penn state essay prompt 2021

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2023-24 Penn State Supplemental Essay – Prompt and Tips

September 6, 2023

With an acceptance rate still above 50%, it would be easy to misjudge how challenging the Penn State admissions landscape truly is. In fact, those entering the famed University Park campus sport mid-50 SATs of 1270-1450. They also boast an unweighted GPA range of 3.59-3.93 . Additionally, successful applicants in 2023-24 should prepare to write a strong Penn State supplemental essay.

(Want to learn more about How to Get Into Penn State? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into Penn State University: Admissions Data and Strategies  for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

In a competitive admissions environment, every piece of the Penn State application takes on a high level of importance. Therefore, it is vital that all Nittany Lion applicants dedicate a significant amount of time to this optional essay. Below is the lone PSU supplemental prompt for the 2023-24 admissions cycle along with our advice for composing a winning essay.

Penn State Supplemental Essay Prompt #1 (Optional)

Please tell us something about yourself, your experiences, or activities that you believe would reflect positively on your ability to succeed at penn state. this is your opportunity to tell us something about yourself that is not already reflected in your application or academic records. we suggest a limit of 500 words or fewer..

This essay is technically “optional” but all serious applicants should view it as mandatory. Unlike many “optional” essays that may or may not apply to you (e.g. COVID impact, gap in education, gender identity etc.), just about every applicant has at least one extracurricular or experience worth elaborating on.

The activity/experience angle

With this prompt, Penn State is not necessarily asking you to write about the activity where you earned the most prestigious awards. Nor are they looking for the one where you held the highest position of leadership. The university is going to see all of your activities in that section of the Common App. As such, you want to ask yourself which of your entries is crying out for more explanation and detail. Which one is closest to your heart and most representative of your unique passions? Pick the option that will allow you to deliver additional detail that may be memorable to the admissions reader. For example, you may be a volunteer EMT and have compelling, drama-filled experiences to share.

Alternatively, you may have worked in local restaurant and learned more about the lives of your undocumented coworkers. Start this process by asking, “What is the most interesting and consequential moment I have experienced in my extracurricular activities?”

If you can identify one clear-cut moment, that is likely the activity worth sharing with the Penn State admissions staff.

The more broad “about you” angle

Of course, this prompt has a wider scope than just an activity. You can also take this opportunity to share something personal. After completing your Common App, is there anything that you have yet to share that is absolutely elemental to who you are as a person/student? Without the benefit of an in-person interview, it may feel like you never fully had a chance to connect intimately with a PSU admissions officer. Perhaps you have not communicated the full you, your true essence, your je ne sais quoi. If you feel something important about yourself has yet to be communicated elsewhere in the application, then this essay is about to become your best friend.

Consider that the admissions reader is already familiar with your academic history, activities, and awards. What don’t they know, or, what could they understand on a deeper level. This could be a particular skill or talent or something about your character or personality. On the other hand, you may wish to speak more about your passions, hobbies, ideas, or beliefs. Any of those options are perfectly fine!

This one is intentionally open-ended so use this space to share your most cherished accomplishments or most winning attributes. The university itself is, in essence, inviting you to make a “closing argument” at the end of this admissions trial.

How important is the Penn State supplemental essay?

The essays (the Common App essay and supplemental essay) are not among the most important factors to the admissions committee. GPA and the rigor of one’s courses are at the top of the list. However, the essays can help borderline applicants push themselves over the edge toward an acceptance.

Want Personalized Essay Assistance?

Lastly, if you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your Penn State supplemental essay, we encourage you to  get a quote  today.

• College Essay

Andrew Belasco

A licensed counselor and published researcher, Andrew's experience in the field of college admissions and transition spans two decades. He has previously served as a high school counselor, consultant and author for Kaplan Test Prep, and advisor to U.S. Congress, reporting on issues related to college admissions and financial aid.

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Prompt's How-to Guide for the Penn State Schreyer Honor College Essay

How to nail the penn state schreyer honors college application: a step-by-step guide to writing a winning essay..

If you’re applying to Penn State’s Schreyer Honors program, you need to prove yourself from minute one: they’ve got three required essays that are all about showing off your critical reasoning skills.

For a cheat sheet on how to think this through and structure your essays, check out our Penn State Schreyer Honors essay guide for 2020-21 , drawn from our long experience at Prompt helping applicants get accepted. And if you’d also like personalized guidance from people who’ve done this thousands of times, get started with us here .

Penn State supplemental essay prompt for 2020-2021 for the Schreyer Honors program

• "Get comfortable with being uncomfortable." What does this statement mean to you and can it affect what you do?
• What is fairness in the world? Is merit always the pinnacle of fairness in education?
• We hear a lot about effective leadership but typically, leadership implies that there are followers. What is effective followership?

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How to Write a Penn State Essay in 3 Steps

College Essays

If you want to go to Penn State , then the Penn State essay is one of your big chances to show how you’re different from other students in your application for admission . In order to really make this component of the application work to your advantage, you’ll need a solid strategy for writing a concise, unique, and persuasive Penn State essay!

