College Essay Prompts 2026-27

Penn Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

University of Pennsylvania's published supplemental essay prompts for first-year applicants in the 2026-27 application year, quoted from the college's own website, with the limit for each and whether it is required.

Application: Common App or Coalition
Status: 2026-27 prompts published
What to write: All first-year applicants answer 2 common prompts. Depending on the school, program or application you use, you may also have that set's prompts (10 sets, listed below).
Last checked: September 26, 2026
Official source: Penn Admissions: Writing

The 2026-27 prompts

Quoted word for word from University of Pennsylvania. Limits are as the college states them. These are the first-year prompts the college publishes; transfer essays and questions that appear only inside the application portal are not listed.

The school-specific prompt is unique to the school to which you are applying. (For example, all applicants applying to the College of Arts and Sciences will respond to the prompt under the “College of Arts and Sciences.” Considering the undergraduate school you have selected for your single-degree option, please respond to your school-specific prompt below. Applying to coordinated dual-degree or specialized programs? Please answer this question about your single-degree school choice; your interest in the coordinated dual-degree or specialized program may be addressed through the program-specific essay.

Required of all applicants

There are two prompts we ask every Penn applicant to complete. Additionally, there is a school-specific prompt based on the undergraduate school or dual-degree program to which you are applying. When answering these prompts, be precise when explaining both why you are applying to Penn and why you have chosen to apply to that specific undergraduate school. Some of our specialized programs will have additional essays to complete, but the Penn short answer prompts should address your single-degree or single-school choice.

01

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!)

50 to 200 wordsOther
02

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.

50 to 200 wordsCommunity

Required for School of Nursing applicants

To help inform your response, we encourage you to review Penn Nursing's mission and approach to equity in healthcare. Reviewing this may help you connect your own professional goals to the specific ways Penn Nursing works to advance equity in healthcare.

03

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 are you applying to Nursing, where do you see yourself professionally in the future, and how will you contribute to our mission of promoting equity in healthcare?

50 to 200 wordsWhy us

Required for College of Arts and Sciences applicants

To help inform your response, we encourage you to look at the College's curriculum and academic offerings. Reviewing the College's departments and areas of study may help you identify where your curiosity could take shape.

04

The College of Arts and Sciences is designed to foster discovery and connection. Describe something you are curious about—something you'd like to learn more about or find a new approach to—and how you might pursue that curiosity in the College.

50 to 200 wordsIntellectual curiosity

Required for The Wharton School applicants

To help inform your response, we encourage you to review the foundations of a Wharton education. Reviewing this may help you see how a Wharton education could connect to the issue you choose to write about.

05

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. Discuss a current issue of importance to you and how you hope a Wharton education would help you explore it.

50 to 200 wordsWhy us

Required for Penn Engineering applicants

To help inform your response, we encourage you to learn more about Penn Engineering and its mission to prepare students for global leadership in technology. Reviewing the curriculum for your intended major may help you identify specific courses, labs, or research opportunities that connect to your engineering interests.

06

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. Describe how you plan to pursue your engineering interests at Penn, particularly within the intended major you selected.

50 to 200 wordsWhy us

Required for The Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business applicants

Applicants to The Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business are required to submit three Huntsman-specific responses, in addition to the two prompts for all applicants. Applicants to the Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business must choose one of eleven target languages. Please select your target language.

07

Describe your experience with the target language you selected. You may wish to share the length of time you’ve studied or used this language, how you’ve learned it, the skills you’ve acquired, and/or the skills you still wish to develop. Please also explain why you are interested in studying this language and the region(s) of the world where it is spoken.

50 to 200 wordsBackground and identity
08

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?

50 to 400 wordsWhy us

Required for The Roy and Diana Vagelos Program in Life Sciences and Management (LSM) applicants

Applicants to The Roy and Diana Vagelos Program in Life Sciences and Management are required to submit one LSM-specific response, in addition to the two prompts for all applicants.

09

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. What questions, problems, or opportunities would you hope to explore through LSM, and how might the integration of life sciences and management shape your approach to them? Focus on the ideas, values, or questions that draw you to this intersection, rather than how LSM might advance your career, and make sure this essay is distinct from your single-degree application.

50 to 400 wordsWhy us

Required for The Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology (M&T) applicants

Applicants to The Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology are required to submit two M&T-specific responses, in addition to the two prompts for all applicants.

10

Explain how you will use the M&T program to pursue problems or opportunities that require both engineering and business perspectives.

50 to 400 wordsWhy us
11

Describe something you created, designed, improved, or built. What motivated you, and what did you learn from the process?

50 to 200 wordsActivity

Required for Nursing and Healthcare Management (NHCM) applicants

Applicants to Nursing and Healthcare Management are required to submit one NHCM-specific response, in addition to the two prompts for all applicants.

12

Describe your interest in nursing and health care management, and how Penn's coordinated dual-degree program in nursing and business would help you meet your goals. Please ensure that this essay is distinct from your single-degree application, if applicable.

50 to 400 wordsWhy us

Required for The Roy and Diana Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER) applicants

Applicants to The Roy and Diana Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research are required to submit two VIPER-specific responses, in addition to the two prompts for all applicants.

13

VIPER students pursue dual degrees in science or math and engineering. Which major combination(s) interest you most right now and why? Your response to this prompt is not binding; students often shift majors as they learn more through the program. See available VIPER majors on our website.

50 to 200 wordsWhy us
14

Describe your interest in the VIPER program, including how any past experiences (academic, research, extracurricular, etc.) have shaped your interest in energy science and technology, and how you envision participation in VIPER fitting into your future goals.

50 to 400 wordsWhy us

Required for the BSE in Visual and Interactive Computing (VIC) applicants

Applicants to the BSE in Visual and Interactive Computing are required to submit one VIC-specific response, in addition to the two prompts for all applicants.

15

Discuss how your interests align with the Visual and Interactive Computing (VIC) program at the University of Pennsylvania

400 to 650 wordsWhy us

What these prompts are really asking

One line per prompt type, from our supplemental essay guide.

Why us: Have you done real research, and can you connect it to your actual path?
Community: How do you define community, and how will you behave in ours?
Activity: What values, problems or responsibilities sit behind the activity list?
Intellectual curiosity: How does your mind move when no one is handing you points?
Background and identity: What lived detail shapes your perspective, choices or contribution?

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Common Questions

How many supplemental essays does University of Pennsylvania require for 2026-27?

All first-year applicants answer 2 common prompts. Depending on the school, program or application you use, you may also have that set's prompts (10 sets, listed below). This page lists 15 prompts in all, including choices and optional prompts.

What are the word limits for Penn's supplemental essays?

50 to 200 words, 50 to 400 words, 400 to 650 words. Each prompt above shows its own limit as the college states it.

Which application does University of Pennsylvania use?

Common App or Coalition.

Where are these prompts from?

We copied them word for word from Penn Admissions: Writing and last checked on September 26, 2026. The prompts inside your application portal are the final word.

Sources, last checked September 26, 2026

Penn Admissions: Writing

Prompts for other colleges

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