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College Essays

The University of Pennsylvania requires all first year applicants to submit a personal essay as well as a Penn-specific essay. If you're hoping to be one of the 6% of students admitted to Penn every year, your UPenn essay is an important part of your application. You'll need to make sure your essays are strong to increase your chances of admission.

In this article, we'll go over the UPenn essay logistics—covering exactly what you need to write for each college you're applying to at UPenn. Then, we'll break down each prompt, offering suggestions for what to write about. Finally, we'll give tips on how to write an amazing UPenn essay that'll help you get into your dream school.

What Are the UPenn Essay Prompts?

If you're applying to UPenn, you must submit your application to one of UPenn's four undergraduate schools. Depending on which undergraduate program you're applying to, you'll need to answer UPenn's specific statements as well as an additional essay for that school.

There are three required short answer prompts for this year’s UPenn application. The first is:

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)

UPenn's second essay prompt for all students is:

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)

And, finally, the third 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. (150-200 words)

Depending on the undergraduate program you're applying to, you may have to write an additional essay as part of your application. Here are those additional essay prompts and the program for which they apply:

• Please list pre-dental or pre-medical experience. This experience can include but is not limited to observation in a private practice, dental clinic, or hospital setting; dental assisting; dental laboratory work; dental or medical research, etc. Please include time allotted to each activity, dates of attendance, location, and description of your experience. If you do not have any pre-dental or pre-medical experience, please indicate what you have done that led you to your decision to enter dentistry.
• List any activities which demonstrate your ability to work with your hands.
• What activities have you performed that demonstrate your ability to work cooperatively with people?
• Please explain your reasons for selecting a career in dentistry. Please include what interests you the most in dentistry as well as what interests you the least.
• Do you have relatives who are dentists or are in dental school? If so, indicate the name of each relative, his/her relationship to you, the school attended, and the dates attended.
• Digital Media Design Program: Why are you interested in the Digital Media Design (DMD) program at the University of Pennsylvania? (400-650 words)
• The Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business: The Huntsman Program supports the development of globally-minded scholars who become engaged citizens, creative innovators, and ethical leaders in the public, private, and non-profit sectors in the United States and internationally. What draws you to a dual-degree program in business and international studies, and how would you use what you learn to make a contribution to a global issue where business and international affairs intersect? (400-650 words)
• The Roy and Diana Vagelos Program in Life Science and Management: The LSM program aims to provide students with a fundamental understanding of the life sciences and their management with an eye to identifying, advancing and implementing innovations. What issues would you want to address using the understanding gained from such a program? Note that this essay should be distinct from your single degree essay. (400-650 words)
• The Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology: Please complete both prompts.
• Explain how you will use the M&T program to explore your interest in business, engineering, and the intersection of the two. (400-650 words)
• Describe a problem that you solved that showed leadership and creativity. (250 words maximum)
• The Rejendra and Neera Singh Program in Networked and Social Systems Engineering: Describe your interests in modern networked information systems and technologies, such as the internet, and their impact on society, whether in terms of economics, communication, or the creation of beneficial content for society. Feel free to draw on examples from your own experiences as a user, developer, or student of technology. (400-650 words)
• Nursing and Healthcare Management: Discuss your interest in nursing and health care management. How might Penn's coordinated dual-degree program in nursing and business help you meet your goals? (400-650 words)
• The Roy and Diana Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research: How do you envision your participation in the Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER) furthering your interests in energy science and technology? Please include any past experiences (ex. academic, research, or extracurricular) that have led to your interest in the program. Additionally, please indicate why you are interested in pursuing dual degrees in science and engineering and which VIPER majors are most interesting to you at this time. (400-650 words)

UPenn Essay Prompts, Analyzed

In this section, we'll analyze each of the UPenn supplement essay prompts and offer suggestions for what you should talk about (and avoid) for each.

Penn-Specific Essays

Let's take a look at how to tackle the essays all students will have to answer.

This rather charming prompt is a great opportunity to show the UPenn admissions counselors what you value and what you’re grateful for .

Consider making a list of all the things people have done for you, and narrow it down to those that have made the biggest impact. Has a family member or your best friend has gone the extra mile for you, and you haven’t quite found a way to truly thank them? Maybe someone you’re not friends with stood up for you in an academic or social situation. Maybe your Model UN nemesis did you a solid. Is there something you may have taken for granted?

Once you’ve narrowed down your topic, remember to focus on the "so what" part of the answer. Why is it important to thank this person? What did they do, and how did it affect you? Why have you not yet been able to thank them (there are plenty of good reasons for this—don’t panic if you feel like you’ve been rude!).

Remember to be as specific and sincere as possible—you have 200 words, tops, to tell a genuine story that reveals part of your character.

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)

The first prompt was largely focused on academic interests. The second is where you can think more about community.

Going to college isn't just about what you'll learn in class. It's also about forming life-long friendships and exploring different communities to find out who you are and what you like to do.

Of course, you can't predict exactly what your social life is going to look like before you even get accepted. You may end up in clubs you never expected, with friends you never anticipated. But that's okay—UPenn isn't asking you to lay out, step-by-step, how you'll participate in college communities. They just want to know that you're thinking about it!

To answer this question, consider looking into UPenn's many student-run clubs and activities and find some that match your interests. Think about how these clubs and activities will contribute to the vision you have of your future. What impact do you expect them to have on you?

But don't forget the second half of the question! UPenn also wants to know how you will shape the community, not just how it will shape you . What unique perspectives do you bring? What can you do that nobody else can?

This question is a pretty typical "why you?" essay prompt that's focused on community rather than academics. Think about how you fit into your social groups; what makes you unique? Are you the token caregiver friend? Or maybe you're always pursuing a new weird hobby, and your friends love hearing about what your new niche interest is. These are just two traits that you could use to explain what you'll bring to the UPenn community— get a little creative, think about how you participate in your friend groups, and plan how you're going to bring those thoughts into your new school!

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) 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.

The third prompt is a traditional Why UPenn essay. It asks you to explain why you want to attend UPenn, and what you’ll do while you’re there.

While these types of prompts are common, the Why UPenn essay prompt focuses specifically on academics—it's not concerned with your interest in UPenn's extracurriculars or campus life. Your answer, then, needs to be specifically focused on your academic pursuits and how UPenn will help you achieve your goals.

You'll need to talk about how the undergraduate school you're applying to affects your academic interests, so do your research on the school. You don't want to talk about a class that you won't have access to because it's in another undergraduate school. All of your answers should be reflective of the courses you'll be able to take if admitted to the undergraduate school of your choice.

You should have a good sense of the classes offered by your program. It's a good idea to name specific classes or professors you'd like to study with. Similarly, if there are any specific opportunities available to students in your field, such as internships or study abroad programs, this essay is the place to talk about it.

The next prompts are for specific programs at UPenn. Channel your inner snowflake and show how you're a unique, one-of-a-kind candidate! 

Bio-Dental Program

Please list pre-dental or pre-medical experience. This experience can include but is not limited to observation in a private practice, dental clinic, or hospital setting; dental assisting; dental laboratory work; dental or medical research, etc. Please include time allotted to each activity, dates of attendance, location, and description of your experience. If you do not have any pre-dental or pre-medical experience, please indicate what you have done that led you to your decision to enter dentistry. (250 words maximum)

List any activities which demonstrate your ability to work with your hands. (250 words maximum)

What activities have you performed that demonstrate your ability to work cooperatively with people? (250 words maximum)

Please explain your reasons for selecting a career in dentistry. Please include what interests you the most in dentistry as well as what interests you the least. (250 words maximum)

Do you have relatives who are dentists or are in dental school? If so, indicate the name of each relative, his/her relationship to you, the school attended, and the dates attended. (250 words maximum)

The prompt for the Bio-Dental program is extensive. Attack it in pieces, being as specific as possible when answering each question.

Don't feel that you need to make up any specific experience. If you haven't interned at a dentist's office, don't invent that experience. You should stick to reality. If you haven't observed at a dentist's office, you can set up a time to visit a local dentist so that you're writing about your real experience, not something you've invented.

When listing your activities, be sure to indicate how each is relevant to dental skill. Maybe you do a lot of needlepoint, which shows that you're able to carry out complex patterns. Again, you don't want to make anything up. Not only will your essay read as inauthentic, you won't have the experience you need to enter into the program.

Take your time and work through this prompt in pieces if you have to. Be thorough, honest, and accurate.

Digital Media Design Program

Just like the Artificial Intelligence essay prompt, in this essay you'll want to explain exactly why the Digital Media Design program at UPenn appeals to you. There are a few important components to an answer for this prompt: specificity, personality, and genuine interest.

To tackle the first important feature, you'll want to do some research into the program you're applying to. Find the unique things about this program in comparison to others; that can mean the professors who teach in it, the classes that are offered, what former students are up to, or anything else that you can tie specifically to UPenn. The reason for this is that the college wants to know that you're not just applying there as a fallback choice. UPenn wants students who are driven and passionate about what college will help them achieve, and putting specifics into your essay is a great way to show that you care about attending.

Next, be sure that your essay has personality. You want your essay to read as if only you could have written it. Having specifics will help with that, but you should also make it a point to let your own unique voice and interests shine through. If Digital Media Design draws your interest because you've always been drawn to the unique storytelling potential of animation after growing up on Pixar films, that's worth mentioning! Remember, your college application is all about getting the college invested in you as a student; let your personality shine through.