Writing your Penn State admissions essay might seem intimidating at first, but we’re here to guide you through the process. This article will help you write a stellar Penn State essay by: 

• Explaining purpose of the Penn State Essay
• Outlining the three steps to writing a solid Penn State Essay
• Providing a breakdown of Penn State essay examples
• Giving you three practical tips for writing an exceptional essay

Let’s dive in!

The Penn State essay is an important part of your Penn State application because it can make you stand out from other applicants!

What’s the Penn State Essay?

The Penn State essay, sometimes also called the Penn State supplemental essay, is a 500 word written response included in the Penn State application for admission . 

The prompt for this essay invites applicants to tell the admissions committee about themselves. Here’s the prompt you’ll have to answer:

Please tell us something about yourself, your experiences, or activities that you believe would reflect positively on your ability to succeed at Penn State. This is your opportunity to tell us something about yourself that is not already reflected in your application or academic records. We suggest a limit of 500 words or fewer. 

This essay prompt is essentially asking applicants to write a response that is very similar to what is known as a personal statement. College admissions typically use an applicant’s personal statement to better understand who the applicant is as a person and what strengths they will bring to the university. 

In other words, the Penn State Essay response is an applicant’s chance to show what makes them unique in the admissions process. 

3 Steps to Answering The Penn State Essay Prompt

If we break down the pieces of what the Penn State prompt is asking, we can identify three main tasks that you need to complete in order to write a killer essay . These tasks are as follows: 

• Identify something about yourself (e.g. a skill, ability, character trait), one of your experiences, or an activity you have been involved in, and 
• Explain the meaning or significance of that aspect of yourself in order to
• Prove that you embody what it means to be a Penn State student. 

While whipping out a 500 word essay response that covers these topics may sound easy, it’s a bit trickier in practice. It’s important that you think carefully about your strategy and come up with a clear plan for your essay response. Remember: your essay is an important part of your admissions application, so you want to spend time getting it right. 

Now, we’re going to walk you through how to address each of these three major points in your essay in order to make admissions counselors sit up and take notice. 

Step 1: Select a Topic to Write About

To begin the process of drafting your Penn State essay, you need to select a meaningful attribute, experience, or activity that makes a positive case for your ability to succeed at Penn State . You need to identify these meaningful experiences or attributes because of the first part of the Penn State essay prompt, which states: 

Please tell us something about yourself, your experiences, or activities that you believe would reflect positively on your ability to succeed at Penn State. 

To do this, start by taking inventory of the character traits, experiences, or involvement in activities that you’re most proud of, passionate about, or are the most meaningful to you. We recommend you start by writing a list of the things that come to mind. If you want, you can divide it into categories based on character traits/abilities, experiences, and activities. As you put together this list, don’t worry about whether the things you’re coming up with are “good” or not — you’re just brainstorming ideas at this point!  

If you’re stuck and have no idea where to start, that’s okay, too. Try asking yourself these questions to get you started: 

• What is my favorite memory? And why? 
• What’s my favorite thing to do in the whole world? Why do I love it? 
• If my friends had to describe me in one word, what would they say?

Once you start jotting down ideas, you’ll probably find that you’re able to come up with quite a few. The traits, experiences, and activities that you list out can vary widely and come from different areas of your life, including experiences with friends and family, academic pursuits, extracurricular activities, work with community organizations and volunteerism, political activism, travels, strong memories from childhood, or challenges you’ve faced in life. The possibilities aren’t limited to the ones we just mentioned; this list is simply meant to give you a jump start for brainstorming. 

Once you’ve listed out all the meaningful traits/abilities, experiences, and activities that you can think of, evaluate them in order to select one item from the list that you will address in your Penn State essay. To narrow it down to one item, consider asking yourself the following questions: 

• Which of these items do I feel the strongest positive emotional connection to? 
• Which of these items am I the most proud of? 
• Which of these items could I tell a story about? 
• Which of these items makes me unique or different from other people? 

You don’t necessarily have to use these questions to select your essay topic, but if you find that you answer several of these questions with the same experience or activity, that might be a good clue that you should choose that item as the topic of your Penn State essay. 

Once you pick a topic, it's time to figure out what it says about you as a person. This essay is designed to help admissions counselors get to know you. 

Step 2: Think About What Your Topic Says About You 

Once you’ve selected a single character trait/ability, experience, or activity from your list, the second step of responding to the Penn State essay prompt is to tell a compelling story. 

You want to engage your reader while explaining what the trait/activity/characteristic you’ve chosen says about you as a person. 

To get started on this step, it’s a good idea to do some freewriting or brainstorming. Try to identify the ways in which the experience or activity you chose showcased a talent, skill, or ability you possess in a meaningful or valuable way. It’s important to be able to explain your perception of how this experience or activity shaped you into a person who will bring something positive to Penn State.

Here’s what we mean: say Katerina has decided that she wants to write about making the varsity squad for her school’s soccer team. In her freewrite, she writes about how the accomplishment makes her feel (proud, excited, enthusiastic), and she also writes a bit about the hard work it took for her to get there. Not only does she jot down ideas about going to the State tournament and making a game-winning goal, she also writes about how she missed making the squad in 9th grade, but instead of quitting, she got up an hour early every day over the summer to fit in extra practice. 

