How To Write the UPenn Supplemental Essays

How To Write the UPenn Supplemental Essays

Each supplemental essay is quite short in length. As such, take time to reflect on what you want to say and how you want to say it. It may be helpful to consider the following before deciding on your topic:

Know Yourself 

Write essays that give a clear picture of who you are and how you think. Who you are as a student and a person should be illustrated with clear examples in every essay. Make sure the examples you choose are relevant.

Know the School

Just like you, UPenn  also has its own identity. The admissions committee is looking for students who relate to this collective identity. Before submitting an application, it’s important to do as much research as possible. Here are a few things to consider:

Reflect on the city setting: UPenn is located in Philadelphia. What is it about this city, or an urban environment, that excites you? 

Reflect on the school’s culture and mission: Why do you think you’ll succeed at this school over any other school? The school’s motto is “well done is better than well-said.” Does this mission statement resonate with you? How can you fit that theme into your essay?

Reflect on the school’s history: UPenn was founded by Benjamin Franklin, and his personage has shaped the school’s identity tremendously. What do you know about Franklin? Is he a historical figure that has particular meaning for you? 

Know Your Program

Finally, it’s important you have an understanding of the type of study you are pursuing. As you may have realized in high school, not all subjects are taught and evaluated the same way. Some involve labs, while others involve class discussion, group presentations, or independent study and reflection. 

Take some time to consider how your personality factors into your choice of academic pursuit.

• What draws you to want to pursue this field of study?
• How do classes work in your program of choice? Do they involve labs, lectures or class discussion? How will you make the most of these learning experiences, and what draws you to each specifically?
• How will your personality and skill sets fuel your ability to thrive in the program of choice?
• Are there specific instructors at the school you’re hoping to learn from? Who are they, and why do you hope to be in their class?

UPenn advises applicants to be extremely specific when explaining why they’re applying to Penn and why they want to attend their specified undergraduate school. The more you can get into those details in your supplemental essay, the better.

UPenn Supplemental Essays Examples

Below are a few UPenn supplemental essays. 

UPenn Supplemental Essay Example 1: The ‘Thank You’ Note

Things to consider in your approach. The school is seeking to figure out whether you have a sense of the importance of others in your life, and if you realize the ways that they’ve helped you along the way. 

Though many high schoolers have learned the importance of individual hard work and discipline, studying at the university-level often requires teamwork and collaboration. Schools like UPenn want to know that you’re prepared to participate, and that you have a sense of community, which is further explored in the second essay. 

But to start, they want to get a sense of whether you know how others have made a difference in your life. This is your chance to show that to them.

Sample Answer

To my brother:

Every day when I come home from school, I am exhausted and kick off my shoes, thinking three steps ahead, about the homework I’ve got to do, or the friend who hasn’t called me in a while. Wrapped in a world of my own. 

And yet, every time I head out the door, I find the laces of my shoes have been neatly untied, loosened and ready for me to step into the shoe. Having not taken the simple step of untying them when I get home, I have not set myself up for a quick or efficient trip out the door.

You and I are so different. I live in a world of abstract ideas and mental exploration, you are grounded in practical matters and prefer not to stray from what is right in front of you. I’m not ‘cool’ and have struggled to make connections with other kids, you fit in so easily, without much effort. 

Although in the past I wished you would stick up for me more, I know how hard it can be to go against the grain. I know you’re looking out for me, in the way that you know how. You’re helping me find my own way by making the small inconveniences in my life disappear, so I can head out the door and face larger challenges. Although I’ve never witnessed you untying my laces, I know that it’s you. Nobody else is home, but your being there is enough. 

Thank you for showing me how to care for someone, and how to give support in a small but impactful way. 

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What made this essay successful? Each sentence offers a window into the identity of its writer. They reveal a person who is a bit of a dreamer, who loves to explore abstract ideas, and who sometimes has trouble fitting in. It also offers a window into the writer's thought process. 

Although they express their love of daydreaming, they are also detail-oriented; noticing small things like shoelaces that have been undone in their absence. The writer shows they're able to appreciate the personality differences between themselves and their brother. They have compassion for their brother despite differences.

UPenn Supplemental Essay Example 2: How Will You Explore Community at UPenn?

Things to consider in your approach. As stated before, students who have a sense of community are what Universities are seeking. 

In the first example, the writer was able to demonstrate your appreciation for others who have shaped you in the past to who you are now. This second essay is an opportunity to show how you hope to contribute to the experience of those at UPenn- and also how you hope to be transformed by your university experience.

