Approaching UPenn Supplement

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

I have several concerns for this year’s UPenn Supplement Prompt:

How will you explore your intellectual and academic interests at the University of Pennsylvania? Please answer this question given the specific undergraduate school to which you are applying.

  1. When it says intellectual and academic, does that mean I should not include anything about my social interests? I understand that I will have to dig deeper into the resources that UPenn has to offer and also what I can contribute to UPenn.

  2. Can I approach this essay creatively? So far, I started my essay as a letter to Ben Franklin. It’s humorous, and it adds a sense of personality to my essay. Basically, I’m informing Ben Franklin about my typical day at UPenn, elaborating on specific courses, research opportunities, programs, professors, clubs, buildings and locations, and service opportunities at UPenn. In a sense, I’m writing as if I am already a student there.

What do you guys think? I can message you my intro if you’d like.

2

I just finished writing mine and didn’t approach it creatively, but that is not to say that is necessarily a bad idea. Undoubtedly, though, the most important thing to do is to actually answer the question. If you can answer the question better but you have to sacrifice the creativity, do it. It is most important to answer the question. If you don’t lost anything with the creativity, then fine. I don’t know if it will make a difference in the end, but go for it by all means. Just know the question doesn’t ask for a creative answer. It’s a dry question. I’m not sure they intend to receive anything other than a serious and logical answer to the question. But who knows in the end? Just make sure you answer the question COMPLETELY.

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Thanks, I’ll definitely take that into consideration.

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There is a famous story about a Harvard applicant who answered the Why Harvard question by this: “why not?” Creative. Cannot swear the story is true, but…PS the story continues that the kid got accepted.

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@amanivy Yeah, but now everyone who answers that way is seen as not creative because it’s not original anymore.

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jarratt211: I am not advocating using the famous Harvard response. The point to the story was that you must use your own voice, don’t go for what you think is the tried and true, and be as creative as you can be.

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@TommyD36 if you have something that is also funny, go for it! Admissions officers read countless countless applications each. So anything funny and creative instantly stands out from the pile. Make sure you still have plenty of content though, and if you use humor pass it by an adult to make sure they think its funny. Sometimes high school students think some things are funny but adults do not (although I’m sure that won’t be true in your case :slight_smile: