*APPLICATIONS FOR PEEP ARE NOW LIVE!*
Penn is dedicated not only to enrolling the best and brightest from all backgrounds, but to ensuring our students thrive once they get to campus. The Penn Early Exploration Program (PEEP) and Penn in Focus (PIF) programs are designed to allow high school students who are first generation to college and/or low-income (FGLI) to learn more about applying to highly selective schools, finding community, and, of course, about Penn!
In order to allow as many applicants as possible to participate, students will only be admitted to one program and cannot attend both. Therefore, we ask that you select the program that is right for you when you apply! PEEP is a virtual program designed for students living in rural areas and/or 150+ miles from Penn's campus and will focus on helping you confidently navigate applying to selective universities. PIF is an on-campus program for those students who live within a 150-mile radius of Penn's campus and will focus on introducing you to the many incredible opportunities and resources Penn has to offer you. Learn more below!
Penn Early Exploration Program (PEEP)
| Virtual program | Weekly Aug 9-Sept 6 |
Learn about applying to selective universities! |
Are you a high school senior interested in learning more about Penn and applying to selective universities? Would you like to gain confidence in navigating the application process and hone your application skills? Do you identify as low-income and/or first generation to college?
Then PEEP might be the right program for you!
PEEP is an online workshop-based virtual program created to provide community, support, and resources. Admissions experts and members of the Penn community will guide you through the college application process and help you gain insight on finding community and support at college. This program is completely free of charge.
PEEP includes weekly 2-hour live virtual workshops with admissions staff, faculty, and current students across five weeks from August 9th to September 6th, 2023. All live sessions will be held from 7pm-9pm on Wednesdays, and asynchronous content will be hosted on an online community platform.
Here's a sneak peep of what to expect:
- An overview of the University of Pennsylvania including academic programs, cultural hubs, and student centers
- Workshops on the application components such as essay writing, supplemental questions and presenting your activities
- Information about Financial Aid and Penn's generous need-based aid
- Time to connect with current students, admissions staff and receive 1:1 opportunity to have your questions answered
Who should apply?
Consider applying to PEEP if:
- You identify as a first-generation college student and/or identify as low-income (for example: you might be eligible for Free or Reduced-Price Lunch (FRPL), or qualify for a fee waiver for the ACT or SAT)
- You live in a rural community and/or more than 150 miles from Penn's campus.
- You are seeking support with the application process to highly selective colleges and universities
- You will graduate in the 2023-2024 academic year and are a citizen or permanent resident of the US, Canada, or Mexico
- You demonstrate high academic achievement through rigorous coursework and strong academic performance
- You are interested in studying at one of our four undergraduate schools or coordinated dual-degree programs.
The application deadline is Wednesday, May 31st at 11:59 PM ET.
Penn In Focus (PIF)
| In-Person, on Penn's Campus |
Saturday, September 30th |
Learn more about all Penn has to offer! |
*APPLICATIONS FOR PIF WILL BE LIVE IN LATE JULY*
Are you interested in the ways that identity and culture can be explored academically and socially at Penn? Are you an academically high-achieving high school senior who lives within 150 miles from our campus? Do you also identify as low-income and/or first generation to college? Then join us for PIF, an in-person day program hosted on Penn's campus aimed at helping you understand all Penn has to offer among its world-class academic resources, cultural hubs, and student centers!
PIF is a day-long in-person event on Penn's campus in Philadelphia, PA. This year, it will be hosted on Saturday, September 30th, 2023 from 9am-4pm ET. This program is completely free of charge. Students are only responsible for transportation to and from the event. We offer a limited number of travel scholarships to support travel to campus for the event.
Who should apply?
Consider applying to PIF if:
- You live within 150 miles of Penn's campus in Philadelphia, PA
- You identify as a first-generation college student and/or identify as low-income (for example: you might be eligible for Free or Reduced-Price Lunch (FRPL), or qualify for a fee waiver for the ACT or SAT)
- You will graduate in the 2023-2024 academic year and are a citizen or permanent resident of the US, Canada, or Mexico
- You demonstrate high academic achievement through rigorous coursework and strong academic performance
- You are interested in studying at one of the four undergraduate schools or coordinated dual-degree programs at Penn.
Frequently Asked Questions
We understand you may not yet have your final grades for the school year. Please submit your most current report card for the year when you apply, and forward your final transcript to us once it is available.
You are considered low-income for the purposes of PEEP and PIF if any of the below apply to you:
- Your family income is below $75,500 a year
- You qualify for Free or Reduced-Price Lunch (FRPL) at your school
- You qualify for a fee-waiver for the SAT or ACT
- You expect your family will be able to contribute no more than $4,500 a year towards your education.
Income and the opportunities to which it provides access varies significantly by geography, cost of living, and family size. Perception of income level may also vary based on the perceived wealth of the people around you. Therefore, the above list is not exhaustive, and if you believe your family could be described as low-income, we encourage you to apply.
You may also use the “Additional Information” section of your application to contextualize any of the answers you provided, or to provide any additional information.
Simply, you are considered first-generation to college if your parent or parents did not complete a four-year college or university degree.
You are also considered first-generation to college if any of the following criteria apply to you:
- One or more of your parents or guardians had not completed their bachelor's degree at the time of enrollment at Penn or took more than 6 years to complete said degree.
- One or more of your parents or guardians completed a degree outside of the United States which did not translate to an ability to work in that field in the US.
- You have a strained or limited relationship with the person(s) in your family who hold(s) a bachelors degree.
You may also use the “Additional Information” section of your application to contextualize any of the answers you provided, or to provide any additional information.
We hope these programs will better equip you to determine whether Penn may be a good fit for you by displaying the exciting array of academic and social opportunities available at Penn. Both will introduce you to the network of support that enables current students to thrive and PEEP will provide application tips to assist with the application process to any selective college or university. However, PEEP or PIF attendance does not have any bearing on your admissions decision should you decide to apply to Penn.
PEEP is a program specifically designed for citizens and permanent residents of the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Because there are nuances to the application process and financial aid that are unique international students, international students are not eligible to apply for PEEP. We invite you to explore our upcoming virtual events and our youtube channel to learn more about the international experience at Penn!