In this example, Katerina is trying to get a better understanding of why her topic is important to her, and what kind of story she can tell the admissions committee to help them understand her better. In this case, Katerina may decide to focus on how she didn’t give up and put in extra work to make her dreams come true...and it ended up paying off in a big way! 

Keep in mind that it doesn’t matter if the item you choose to write about is the most prestigious accomplishment from your résumé — you have the rest of your Penn State application to account for those accomplishments. Rather, the Penn State Essay is your time to tell the story of the real person behind your long list of accolades. If you can tailor this story to focus on a specific, detailed experience, activity, or positive attribute you possess, your essay will be more impactful.

Step 3: Tie Your Story Back to Penn State

After you’ve nailed down the way that you want to describe your uniqueness as an applicant, you need to define your understanding of what success at Penn State means to you . 

Why do you need to do this? Because of the instructions in the first sentence of the Penn State essay prompt, which states: 

Please tell us something about yourself, your experiences, or activities that you believe would reflect positively on your ability to succeed at Penn State . 

Penn State Admissions wants you to make a clear connection between your reflections on the experience you choose to write about and the opportunities for success that Penn State offers to its students. In order to make this connection effectively in your essay response, you need to explain how your story shows that you’re a perfect fit for Penn State. 

To get started, do your research on the culture, identity, and opportunities provided for students at Penn State . Use any information you may have gathered from visits to Penn State’s campus, attending admissions events, talking with current students or alumni, or perusing Penn State’s website to help you construct a complete picture of the culture of Penn State and what the school has to offer. 

Also, dig into specific opportunities you want to take advantage of while you’re attending Penn State. What does Penn State offer you that no other college can give you? Maybe that’s a specific degree plan, unique courses, or even a specific professor you want to work with. The more specific you are about how you’ll fit into the Penn State community, the better. 

So let’s go back to Katerina. Katerina wants to be an engineer, and in her research, she learned that Penn State’s BEST Center is working on improving battery technology. Since Katerina wants to work in the tech field, the BEST Center will help her prepare for her future career. 

So now Katerina needs to use her story about her soccer experience to explain how she’ll succeed as an engineering student at Penn State . One way she might do that is by saying that engineering is a demanding degree, and the persistence she learned on the soccer field will set her up for doing well as a Penn State engineering student. She could even take it a step further and explain that the creative problem solving she developed in her soccer training will help her succeed as she researches new battery technology as a part of the BEST Center, too.

This definition of “success” should inform how you tell the story of yourself in your Penn State essay. The admissions committee doesn’t expect every applicant to define success in the same way. In fact, Penn State admissions wants to see that you’ve really thought through your potential to be a good fit as a student at Penn State based on a thorough understanding of what Penn State has to offer a student with your past experiences and vision for the future. You should be able to define your path to success and explain how Penn State will help you get there.  

If you're still not sure what your Penn State essay should look like, take a look at our example essay below.

A Penn State Essay Example

There are many different ways that a Penn State essay can be successful but, in general, excellent essays talk about a specific experience, tell a memorable story, and connect the story of that experience to your definition of success at Penn State. 

To help you understand what these moves can look like in practice, let’s check out Penn State essay examples: 

Every morning during the spring of my junior year of high school, my alarm went off at 4:45 a.m. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many people in my hometown were laid off from their jobs struggling to make ends meet. My family owns a farm, and we grow many different types of vegetables and have laying hens, too. So when my morning chores were completed, I would jump in the truck with my dad and my sister to drive into town and deliver free vegetables and eggs to families in need. 

My family could help others because of our farm. That made me think: what if other people could grow their own food and then share what they had with others? That’s why I started an online, community-based agriculture program at my school. I wanted to help others learn how to grow their own food, then share that food with others in their community. 

While the group started out small with just a few students, within three weeks, 40 of my classmates joined in. Together, we organized a seed, plant, and garden tool drive that helped give 70 families in our town enough supplies to start their own small gardens. And many of my classmates have committed to growing gardens of their own! This experience taught me how important agriculture is, but also how agriculture can directly impact the well-being of those around me. 

As a major in community, environment, and development at Penn State, I would have the opportunity to learn about and envision strategies for helping consumers in local communities become aware of and educated about the social and economic benefits to supporting their local farmers. By taking supplemental courses in computer programming, I would prepare myself to create user-friendly online spaces that are dedicated to sharing information about local food systems with consumers in local communities. Ultimately, I believe that Penn State will help me achieve my dream of starting a nationwide, online program to help people in undeserved communities start community agriculture programs of their own. 

Now, let’s break down what this example essay does well. In this essay, the writer provides a clear definition of what success at Penn State will look like for them as a student. This essay emphasizes the student’s personal goals, knowledge of the opportunities Penn State has to offer, and commitment to investing in the Penn State community and society at large . That will definitely make an impact with admissions counselors! 

This student also helps admissions counselors get to know them by telling a story that includes specific details and vivid imagery from an experience that other applicants may not have . The essay helps the reader get a better sense of who this person is, their background, and the things they care about by telling the short story about delivering homegrown care packages to people in the community. This story will help the admissions committee remember the applicant and will set them apart from other applicants as well. 