And lastly, demonstrate genuine interest. UPenn is a great school, and you should use your essay to show that you're not just applying there because you needed to fill another slot on your college list. Express your passion for attending UPenn, and specifically the Digital Media Design program. What brought you here over every other school? Even if UPenn isn't your top choice, remember all the things that made you put the school on your college list in the first place, and keep them in mind as you write.

The Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business

The Huntsman Program supports the development of globally-minded scholars who become engaged citizens, creative innovators, and ethical leaders in the public, private, and non-profit sectors in the United States and internationally. What draws you to a dual-degree program in business and international studies, and how would you use what you learn to make a contribution to a global issue where business and international affairs intersect? (400-650 words)

For the Huntsman essay, you'll need to explain exactly what draws you to UPenn's International Studies and Business program. This is a dual-degree program, so you'll be studying at the intersection of these two fields. A working understanding of each will be important to writing this essay.

To start, make a short list of reasons why this degree appeals to you. What international issues interest you? Why take a business approach rather than a sociological or political one? You don't have to put the answers to these questions in your essay, but if you know the answers to them, you'll be better prepared to answer the prompt with confidence.

The question specifically asks for how you'll use what you learn in this program to make an impact on a global issue. That requires some familiarity with global issues; think about causes that matter to you and how you can use business to approach them. How will attending UPenn help you toward your career goals?

You can cite specific classes, instructors, or other features of UPenn to help make your point. Your essay should feature not just how you want to make an impact on the world, but also why you're seeking a dual degree, and specifically a dual degree from UPenn.

The Roy and Diana Vagelos Program in Life Science and Management

The LSM program aims to provide students with a fundamental understanding of the life sciences and their management with an eye to identifying, advancing and implementing innovations. What issues would you want to address using the understanding gained from such a program? Note that this essay should be distinct from your single degree essay. (400-650 words)

The LSM essay prompt has been recently updated. Instead of being a general "why this program" style prompt, this essay wants to dig deeper into why you're interested in Life Sciences and Management and understand more about whether your personality is a fit for the program.

This essay is all about the bigger picture. The LSM program is all about innovation, so this essay wants you to pick a big issue and explain how what you learn as an LSM student will help you solve it. The best way to answer this prompt is through a combination of research and specificity. First, research the LSM program. You definitely want to pick an issue that you'll actually learn about as a UPENN student. It's also a good idea to call out specific classes, professors, and research opportunities in your response! (Keep in mind that this program is a joint venture between the College of Arts and Sciences and the Wharton School of Business, so be sure to research both schools.)

Once you have all that information pulled together, you can get specific. Admissions counselors don't expect you to solve the world's biggest problems. But they do want to see that you're thinking critically about issues in your future field, and that you can break the problem down into pieces. For instance, instead of saying you want to solve climate change, narrow that topic down into something doable, like developing new plant-based plastics that can be used in the medical field.

The Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology

Please complete both prompts.

Question 1: Explain how you will use the M&T program to explore your interest in business, engineering, and the intersection of the two. (400-650 words)

Question 2: Describe a problem that you solved that showed leadership and creativity. (250 words maximum)

You'll need to complete two additional essays if you're applying to the Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology.

Like many UPenn programs, this school combines two different fields—management and technology . To answer this question effectively, you'll need to know exactly how the two can work together. Think about why you've chosen this particular program—what can you gain from it that you wouldn't from a program in either management or technology? How will a degree in this program help you reach your personal and career goals? This prompt asks for how you'll use it to explore your interests, so don't be afraid to get specific!

The second question is also concerned with your problem-solving ability. This classic prompt wants to know about a time when you faced adversity and either overcame it or learned from it. Don't be afraid to show yourself tackling a real challenge here—your ability to persevere is more important than showing that you never make mistakes.

The Rejendra and Neera Singh Program in Networked and Social Systems Engineering

Describe your interests in modern networked information systems and technologies, such as the internet, and their impact on society, whether in terms of economics, communication, or the creation of beneficial content for society. Feel free to draw on examples from your own experiences as a user, developer, or student of technology. (400-650 words)

The easiest way to answer this prompt is with a story. Tell the admissions committee how you became interested in this line of study.

You should be as specific as possible in your answer. After all, the prompt calls for examples from your own experience. You should be able to clearly articulate where your interest stemmed from. Don't feel like you have to talk about everything that interests you within this field—focusing on one or two clear examples that you have a lot of interest in will go further than trying to talk about everything related to networked information systems and technologies.

Nursing and Healthcare Management

Discuss your interest in nursing and health care management. How might Penn's coordinated dual-degree program in nursing and business help you meet your goals? (400-650 words)

You have plenty of space in this prompt (up to 650 words), so you should make sure to address both parts of the question—why you're interested in Penn's nursing and healthcare management program and how the program will help you achieve your future goals.

Key to answering the second part of the prompt is to have some future goals thought out—have a specific idea of what you want to do with your degree. Then, tie that back to things you can study at UPenn. It would be helpful for this prompt to familiarize yourself with aspects of UPenn's program—courses, professors, learning and employment opportunities. The more you can show why UPenn is the right school for you to achieve your goals, the better your essay will be.

The Roy and Diana Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research

How do you envision your participation in the Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER) furthering your interests in energy science and technology? Please include any past experiences (ex. academic, research, or extracurricular) that have led to your interest in the program. Additionally, please indicate why you are interested in pursuing dual degrees in science and engineering and which VIPER majors are most interesting to you at this time. (400-650 words)

This prompt wants to know exactly how you think the VIPER program will help you reach your future goals. You also need to touch on why you want to get a dual-degree. You have plenty of space in this prompt, so make sure you answer each aspect thoroughly. Don't invent previous experience if you don't have it—be honest and authentic in your answer.

You should have a clear idea about which VIPER majors you're interested in. Be prepared to name specific UPenn majors and provide reasoning, in the form of classes you'd like to take or professors you'd like to study with.

5 Tips for Acing the UPenn Supplement

Hoping to write amazing UPenn supplement essays? Follow these key tips to do so!

#1: Use Your Own Voice

The point of a college essay is for the admissions committee to have the chance to get to know you beyond what's featured in other parts of your application. Your admissions essays are your chance to become more than just a collection of statistics—to really come alive for your application readers.

Make sure that the person you're presenting in your college essays is yourself. Don't just write what you think the committee wants to hear or try to act like someone you're not—it will be really easy for the committee to tell you're lying.

If you lie or exaggerate, your essay will come across as insincere, which will at best diminish its effectiveness and at worst make the admissions committee think twice on accepting you. Stick to telling real stories about the person you really are, not who you think UPenn wants you to be.

#2: Be UPenn-Specific

All of your UPenn essays should be UPenn-specific. Don't be generic in your answers—the admissions committee should get the idea that you know about UPenn and that your answer is specific to that school, not about college in general.

Don't waste your time telling the admissions committee that UPenn has a world-class faculty—first of all, the admissions committee knows that and second, many universities do. Talk about why UPenn is the right school for you and be prepared to give real, concrete examples.

#3: Do Your Research

You can make your essay UPenn-specific by doing your research. Look into the course catalogue, visit your prospective major's website. Schedule a meeting with a professor or current student if you can. The more specific information you have, the better.

#4: Avoid Clichés and Overused Phrases

When writing your UPenn essays, don't use clichés or overused quotes or phrases. The college admissions committee has probably seen numerous essays that state, "Be the change you want to see in the world." You can write something more original than that!

Each of the UPenn essays asks you something specific about your experience or background. Your essay should be 100% you —you don't want the admissions committee to think, "Anyone could have written this essay."

#5: Check Your Work

Your UPenn essays should be the strongest example of your work possible. Before you turn in your UPenn application, edit and proofread your essays.

Run your essays through a spelling and grammar check before you submit and ask someone else to read your essays. You can seek a second opinion on your work from a parent, teacher, or friend. Ask them whether your work represents you as a student and person. Have them check and make sure you haven't missed any small writing errors. Having a second opinion will help your work be the best it possibly can be.

#6: Have a Spike

What's a spike, you ask?

In short, a spike is something that makes you stand out. Something that no (or very few) other applicants have.

When you're applying to college, it's tempting to seem well-rounded and interested in all the things.

Don't do that.

Your application won't stand out if you're mediocre in band, on the track team, and on student council. It will stand out if you travel to Japan to perform with a world-class performance ensemble or qualify for the Olympic trials in shot put.

When your focus is on one thing, you'll be better at it than if you have to split your time and attention. It will also be more impressive on your resume.

Final Thoughts

Your UPenn essay is an important part of your application. Depending on the specific school you're applying to, you may have to write three or more essays.

No matter which school at UPenn you're applying to, keep in mind:

• Be authentic.
• Highlight your best qualities.
• Use specific examples of UPenn courses and professors you want to study.
• Be generic.
• Make anything up about yourself.
• Split your focus by talking about too many different ideas.

What's Next?

If you're applying to UPenn, you're likely applying to other colleges on the East Coast, too. Check out our expert guides to the Williams essay , the Tufts essays , and the Harvard essay .

Need help writing your Common App essay? Our tips will show you how to write a Common App essay guaranteed to make you stand out from other applicants!

Hayley Milliman is a former teacher turned writer who blogs about education, history, and technology. When she was a teacher, Hayley's students regularly scored in the 99th percentile thanks to her passion for making topics digestible and accessible. In addition to her work for PrepScholar, Hayley is the author of Museum Hack's Guide to History's Fiercest Females.

