How to Answer the 2025-26 UPenn Supplemental Essay Prompts

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 asks 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

Prompt #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)

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?

Prompt #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)

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?

Related: How to write a “Why This College” essay (With example!)

Prompt #3  – Undergraduate School-Specific Short Answer Prompts

For these essays, make sure that you do your research on the specific school and their mission. You do not want to just repeat what is already on your transcript, resume, or application. This is a place that you need to 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.

You will want to talk about your goals and aspirations academically and intellectually in college. Be sure to connect to things that are specific to UPenn, such as certain 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. 

Here are some questions you could ask yourself when answering the specific undergraduate school-specific prompts: 

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

Here are the various schools within the University of Pennsylvania:

School of Nursing

“Penn Nursing intends to meet the health needs of society in a global and multicultural world by preparing its students to impact healthcare by advancing science. Why have you decided to apply to Nursing? Where do you see yourself professionally in the future and how will you contribute to our mission of promoting equity in healthcare? (150-200 words)”

Before you start writing, learn all about Penn’s School of Nursing as you connect what is offered to how you can make the world a better place as a nurse. This essay is a great opportunity to bring up any past experiences you may have that involve medicine, such as volunteering at a local hospital or shadowing a nurse. You’ll also want to talk about what drew you to nursing and how your past experiences influenced you to pursue an education in nursing. 

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)” 

The academic offerings within the College of Arts and Sciences are amazing and vast. Spend time getting familiar with the offerings and how you will make the most of opportunities if accepted to the UPenn College of Arts and Sciences. Then try and talk about specific goals and aspirations you have and how UPenn’s College of Arts and Sciences will help you achieve these goals.

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)”

Learn everything you can about the foundations of a Wharton education so you can share how you will make the most of a renowned Wharton School education. Then take the time to research current issues in order to give a well-informed answer to this question. 

The School of Engineering and Applied Science

“Penn Engineering prepares its students to become leaders in technology by combining a strong foundation in the natural sciences and mathematics with depth of study in focused disciplinary majors. Please share how you plan to pursue your engineering interests at Penn. (150-200 words)”

Before you start writing, learn all about Penn Engineering and its mission and how you can make the most of the resources offered. Also, think about what you hope to accomplish with your degree and be sure to articulate that in your essay!

See Also: How to write an essay about yourself

Specialized and dual degree program prompts

UPenn offers 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

Digital Media Design Program

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

The Digital Media Design (DMD) program is an interdisciplinary major in the School of Engineering and Applied Science at Penn. In order to write this essay, you’ll need to do your research. Take a look at some of the past students who took this program. Perhaps their work or careers are inspiring to you. This essay is also a great opportunity to bring up why you’d like to study animation and when your passion for digital media design started.

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 around the world. What draws you to a dual-degree in international studies and business, and how would you use what you learn to address a global issue where these two domains intersect? (400-600 words)”

The Huntsman Program in International Studies & Business is a dual degree offered by Penn that combines studying a foreign language with learning about global business. When applying to this program, you’ll need to identify a target language to focus on during your studies, which is typically one students already have advanced language proficiency in. Make sure to research the program, so you can properly articulate why it would be an asset for your future goals. 

The Roy and Diana Vagelos Program in Life Sciences & Management

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

Your response should go beyond how LSM might advance your career and instead focus on the ideas, values, or issues that animate your interest in the program. Please ensure that this essay is distinct from the response addressing your alternate school choice. (400–650 words)”

Before you start writing, make sure to head over to the LSM program’s website, so you can touch on the ideas, values or issues that interest you. Think about what problems you would like to solve and why these solutions matter. If you have any past experience in research, you can mention how you would like to continue researching this subject. Overall, it’s a good idea to brainstorm specific topics you’re interested in researching to show your passion and excitement about the program. 

The Jerome Fisher Program in Management & 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)”

The Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology is a dual degree program offered jointly by Penn Engineering and The Wharton School. Your first essay is a great opportunity to show what you know about the program and why it is a great fit for your goals and ambitions. 

“Describe a problem that you solved that showed leadership and creativity. (250 words maximum)”

This second question is more specific, so take the time to think about past experiences. Try and connect these past experiences to your future goals mentioned in your first essay. 

Nursing and Health Care 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)”

Nursing and Health Care Management is a dual degree program between The Wharton School and Penn Nursing. Start your essay writing process by looking into the program. Once you know more about nursing management at Penn, you’ll be able to write about why it’s the perfect place for you to learn and ultimately reach your career goals.

The Roy and Diana Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research

“If you were to join the Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER), which science major and which engineering major are most interesting to you at this time? (200 words maximum)”

The Roy and Diana Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research is a dual degree offered by the School of Arts and Sciences and Penn Engineering. This first question asks you to look into the majors offered at each of these schools and explain why you’re leaning towards certain ones.  

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

This second essay gives you more of an opportunity to share any past experiences you have in science and engineering, and connect that with your future education and career goals. If you’ve had formative experiences in school, an extracurricular activity, or even at a job or internship, this is the place to tell your story!

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 writing, 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.

Here are some questions you could ask yourself: 

• 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?

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)

Frequently asked questions about the UPenn supplemental essays