Sample Answer

As a kid, I was always encouraged to sit and listen to the adults around me, as they were having conversations with one another. Not to spy, or to get information I could use for my own advantage, but to observe people. My Dad told me you can tell a lot about a person based on what words they choose to say, and also how they say them.

 Because I was a bit of a chatterbox as a kid, at times I thought he was giving me this advice, so I would be quiet and keep to myself a little more. But as I got older, I realized he was trying to help me build a skill; the skill of listening to others, before offering up a response.

Time went by, and I continued to be a chatty goofball. Though my stoic father had tried his best, I still much prefer telling jokes over sitting silently. Luckily, I was able to find the perfect outlet for both of my powers: improv club. I could act out as much as I wanted, but the most hilarious skits we came up with were the result of listening before responding to my teammates. 

As I’m hoping to pursue a degree in philosophy, I’m very excited to put these skills to practice in the classroom. I can’t wait to explore the dynamism that comes from discussing complex topics with my professors and other students. 

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What made this essay successful? The writer sets the stage by explaining how they started to learn more about relating to others. They also showed how they came to learn to work with their nature - wanting to be more active and leading in a conversation, while also working to ensure they are making space for others. 

The writer also seems to anticipate the classroom environment they will be in, knowing that University Philosophy classes often involve discourse on the theories students are exploring. The more you’ve armed yourself with an understanding of UPenn’s programs and classrooms, the easier it will be to write about how you will be an excellent addition to the school.

UPenn Supplemental Essay Example 3: Explaining Your Undergraduate School Choice

Things to consider in your approach. What do you know about the field of study you’re pursuing? Are your aspirations distinctive, or a little hazy around the edges? 

Quite often, many high-achieving students have a very rigid idea of what they want their future to look like. They declare their intention to become a neurosurgeon, or a Supreme Court Justice, but their understanding of these roles is limited.

If you have a specific career path in mind, the school wants to know that you have an understanding of the knowledge you'll need to pursue that career. Additionally, the school seeks to admit students who will use the knowledge they acquire at the institution to become contributing members of society.

There is no ‘right’ answer when it comes to your reasoning for pursuing any course of learning. UPenn wants to see evidence that you want more from your education than just bringing home a huge paycheck, or achieving an illustrious degree. UPenn is interested in what matters to you. 

University is a place where you nurture your mind, and that can sometimes mean changing it. How will you take advantage of the resources available to you? How will you contribute to the classroom environment? Seek to answer those questions when writing this supplemental essay.

Sample Answer

“Some Pig.” The day I read these words was the day I became a vegetarian.

In around 192 pages, E.B. White changed my entire perspective. My parents suddenly had to grapple with the challenge of feeding a kid who would not eat meat. Luckily, they understood that this wasn't just a phase for me. I started to gain a curiosity about the inner lives of animals, leading me toward an interest in animal psychology.

How much do we really know about what animals are thinking or feeling? Will we ever live in a world where humans are able to communicate with animals? What kind of moral issues would we face should that possibility become a reality? These are questions I used to spend hours researching on the internet. 

One day, I stumbled upon a course on UPenn’s website: Animal Cognition and Ethics. I couldn’t believe it. A whole class dedicated to discussions of what I most wanted to know! This was the beginning of my goal of being admitted into UPenn’s Bachelor of Philosophy and Science program.

Knowing that Philosophy required an understanding of how to evaluate ideas and shape arguments for and against them, I joined my school’s debate team. I was able to gain a sense of how to consider a wide variety of opinions, and a respect for those with opposing opinions. 

This experience has prepared me to explore ideas with my fellow classmates at UPenn.

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What made this essay successful? The writer begins by explaining the beginning of their passion for the topic they hope to study at Penn. They then get into the specific program they hope to be admitted to while mentioning a specific class offered at the school. 

In doing this, they are demonstrating not only that they have done some research into the school, but that they are already capable of seeking out resources to take advantage of while studying there. 

If you are applying to a particularly infamous program at Penn, it would be advantageous to demonstrate your knowledge of that program and what its classroom environments may be like. 

UPenn is looking for students who are open to new experiences and are not necessarily satisfied with the status quo. In this essay example, the writer has sought to demonstrate their understanding of a college classroom dynamic by mentioning their experience with the debate team. In doing this, they’ve shown they can engage with ideas that are different from their own.