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What is UPenn Looking for in the Supplemental 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:

• Are You a Good Fit for UPenn?
• Major & Career Goals

In this post, we will discuss what the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) is looking for in your answers to its supplemental essay questions. It covers the importance of being authentic and tailoring your answers to show how you will be a good fit for their school. 

For more information on writing UPenn’s supplemental essays, check out our post on How to Write the UPenn Supplemental Essays .

Are You a Good Fit for UPenn? 

Contribution to upenn’s campus community .

So, what is UPenn looking for in these essays? One thing that they are extremely interested in is whether or not you are the right fit . Being a fit for an institution is about much more than academics. Schools are actually the most interested in how you plan on being a positive addition to their campus community through the unique perspective or identity that you will bring. This information is something that UPenn explicitly asks its applicants to cover in the second community prompt , which highlights the value they place in your “fit” with the campus. 

Attributes Similar to Ben Franklin

Benjamin Franklin, the founder of UPenn, possessed personal qualities such as determination and resilience. Ben Franklin then instilled those values into UPenn, which has shaped its culture and its overall institutional approach to success. 

Admissions at UPenn love seeing prospective students embodyFranklin’s, and the school’s, values in their essays. Not only does it show that you have done your research about the school, but it also emphasizes that your personal values align with UPenn’s.

However, try not to directly quote Ben Franklin in your essays. Do not run to your computer and look up Franklin’s most famous quotes, as that is not the best way to show your character and may remove authenticity from your answers. 

UPenn wants to see authentic reasons for wanting to enroll at their institution as opposed to any other elite private institution. Many schools offer interdisciplinary study and gorgeous old campuses, so you must emphasize what makes UPenn stand out to you. 

In order to leave a more lasting impact on the admissions committee, use your essays to articulate why you want to study at UPenn specifically and not any of the other schools especially if they have relatively similar course offerings. You must also be specific when doing so to make sure that you come off in a genuine light.

Major and Career Goals

Finally, you must provide authentic reasons for why you are planning to study your specific Major. Choosing a major can be difficult, however there are many people who are attempting admission to the same programs. Therefore, not having detailed responses as to what led you to choose your major and future career goals could cost you admission. 

Keep in mind, however, that it is fine if you are still undecided about your major when applying. Colleges know that students often change their minds throughout their academic careers. It is simply key that you are able to convey your academic and personal passions through your essays and reflect on how they may impact your future goals.

Are Your UPenn Essays Strong Enough?

At top schools like the University of Pennsylvania, your essays account for around 25% or more of your admissions decision. That’s more than grades and test scores and almost as much as extracurriculars. Your essays are your chance to stand out and humanize your application.

That’s why it’s vital that your essays are engaging and present you as someone who’d be a strong addition to the UPenn community .

After reading your essays over and over, it can be difficult to judge your writing objectively. Your friends, family, and teachers may also be biased. That’s why we created our Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. Since they don’t know you personally, they can be a better judge of whether your personality shines through, and whether you’ve fully answered the prompt. 

You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. We highly recommend giving this tool a try!

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How to Respond to the 2023-2024 UPenn Supplemental Essay Prompts

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Cece Gilmore is a Content Writer at Scholarships360. Cece earned her undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University. While at ASU, she was the education editor as well as a published staff reporter at Downtown Devil. Cece was also the co-host of her own radio show on Blaze Radio ASU.

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Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

Most students who apply to schools as prestigious as the University of Pennsylvania have impressive academic and extracurricular records. If you want your application to shine above the rest, the UPenn supplemental essays are your opportunity! 

UPenn has three required prompts. Each ask students to share how UPenn will fulfill their goals, in and out of the classroom. The challenge is crafting a sincere yet differentiated answer to these “Why UPenn” essays.  Let’s discuss how to ace each prompt. Our tips include questions that will help you draw upon the best examples from your own experiences.  

Also see: How to answer the Common App essay prompts

“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)”

This prompt asks you something that many colleges do not– they want to know about your relationships. This is great because it shows the admissions committee a glimpse into what type of person you are, and what you care about. Gratitude tells a lot about a person, so whoever you decide to write to, make sure that it is sincere and truthful. 

This prompt is to be written with between 150 and 200 words. Depending on how you feel about writing, this can be seen as a whole lot of writing or not enough space to say how you really feel. Either way, if you just write from your heart with this prompt, you can always go back and edit it to get the word count correct. 

Questions to consider: 

• Who has helped you the most in your life?
• What are you grateful for?
• Have you experienced something big that a family member or friend helped you through?

“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)”

This prompt acknowledges the social aspect of attending a college or university. One of the big things that many higher education institutions look for in a student is that they are more than just their academics. Penn is big on community, so this prompt is asking you how you will benefit from the community that the school offers, and also how the community will benefit from your involvement. 

For many students, the most difficult part about writing college supplemental essays is writing about themselves. For this prompt, UPenn wants to know about your positive attributes. It is okay to hype yourself up– actually, that is what they want to hear! So although it may seem awkward at first to talk about what you have to offer in their community, it is important that you start to get comfortable writing in that way about yourself. 

Here are some questions you could ask yourself: 

• Are you a part of a community at home?
• What are you looking for in a college when it comes to community?
• What do you feel are the most important parts of your identity that you can see in the community around you?

“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)”

For this prompt, you do not want to just repeat what is already on your transcript, resume, or application. This is a place that you can deep dive into the parts of your academics, where you may not have been able to elaborate in your application. It will be important to connect your previous academic experiences to what you want your future academics to look like at UPenn.

In addition to your previous academics, you will want to talk about your goals and aspirations academically and intellectually in college. This does not necessarily have to be specific to UPenn, but it can be. If you want to catch the reader’s attention, you can connect it to things that are specific to UPenn, such as specific professors you are looking forward to working with, research opportunities that UPenn offers that other schools don’t, or classes that you are excited about. 

• What major are you interested in?
• Do you plan to study abroad?
• What topics are you interested in researching?
• What excites you academically?

See Also:   How to write an essay about yourself

Transfer Essay

“Please explain your reasons for transferring from your current institution and what you hope to gain by transferring to another institution. (4150 characters) ”

Also see : How to transfer colleges

This prompt is specifically for students who are wanting to transfer to UPenn from another institution. Although 4150 characters may seem like a great deal of words, remember that this is your opportunity to share your story and tell the university about who you are as a student, as a person, as a community member, and as a friend. 

It is a great idea to lean in on the second half of this prompt. What do you hope to gain from transferring to another college? Usually, when a person transfers to another university, it is because they were not getting everything they wanted out of the college that they started at. One thing that you need to remember is that you do not want to speak badly about your previous institution– this can be a bad look, depending on who is reading the essay. Be sure that you are focusing on yourself, and try to remain positive.

• If you had a bad experience at your previous institution, how can you turn that around to be positive?
• What are you looking forward to academically with UPenn?
• What are you looking forward to in the community with UPenn?

Specialized and dual degree program prompts

Upenn offers seven special (and particularly competitive) programs . They each require a separate essay, with a bit longer word limit of 400-650. If you are interested in one of these tracks, be sure to get very specific in your answers. Make a list of concrete examples for how your chosen program satisfies your academic and personal aspirations. Given that these are such unique paths, showcase what you have been exposed to that has led you to develop this niche interest. Outline exactly how you envision this program setting you up for professional success. This is not the time to downplay your enthusiasm for the subject matter and confidence that you are a great candidate! 

Also see:  How to write a 500 word essay

Final thoughts

After reading the above pointers, you should be ready to tackle the UPenn supplemental essays! Don’t shy away from injecting your personality into the prompts. Also know that you can never do too much research in finding examples to reference. Because these prompts are pretty open-ended, trimming your answers to 250 words is sometimes the trickiest part. Get all of your initial thoughts down, and then revise. You got this! 

Additional resources

As you complete the UPenn supplemental essays, you’ve probably got a lot on your plate. Luckily, we can help you navigate it. Check out our guides on when to apply to college , how many colleges to apply to , and how to plan a college tour . We can also provide you with vetted, custom-matched scholarship opportunities which automatically update every day – make sure to try out our scholarship search tool . Best of luck with your admissions process!

Other colleges to consider

• Columbia University (New York, NY)
• University of Chicago (Chicago, IL)
• Duke University (Durham, NC)
• Princeton University (Princeton, NJ)
• Dartmouth College (Hanover, NH)

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UPenn Supplemental Essays 2023-24 – Prompts and Advice

August 11, 2023

The University of Pennsylvania accepted 40% of applicants back in 1980—as of 2023, that figure had plummeted to 7.4%. Those wanting to join the Quaker campus a generation ago could gain acceptance simply by producing strong grades and test scores. Today, applicants find themselves in a hyper-competitive admissions process. In 2023-24, they need to find ways to separate themselves from tens of thousands of similarly-accomplished peers. This brings us to the topic of this blog: the UPenn supplemental essays.

(Want to learn more about How to Get Into UPenn? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into Penn/Wharton: Admissions Data and Strategies. Here, you’ll find all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

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

Below are UPenn’s two general essay prompts for the 2023-24 admissions cycle. The College Transitions team also offers accompanying advice about how to tackle each one.

