IVY SUPPS SERIES PT.6 PENN - in the series, I am reviewing the supplemental essay prompts for each

Summary

The video explains how to approach Penn’s supplemental essays, presenting them as an opportunity to show genuine interest in the university and a clear sense of purpose.

1. Thank-you note

Penn asks applicants to write a thank-you note to someone who made a difference in their life.

• Choose someone who made a substantial, specific contribution, rather than someone who was simply present or generally supportive.
• Avoid the most obvious choices, such as a parent or sibling.
• Focus on one clear example of what the person did and how it affected you.

2. Community essay

The community prompt can be approached in either of two ways:

• Write about a community you already belong to and hope to continue being part of at Penn. Explain why it matters to you, then connect it to a comparable opportunity at Penn.
• Write about a community you don’t currently have but hope to find at Penn.

Whichever approach you choose, devote at least half your response to explaining how you would explore or participate in that community at Penn.

3. “Why Penn?” essay

The specific prompt may vary by Penn undergraduate school, but the general focus is what you hope to do with a Penn education and how you would use the opportunities available there.

The speaker recommends this three-part structure:

1. Long-term vision: State what you hope to accomplish.
2. Necessary qualities or values: Explain what qualities you’ll need to achieve that goal.
3. Penn experiences: Identify experiences at Penn that could help you develop those qualities and pursue your goal.

The speaker characterizes Penn as a professionally oriented institution and advises applicants to show how their education would connect to their future career and life.

Speaker and source

• The video’s presenter: Offers advice on writing Penn’s thank-you note, community, and “Why Penn?” supplemental essays.