UPenn Supplemental Essays Guide (2025–2026)
(In-depth, prompt by prompt)
UPenn is obsessed with intentionality.
They want students who know why they do things, not just what they do.
Across almost every prompt, Penn is asking:
How do you reflect?
How do you engage?
How do you use opportunity?
PROMPT 1: THE THANK-YOU NOTE (150–200 words)
Prompt:
Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked.
This is not a quirky prompt. It is a reflection test.
Penn is looking for:
• emotional maturity
• gratitude without dramatics
• the ability to reflect on influence
Who should you choose?
Pick someone who:
• shaped how you think or act
• helped you grow quietly
• influenced your values
This does not need to be:
• the most impressive person
• someone with a fancy title
• someone connected to Penn
Examples of strong choices:
• a sibling who changed how you lead
• a coach who taught you how to fail
• a coworker who modeled responsibility
• a neighbor who challenged your assumptions
How to structure it
A clean structure that works well:
Address them directly
Thank them for something specific
Reflect on what that taught you
Connect it to who you are now
Example angle
Instead of:
Thank you for always believing in me.
Try:
Thank you for trusting me with responsibility before I felt ready for it. That trust forced me to rise instead of retreat.
Keep the tone natural. It should sound like something you would actually send.
PROMPT 2: COMMUNITY AT PENN (150–200 words)
Prompt:
How will you explore community at Penn?
This is a two-way essay.
Penn wants to see:
• how you engage with others
• how you learn from difference
• how you contribute, not just join
What Penn means by community
Community at Penn includes:
• dorms and residential houses
• classrooms and discussions
• research groups
• service and civic spaces
• interdisciplinary collaboration
This is not a clubs list.
What strong essays do
They usually:
• start with how you’ve engaged in community before
• show a pattern in how you show up
• connect that pattern to Penn spaces
Example angle
A student who facilitated dialogue in student government might connect that to:
• Penn’s emphasis on discussion-based classes
• residential conversations
• bridging different perspectives on campus
The key is showing how you behave in shared spaces.
SCHOOL-SPECIFIC ESSAYS (150–200 words)
These are about direction, not certainty.
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
Prompt:
What are you curious about and how would you take advantage of the arts and sciences?
This essay should show:
• intellectual curiosity
• willingness to explore
• connections across disciplines
What works
Talking about:
• questions you keep returning to
• how different fields intersect
• learning driven by curiosity
Example:
A student interested in ethics and data science might discuss how philosophy shapes how they approach technology.
Avoid sounding like you already have everything planned.
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
Prompt:
How do you plan to pursue your engineering interests at Penn?
Penn Engineering wants:
• problem-solvers
• collaborators
• students who connect theory to application
Strong essays include
• how your interest developed
• what problems excite you
• why Penn’s engineering approach fits you
Mentioning your intended major helps, but reflection matters more than jargon.
SCHOOL OF NURSING
This essay should center:
• people
• equity
• impact
Strong essays often connect:
• lived experience with healthcare
• motivation rooted in empathy
• long-term commitment to care
Avoid making it sound like a med school personal statement.
WHARTON
Prompt:
Reflect on a current issue and how Wharton would help you explore it.
This is not a startup pitch.
Wharton wants students who:
• care about real problems
• understand complexity
• value ethical decision-making
Strong approach
Pick an issue you already engage with and explain:
• why it matters to you
• what you want to understand better
• how Wharton’s tools help you think more deeply
Example issues:
• access to financial education
• ethical supply chains
• economic inequality
PROGRAM-SPECIFIC ESSAYS (LONG FORM)
HUNTSMAN
Language essay:
Focus on relationship, not fluency.
Main essay:
Choose a global issue where business and international studies intersect, such as trade, development, or sustainability.
LSM (Life Sciences & Management)
This is an ideas essay.
Focus on:
• questions you want to explore
• scientific problems with human impact
• how management thinking shapes solutions
Avoid framing it as purely career-driven.
M&T
First essay:
Show how business and engineering interact in your thinking.
Second essay:
Leadership through problem-solving, not titles.
NETS
Focus on:
• networks
• systems
• human impact
Ground abstract ideas in your real experiences with technology.
VIPER
Show clarity on:
• science interests
• engineering interests
• why dual degrees matter
Penn values interdisciplinary thinkers here.
FINAL ADVICE FOR PENN
If your essays show:
• reflection over résumé
• curiosity over certainty
• contribution over prestige
you are doing Penn right.
If you want personalized feedback on your Penn supplemental essays, I also offer one-on-one essay reviews where I read through your drafts carefully and leave clear, specific suggestions. You can learn more here!