UPenn Supplemental Essays – Prompt #1

1) Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge. (We encourage you to share this note with that person, if possible, and reflect on the experience!) (150-200 words)  

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

UPenn Supplemental Essays – Prompt #2

2) How will you explore community at Penn? Consider how Penn will help shape your perspective and identity, and how your identity and perspective will help shape Penn. (150-200 words)  

Keep in mind that Penn has already seen the President’s Volunteer Service Award and the impressive number of hours you volunteered at multiple nonprofit organizations. They know that you have been an active member of your high school/local community. The admissions committee now desires to understand precisely how you will contribute to  their  community of almost 10,000 undergraduate students. Highlighting the link between your past efforts and future aims is critical here. For example, if you dedicated many hours working with people with Alzheimer’s Disease throughout high school, it will be more impactful when you now express your commitment to joining Penn’s Alzheimer’s Buddies organization.

The strongest Penn community essays show evidence of meaningful school-specific research. This research process will actually give you a better idea of how you would sincerely like to become engaged at each prospective school on your list. Admissions officers will appreciate a Penn-centric answer far more than a generic (often recycled from app to app) response. Moreover, given the word count, you’ll be able to produce the strongest response if you focus on just one or two specific aspects of your identity and perspective.

UPenn Supplemental Essays – School & Program-Specific Prompts

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

1) The College of Arts and Sciences

The flexible structure of The College of Arts and Sciences’ curriculum is designed to inspire exploration, foster connections, and help you create a path of study through general education courses and a major. What are you curious about and how would you take advantage of opportunities in the arts and sciences? (150-200 words) 

To help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about academic offerings within the College of Arts and Sciences at  college.upenn.edu/prospective . This information will help you develop a stronger understanding of how the study of the liberal arts aligns with your own goals and aspirations.

UPenn Supplemental Essays (Continued)

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

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

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

2) School of Engineering and Applied Science

Penn Engineering prepares its students to become leaders in technology, by combining a strong foundation in the natural sciences and mathematics, 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) 

To help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about Penn Engineering and its mission to prepare students for global leadership in technology  here . This information will help you develop a stronger understanding of academic pathways within Penn Engineering and how they align with your goals and interests.

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

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

3) School of Nursing

Penn Nursing intends to meet the health needs of society in a global and multicultural world by preparing its students to impact healthcare by advancing science and promoting equity. What do you think this means for the future of nursing, and how do you see yourself contributing to our mission of promoting equity in healthcare? (150-200 words)   

To help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about Penn Nursing’s mission and how we promote equity in healthcare  here .  This information will help you develop a stronger understanding of our values and how they align with your own goals and aspirations.

There are two prongs to this prompt. First, the admissions committee wants to understand how you think scientific advancements and increased equity will impact nursing as a profession. Since you’re applying to this program, it’s likely that you believe in the benefit of both objectives. Therefore, you don’t need to spend time convincing the admissions committee that you’re on board. Instead, and based on what you understand about the nursing field consider discussing what types of positive impact nurses who are prepared for the profession in such a way can have on patient outcomes and/or healthcare in general. Lastly, if you don’t know much about the current landscape, be sure to do some research,

Second, Penn wants to understand how you—as a nursing student—will contribute to the mission of promoting equity in particular. Based on what you know about Penn’s nursing programs and initiatives (which, again, will require some research) how do you see yourself getting involved?

4) The Wharton School

Wharton prepares its students to make an impact by applying business methods and economic theory to real-world problems, including economic, political, and social issues. Please reflect on a current issue of importance to you and share how you hope a Wharton education would help you to explore it. (150-200 words)  

To help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about the foundations of a Wharton education  here . This information will help you better understand what you could learn by studying at Wharton and what you could do afterward.

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

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

5)  DMD: Digital Media Design Program

Why are you interested in the Digital Media Design (DMD) program at the University of Pennsylvania? (400-650 words)

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

The Huntsman Program supports the development of globally-minded scholars who become engaged citizens, creative innovators, and ethical leaders in the public, private, and non-profit sectors in the United States and internationally. What draws you to a dual-degree program in business and international studies, and how would you use what you learn to make a contribution to a global issue where business and international affairs intersect? (400-650 words)

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

The LSM program aims to provide students with a fundamental understanding of the life sciences and their management with an eye to identifying, advancing and implementing innovations. What issues would you want to address using the understanding gained from such a program? Note that this essay should be distinct from your single degree essay. (400-650 words)

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

• Explain how you will use the M&T program to explore your interest in business, engineering, and the intersection of the two. (400-650 words)
• Describe a problem that you solved that showed leadership and creativity. (250 words)

9) NETS: The Rajendra and Neera Singh Program in Networked and Social Systems Engineering

Describe your interests in modern networked information systems and technologies, such as the internet, and their impact on society, whether in terms of economics, communication, or the creation of beneficial content for society. Feel free to draw on examples from your own experiences as a user, developer, or student of technology. (400-650 words)

10) NHCM: Nursing and Healthcare Management

Discuss your interest in nursing and health care management. How might Penn’s coordinated dual-degree program in nursing and business help you meet your goals? (400-650 words)

11) BIO-DENT: Seven-Year Bio-Dental Program

• Please list pre-dental or pre-medical experience. This experience can include but is not limited to observation in a private practice, dental clinic, or hospital setting; dental assisting; dental laboratory work; dental or medical research, etc. Please include time allotted to each activity, dates of attendance, location, and description of your experience. If you do not have any pre-dental or pre-medical experience, please indicate what you have done or plan to do in order to explore dentistry as a career. (250 words)
• Describe any activities which demonstrate your ability to work with your hands. (250 words)
• What activities have you performed that demonstrate your ability to work effectively with people? (250 words)
• Please explain your reasons for selecting a career in dentistry. Please include what interests you the most in dentistry as well as what interests you the least. (250 words)
• Do you have relatives who are dentists or are in dental school? If so, indicate the name of each relative, his/her relationship to you, the school attended, and the dates attended.(250 words)

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

How do you envision your participation in the Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER) furthering your interests in energy science and technology? Please include any past experiences (ex. academic, research, or extracurricular) that have led to your interest in the program. Additionally, please indicate why you are interested in pursuing dual degrees in science and engineering and which VIPER majors are most interesting to you at this time. (400-650 words)

How important are the UPenn supplemental essays?

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

UPenn Supplemental Essays – Want Personalized Essay Assistance?

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

• Application Strategies
• College Essay

Andrew Belasco

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

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University of Pennsylvania | UPenn

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Want to see your chances of admission at University of Pennsylvania | UPenn?

We take every aspect of your personal profile into consideration when calculating your admissions chances.

University of Pennsylvania | UPenn’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Gratitude short response.

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!)

Diversity Short Response

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.

College of Arts and Sciences Short Response

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?

Penn Engineering Short Response

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.

Penn Nursing Short Response

Penn Nursing intends to meet the health needs of society in a global and multicultural world by preparing its students to impact healthcare by advancing science and promoting equity. What do you think this means for the future of nursing, and how do you see yourself contributing to our mission of promoting equity in healthcare?

Wharton Short Response

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.

Huntsman Program Essay

The Huntsman Program supports the development of globally-minded scholars who become engaged citizens, creative innovators, and ethical leaders in the public, private, and non-profit sectors in the United States and internationally. What draws you to a dual-degree in business and international studies, and how would you use what you learn to make a contribution to a global issue where business and international affairs intersect?

Digital Media Design Program Essay

Why are you interested in the Digital Media Design (DMD) program at the University of Pennsylvania?

Life Sciences and Management Program Essay

The LSM program aims to provide students with a fundamental understanding of the life sciences and their management with an eye to identifying, advancing and implementing innovations. What issues would you want to address using the understanding gained from such a program? Note that this essay should be distinct from your single degree essay.

Jerome Fisher Management and Technology Program Essay 1

Explain how you will use the M&T program to explore your interest in business, engineering, and the intersection of the two.

Jerome Fisher Management and Technology Program Essay 2

Describe a problem that you solved that showed leadership and creativity.

NETS Engineering Program Essay

Describe your interests in modern networked information systems and technologies, such as the Internet, and their impact on society, whether in terms of economics, communication, or the creation of beneficial content for society. Feel free to draw on examples from your own experiences as a user, developer, or student of technology.

Nursing and Healthcare Management Program Essay

Discuss your interest in nursing and health care management. How might Penn’s coordinated dual-degree program in nursing and business help you meet your goals?

VIPER Program Essay

How do you envision your participation in the Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER) furthering your interests in energy science and technology? Please include any past experiences (ex. academic, research, or extracurricular) that have led to your interest in the program. Additionally, please indicate why you are interested in pursuing dual degrees in science and engineering and which VIPER majors are most interesting to you at this time.

Bio-Dental Program Short Response 1

Please list pre-dental or pre-medical experience. This experience can include but is not limited to observation in a private practice, dental clinic, or hospital setting; dental assisting; dental laboratory work; dental or medical research, etc. Please include time allotted to each activity, dates of attendance, location, and description of your experience. If you do not have any pre-dental or pre-medical experience, please indicate what you have done or plan to do in order to explore dentistry as a career.

Bio-Dental Program Short Response 2

Do you have relatives who are dentists or are in dental school? If so, indicate the name of each relative, his/her relationship to you, the school attended, and the dates attended.

Bio-Dental Program Short Response 3

Describe any activities which demonstrate your ability to work with your hands.

Bio-Dental Program Short Response 4

What activities have you performed that demonstrate your ability to work cooperatively with people

Bio-Dental Program Short Response 5

Please explain your reasons for selecting a career in dentistry. Please include what interests you the most in dentistry as well as what interests you the least.

