About the Application

At Penn, our process is committee-based, contextual, and holistic. Meaning every part of the application contributes to our understanding of an applicant and they are considered within their specific context. Students often want to know what specific scores, courses, or extracurriculars they need to be accepted, and we mean it when we say there is no formula. We are interested in how applicants engage with knowledge, how they show up each day, and how they plan to explore their unique interests at Penn.

We provide detailed information about our application in our How to Apply section, and we recommend you and any student intending to apply to Penn begin there.  

What’s Changing for Penn’s 2026-2027 Application

Academics

This year, students will be asked to indicate whether any of their high school coursework was taken online (not in-person). We ask this question to better understand a student's learning environment. There are many varied platforms and learning communities. This information helps us understand students' academic transcripts and documents more fully.

English Language Testing

Please note, TOEFL iBT has transitioned to a new scoring system, moving from the traditional 0–120 scale to a 1–6 band score scale (reported in 0.5 increments). Competitive applicants tend to have a composite score of 5 or above with demonstrated consistency across the four sections of the exam (reading, listening, speaking, and writing).

English Proficiency Requirement

All applicants will now be asked to complete a separate questionnaire regarding their level of English level proficiency. This will be available in their Penn Portal after their application is submitted, beginning in October.

Students are exempt from submitting an English proficiency test score if either of the following is true:

• English is the student’s native language, or  
• English was the student’s primary language of instruction for at least three years (in high school, college, or a combination of both) by the time they enroll at Penn.

If neither applies, the student must submit scores from one of the following tests:

• TOEFL
• IELTS
• Duolingo English Test

Integrity and AI Use in the Admissions Process

This year, we have provided additional guidance around integrity in the admissions process. This includes how students, counselors, and teachers may use AI to assist them in the admissions process, and the standards Penn Admissions uses to inform our own use of AI.  

We encourage you to review this page in full (and share it with your students!), but in summary:

• Students’ essays, activities, and responses should reflect their own ideas, voice, and experiences. This has always been true, and it remains true regardless of what assistance might be used along the way.
• Just as talking through an idea with a parent, teacher, or counselor or having someone proofread your writing are permissible, so is using an AI to organize your thoughts or check your grammar.
• What would compromise an application is submitting work, ideas, or experiences that aren't authentically yours, whether that means someone else wrote your essay, an AI tool generated your responses, or your activities and honors are embellished or invented.
• Counselors’ and teachers’ judgement and direct, detailed knowledge of students cannot be replaced by AI-generated letters of recommendation and evaluations.
• Penn does not use AI to evaluate materials or to make decisions about admissions.
• Our (human) Penn Admissions staff continues to personally evaluate applications, relying on our holistic, committee-based process.
• We do use technology, including AI tools, to support parts of our process that are administrative rather than evaluative. In every one of these cases, a member of our staff reviews and confirms the outcome before it affects a student's file.  

Majors and Concentrations

Majors and concentrations are subject to change from year-to-year. Please refer to our majors and minors page for an updated list.

Program Updates

The College of Arts and Sciences

This year, the College of Arts and Sciences has introduced a new curriculum that simplifies requirements and encourages students to explore across the liberal arts. The new curriculum offers students more opportunities to expand their breadth of knowledge while also developing a depth of knowledge in what interests them most.

The new curriculum of the College of Arts and Sciences is designed to develop students’ capacity as independent thinkers who are flexible and responsive to new and evolving ideas. Through shared intellectual experiences and early opportunities for exploration, it provides broad exposure to different modes of creative inquiry, analysis, critical thinking, and communication, while also facilitating deep learning in particular areas of student interest.  

To support these goals, the curriculum has three interconnected components: Foundations, Distribution, and Major requirements.

Visual and Interactive Computing

The program formerly known as Digital Media Design (DMD) is now the Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Visual and Interactive Computing (VIC). This program allows students to explore the intersection between computer science and fine arts. This interdisciplinary degree emphasizes the conceptual foundations of computer science and their integration with creative arts. Students are required to take electives from both the Computer Science department in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the Stuart Weitzman School of Design, which fosters a unique blend of creative and technical skills. This program prepares graduates for careers in areas such as animation, human-centered design for interfaces, AI-generated media and experiences, as well as the design of virtual reality environments and interactive technologies. 

Transfer

This year, Transfer applicants will also be asked to complete the gratitude prompt. Previously, this prompt was only required for first-year applicants.

Writing

Penn’s short-answer prompts for Community and Gratitude remain the same. Penn also continues to require students to respond to a short-answer prompt based on the Penn school or program to which they are applying.

Some school- and program-specific short-answer prompts have been updated this year. Please visit our Writing page to see all prompts for this cycle.