But most essays aren’t perfect, and this one isn’t, either. One thing this essay response can improve upon is the way in which it connects the student’s idea of success to Penn State . In the last paragraph, the student should focus more on how specific opportunities provided by Penn State’s agriculture department, like its collaborative research into sustainable agriculture , will help the student achieve their goals. 

All in all, t his Penn State essay provides a good example of how to address all aspects of the essay prompt , be clear and concise in your writing, and reveal important aspects of who you are as a person that your other application materials may not show. 

3 Tips for Writing an Excellent Penn State Essay

You want your Penn State essay to persuade admissions that you’ll be a fantastic addition to Penn State’s incoming class. To help you present yourself in a way that Penn State admissions will remember, check out our three tips for writing an outstanding Penn State essay to help you stand out from the crowd. 

Tip 1: Be Specific

If you want your Penn State essay to be memorable, you need to be specific . Throwing out a bunch of abstract character traits or claims as to why you’ll be successful at Penn State won’t help your essay stand out. Instead, give your essay a coherent focus by selecting one or two related character traits, experiences, or activities that show your ability to be successful at Penn State. 

The point of the Penn State essay is to shoot for depth, not breadth. You already showcase your grades, coursework, and awards through other parts of your Penn State application. The essay is the time to reveal more about who you are and what you will bring to Penn State by showing how you’ve been successful in a past situation. Choosing a specific experience and diving into the details of it will show that you’re more than just a list of achievements on a résumé—you’re a real human being. 

Tip 2: Give Concrete Examples

When writing your Penn State essay, examples are a crucial form of support. When you select one or two specific elements  to focus on in your essay, you need to be able to elaborate on those things through specific and engaging examples. 

For instance, you don’t want to simply say, “My adaptability to a range of situations predicts my potential for success as a student at Penn State.” An admissions committee may read that sentence and ask, What makes you so adaptable? What activities or experiences demonstrate evidence of your adaptability? What has your adaptability helped you achieve or accomplish? 

Instead of making a vague, abstract claim like the one in the paragraph above, you need to be more specific, which you can do by providing an example . 

Here’s how a writer could elaborate on their adaptability in their essay: 

Starting your senior year of high school at a new school probably sounds daunting, but after moving seven times in seven years, I was prepared for the ins and outs of being the new kid on my last first day of school. Moving so many times due to my father’s work in the military has given me the opportunity to experience different cultures, learn new languages, and cultivate the ability to make meaningful connections with new people who are very different from me in a matter of minutes. During my senior year at a new school, I used these skills to mobilize my fellow students for a school wide walkout in support of DACA. 

Do you see the difference? The example above gives specific details of what life experience led this student to become adaptable rather than simply making an unsupported claim .

This example is also memorable because it uses vivid language. When you read it, you can imagine the student traveling the world, confidently stepping foot into a new school, and building connections with fellow students for social action. 

In your Penn State essay, examples like this one can be used to make meaningful connections between your vision for your life as a student and a clear definition of success . Using examples in this way will make your essay memorable and unique. 

Tip 3: Don’t Rehash Your Résumé

It’s tempting to rehash the list of accomplishments on your résumé in your Penn State essay, especially if your résumé is packed full of prestigious awards and experiences. However, keep in mind that there are other areas of the Penn State application that explicitly ask for this information. 

When the admissions committee sits down to read your essay response, they’re looking to learn something new about you—something that your résumé can’t tell them . So, instead of listing off accomplishments or stating the facts of what you’ve achieved, pick an aspect of who you are that might not be super apparent. That can include personality traits (maybe you’re really funny), unique experiences you’ve had (maybe you rescued kittens one summer!), or something else that makes you uniquely you. 

Just remember: your essay is a chance for you to make a powerful impression on your readers, so don’t waste it! 

Next Steps 

If you’re applying to Penn State, you need to make sure you’re meeting some of the school’s other admissions requirements . Here’s a guide to the Penn State admissions process to get you started . You can also learn more about the Penn State ACT and Penn State SAT standards , too. 

Are you looking for more college essay tips and tricks? Don’t worry: we’ve got 13 more for you! 

If you’re applying to other schools besides Penn State, y ou may find that you have to write “Why This College?” essays . If you’re not sure what those are, be sure to check out this article.

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Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

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Penn State Supplemental Essay 2023-24

Penn state supplemental essays 2023-24.

With test-optional colleges like Penn State on the rise, mastering the Penn State supplemental essay has never been more important. Beyond seeing a strong academic record, the admissions team wants to hear directly from you. That is why including a top tier Penn State essay is so valuable in the admissions process. But, before we jump into the Penn State supplemental essays, let’s learn a little more about the university.

Penn State University , situated in the vibrant state of Pennsylvania , is one of the top public universities in the nation. With a rich history of academic excellence, Penn State draws in a diverse and dynamic community of students. Each year, thousands of aspiring scholars submit their applications yearly, eager to join Penn State’s thriving community. As a result, Penn State enrollment is currently over 80,000 students across its multiple campuses. Wondering how to get into Penn State? Keep reading.

In this guide, we’ll dive into how to get into Penn State University by focusing on the Penn State essays.

Specifically, this guide will:

• Look at the Penn State University essay requirements
• Explore Penn State admissions criteria
• Dissect Penn State essay prompts
• Offer valuable insights for crafting exceptional Penn State essays

After reading this guide, you’ll have the tools you need to craft compelling Penn State essays. So, when you apply , you can be sure your application will leave a lasting impression on the Penn State admissions committee. 

Let’s begin this exciting journey of learning about Penn State supplemental essays!

Penn State Essays: Quick Facts

Penn state essay: quick facts.

• Penn State University Acceptance Rate: The acceptance rate is 55% – U.S. News notes the early acceptance rate is 65.3%.
• Penn State University Academic Profile: Class of 2026
• Common Application
• MyPennState
• Early Action: November 1st
• Recommended Regular Decision: December 1st 
• Please Note: First-year applications may be submitted through July 28th. However, since Penn State operates on a rolling basis, acceptances may become more limited later in the admissions cycle. For this reason, we recommend submitting your application by the Recommended Regular Decision deadline.
• Common Application Personal Statement (Optional): Choose from Common Application 2023-2024 Prompts (650 words)
• Penn State Personal Statement (Optional): Focused on Getting to Know the Applicant (500 words) 
• Students who submit applications after November 1st will not receive an invitation to interview.
• Final Application Deadline: December 4th 
• Supplemental Essay Requirements: 2 800-word maximum essays, 8 200-word short answer responses.

Please note that essay requirements are subject to change each admissions cycle, and portions of this article may have been written before the final publication of the most recent guidelines. For the most up-to-date information on essay requirements, check the university’s admissions website.

Does Penn State have supplemental essays?

Yes, Penn State has one Penn State supplemental essay. This Penn State supplemental essay is also known as the Penn State personal statement. Unlike other universities with required supplemental essays, this essay is optional. That means you only have to write a Penn State supplemental essay if you choose to.

The Penn State supplemental essay asks students to share something about themselves that would enhance their application. You can view this optional essay as an opportunity to share something not reflected elsewhere in your application.

Although optional, the Penn State supplemental essay can add irreplaceable value to your application. The Penn State supplemental essay provides you with the chance to showcase your academic interests, personal highlights, and unique qualities to the Penn State admissions committee. For these reasons, we advise you not to skip the Penn State supplemental essay just because it is not required. 

Penn State Supplemental Essay: Schreyer Honors College

The initial Penn State University application for admission does not have a mandatory Penn State supplemental essay. However, if you plan on applying to Penn State Schreyer Honors College, you will be required to submit several supplemental essays. 

Now that we have answered the question “does Penn State have supplemental essays?”, let’s take a closer look. In the following sections, we’ll explore the Penn State essay prompts for your application to Penn State and the Honors College. (We’ll also share our advice on effectively responding to the various Penn State essays, so look out for helpful tips!)

Penn State Essay Prompt #1 (Optional Essay)

In the writing section of the Common Application, you will be prompted with a Penn State supplemental essay. The prompt for the Penn State personal statement reads as follows:

Penn State Essay Prompt #1

Please tell us something about yourself, your experiences, or activities that you believe would reflect positively on your ability to succeed at penn state. this is your opportunity to tell us something about yourself that is not already reflected in your application or academic records. .

In your Penn State personal statement, you should aim to provide additional insights into your character or experiences. Specifically, you’ll want to connect how those experiences will aid in your success at Penn State.

Just like your Common App personal statement, your Penn State personal statement should share something personal. Consider a unique aspect of your life or experiences that sets you apart from other students. It could be a personal passion, a formative experience, or an activity that has had a significant impact on your development. Aim to share something new in your Penn State personal statement, rather than something already mentioned in your Penn State application.

However, you’ll need to do more than just summarize an experience. The Penn State personal statement asks you to reflect on how this experience has helped shape your character. Consider how this experience impacted your personal growth, resilience, or adaptability. Explain how it aligns with Penn State’s values and your intended field of study.

Should I respond to the optional Penn State essay?

The Penn State personal statement is optional. So, you may be asking yourself whether or not you should choose to respond to the Penn State essay. Well, the short answer is – yes, you should respond to the optional Penn State essay, and this is why. 

While the Penn State essay isn’t required, it offers a valuable chance to enhance your college application. By responding to the Penn State supplemental essay, you can present a more compelling portrait of yourself to admissions officials. The Penn State supplemental essay allows you the chance to convey your enthusiasm and what is important to you. And, you can clearly demonstrate your alignment with Penn State University’s values and academic or extracurricular opportunities.

If these reasons don’t convince you to write your optional Penn State essay, maybe this will. Each year, Penn State University admissions release their application review process. This review highlights how the university evaluates applicants for acceptance. Currently, they highlight students’ academic performance, geographic and cultural background, and various roles as a student, sibling, volunteer, etc. Penn State uses these factors to determine how an applicant might contribute to a diverse student body. So, these are key topics you might want to touch on in your Penn State essays.