Common App Personal Essay

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you‘ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

How to Get Into University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) Guide

How to get into upenn—general information.

The University of Pennsylvania is a private Ivy League research university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1740 as the College of Philadelphia. The student body in the university at large is nearly 30,000, and the undergraduate population is just over 10,000.

What we’ll cover in this How to Get Into UPenn guide:

• UPenn average GPA scores
• Optimal UPenn SAT scores
• UPenn application deadline
• Details on the UPenn early decision acceptance rate
• Preparing for a UPenn interview
• UPenn supplemental essays, and more.

When thinking about how to get into UPenn, you should ensure each portion of your application is competitive—your GPA, UPenn SAT scores, UPenn supplemental essays, and more. This means preparing your application materials well before the UPenn application deadline. 

More broadly, you should prepare for the UPenn application deadline by ensuring your grades align with the UPenn average GPA. You should also strive for high UPenn SAT scores. This will improve your chances of admission, though we will also discuss how to apply to UPenn with grades lower than the UPenn average GPA. 

Figuring out how to get into UPenn takes strategy. We can help. CollegeAdvisor.com’s network of 300+ Admissions Experts (and former admissions officers) includes UPenn graduates. Want to maximize your UPenn admissions odds?  Create your free account or schedule a free advising consultation by calling (844) 343-6272. 

How hard is it to get into University of Pennsylvania?

When wondering how to get into UPenn, selectivity is a big question. UPenn is a highly competitive school, with an undergraduate acceptance rate of 5.9% for the class of 2025. The UPenn Early Decision acceptance rate for the class of 2025 was 14.9%. 

In short, UPenn is a highly selective school. So, there is no one answer to how to get into UPenn. It will be a “reach” school for any applicant, but with a solid application, you can be a strong contender. In this guide, we will break down how to get into UPenn with actionable goals you can complete well before the UPenn application deadline. 

What GPA for University of Pennsylvania?

In considering how to get into UPenn, be sure to review the UPenn average GPA. The UPenn average GPA is 3.9. This makes the school highly competitive, with a low UPenn Early Decision acceptance rate and regular decision acceptance rate as well. The UPenn admissions website says high school performance is “the single most important factor in the student selection process.” 

In order to meet the UPenn average GPA, select rigorous yet appropriate high school courses. For instance, if you have taken standard math courses throughout school, senior year may not be the time to insist on taking AP Calculus BC. However, excelling in challenging classes is the best way to show academic strength. It’s all about finding the right balance in your course schedule.  

Beyond grades

If you are a high school junior or senior wondering how to get into UPenn and realizing you can’t meet the UPenn average GPA by the UPenn application deadline, don’t worry. Remember that your grades are just one part of your application. Ultimately, your GPA shows UPenn admissions how you might handle their course load. If you can supplement a GPA lower than the UPenn average GPA with strong UPenn SAT scores, extracurriculars, and UPenn supplemental essays, you can still submit a strong application. To put your best foot forward, start strategizing before the UPenn application deadline.

What does the University of Pennsylvania application look like?

When trying to figure out how to get into UPenn as you look toward the UPenn application deadline, you’ll want to know exactly what is expected of you. This is especially true given the low UPenn Early Decision acceptance rate and lower RD acceptance rate.

You can access the UPenn application through the CommonApp or the Coalition Application. If you are a QuestBridge scholar, you can also apply to UPenn via the QuestBridge application. 

In addition to the Common App or Coalition Application , UPenn admissions also requires:

• UPenn supplemental essays
• Official high school transcript 
• School report
• Letters of recommendation (3)
• Early Decision agreement (if applicable)
• Mid-year report
• Final report (if matriculating)

Of all these requirements, the UPenn supplemental essays will most demand your attention. Make sure your school sends the rest of the forms listed above to UPenn admissions by the UPenn application deadline. 

UPenn requires two additional UPenn supplemental essays in addition to the Common App or Coalition Application essay. To learn more about how to approach the UPenn supplemental essays, read our article, “University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) Supplemental Essays Guide: 2021-2022.”

The UPenn undergraduate application also includes optional application materials, which we highly recommend submitting by the UPenn application deadline if they apply to you. These are:

• UPenn SAT scores or ACT scores
• UPenn interview
• Fine arts supplement 
• Additional letter of recommendation (1)
• Financial aid materials

UPenn waived its requirement of UPenn SAT scores or ACT scores for the 2021-22 application cycle in light of COVID-19. However, these policies may change. So, keep your eye on the UPenn SAT scores and ACT scores requirement. 

Test scores can help

Sending UPenn SAT scores or ACT scores is technically optional. However, when looking at how to get into UPenn, know that testing is a great way to boost your application. This is particularly true if your GPA is lower than the UPenn average GPA. Take the PSAT your sophomore year for a starting score. Then, study throughout your sophomore and junior year. This will give you time to test and retest if necessary to receive high UPenn SAT test scores before the UPenn application deadline.

For tips on testing, check out our article, “To Take or Not to Take: Standardized Tests in a Test-Optional Environment.”

In the same vein, we highly recommend taking advantage of the UPenn interview if you are offered one. This is a great chance to breathe life into your application and meet a UPenn alumnus. 

For the fine arts supplement and additional letter of recommendation, only submit these if they apply to you and will add to your application. If you have a strong art portfolio, share this with UPenn admissions. With regard to the extra letter of recommendation, the UPenn admissions site asks that you “only submit additional letters from people who know you personally and whose perspective would add information not captured elsewhere in your application.”

What extracurriculars does University of Pennsylvania like?

If you are trying to figure out how to get into UPenn, you are likely curious about extracurriculars. There is no formula when it comes to choosing extracurriculars. Instead, simply commit to extracurriculars you love, not extracurriculars you think UPenn will love. UPenn can tell the difference between extracurriculars that match your interests and extracurriculars you chose just to boost your resume. 

Do not try to become the student body president, debate team captain, and editor-in-chief of the school paper— unless all of those activities truly reflect your passions that come through in other parts of your application . Dedication to a few extracurriculars you love will show more character and discipline than a long list of extracurriculars not connected to your interests. The answer to how to get into UPenn lies in authenticity —reflecting your unique passions will set you apart. 

What is the acceptance rate for University of Pennsylvania?

If you are wondering how to get into UPenn, there is probably one statistic you care most about—the UPenn Early Decision acceptance rate and overall acceptance rate. The acceptance rate for UPenn undergraduate admissions is 5.9%, and the UPenn Early Decision acceptance rate was 14.9% for the class of 2025. Any acceptance rate under or around 10% makes a university highly selective. This means most accepted students have strong grades that match the UPenn average GPA.

When thinking about how to get into UPenn, you’ll have to choose whether to apply to UPenn Early Decision or regular decision. Do not be swayed by the UPenn Early Decision acceptance rate versus the overall acceptance rate. Instead, think about whether UPenn is truly your dream school. If you have been thinking of nothing but UPenn throughout your application process and would be happy to immediately accept their offer, then apply ED.

Want to learn more about acceptance rates? Check out our expert  guide .

On applying early

You should not apply ED to show demonstrated interest (DI). That is not the answer to how to get into UPenn. UPenn does not take DI into account, so there is no reason to apply ED if UPenn is not your top choice. 

Now, whether you are looking at the UPenn Early Decision acceptance rate or overall acceptance rate, you may be wondering—what does that number really mean in terms of how to get into UPenn? Simply put, the UPenn Early Decision acceptance rate and overall acceptance rate represent the number of students admitted out of the total number of applicants.

The UPenn Early Decision acceptance rate and overall acceptance rate can help show how selective UPenn is and where it fits on your college list in terms of “reach” versus “safety” schools. However, you shouldn’t focus on it too much. At the end of the day, there will always be unknown admissions factors. So, simply give it your best shot, and remember that your admissions decision does not reflect your worth.

Does University of Pennsylvania require interviews?

When wondering how to get into UPenn, the question of interviews often comes up. UPenn does not require interviews, nor do they offer them to all applicants, since UPenn interviews depend on alumni availability. However, the UPenn admissions site does say 90% of applicants are offered a UPenn interview, so you should prepare to interview for UPenn. 

UPenn also states, “If you receive an invitation for an alumni interview, we strongly encourage you to make time for the opportunity. If you have to decline the interview, please respond to your interviewer explaining why you can’t participate in the conversation.” In other words—do not turn down this opportunity unless you have a very strong reason to do so. 

We highly recommend you visit the UPenn admissions site to prepare for your UPenn interview. UPenn has a particularly thorough page that details what to expect and courteous common practice. 

General guidelines to keep in mind for your UPenn interview:

• Say yes! It is highly recommended to accept this invitation.
• Lean into the spontaneity. Do not research your UPenn interviewer or prepare a list of your accolades to recite. Let a natural conversation about your passions and personal story arise. 
• Dress appropriately. The UPenn admissions site suggests dressing as you would for a school presentation or picture. Ultimately, you should be comfortable. This will help you just focus on the conversation between you and your UPenn interviewer.
• Review the list of possible questions your UPenn interviewer may ask on the UPenn website.
• Prepare your own list of questions for the UPenn interviewer, and consider including the questions provided on the UPenn website.
• Write a quick thank-you note post-interview. 
• Review the “Penn Alumni Interview Program Principles of Good Practice” page, as well as the “Advice on College Interviews from Penn Admissions” video.
• Have fun! This is your chance to let your personality shine through and add dimension to your application. 

