With a research budget of nearly $1 billion, the University of Pennsylvania is the ideal Ivy League research university to aspire for. Established in 1740 in Philadelphia city of Pennsylvania, USA, UPenn has continued to deliver academic excellence over centuries. Due to this fact, it ranks in the top 10 National Universities in the US every year. UPenn has four undergraduate schools including the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, The Wharton School, and the School of Nursing that enroll 10,000 students. By 2019, the University has given mankind 36 Nobel Laureates, 16 Pulitzer Prize winners, 43 Olympic Medal winners, and 2 US Presidents. The University’s athletics program called Quakers sponsors 33 Varsity sports and allows students to stay fit and earn accolades in intercollegiate athletics. To get into a top university like the University of Pennsylvania,  you’ll have to craft your application in the best way possible. We’ve laid down all you need to know in this article.

English Proficiency Test Requirements

The University of Pennsylvania requires all international applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language, to submit their English Proficiency test scores in the application. This helps the university to decide if the candidate will be able to keep up in the rigorous academic environment of the university or not. Following are the requirements-

• 100 and above on the TOEFL iBT
• 7.0 and above on the IELTS academic
• 120 and above on the Duolingo English Test

Please note that UPenn currently does not accept MyBest scores for the TOEFL or IELTS indicator exam.  

ACT/SAT Requirements

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, UPenn has suspended the standardized test score requirements for the 2021-22 application cycle. Students who won’t submit the SAT or ACT scores won’t be at any disadvantage. And the candidates who are able to take the test and wish to report their scores can do so. No minimum score in ACT or SAT will guarantee admission. Below mentioned average scores are to be taken as only a benchmark you should be aiming for. The average ACT/SAT scores you should have for a good chance at UPenn admission are-

Tuition Fee and Cost of Living

The cost of education at one of the top-ranking universities in the world such as UPenn is definitely going to be a bit on the higher side. And your living expenses will depend on your everyday lifestyle choices. The following mentioned values are just the estimated figures and keep changing every year. Please visit the university’s official website for exact figures.

The conversion from USD to INR has been made with $1=₹70. The cost may vary with the varying exchange rate.

Application Portal

You can apply to the University of Pennsylvania through the below-mentioned portals:

• Common Application Portal 
• Coalition Application Portal 

Applications through both portals are treated equally in the consideration process. You should apply only through one portal and not mix-and-match across platforms.

Essay Prompts

Along with your details, you’ll have to submit one personal essay and two supplemental Penn essays on the portal too. It is important to attempt these with extra care as the University tries to access your personality from your words. Following are the supplemental essays you’ll need to write:

• Considering the specific undergraduate school you have selected, how will you explore your academic and intellectual interests at the University of Pennsylvania? (300-450 words)
• At Penn, learning and growth, happens outside of the classroom, too. How will you explore the community at Penn? Consider how this community will help shape your perspective and identity, and how your identity and perspective will shape this community. (150-200 words)

Application Deadlines & Decision Dates

For international students applying to UPenn for an undergraduate degree, the following are the deadlines and decision dates:

All the deadlines end at 11:59 PM Pacific Time and the applications are to be submitted through either the Common Application Portal or the Coalition Application Portal.

Conclusion

Be it in studies or athletics, the University of Pennsylvania leads in every sphere. It has a rich history a wonderful present and an even better future. An education from an institute like UPenn will not simply prepare you for a Job or Entrepreneurship but for world-level achievements like its many other alumni.

A brilliant profile and a brilliant application are all you need to get admission. If you have the first one, you can take help from UniRely mentors, already studying at the University of Pennsylvania, to prepare the second. Sign Up to UniRely now to know all about crafting the perfect application.