Considering the review process mentioned above, the Penn State essay allows you to go beyond academic excellence. The Penn State supplemental essay offers you the chance to highlight your various passions and roles, even non-academic ones. Take this opportunity to showcase how you’ll contribute to Penn State University’s mission of having a diverse student body!

Applying to Schreyer Honors College

Attending Penn State University is an incredible opportunity for students. However, you may choose to further your academic opportunities by applying to Penn State Schreyer Honors College . Students applying to Penn State Schreyer should embody their values of academic excellence, leadership, and community engagement. 

The Penn State Enrollment in 2022 was 88,116 . While Penn State enrollment is high amongst general education collegiate students, Penn State enrollment at Penn State Schreyer is only about 1,200 students. So, it shouldn’t be surprising that the honors college program is incredibly competitive.

When applying be sure to follow these steps: 

Schreyer Honors College application steps:

• Begin the application process early, ensuring you meet Penn State’s general admission requirements. 
• Choose a major aligned with your interests and career goals. 
• Use your Penn State supplemental essays to showcase your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and volunteer work, emphasizing leadership roles and community service. Be yourself in your Penn State essays and application, as authenticity matters. 
• Always meet deadlines and be prepared in the event you are selected for an interview. 

How many essays are required for my Schreyer Honors College application?

In comparison to writing just one Penn State supplemental essay, Penn State Schreyer distinguishes itself with multiple required application essays. To gain acceptance to Penn State Schreyer Honors College, applicants are tasked with two types of essays. Students must complete two 800-word maximum Penn State essays and respond to eight 200-word short answer questions.

The combination of longer Penn State essays with shorter responses fosters a holistic evaluation of applicants. These prompts allow the Penn State admissions committee to assess many qualities of your character. Everything from academic accomplishments, character, and potential contributions to the university community.

In the next section, we’ll briefly break down each of the prompts for the Penn State Honors College supplemental essays.

Penn State Honors College Supplemental Essays

As previously stated, Penn State Schreyer Honors College has multiple Penn State essays. These Penn State Honors College supplemental essays are diverse and allow prospective students to present a comprehensive picture of themselves. For success, you must know the differences between the various Schreyer Honors College prompts and how to respond best. 

This section will dive deep into each of the Penn State essay prompts for Penn State Schreyer. Let’s get started. 

The first two Penn State Honors College supplemental essays are 800-words maximum. They ask two questions using two distinct Penn State essay prompts.

Penn State Schreyer Honors College Supplemental Essays: Prompt One

Schreyer honors college supplemental essay prompt #1, describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. it can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma – anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could take to identify a solution..

To respond to this Penn State essay prompt effectively, select a problem that resonates with you. It might be an academic challenge, a societal issue, or a moral dilemma. In your response, you’ll want to:

• Describe the problem clearly
• Emphasize its significance
• Highlight your emotional connection
• Explain how it aligns with your values or interests.

Next, delve into the steps you have already taken or envision taking to address this issue. Discuss:

• Your thought process
• Research you conducted
• People you consulted
• Any actions you’ve initiated

Reflect on what you’ve learned from this problem-solving experience and how it has influenced your growth or aspirations.

Penn State Schreyer Honors College Supplemental Essays: Prompt Two

Schreyer honors college supplemental essay prompt #2, isaac asimov wrote: “any book worth banning is a book worth reading.” do you agree is such censorship ever justified if not, explain why. if so, who or what should determine which books are read and which books are forbidden..

When tackling this Penn State essay prompt, start by expressing your stance on Asimov’s statement, either agreeing or disagreeing. Be sure to provide thoughtful arguments to support your viewpoint.

If you agree with Asimov, discuss the value of engaging with challenging or controversial literature. What benefits can it bring to society? What moral, legal, or ethical issues does censorship raise? If you disagree, explain the circumstances under which censorship might be justified, such as protecting public safety or vulnerable populations. Be sure to consider who should have the authority to make decisions regarding banned books. 

Ultimately, your response should convey a deep understanding of censorship’s complexities and a clear stance on the matter. Whether you agree or disagree, be sure to back up your answer with specific details and reasonable justification.

Penn State Schreyer Honors College Supplemental Essays: Short Answer Prompts

In addition to the longer Penn State essays, Penn State Schreyer requires applicants to respond to 8 short-response questions. These questions have a 200-word limit and are designed to provide quick glimpses into your interests. The eight Penn State essay prompts are as follows: 

Schreyer Honors College Supplemental Essays Short Answer Prompts

1. what do you hope to get at penn state as a schreyer scholar to help you accomplish your future goals and aspirations, 2. if you were able to go anywhere in the world, outside of the country you currently reside, where would you go and why, 3. tell us about your leadership experiences (community roles, family contributions, research, clubs, organizations, etc.) and why leadership is important to you. describe the challenges and/or successes you’ve faced in these roles., 4. list awards or other recognitions you have received in or outside of school over the last 4 years. which award or recognition means the most to you and why, 5. tell us about a book or other media that has made you think about something in a new way., 6. consider a time when you had to collaborate with individuals from diverse backgrounds or with different perspectives. how did this experience contribute to your personal growth and understanding of others, 7. everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups, including: shared geography, faith, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, or intellectual heritage. choose one of the communities or groups to which you belong and describe how it has influenced your life over the last four years., 8. please use this space to share information you would like us to consider that has not been discussed elsewhere in your schreyer honors college application. this could include obstacles you’ve overcome, something you’re proud of that is not discussed elsewhere, or anything else you choose..

