How to get into UPenn 2025: Admission Requirements & Acceptance Rate

Why Choose UPenn?

University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) is located in the heart of Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love. It is also called UPenn or Penn, it is a well-regarded Ivy League institution Famous for its business, law, medicine, and engineering programs, UPenn is a highly sought-after place for aspiring students who want themselves to be called Quakers.

Founded in 1740 by Benjamin Franklin, who was one of the founding fathers of the United States, it is one of the oldest universities in the United States. It boasts of alumni such as Elon Musk and Warren Buffet.

Known for its Wharton School of Engineering, School of Arts and Science, etc., and having a student-to-teacher ratio of 6:1. UPenn has an acceptance rate of 6%, indicating that getting a seat at this prestigious university is not easy.

But don’t worry. This article will address how to sail through this sea of challenges, delving into the admission requirements and making sense of not only the academic but also the extracurricular profile required to get into UPenn in 2024. 

How Hard Is It to Get into UPenn?

Being an Ivy league college and one of the oldest institutes in the United States it is nothing but natural that getting into UPenn is an extremely hard task. The acceptance rate hovers around 6% to 4% which means only 6 people out of 100 secure their seats. 

A candidate must possess an impressive extracurricular background in addition to a stellar academic profile. Thus, the application must stand out. Although submitting the SAT scores is optional, it is generally advised to do that. One must also write a compelling essay and round it off by highlighting the extracurricular activities that demonstrate the individual’s extraordinary talent and abilities.

What is the Acceptance Rate for Getting Into UPenn?

As said above, UPenn’s acceptance rate hovers around 6 to 4%. The acceptance rate is declining, while the number of applicants has increased by 33% from 2022 to 2027.

The class of 2027 had the lowest acceptance rate in recent years at just 4.1%. 

It can be clearly seen that the acceptance rate has been declining while the number of applicants is indicating an increase in the competition, which makes one think about what UPenn is exactly looking for and how one should position themselves in order to secure  a seat, which brings us to.

What Are UPenn’s Application Requirements?

Creating a college application is an arduous task, and it becomes challenging if the college you are applying for is highly selective, such as UPenn; while the application has many parts to it, there are additional requirements that must be fulfilled by the international students in order to secure an acceptance letter. However, it is important to narrow down to those aspects which are very critical, such as but not limited to;

• GPA requirements
  
• Test scores, including SAT and ACT
  
• And Application requirements

Application requirements for international students include:

• English Proficiency test: According to UPenn, “A strong command of the English language is essential for successful study at Penn.” Thus, the candidate needs to submit the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Duolingo English test (DET), or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) results to demonstrate English proficiency. UPenn, for instance, will require TOEFL scores from 100 to 120. While the 

IELTS band scores above 7, and Duolingo scores above 130.

learn more about how to prepare for IELTS , TOEFL, here.

• Transcripts and credential evaluation: International students must submit their high school, college, or university transcripts. 
• Application Fee or Fee Waiver. 
• Penn-Specific Essays and Short Answers. Penn also asks a set of specific questions that need to be answered; according to UPenn, students will be asked to respond to the following prompts:
• Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge.
• How will you explore the community at Penn? Consider how Penn will help shape your perspective and how your experiences and perspective will help shape Penn. 

• Letters of Recommendation: 

UPenn also expects a total of three letters of Recommendation (LOR). One needs to be submitted by a counselor or school official on the candidate’s behalf, and the rest from teachers or from one teacher and one non-academic supporter.

• Early Decision Agreement (only if applying for Early Decision)

If the candidate applies through an early decision round, then an early decision agreement form has to be submitted, which confirms if selected, you have to attend Penn. 

Difference between Early Decision and regular decision.

Early decision basically means that If the candidate is sure of going into the said university it now all depends on the university, if the university accepts their application and issues them a offer letter candidate has to enroll. the second option is a Regular decision wherein the candidate has no legally binding letter over their head that is they can deny the acceptance letter.

• Financial Aid Materials:

To apply for financial aid, you will need to submit a separate application for aid in addition to your application for admission.

GPA Requirements to get into UPenn.