Tips to write the University of Pennsylvania essays?

Another crucial part of how to get into UPenn lies in the UPenn supplemental essays. This is your opportunity to let your voice shine through in your application. Though writing two UPenn supplemental essays may seem like a tall task, we have broken it down for you into manageable action points.

Check out CollegeAdvisor’s “University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) Supplemental Essays Guide: 2021-2022” for more details.

How does University of Pennsylvania review applications? 

When considering how to get into UPenn, you might wonder about the application review process. Luckily, UPenn sheds light on the process in the Penn Admissions YouTube video, “Advice on Navigating the College Admissions Process.” Here, UPenn details each aspect of the “comprehensive whole person review” they conduct for each applicant. UPenn admissions breaks down this review into four categories:

• Activities 
• Essays 
• Interviews 

This UPenn Admissions video goes further into what UPenn looks for within each of these categories. Academics is UPenn’s first priority, so pay attention to the UPenn average GPA and strongly consider submitting UPenn SAT scores. Be sure to review this admissions resource page when preparing your materials before the UPenn application deadline. 

Will University of Pennsylvania look at my social media? 

When researching how to get into UPenn, many applicants worry about their social media presence. But not to worry— UPenn will not be scoping out your social media , according to Dean of Admissions Eric Furda. With tens of thousands of applications received each year, it is simply not possible. So, no need to delete your accounts or change your usernames when trying to figure out how to get into UPenn. UPenn will only review the application materials you send in. 

Is University of Pennsylvania a good school for me?

This is a very important question and one that should precede the question of how to get into UPenn. Often, applicants get wrapped up in wondering if admissions will decide they are right for a school without stopping to consider whether that school is right for them.

How to determine whether UPenn is right for you:

• Visit the UPenn “About” page, and schedule a campus tour or take a virtual one. This will help you determine whether your values align with UPenn and whether you can see yourself attending. Do you like the location? The class sizes? The focus on social-minded action, innovation, and research?
• Research UPenn’s programs and majors to see if they match your interests. This will help you to concretely answer, “Why UPenn?” You will also need to answer this question in your UPenn supplemental essays and your UPenn interview. 
• Look to see if UPenn offers any programs, clubs, or activities outside of your comfort zone that you can see yourself trying for the first time. This is a great way to grow as a learner. It will also help you write your UPenn supplemental essays. 

Regular or Early Decision?

If it turns out that UPenn is a good school for you, the next question to consider is whether to apply ED or RD. If UPenn is your absolute first choice and you do not want to even consider attending another school, then apply ED. But, if you are curious about other universities and are not ready to commit solely to UPenn, that’s okay, too! Apply RD. UPenn does not consider demonstrated interest in its application review process, so you won’t be penalized for applying RD. Your admissions odds also won’t necessarily improve if you apply ED.

Additional tips to get into University of Pennsylvania:

Begin building a strong academic portfolio at the start of your high school career. Then, start preparing your UPenn SAT scores or ACT scores by your junior year. Finally, collect your application materials the summer before your application is due, well before the UPenn application deadline.

Constructive a narrative

What story does your application tell? Make sure this story runs through your application. If you are an artist with a passion for social change, highlight the classes, extracurriculars, and personal stories that reflect these interests. Make it easy for UPenn admissions to picture who you are and how you might fit into UPenn student life.

Ask for help

Have someone you trust review your materials well before the UPenn application deadline. Ask them to look at your application well before the UPenn application deadline so they can catch any last-minute errors.

Though applying to a competitive school like UPenn can seem overwhelming, remember that at the end of the day you are taking a step toward constructing your future. Don’t be daunted by statistics like the UPenn Early Decision acceptance rate, overall acceptance rate, or UPenn average GPA. Those numbers are just one part of a complex application review process. Instead, just remember to make the most of it and have fun. Good luck!

This guide was written by Saphia Suarez. If you want to know how to get into UPenn, we’ve got you covered. CollegeAdvisor.com’s network of 300+ Admissions Experts (and former admissions officers) includes UPenn graduates. Create your free account or schedule a free advising consultation by calling (844) 343-6272.

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University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) 2023-24 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Early Decision: Nov 1

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 5

You Have: 

University of Pennsylvania 2023-24 Application Essay Question Explanations 

The Requirements: 3 essays of 150-200 words

Supplemental Essay Type(s):  Community , Why

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)

Gratitude is quickly becoming a practice we are encouraged to connect to and reflect on regularly, hence the popularity of gratitude journals and exercises. (Brainstorming method alert!) It’s not a surprise, therefore, that the admissions department at UPenn wants to learn about what you value and how you express gratitude. Think about times when you have felt acknowledged, heard, and seen; moments when you have felt that swelling in your chest, as your heart grows three sizes. Who would you like to thank and why? What impact did they have on your life? How did their actions affect the way you think or approach new ventures? Remember that this essay or “note” needs to reveal information about how you process, appreciate, and/or draw inspiration from the action of others. Ultimately, admissions wants to know more about how you relate to others in the world and how you repurpose good intentions. Bonus points if you share your “thank you” note with the associated party after hitting submit!

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)

Admissions wants to know how you will participate in the Penn campus community, so start by thinking about what you’d like to do when you’re not cramming for exams or soaking up your professors’ sage wisdom (a little website research could come in handy here). If that hypothetical exercise is not producing quality ideas, think about the here and now. Where can you be found when your homework is done? How do you spend your weekends? Think of an activity or topic that gets you interacting and connecting with other like-minded peers. Once you have something in mind, explore Penn’s website to see if they have a similar group or community that you’d like to join. Admissions wants to know what your area of influence will look like at UPenn: an on-campus job, a unique hobby, or maybe an organization to which you contribute innovative ideas and exquisite cake decorating skills (bake sale, anyone?). Finally, remember to address how UPenn will shape your perspective and vice versa. Will the Black Wharton Undergraduate Association help you to explore your entrepreneurial interests? Will your plethora of non-profit internship and volunteering experiences make you a fantastic addition to and a natural leader in the Social Impact Consulting Group? Whatever you write about, make sure your response to this prompt shows that you have put some serious thought into what your life will look like at UPenn.

If Applying to Wharton:

Wharton prepares its students to make an impact by applying business methods and economic theory to real-world problems, including economic, political, and social issues. please reflect on a current issue of importance to you and share how you hope a wharton education would help you to explore it. (150-200 words)  , to help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about the foundations of a wharton education here . this information will help you better understand what you could learn by studying at wharton and what you could do afterward.* , if applying to arts and sciences:, the flexible structure of the college of arts and sciences’ curriculum is designed to inspire exploration, foster connections, and help you create a path of study through general education courses and a major. what are you curious about and how would you take advantage of opportunities in the arts and sciences (150-200 words) , to help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about academic offerings within the college of arts and sciences at college.upenn.edu/prospective. this information will help you develop a stronger understanding of how the study of the liberal arts aligns with your own goals and aspirations.*, if applying to engineering: , 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) , to help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about penn engineering and its mission to prepare students for global leadership in technology here. this information will help you develop a stronger understanding of academic pathways within penn engineering and how they align with your goals and interests.*, if applying to nursing:, penn nursing intends to meet the health needs of society in a global and multicultural world by preparing its students to impact healthcare by advancing science and promoting equity. what do you think this means for the future of nursing, and how do you see yourself contributing to our mission of promoting equity in healthcare (150-200 words)   , to help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about penn nursing’s mission and how we promote equity in healthcare here.  this information will help you develop a stronger understanding of our values and how they align with your own goals and aspirations. *.

With each of these prompts, admissions is hoping to gain insight into your goals and ambitions. Whether you’re hoping to combat societal issues through business, explore your curiosity through The College of Arts and Sciences’ curriculum, become a leader in tech, or promote equity in healthcare, your response should reveal new information about your passions, motivations, and vision for the future. Since you only have 150-200 words to work with here, you won’t be able to walk admissions through your journey to the college of your choice, but you can offer insight into the kind of work you’d like to do and the impact you’d like to have post-graduation. Just keep in mind that the best responses will cite specific resources at Penn in order to show that it is Penn, specifically, that will be instrumental to your future success.

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How to Get Into UPenn: Admission Requirements & Tips

Reviewed by:

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 4/24/24

Are you thinking of attending the University of Pennsylvania? Here’s everything you need to know about getting into UPenn, including admission requirements, interview tips, and what UPenn is looking for.

Established by founding father Benjamin Franklin, the University of Pennsylvania has stood for over 250 years and is still influenced by Franklin to this day; he once noted, “well-done is better than well-said,” and Penn is still proud of its tradition of “translating knowledge into social-minded action” today.   

This article will explore the application processes, deadlines, and UPenn requirements and provide tips on ensuring your application stands out.

UPenn Acceptance Rate: 6.5% 

UPenn maintains an overall acceptance rate of 6.5%. Though the precise admission rate for the most recent application cycle is undisclosed, historical data suggests it hovers around this mark. Like any other Ivy League school , you will need to work hard to get into this school.

Here’s a breakdown of its acceptance rate data from the last few years:

While UPenn offers Early Decision (ED) applications, they combine ED and regular decision admission data together to get these numbers. 

How Hard Is It to Get Into UPenn? 

With the University of Pennsylvania's 5.8% admission rate for the 2027 class, gaining acceptance to this prestigious Ivy League institution is no easy feat. 

Take our interactive quiz below to find out how likely you are to get into UPenn .

