Group Visits
We’re thrilled you’ll be joining us for a group campus visit! These visits are a great way to get to know Penn’s campus, as well as hear first-hand accounts from admissions officers and students.
It’s a true pleasure to welcome you to our campus. Below is some information to help you make the most of your visit and ensure everyone’s safety and comfort. We ask that you read our guidelines carefully to ensure you are able to participate fully during your scheduled visit.
How it Works
We are able to accommodate up to 50 students plus chaperones. Please note, for every 10 high school students, one chaperone must be present. This means that a group of 50 students would need to be accompanied by 5 chaperones.
We offer morning and afternoon options for campus visits. Visits begin with a 45 minute information session in our visitor’s center, and are followed by a 1 hour and 30 minute outdoor tour of campus.
Checking In and Timing
Our tour guides are students with busy schedules, so we are unable to accommodate late arrivals. We appreciate your punctuality and understanding!
Groups must arrive and check-in at least 15 minutes prior to their reservation at the Admissions Visitor Center, Ground Floor, Claudia Cohen Hall (249 S.36th St, Philadelphia, PA 19104). Late arrival will result in the forfeiture of your registration.
We strive to host groups attending the information session in our Auditorium. Groups that arrive late will be hosted in our Terrace Room to view a live simulcast of the session. While there will not be an Admissions Officer present in the viewing space, groups are welcome to bring any unanswered questions to the Admissions Officer after the info session or tour.
Tours depart at 10:15am and 1:45pm. Any group arriving more than 15 minutes late for the start of the tour will be accommodated with self-guided tour materials.
Expectations
We understand that within any group, there will be varying levels of knowledge about, and interest in, Penn. We ask that participants abide by the following guidelines when participating in a group tour. Please note that failure to follow these guidelines may result in the cancellation of your group visit and you may be asked to leave.
- You must provide your own chaperones for your group visit. Every 10 students should be accompanied by one adult chaperone. Chaperones are responsible for ensuring students’ adherence to rules, instructions, and safety guidelines. Chaperones must stay with their group for the entirety of their visit.
- We ask that cell phones be put away, and that no part of the information session or tour be recorded. This is to preserve the privacy of our tour guides and admissions officers, and to limit distractions. Students may take photos of campus that do not feature our tour guides. Guests using phones in a distracting manner may be asked to leave the tour.
- Our information session takes place inside our Admissions Visitor’s Center and lasts about 45 minutes. Students are encouraged to ask questions at the end of the session.
- Our tours take place outside, and do not include entrance into any campus buildings for the safety of our students. Tours proceed rain or shine. In case of inclement weather or excessive heat, we will provide an alternative session indoors.
- Please plan to stay for the full duration of the tour. If your plans have changed or you will need to depart the tour early, please communicate with grouptours@admissions.upenn.edu so we can prepare for your visit accordingly.
Parking and Dining
Penn’s urban location can make parking difficult to navigate. We recommend arriving anywhere from 15-20 minutes before your scheduled programing to find parking. Penn does not validate parking, but metered street parking may be available. If you choose to take advantage of metered street parking, please closely read all street parking signs.
There are no specific bus or visitor parking lots on Penn’s campus. If you do travel by bus, we recommend that the driver stay with the bus to avoid being ticketed. The most convenient place for a bus to pull over will be on Spruce Street, off 34th street, just outside of Houston Hall (3417 Spruce Street). There is a designated 30-minute loading zone in front of Houston Hall; the bus can stay as long as needed so long as the driver stays with the vehicle and is visible.
Alternatively, you may call Penn Police | Department of Public Safety to make special arrangements for your bus: 215-898-7297. Many bus companies can provide their drivers with information about nearby places for drivers to park as well.
The nearest Penn parking garages can be located at:
- Penn Museum
- 34th & Chestnut St.
- 38th & Walnut
If you wish to explore on-campus dining options for your group, please visit Penn Dining. You can contact them directly at dining@upenn.edu or (215)-898-3547.