Dreaming of joining the ranks of Quakers? Then check out these tips on navigating the University of Pennsylvania's admissions requirements. UPenn’s location in the heart of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, means that students can access all the resources of an ivy league institution amidst a thriving, welcoming urban environment. Founded in 1740 by Benjamin Franklin, (yeah, that Ben Franklin), UPenn has produced numerous notable alumni, including Elon Musk and John Legend.

So whether you're an aspiring musician, an emerging tech-guru, or a future lifesaver, there's likely a place for you across UPenn's four undergraduate schools. Still, the first question knocking at the back of your mind is probably, simply, "How do I get into UPenn?"

Well, you're in luck! This article is geared to lead you through the winding paths of Upenn’s admissions requirements, helping you discover the keys to a successful UPenn application. Stay with us, because we're about to embark on an exciting journey. We've got the insights and the tips, you bring the drive and the dream. Let's do this.

A quick note on college rankings: we think they’re generally a bad way to think about where you should go to college. We talk about why rankings are bad in greater detail here, but essentially, a lot of college rankings don’t actually tell you whether you and the school would fit well together, or that the school is someplace you’ll thrive. That said, we also understand that many students/families are confused regarding and have questions about aspects of the application process, so we’ve built the post below to hopefully clarify things, so students/families can make informed decisions.

How hard is it to get into UPenn?

It is extremely difficult to get accepted to the University of Pennsylvania. The grade point average of people who get accepted to UPenn are in the top ten percent of their class. People who successfully get into UPenn also tend to have impressive extracurricular activities and college applications essays.

UPenn Acceptance Rate

The University of Pennsylvania acceptance rate is 5.9%, making it one of the most competitive universities in the country. Acceptance rate is an indication of how competitive a school is, but it is also an indication of how popular a school is. To get into a school like UPenn, you will need to excel in almost every major college application factor.

UPenn Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision, and Transfer Acceptance Rate

UPenn has decided not to publish its early decision acceptance rate for the class of 2027. However, based on previous years data we can expect about 15% of the 8,000 early decision applicants were admitted to the class of 2027. In last year's admissions cycle, 15.6% of the 7,795 early decision applicants were admitted to the class of 2026. UPenn made the decision to withhold admission rates for the class of 2027 in an effort to “deemphasize the selectivity of [its] admissions process”.

Based on previous years data, UPenn’s regular decision acceptance rate is estimated to be about 5%. Over 59,000 students applied to UPenn’s class of 2027. UPenn continues to be an increasingly popular school to apply to.

GPA Requirements to get into UPenn

The recommended GPA requirements to get into UPenn are between 3.8 and 4.0. You will need an incredibly high GPA and will likely be graduating in the top ten percent of your class in order to get into UPenn. If your GPA is lower than suggested at the time you apply, you may have to perform above average on your standardized tests. If your grades aren’t as high as they could have been due to life experiences or hardship, you should consider writing about it in your additional information section.

UPenn Unweighted GPA Requirements

University of Pennsylvania Unweighted Average GPA: 4.0

Unweighted GPA Distribution	Percent Admitted
4.0	52%
3.75-3.99	36%
3.50-3.74	6%
3.25-3.49	4%
3.00-3.24	0%
2.5-2.99	0%
2.0-2.49	0%
1.0-1.99	1%
Below 1.0	0%

What GPA is required for UPenn?

Applicants’ GPA when applying to UPenn should ideally be between 3.8 and 4.0 to be strong candidates. Having less than this will require compensating by increasing your SAT or ACT score and by having outstanding extracurricular activities or personal statement.

UPenn Weighted GPA Requirements

UPenn considers weighted GPA as one of its admissions factors. The median weighted GPA for UPenn is 4.0, and its middle 50 percentile ranges from 3.75 to 4.0, indicating that you will likely have to take higher level classes like AP and IB classes in order to be a competitive candidate for UPenn.

SAT Requirements to get into UPenn

The recommended SAT requirements to get into UPenn are a 1480 to 1570 composite score, combining the reading and writing, and math sections together. You will need an incredibly high SAT score in order to get into UPenn. If your SAT is lower than suggested at the time you apply, you may have to perform above average on your other standardized tests or have spectacular extracurricular activities to compensate. If your grades aren’t as high as they could have been due to life experiences or hardship, you should consider writing about it in your additional information section.

UPenn will remain a “Test Optional” school through the 2023-24 admissions cycle, meaning it does not require standardized test scores, but will consider them if submitted. It’s up to you whether to submit your scores or not. There are a number of factors to consider as you make this decision, and you can read more about them here.

UPenn Average SAT Composite Score: 1525

SAT Score Distribution	Reading %	Math %
700-800	88%	94%
600-699	11%	6%
500-599	1%	0%
400-499	0%	0%
300-399	0%	0%
200-299	0%	0%

What SAT score is required for UPenn?

Applicants should score between 1480 to 1570 on their SAT to be strong candidates for admission to this school. Having less than this will require compensating by using a substitute ACT score or having an above-average GPA.

ACT Requirements to get into UPenn

The recommended ACT requirements for UPenn are a 33 to 35 composite score combining all English, mathematics, reading, and science sections. You will need an incredibly high/ACT score in order to get into UPenn. If your ACT is not what you’d hoped by the time you apply, you may have to make it up by getting above-average scores on the SAT and having an above-average grade point average. If your ACT wasn’t as high as you’d like because of difficulties or hardship, you should consider writing about it in your additional information section.

