Application Requirements & Deadlines
Each year, Penn welcomes transfer students to our community. Transfer applicants apply to the undergraduate school they are interested in attending. Each school has specific requirements for applicants, so be sure to review the eligibility and transfer credits guidelines in addition to this page! The Transfer Application deadline is March 15th, 2026.
Application Forms
Penn accepts applications from the Common App and Coalition Application. We have no preference for either format and treat both applications equally in our process. We encourage you to review the features of each application format and use the platform that suits you best. Please submit only one application per admissions cycle and do not mix-and-match materials across platforms.
Application Fee or Fee Waiver
The application fee to apply to Penn is $75. If paying the application fee is a significant financial burden for you and your family, please request an application fee waiver through either your Common App or the Coalition Application in the “fee waiver” section.
Penn-Specific Essays and Short Answers
Transfer applicants are required to submit three Penn-specific essays and short answers.
- Transfer Essay (required for all transfer applicants): Please explain your reasons for transferring from your current institution and what you hope to gain by transferring to another institution. (450-600 words/4150 characters)
- 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/2295 characters)
- Considering the specific undergraduate school you have selected, describe how you intend to explore your academic and intellectual interests at the University of Pennsylvania. (For students applying to specialized programs, please answer this questions in regard to your single-degree school choice; your interest in the specialized program may be addressed through the program-specific essay.) (150-200 words or 2295 characters)
Official Transcripts
You will need to request that an official transcript is sent by a school official for all high schools and colleges you have attended.
Records from summer school, study-abroad programs, or special college programs must be submitted in official transcript form with certified English translations, if applicable. These records will be considered along with other credentials.
Students who have taken courses on a PASS/FAIL or CREDIT/NO CREDIT basis will need to demonstrate that their performance in these courses was at a C or better to be eligible for credit at Penn. This can be done by having grades revealed on your transcript, sharing written evaluations of your performance by the professor, or demonstrating your institution has a policy of awarding PASS/CREDIT for a grade of C or better.
Mid-Term Report
A mid-term report is required if you intend to enter as a second-year student. Ask each professor to report your current grade in the course. This form can be downloaded and submitted through your Penn Applicant Portal.
Letters of Recommendation and College Report
Your advisor or another school official will need to submit a College Report form. Instructions on how to invite officials to complete this form will be provided on your Penn Applicant Portal.
You will also need to request a recommendation letter from a professor, and can choose to submit an optional additional letter from a second professor or a non-academic supporter.
Financial Aid Materials
To apply for financial aid, you will need to submit a separate application for aid in addition to your application for admission.
Review the financial aid checklists based on your population to learn more about which materials you will need to submit for your financial aid application.
Standardized Testing
Penn will begin requiring standardized testing for the 2025-26 application cycle. We will only accept SAT and ACT scores for tests taken within the past 5 years. Applicants who face hardship in meeting this requirement can submit a waiver directly through the application instead.
Last Test Dates Accepted: February 2026 (ACT) or March 2026 (SAT).
Final Transcript
If you are accepted and decide to enroll at Penn, you must submit your final transcript for the end of your most recent coursework in June. Matriculating students do not need to submit their final transcript until after the application deadline.
When submitting your application, you are asked to acknowledge the following statement: By submitting this application, you are both representing your own integrity and contributing to the integrity of the admissions process in certifying that this application and its contents are factually true, honestly presented, and authentic. Additional application materials sent on your behalf (e.g., transcripts, counselor recommendations, etc.) must be sent by an official or University-approved source. All application materials and contents are subject to audit and verification. Your signature affirms that the work you have written and presented as your own reflects your ideas, your writing, and your own editing. In cases of applicant misrepresentation, including falsifications or deliberate omissions, Penn Admissions reserves the right to deny or rescind admission.
This acknowledgement of applicant responsibility for upholding integrity in the admissions process applies to all information submitted to Penn Admissions as part of the admissions process and is important for applicants to keep in mind when submitting their application.
All application materials, unless otherwise stated, must be official and sent directly to the University or the University’s designated application platform from an official source (e.g., high school), not through an agent or third-party vendor, with the following exceptions: submissions by government and partner organizations and/or submissions by non-profit, community-based organizations when schools are unable to provide this information on behalf of the student.
Applicants are required to attest to the accuracy and authenticity of all information and documents submitted to the University of Pennsylvania. Failure to submit complete, accurate, and authentic application documents may result in denial or revocation of admission, cancellation of academic credit, suspension, expulsion, or eventual revocation of degree. Applicants and/or school officials may be required to assist Penn Admissions in the verification of application documents and statements.
All applicants to the University of Pennsylvania must confirm on their application that they understand and agree to adhere to the above expectations. Questions about this policy can be directed to Penn Admissions at info@admissions.upenn.edu.