The University of Pennsylvania admissions office requires first-year applicants for fall 2027 to answer three Penn-specific prompts. Early Decision (ED) closes November 1, 2026, with decisions in December, leaving Irvine seniors who plan to apply early to Penn a little over three weeks to prepare their writing.
Who Is Affected by the Penn Supplemental Prompts
Seniors applying to one of the four Penn undergraduate schools through the Common Application, the Coalition Application, or QuestBridge. The three prompts:
| No. | Prompt in brief | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked (required for first-year applicants only) | 150 to 200 words |
| 2 | How you will explore community at Penn, and how Penn and you will shape each other | 150 to 200 words |
| 3 | A prompt specific to the undergraduate school you apply to | As shown in the application |
The admissions office asks applicants to explain both why they are applying to Penn and why they chose a specific undergraduate school; coordinated dual-degree and specialized programs have additional essays.
Other requirements: the application fee is $75. The SAT or ACT is required, and applicants facing hardship may submit a waiver through the application; self-reported scores are accepted, with official scores sent by the testing agency after admission. The last test dates accepted for Early Decision are the October 2026 ACT and the November 2026 SAT. Early Decision is binding, and the student, a parent or guardian, and the counselor sign the Early Decision Agreement by November 1. Regular Decision closes January 5, 2027, with decisions in April.
What to Do Now About the Penn Supplemental Prompts
Give each prompt its own job. The thank-you note shows how a student sees the people around them, while the community prompt and the school-specific prompt show specific knowledge of Penn; none of the three should repeat the main essay. Planning and revision support is available through the EDUBUS College Essay Bootcamp.
Keep recommendations and financial aid on schedule. Penn requires a counselor recommendation and one recommendation from a teacher in a core subject. Early Decision financial aid materials are due November 6; U.S. citizens and permanent residents submit the FAFSA, the CSS Profile, and federal tax returns. The CSS Profile opening and early deadlines at other colleges are covered in Brief: CSS Profile Opens; Early Deadlines in November, and early college list planning is available through the EDUBUS University Admissions Planning service.
Sources
- Penn Admissions: First-Year Applicants (accessed October 7, 2026)
- Penn Admissions: Application Requirements (accessed October 7, 2026)
- Columbia Early Decision Due November 1Columbia Early Decision closes November 1; testing is optional this cycle and required again next cycle. This brief covers deadlines, binding terms, and supplements.
- Duke Early Decision Due November 2Duke Early Decision closes November 2; the last usable ACT is October 17 and SAT November 7. This brief lists the Early Decision dates and essay rules.
- Harvard Short Answers Set, REA Due November 1Harvard requires five 150-word short answers for 2026-27, and Restrictive Early Action closes November 1. This brief lists the prompts, testing rules, and early limits.
- Crean Lutheran First Round Due November 20Irvine's Crean Lutheran High School closes first-round materials November 20 and sends first acceptances December 4. This brief lists documents and aid dates.