These short answer prompts are specific, so be sure to respond to the questions accordingly. With a smaller word limit, you’ll need to stay focused on a clear topic and relevant connected ideas. Rather than worrying about how you think a Schreyer Scholar might answer, be honest in your Penn State essays. Picking topics you’re passionate about is a surefire way to capture your authentic self, even in these shorter essays.

Up next, we’ll discuss how to respond to all Penn State essay prompts in order to enhance your overall application.

How to write Penn State supplemental essays

When writing Penn State essays, it’s crucial to ensure they enhance and strengthen your Penn State application. Below are our suggestions to help make your Penn State supplemental essays stand out:

1. Embrace authenticity and personal voice in each Penn State Essay

Infuse your Penn State supplemental essays with your genuine self. Share personal anecdotes and experiences that have shaped your values, passions, and aspirations. Avoid generic responses and instead focus on the distinctive aspects of your life journey.

2. Demonstrate knowledge and alignment with Penn State Universit y

Research Penn State University thoroughly. Understand the university’s values, mission, academic programs, campus culture, and initiatives. Integrate this knowledge into your Penn State essays to demonstrate your sincere interest and alignment with Penn State.

3. Prioritize proofreading and refinement in your Penn State Essays

Pay meticulous attention to proofreading and editing your Penn State essays. Ensure impeccable grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. Verify the clarity and coherence of your ideas. Given the limited word count, every word must be chosen wisely and redundancy should be eliminated.

Try incorporating these strategies into each Penn State supplemental essay. For each prompt, showcase your unique qualities and underscore the valuable contributions you can bring to the Penn State community. Remember, Penn State supplemental essays are your opportunity to shine. And, moreover, convince the admissions committee that you are an excellent fit for Penn State University.

Does Penn State care about essays?

Historically, admissions officials at Penn State University have placed significant weight on a student’s academic performance. But, times are shifting, and each Penn State supplemental essay is becoming more important than ever. 

Currently, Penn State University has a test-optional policy for those applying for Fall 2024 admission. This shift shows that Penn State recognizes the limitations of standardized test scores. While still valuable, they can’t always accurately or completely assess a student’s potential, capabilities, and alignment with their academic community. As a test-optional school, Penn State places increased emphasis on other components of the Penn State application process. This primarily includes Penn State supplemental essays.

Each Penn State supplemental essay gives you unique opportunities to illuminate your distinct perspectives, life experiences, and personal attributes. The university gains a more comprehensive and holistic understanding of you through your Penn State supplemental essays. Ultimately, these Penn State essays offer a deeper insight into applicants’ character, intellectual curiosity, and alignment with Penn State’s core values. 

More Essay Resources from CollegeAdvisor

CollegeAdvisor offers a range of valuable resources to help guide you through the post-secondary admissions process. Our goal is always to help students maximize their admissions odds, especially by crafting compelling college essays. So, here are a few of our favorite essay resources:

• College Essay Topics Guide : This is a comprehensive guide to help you choose compelling and relevant essay topics for your college applications. This resource provides valuable insights into crafting essays that highlight your personal experiences, interests, and aspirations.
• How to Write Better Essays : Our guide on writing better essays equips students with valuable tips, strategies, and techniques to enhance their essay-writing skills. You can apply any of these tips to your Penn State supplemental essays.
• Common App Essay Examples : The Common App essay is crucial to many college applications, including Penn State. CollegeAdvisor offers a collection of real Common App essay examples to inspire and guide students in creating compelling narratives.

Penn State Supplemental Essays – Takeaways

Navigating the college application process can be exciting and challenging. Knowing what to say and how to say it is an increasingly valuable skill. Here are seven takeaways to keep in mind when considering the Penn State supplemental essays:

7 Key Takeaways for Penn State Supplemental Essays

• Penn State University highly values its Penn State supplemental essays in its admissions process. They provide a holistic view of applicants that would otherwise be less dimensional.
• Penn State’s application offers one optional Penn State supplemental essay, in addition to the Common Application personal statement. The optional Penn State supplemental essay is called the Penn State personal statement.
• The Penn State personal statement asks applicants to share a life experience or activity that will contribute to their success at Penn State.
• Responding to these optional Penn State essays can help applicants showcase their uniqueness, enthusiasm, and alignment with Penn State’s values.
• The Penn State Schreyer Honors College application also has Penn State supplemental essays. These Penn State supplemental essays are mandatory for honors college applicants.
• Penn State Schreyer Honors College application essays include two 800-word maximum essays and eight 200-word short answer responses. These Penn State essays allow applicants to present a comprehensive picture of themselves.
• To excel at these Penn State supplemental essays, craft your responses authentically, align them with Penn State’s values, and demonstrate knowledge about the university. Also, proofread and refine your Penn State essays to ensure clarity and engagement!