University of Pennsylvania Admissions Statistics

Here are some statistics on recently admitted UPenn students. 

UPenn Average GPA: 3.9

The students admitted to UPenn’s class of 2027 had an average GPA of 3.9. However, their minimum GPA requirement is only a 2.0 and this school considered circumstances when evaluating grades.

UPenn Average SAT Score: 1510-1560

While the SAT/ACT is optional at UPenn, the middle 50 percent range of overall SAT scores achieved by the 2027 UPenn class was between 1510-1560. Aim for a 1560 to be considered the most competitive. 

UPenn Average ACT Score: 34-35

The middle 50 percent range of ACT Composite scores achieved by the 2023-2024 applicants was between 34-35. We suggest you set 35 as your target to maximize your chances of acceptance. 

What Is UPenn Looking For In Applicants?

UPenn seeks students who are eager to cultivate their talents and academic prowess. They consider students’ academic profiles heavily, evaluating their coursework, GPA, test scores (if submitted), and essays. Additionally, they expect letters of recommendation to attest to applicants' excellence.

Here’s exactly how UPenn evaluates applications:

UPenn Admissions Requirements 

To boost your admission chances at UPenn, target an SAT score of 1560 or ACT score of 35. The most competitive applicants also have GPAs exceeding 3.9 with a rigorous academic record with AP or IB courses. 90% of admitted students rank in the top 10% of their high school class, so academic excellence is key!

UPenn’s complete admissions requirements include: 

• Common Application or Coalition Application
• Letters of recommendation  (1 counselor, 1 teacher, 1 other)
• Supplemental essays 
• Personal statement 
• Transcripts
• School Reports (Mid-year, final)
• Supplementary materials (Portfolio or additional LoRs if necessary)
• $75 application fee (or fee waiver request) 
• Meet the testing requirements (Including SAT or ACT and Language tests if necessary)

Certain programs at UPenn may require additional materials. Refer to the UPenn website for further clarification.

University of Pennsylvania Application Deadlines

Keep these dates in mind to stay on track with your UPenn application:

UPenn Regular Decision Deadline

UPenn’s regular decision applications open on August 1st, 2023, and are due January 5th, 2024. Students can expect to receive an admissions decision by April 2024 and are expected to enroll by May 1st, 2024. 

UPenn Early Decision Deadline 

UPenn offers a binding early decision application to interested students. This application opens on August 1st, 2023, and closes on November 1st, 2023. Admission decision notifications are sent out around mid December of 2023 and students are expected to confirm their enrollment by January 5th, 2024.

How to Improve Your Chances of Getting into UPenn

1. Volunteering/Community Service

Penn’s admissions committee states that their ideal candidates “are inspired to emulate our founder Benjamin Franklin by applying their knowledge in ‘service to society’ to our community, the city of Philadelphia , and the wider world.” 

What really matters is that a “student’s contribution or service is authentic and meaningful to them and to others, whether that contribution is writing regular notes to frontline workers or checking in with neighbors who are isolated.” 

2. Pursue Valuable Extracurriculars

While Penn views your academics as a crucial part of your application, Penn is also interested in what you do outside of school. The admissions committee is interested in your experiences within educational, occupational, or community settings. 

In the UPenn extracurricular activities section of your application, make sure that you include the specifics; Penn wants to know your exact responsibilities and involvement in each extracurricular , the impact you have made, and how much time you dedicate to each activity. Include all summer activities , school clubs, and non-academic pursuits. 

Crucially, Penn “does not weight or rank activities and does not prefer one type over another” and advises that you should “pursue activities that are meaningful to you.” 

3. Secure Strong Letters of Recommendation 

 Letters of recommendation give UPenn a more personal view of you as a student. They offer perspectives that can’t be learned through grades and scores. As such, your teacher recommendation should be from someone who taught you recently in major academic subjects. 

Rather than just choosing a teacher from a course you did well in, choose one who knows you well and can speak to your engagement in the classroom. 

Similarly, your other recommendation can be academic or non-academic, but it must be from someone who knows you personally and whose perspective would add information not captured elsewhere in your application.

4. Trust the Experts

If you're still uncertain about how to ensure your application leaves a lasting impression on the admissions committee, it's worth considering the expertise of our UPenn admissions counselors.

They possess invaluable insider knowledge about the committee's expectations and can help you demonstrate that you're the ideal candidate !

UPenn Essay Prompts

You will need to submit two Penn-specific essays and a personal statement. These essays are used by the admissions committee to gain an insight into “how you think, what you value, and how you see the world.”

The PS is the 650-word Common Application Essay that is specifically designed to allow you to show the aspects of yourself that your grades can’t - your personality, character traits, and experiences. As such, the prompts that you can choose between for this essay are purposefully vague.

UPenn’s essay prompts are different depending on which department you are applying to. All Penn applicants have to answer the following prompts on the UPenn website:

1. Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge. (We encourage you to share this note with that person, if possible, and reflect on the experience!) (150-200 words, only required for first year applicants)

2. How will you explore the 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)

3. 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)

UPenn Interview

Part of learning how to get into the University of Pennsylvania is understanding the importance of your interview. 

If you are offered a UPenn interview , you will likely be contacted by email, although some alumni interviewers may contact you via the phone number you included in your application. Make sure that you give a good first impression and respond promptly to any messages.  

UPenn typically offers an interview to more than 90% of its applicants . Your UPenn interview is an important opportunity for Penn to get to know you and your personality and for you to learn about the school. 

In terms of the contact timeline, early decision applicants will be contacted from mid-October to the end of November. Regular decision applicants will be contacted from December to February.

FAQs: Getting Into the University of Pennsylvania 

For any remaining concerns, here are the answers to frequently asked questions about UPenn. 

1. What GPA is Needed to Get Into UPenn?

Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 to be considered for admission at UPenn. However, competitive applicants typically have 3.9-4.0 GPAs and are at the top of their high school class.

2. Are SAT/ACT Scores Required at UPenn?

UPenn remains test optional for the foreseeable future. However, test scores are still considered an excellent way to evaluate students’ academic potential. Recently admitted students had SAT scores between 1510-1560 and ACT scores between 34-35. 

3. Does UPenn Interview All of Its Applicants?

UPenn interviews about 90% of its applicants. This interview is used to get to know applicants better and form real connections with them. If you receive an interview invitation, you’re highly recommended to accept it to leave a lasting impression on the admissions committee.

4. Does UPenn Use Superscore for Admissions Test?

Yes, UPenn does use superscoring for admissions tests. For the SAT, they combine the highest Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing scores with the highest Math score across multiple tests to calculate a superscore. 

Similarly, for the ACT, UPenn considers the highest individual English, Math, Reading, and Science scores across multiple tests to calculate a superscore composite.

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Getting into UPenn, one of the most prestigious universities in the country, can be challenging. To strengthen your application, consider speaking to an experienced UPenn admissions advisor . 

By obtaining solid test scores and pursuing meaningful extracurricular activities, you will be putting yourself in the best position possible to succeed. Go above and beyond the UPenn requirements for admission. If you can, try to engage in impactful work within your community, as this is a crucial part of Penn’s mission and culture. 

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• 17 May 2024

Reading between the lines: application essays predict university success

Analysis of more than 40,000 university application essays found that gradual transitions between chunks of text correlated with higher marks. Credit: Dusan Stankovic/Getty

Aspiring students who wrote content-rich university admission essays were more likely to end up with higher grades in their classes 1 .

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Does ChatGPT Plagiarize? Examining the Chatbot's Sources

ChatGPT is notorious for its training methods, but does that mean it actually copies work?

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What exactly is plagiarism, and how do llms work, does chatgpt plagiarize essays, does chatgpt plagiarize code, does chatgpt plagiarize mathematical solutions, does chatgpt use content from blogs, should you use chatgpt for work or school, key takeaways.

• The plagiarism detected in an essay and a programming code generated by ChatGPT was relatively low, indicating that it doesn't typically copy such content from online sources.
• The plagiarism rate was a bit higher when calculating a mathematical solution. This might be because mathematical reasoning is usually similar across sources, so the responses can match other materials.
• ChatGPT's responses to questions about information publicly available on blogs showed higher plagiarism percentages.

While ChatGPT can answer any question you may have, some users wonder whether its responses contain plagiarism. To investigate this, we generated four different types of texts using ChatGPT and then evaluated their originality using various plagiarism detection tools.

To determine if ChatGPT is guilty of plagiarism, you should first understand what constitutes plagiarism. Plagiarism involves using another person's words, ideas, or work without proper attribution. This includes directly copying text from a source without citation or closely paraphrasing someone else's ideas without acknowledgment.

ChatGPT, like other Large Language Models (LLMs) , is trained on large datasets, mostly from publicly available content. However, collecting such vast amounts of data raises ethical questions, as the original creators haven't consented to their work being used in training the LLMs. This leads to debates about the ethics and legality of such practices.

Although ChatGPT generates responses based on the prompts it receives, the issue lies in the broader context of how OpenAI (ChatGPT's developer) obtained the data used to train it, which involves using content without proper consent. Many see this as plagiarism and, for many websites, content theft. However, pinpointing the exact sources of plagiarism is difficult.

For the remainder of this article, we'll concentrate on whether ChatGPT plagiarizes its output from other sources without delving into the specifics of where its responses come from. Let's check the originality of ChatGPT's responses using various plagiarism detection tools to see whether the chatbot uses text from online sources directly.

