required in June for matriculating students
**If sending supporting documents via email, they should be sent to documents@admissions.upenn.edu.
Standardized Testing (Optional for 2023-24 Admissions Cycle)
Penn will not require applicants to submit the SAT, ACT, or SAT Subject Tests for the 2023-24 application cycle. This applies to first-year and transfer applicants. Applicants who do not submit SAT, ACT, or SAT Subject Test scores will not be at a disadvantage in the admissions process. Students who are able to take the SAT, ACT, and/or SAT Subject Tests and wish to report them may continue with that plan. Learn more about our testing policy here.
Early Decision: Last Test Dates Accepted—October 2023 (ACT) or November 2023 (SAT)
Regular Decision: Last Test Dates Accepted—December 2023 (ACT) or December 2023 (SAT)
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Early Decision: Mid October–Early December
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Regular Decision: December–Early March
Supplementary Materials
One Additional Letter of Recommendation
As a matter of equity, Penn allows for only one additional supplemental letter of recommendation beyond those required. We ask that you only submit an additional letter from someone who knows you personally and whose perspective would add information not captured elsewhere in your application. (Letters from family members and close family friends usually do not provide information that is helpful to the evaluation process.) If you choose to submit an optional additional letter of recommendation, please submit it directly through the Coalition or Common App.
Expanded Resume or Research Abstract
Students who have completed notable academic research should use the activities section or additional information sections of the application to convey these achievements. If however there is a brief abstract or explanation of your work that you could not include in other required parts of the application, you may submit that as a supplementary material through your Penn Applicant Portal which becomes available to you once you submit the Coalition or Common App and the Penn Supplement.
Art or Music Sample
Students with exceptional and recognized talents in visual arts, performing arts, or music, should use the activities section or additional information sections of the application to convey these achievements. If however there are samples of your work that you could not include in other required parts of the application, you may submit those as supplementary materials through your Penn Applicant Portal which becomes available to you once you submit the Coalition or Common App and the Penn Supplement.
Portfolios
Portfolios are not required and will only be reviewed in two instances:
Digital Media Design applicants are recommended to submit a portfolio that includes at least one drawing or painting as well as any other work that highlights your talent. All forms of media are welcomed. Submit pieces that highlight your sense of aesthetic taste and vision and your eye for composition. The Program encourages you to explore how the computer transforms your artwork and design ideas. Please limit your selection to 5-12 pieces, or a maximum of 5 minutes of video.
Transfer students applying to Architecture for sophomore standing are required to submit a portfolio. There is no specific number of submissions that must be included. Junior transfers are ineligible to apply to the Architecture major.
File Sizes and Types for Portfolios
We support media files as large as 5GB, but please be advised that larger files will take longer to upload from your internet connection and may stall if you are on a wireless connection or one that cannot sustain a connection for the necessary period of time. Uploaded documents may contain no more than 75 pages. We support the following file formats:
Video: .3g2, .3gp, .avi, .m2v, .m4v, .mkv, .mov, .mpeg, .mpg, .mp4, .mxf, .webm, .wmv
Audio: .aac, .m4a, .mka, .mp3, .oga, .ogg, .wav
Slide: .bmp, .gif, .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .tif, .tiff
Document: .doc, .docx, .odg, .odp, .odt, .pdf, .ppt, .pptx, .rtf, .wpd
Upload Link
Decisions
Notification of Decision
Early Decision: Mid-December 2023
Regular Decision: By April 2024
Admitted Student Reply/Enrollment Confirmation
Early Decision: January 5, 2024
Regular Decision: May 1, 2024
Notification of Decision
Early Decision: Mid-December 2023
Regular Decision: By April 2024
Early Decision: January 5, 2024
Regular Decision: May 1, 2024
FAQs
INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION GUIDELINES
English Language Proficiency Tests
A strong command of the English language is necessary for successful study at Penn. Applicants who meet one or both of the criteria below are considered proficient in English.
English is the applicant’s native language.
English has been the applicant’s primary language of instruction for the duration of high school.
If neither of these statements is true, applicants are required to take the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test to demonstrate English proficiency. Where the TOEFL iBT is not available due to COVID-19, applicants can take the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition. Please note that Penn does not currently accept the IELTS Indicator exam or MyBest scores for the TOEFL.
To learn about the TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo English Test and to register for the examinations, please visit the websites below. Penn's school code for the TOEFL is 2926.
TOEFL
IELTS
Duolingo English Test
Be sure to designate Penn as a recipient university each time you register for an examination. If you have already taken a test but did not designate Penn as a score recipient, please do so afterwards.
Score reports should be sent directly to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions through official testing agencies. Penn does not accept self-reported scores for English proficiency examinations.
What Penn looks for?
One University, Four Schools
Every student gains a strong foundation in the liberal arts and sciences and is able to take classes in all four schools. Therefore, we encourage you to consistently take classes in core academic areas (English, social studies, math, science, and foreign language) throughout your four years of high school. We expect that every student who applies to Penn will challenge themselves in high school based on the opportunities offered at their school.
Every high school is different, though, so we will review your school’s profile to best understand the types of courses available to you, your school’s grading scale, and the ways you can challenge yourself with extracurricular or post-secondary activities.
COVID-19 Update: Your academic engagement and work during this time matters to us. We will assess your academic opportunity and achievements with sensitivity to any changes (such as pass/fail grades, abbreviated semesters, remote instruction, etc.) brought about by COVID-19.
We would like to see:
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a curiosity in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences
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an ability to apply classroom knowledge to the real world
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a strong preparation in a balanced and advanced college preparatory curriculum
PENN ENGINEERING
We would like to see:
an ability to innovate, design, and practically apply scientific discoveries
expressed reasons for pursuing an engineering education
a strong preparation in physics and mathematics, particularly calculus
SCHOOL OF NURSING
We would like to see:
a commitment to patient care
a desire to explore issues in health care
a strong preparation in the sciences, particularly in chemistry
THE WHARTON SCHOOL
We would like to see:
an interest in business to fuel positive change to advance the world's economic and social well-being
demonstrated leadership
a strong preparation in mathematics, particularly calculus