Again, UPenn will remain a “Test Optional” school through the 2023-24 admissions cycle, meaning it does not require standardized test scores, but will consider them if submitted. So whether to submit your scores or not is up to you. If you want some guidance on factors to consider as you make this decision, you can read more about them here.

UPenn Average ACT: 34

ACT Score Range	Composite Score %
30-36	97%
24-29	3%
18-23	0%
12-17	0%
6-11	0%
Below 6	0%

What ACT score is required for UPenn?

Applicants should score between 33 and 35 on their ACT to be strong candidates for admission to UPenn. Having less than this will require compensating by using a substitute SAT score or having an above-average GPA.

What does UPenn look for in students?

The biggest thing UPenn focuses on is how a student and the school fit together. Yes, having competitive grades and test scores is important. But the vast majority of students who get rejected from UPenn have those kinds of scores. So this isn’t just about academic accomplishments—you need to show how you and the school will make a great team.

How do you figure out whether you and UPenn fit together? And how do you show UPenn that you think you do?

Start by exploring which of the four undergraduate schools you intend to apply to. Do some research into your specific school's mission and values (College of Arts and Science, The School of Nursing, Penn Engineering, The Wharton School of Business). Notice, for example, how across all schools the focus is on education and knowledge for service: UPenn wants to work with students who emulate the school’s founder Benjamin Franklin by “applying their knowledge in service to society.”

How do you see yourself aligning with this mission and these values? What parts of your story demonstrate that you have already worked toward these things, and that UPenn is the place for you to take your next steps? How will you and the UPenn community make great partners in trying to serve society?

How else can you demonstrate that you and UPenn fit together? Think about your answers to these questions:

How have you collaborated with others in the past, and how can you help UPenn admissions readers see that?
Where have you taken initiative in your education, and how will you continue to do so?
Where have you taken risks and learned resilience ?
Where and how have you explored your creativity?
How and why do you value community?
And where do you find balance in life?

UPenn University Application Deadlines

The UPenn application deadline for regular decision is January 5. UPenn also provides an alternative form of application in addition to regular decision: early decision. The application deadline for UPenn’s early decision is November 1. Below is a table showing the deadlines for each of the steps of the University of Pennsylvania admissions process.

Notification Plan	Application Material	Application Deadline
Early Decision	Submit Application and Test Scores	November 1
	Submit Financial Aid Application	November 15
	Admissions Decisions Released	Mid-December
Regular Decision	Submit Application and Test Scores	January 1
	Submit Financial Aid Application (if still pending)	February 15
	Admissions Decisions Released	Early April

UPenn Early Decision, Early Action Policy

Penn’s Early Decision program is binding, meaning that if you are admitted, you are obligated to accept our offer of admission.

Early decision applicants may apply to non-binding admissions processes, including rolling admissions processes, at other institutions. If admitted to Penn in Early Decision, applicants must withdraw all other applications and enroll at Penn.

UPenn Supplemental Essay Prompts

To complete UPenn’s supplemental essay requirements, applicants must respond to two (150-200 word) essay prompts. Their prompts are below and the UPenn supplemental essay guide that they were sourced from can be found here.

UPENN SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAY 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)

UPENN SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAY PROMPT #2

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

How to get into UPenn—Essay Tips

Below, we’ll cover big-picture guidance for writing your UPenn supplemental essay responses. If you want more in-depth guidance, be sure to check out our comprehensive guide on writing UPenn supplemental essays. Let’s dive in!

We’ll take the first two together—they’re both essentially “Why Us” prompts.

Crafting compelling "Why Us?" essays requires more than a declaration of love for a university. Think of it as an online dating profile where you must prove your compatibility with the school.

First, you’ll want to do thorough research about UPenn to identify unique offerings that relate to your interests and aspirations. Then, decide on an approach. You could either list multiple reasons for your interest in UPenn, focusing on 3-5 unique offerings, or tie everything to one core value. Your essay should show thoughtful reflection on who you are, what has shaped you, and how UPenn’s offerings would support your growth.

Here’s the thing, though: whether you're discussing how you will engage with the community or connect with academic programs, specificity and personal connection are key. Show admission officers that you’ve really contemplated what UPenn offers and how it aligns with what you seek in your education. Remember—it's not just about the school's greatness, but how the unique features of the school connect to your core values and past experiences.

Now let’s talk about that third prompt.

We can't be sure, but we think it’s likely that this thank-you-note prompt was inspired by Dr. Martin Seligman, a prominent figure in Positive Psychology from UPenn. He encourages what he calls the “Gratitude Visit,” which involves acknowledging someone who has positively influenced your life, yet you have never fully expressed your gratitude to. Here's the idea: Close your eyes and remember someone whose actions or words have transformed your life for the better, someone you never properly thanked. Got their face in your mind? Now, you're going to pen them a heartfelt note.

To execute this task, we recommend finding a serene spot to center your thoughts. Pen in hand, close your eyes and allow yourself to soak in feelings of gratitude. If you need a more tangible starting point, try visualizing the last time you were with that person, how you engaged, and what they did that made you feel valued. Let that sense of thankfulness guide your letter-writing.

Want more in-depth guidance on your UPenn supplemental essays? Be sure to check out our comprehensive guide.

How to get into UPenn + Admission Requirements 2023

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