In this first example, we tasked ChatGPT with composing a 300-word essay on mental health issues.

Following that, we used various plagiarism detection tools to assess the originality of the essay generated by the chatbot. These tools included the Quetext plagiarism checker, Microsoft Word's built-in plagiarism checker, Grammarly's plagiarism checker, and the Duplichecker plagiarism scanner.

Microsoft's built-in similarity checker reported zero percent similarity with online sources. The levels of plagiarism detected by other tools were also minimal: Grammarly's plagiarism detector found four percent, QueText's plagiarism detector found five percent, and Duplichecker's plagiarism scanner showed zero percent.

Considering the small percentage of detected plagiarism, it appears that ChatGPT does not directly copy essays from existing sources.

To assess whether ChatGPT plagiarizes code, we tasked the chatbot with writing code for a calculator in Python.

Following this, we conducted a plagiarism check on the code using a specialized programming plagiarism checker called Dolos , which detected zero percent similarity. Also, when we checked the code using general text plagiarism detection tools mentioned above, the results were consistent, with almost none of the programs detecting more than four percent plagiarism.

When we prompted ChatGPT to generate a code for a calculator from different accounts, the responses appeared different. This observation and the results from the plagiarism checks indicate that ChatGPT doesn't simply replicate codes from online sources. Instead, it draws upon the dataset it was trained on to generate code independently.

During the third test, we tasked the chatbot to solve a mathematical problem and provide detailed reasoning for each step.

To check the originality of the response, we tested its output using several academic-specific plagiarism detection tools , including PapersOwl plagiarism checker, AI-powered Trinka plagiarism scanner, as well as general plagiarism checker tools such as Grammarly, Duplichecker, and QueText.

PapersOwl's plagiarism detector indicated a nearly 46 percent similarity between the chatbot's generated reasoning and online sources. Similarly, the Trinka plagiarism detector reported more than 10 percent similarity. Additionally, Grammarly's plagiarism detector detected 14 percent similarity, QueText found 17 percent, and Duplichecker showed seven percent.

The detection of high plagiarism in the generated response doesn't suggest that the chatbot directly copies reasoning for mathematical questions from online sources. This is mainly because solutions and reasoning for math problems are often standard and widely available online.

So, even though ChatGPT comes up with its own responses, finding the same answers and reasoning online is possible, which might have added to the high plagiarism percentages.

To check whether ChatGPT uses content from online blogs, we asked the chatbot to provide tips for maintaining laptop battery health.

Microsoft Word detected 10 percent plagiarism in the generated text. Duplichecker showed four percent, Grammarly's plagiarism checker indicated 14 percent, but Quetext found 58 percent plagiarism in the text. Upon digging further, some of the text in the chatbot's response matched the content on some blogs.

To double-check if the high plagiarism detection wasn't just coincidental, I asked the chatbot a few more questions about information that is easily available online. The plagiarism percentage in the generated responses was much higher. Based on our testing, it appears that the chatbot sometimes uses phrases and text from online sources, which is quite surprising.

Although many free online plagiarism checkers haven't detected major plagiarism in ChatGPT's responses, you shouldn't use it for academic or professional purposes.

Don't use ChatGPT for your school assignments if you're a student . Instructors can use tools such as GPTZero and Turnitin's AI writing detector to spot AI-generated content. If your work gets flagged as AI-generated by such tools, you could fail the assignment or even be expelled from school. Even though many GPT-detection tools specifically state that they shouldn't be used for this purpose, they are, and it could land you in trouble. Not to mention, you're really only cheating yourself by not studying the topic properly.

Can you use the chatbot to improve your work performance ? It depends. If you want to improve your writing flow in emails or other text forms, using AI can save you time and effort. However, you should only use it as a tool to assist you in your tasks rather than relying on it to do the entire job for you.

In contrast, if your job, like professional writing, prohibits using such tools, you should avoid using ChatGPT or any other tool altogether.

Hopefully, our testing has given you insight into the extent to which ChatGPT may draw from resources available on the web. However, it's important to note that we've used free plagiarism tools and tested only a limited dataset. So, while our findings might be helpful, they shouldn't be taken as absolute facts.

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Doctors Need a Better Way to Treat Patients Without Their Consent

By Sandeep Jauhar

Dr. Jauhar is a cardiologist in New York who writes frequently about medical care and public health.

Not long ago, I took care of a middle-aged man at my hospital who had severe heart failure requiring life support. When he was disconnected from machines after a few days of treatment, he began to display psychotic symptoms, including delusional thinking, tangential speech and paranoia. He had a long history of untreated schizophrenia, I learned, which had estranged him from family members and friends, with whom he had virtually no contact.

My patient demanded to leave the hospital. However, sending him home was going to be a problem. He could not take care of himself. There was little chance he would take his medications, including a blood thinner to dissolve a clot in his heart before it caused a stroke. He was even less likely to take psychiatric drugs that he did not believe he needed.

My colleagues and I didn’t know what to do, so we called the treating psychiatrist. The psychiatrist immediately declared that our patient lacked the capacity to discharge himself from the hospital. The patient could not grasp the implications of this choice, for instance, or properly weigh its risks and benefits. The psychiatrist said the patient should remain in the hospital to receive psychiatric treatment, even against his will.

The psychiatrist’s opinion made sense to me. Patients with untreated schizophrenia have a higher rate of death than those who undergo treatment. Hopefully treatment would restore my patient’s judgment to the point where he would take his medications when he went home — or even decide not to take them, but to make that risky decision in the full appreciation of the likely consequences. (If autonomy means anything, it means that patients have the right to make bad decisions, too.) Treating him, even over his objections, seemed to be in his best interests.

However, according to New York law — and the law of other states — such involuntary treatment would require a court order. As doctors, we would have to plead our case before a judge. But was a judge without medical or psychiatric expertise the best person to decide this man’s fate?

In this case and also more generally, I think the answer is no. The law ought to be changed to keep such decisions in hospitals — in the hands of doctors, medical ethicists and other relevant experts.

Doctors don’t always have to resort to the courts to treat patients without their consent. There are some notable exceptions, such as during a life-threatening emergency (if a competent patient has not previously refused such treatment) or when there is a pressing societal interest (such as requiring patients with communicable tuberculosis to take antibiotics).

But judicial review has been the cornerstone of “treatment over objection,” as it’s known, for the past four decades or so. Appellate courts in the 1980s ruled that judicial hearings in such cases are needed to safeguard patients’ rights. For example, in 1983, in Rogers v. Commissioner of Department of Mental Health, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court declared that a judge could override medical judgments favoring involuntary psychiatric treatment.

The underlying motivation behind judicial review was and remains laudable: to avoid the sort of paternalistic abuses that have characterized too much of medical history. Doctors often used to withhold bad news from patients, to cite just a small example. Involuntary treatment, even with benevolent intentions, reeks of such paternalism.

But though medical practice is by no means perfect, times have changed. The sort of abuse dramatized in the 1975 movie “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” with its harrowing depiction of forced electroconvulsive therapy, is far less common. Doctors today are trained in shared decision-making. Safeguards are now in place to prevent such maltreatment, including multidisciplinary teams in which nurses, social workers and bioethicists have a voice.

In addition to being less necessary to prevent abuse than they once were, courts are by nature poorly suited for making decisions about treatment over objection. For one thing, they are slow: Having to go to court often results in delays, sometimes up to a week or more, which can harm patients who need care urgently.

Moreover, judges have neither the experience nor the expertise to properly evaluate psychological states, assess decision-making capacity or determine whether a proposed treatment’s benefits outweigh its risks. It is no surprise that by some estimates 95 percent or more of requests for treatment over objection are approved by judges, who invariably haven’t met the patient and must rely on information provided by the treating medical team.

A better system for determining whether a patient should be treated over his or her objection would be a hospital hearing in which a committee of doctors, ethicists and other relevant experts — all of whom would be independent of the hospital and not involved in the care of the patient — engaged in conversation with the medical team and the patient and patient’s family. Having hearings on site would expedite decisions and minimize treatment delays. The committee would make the final decision.

Of course, such a committee would have to be granted immunity from legal liability (as with judges in our current system), so that experts would be willing to serve and speak candidly. Patients’ interests could be safeguarded by requiring the committee to publish its reasoning. Periodic audits by a regulatory body could ensure that the committee’s deliberations were meeting medical and ethical standards.

In the event that the committee could not reach a consensus on the best course of action (or if there were allegations of wrongdoing), then the parties involved could appeal to a judge. But that would be the exception rather than the rule.

In the case of my patient with heart failure, the decision ultimately didn’t have to go before a judge. Multiple discussions involving the patient, the hospital ethics and palliative care teams, social workers, nurses, psychiatrists and other doctors — discussions that in many respects served the function of a formal committee of the sort I’m proposing — yielded an agreement with the patient that his interests would be best served by sending him home with hospice care.

Capacity must be judged relative to the decision being made, and it became clear over the course of hospitalization that our patient understood the terminal nature of his condition and had the capacity to choose hospice care. Forced treatment was unlikely to significantly improve his psychiatric symptoms before the natural progression of heart failure caused his death.

So he was discharged home. It was the best decision under the circumstances, one reached by expert deliberation, not legal procedure. He passed away a few weeks later without, fortunately, ever setting foot in court.

Sandeep Jauhar ( @sjauhar ) is a doctor at Northwell Health in New York and the author, most recently, of “ My Father’s Brain : Life in the Shadow of Alzheimer’s.”

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