The average GPA at University of Pennsylvania is 3.9. Which means Penn requires you to be a topper of your class, entailing that your report card must be decorated by straight A’s. If you are lacking on the GPA front you can compensate for it by having a higher SAT or ACT score.

SAT or ACT Score Requirements to Get into UPenn.

UPenn is test-optional, which means there is no official requirement to put in your SAT or ACT score; however, it is generally advised to put them as it adds an extra dimension to your application. One should also keep in mind that competitive scholars would submit their scores, so opting out of the SAT or ACT is a rather lousy route to take. 

There is also no official minimum requirement, but the general rule of thumb is that the higher, the better. However, for objective purposes, the average SAT score is around 1540 out of 1600. 

Here is the breakdown of SAT scores by section. 

A few more caveats regarding the SAT score are that UPenn has the Score Choice policy of “All Scores, ” which means that you will have to submit all SAT scores you’ve ever taken. 

However, it is generally seen that most schools do not take up the average of your scores; the standard method is that the schools consider your highest score. But how many are too many? Through many observations, word of mouth is 4 to 6 tests, which is safe. The university understands that the candidate wants to maximise their chance of getting admitted, and thus, you should not concern yourself with the number of attempts you took or whether a high number of attempts will look bad on your application. The college will not care about the number of your attempts. They are only concerned with your score.

To sum up, if your score is below 1570 and you have only given 2 or 3 attempts, we strongly advise you to attempt more tests and try scoring 1570+ within the 6th attempt—the sooner, the better. 

ACT Requirements to get into UPenn

Now that the SAT has been dealt with let us proceed towards the ACT scores.

UPenn does not provide any minimum requirements regarding the ACT, either, but if you have made it this far, you may have realised that the higher the score, the better. Therefore, you should aim for 35 and above.

However, there is a difference when it comes to the amount of test results you must send in the ACT. In the ACT, you have complete freedom, i.e., You only have to take 1 test, which means you can maximise your score in any number of attempts. You can take 6,8, or even ten attempts. Submit the one wherein you score the most. 

To sum up, you should aim for a 1570+ SAT score or a 35 ACT score. Also, keep in mind that you may need to score more if your GPA is lower. 

Application Deadlines for UPenn in 2024 and 2025

The universities in the USA accept admission in two intakes; thus, UPenn also has two intake windows. Early decisions and normal decisions are the names given to the two intakes. 4.9% of the 59,463 admissions applications that were received were submitted through Early Decisions. The Regular and Early Decision deadlines are January 5, 2025, and November 1, 2024, respectively. For the past five years, the dates have remained the same. Before applying, though, you should visit the official website.

FAQs on How to Get Into UPenn?

1. Is Upenn hard to get into?

Ans. The acceptance rate is as low as 4%, which suggests that out of 100 people, only six get in. However, it is not impossible! You can get a proper shot at securing a seat with proper counselling and a tailored application.

2. How to get into UPenn from India

Ans. Indian students and other international applicants must also meet specific requirements. Focus on achieving outstanding grades and scores and engaging in activities that have a big influence on students’ lives.

3. Is UPenn the easiest Ivy League

Ans. Objectively speaking, UPenn’s acceptance rate hovers around 6 to 5, with an occasional 4, making it one of the easier Ivy League schools to get into. That said, one should keep in mind that it is still highly competitive, so one should not lack off while preparing for its application.

4. Is UPenn a tier 1 school?

Ans. The University of Pennsylvania is ranked 10 out of 436 national universities. It is definitely one of the best universities to be in. Located in the city of Philadelphia, it offers a historical legacy in a modern landscape. 

5. Why is UPenn so prestigious?

Ans. UPenn boasts of top-level faculty, impeccable research opportunities, and personality-enriching experiences, making it a top and prestigious university.Your go-to ally on your path to UPenn is Rostrum Education. Allow us to help you navigate the process. We have helped our students get into Cambridge, Oxford, Columbia and other amazing institutions. To provide our clients the best chance of admission, our partners and guides take into account suggestions and recommendations from understanding the admissions procedures to perfecting documents connected to admission.

Established to offer direction and support to international students arriving in the United States, our goal is to help them through the most difficult process: applying and improving their academic performance. 

Book a free session today and see how high you can fly!