Understanding the role of Penn State University supplemental essays and adhering to these tips can undoubtedly enhance your application. Still have questions about how to get into Penn State? Speak with one of our admissions experts today!

This article was written by senior advisor, Ashley Hollins . Are you looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. Our team will discuss your profile during your meeting and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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How to Respond to the 2023-2024 Penn State Supplemental Essay Prompts

Varonika Ware is a content writer at Scholarships360. Varonika earned her undergraduate degree in Mass Communications at Louisiana State University. During her time at LSU, she worked with the Center of Academic Success to create the weekly Success Sunday newsletter. Varonika also interned at the Louisiana Department of Insurance in the Public Affairs office with some of her graphics appearing in local news articles.

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Cari Schultz is an Educational Review Board Advisor at Scholarships360, where she reviews content featured on the site. For over 20 years, Cari has worked in college admissions (Baldwin Wallace University, The Ohio State University, University of Kentucky) and as a college counselor (Columbus School for Girls).

Pennsylvania State University , commonly known as Penn State, is a public land-grant research university located in State College, Pennsylvania. It is widely known for its high ranking athletics and undergraduate degree programs. We are here to help you respond to the Penn State supplemental essays , so keep reading!

The Penn State prompts

The Penn State supplemental essays might be optional for all applicants, but going the extra mile shows your interest in the university and showcases your talents. Your story is important, and Penn State wants to hear about it. This is why they also include a supplemental essay for potential students that have taken time off before applying to college. 

“ Optional : Please tell us something about yourself, your experiences, or activities that you believe would reflect positively on your ability to succeed at Penn State. This is your opportunity to tell us something about yourself that is not already reflected in your application or academic records. We suggest a limit of 500 words or fewer.”

This prompt is the classic “who are you beyond academics?” question. Penn State and many other colleges want to get to know their applicants to determine if it’s the right fit. It’s important for your personality to shine through in this essay, and being authentic is a necessary component.

Make your Penn State supplemental essay specific to you and your journey. Start by figuring out a main topic for your essay that isn’t so general that it could apply to any of the other applicants.

However, the story you share with the admissions office should relate to what you hope to accomplish or contribute to the Penn State community. This includes hobbies that might have inspired you to choose your major as well as ways you contributed to your current community in a way that you hope to make a similar impact at Penn State. You might also want to mention a course that Penn State exclusively offers that relates to an interest you have. 

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Questions to consider.

• What is the story I want to tell Penn State?
• What are some notable experiences, interests, or hobbies that I have?
• Why did I choose to apply to Penn State?

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Remember: This prompt is only for applicants who are sending in their application sometime other than their senior year of high school.

“ Please use this space to explain any time that has elapsed between your high school graduation and your anticipated enrollment at Penn State. Please provide a summary of why that gap occurred. If you attended another college or university during that time, please note it below and ensure that you have entered the information in the Academic History section of this application . ( 500 words ) ”

Everyone’s college journey is different, with some not enrolling in college the fall after graduating high school. Whether you took a gap period to travel or to prepare for university, this is your opportunity to share your experience with Penn State. 

You might’ve taken the time to travel, recoup from years in school, or start an entirely new adventure. You might have taken the time to seek experience and save money by working. Whatever your reasons, this supplemental essay prompt allows you to emphasize the importance of your gap period and how it has shaped you.

When writing your essay, try to include why you want to attend Penn State after your time off. Make them a part of your story, and explain how you hope to further develop once you attend. 

Be aware of the word count, it’s a bit more fixed than the other supplemental essay prompt. It might be hard to hit the exact limit, so go back and proofread before adding any additional sentences. A couple words here and there are quick to stack up!

Also see: What is a gap year? Everything you need to know

• Why did I want to take a gap year?
• What did I accomplish during my gap year?
• How did taking this time shape me as a person?
• In what ways do I feel more prepared to start college now (specifically at Penn State)?

Don’t miss: Top reasons to take a break from college

Next steps for students

As you go through the college application process, mark your calendar with important deadlines! By doing this, you can accurately plan and get things done in advance. You could circle the date for admission notifications or schedule a campus tour.

Penn State has multiple campuses for applicants to choose from, and they also offer virtual tours, so you can get a quick look before visiting in person. The website even gives brief overviews of each location in Pennsylvania along with degrees, housing, and extracurriculars offered there. 

Remember to check Penn State’s social media pages to stay updated on important events and dates. You’ll also be able to get a glimpse of what Penn State is like and how you might fit in there. Good luck on your path toward success!

Additional resources 

Now you know how to ace the Penn State supplemental essays. But the work is not done! You can never be too prepared for college, so here’s a couple resources to make the transition smoother: 

• Figure out the major that’s right for you
• Decide on applying early decision or early action
• Choose different types of scholarships to apply to
• How to write an essay about yourself

Other colleges to consider

• University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)
• University of Illinois (Urbana-Campaign, IL)
• Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN)

Frequently asked questions about the Penn State supplemental essays

Can i apply to penn state through the common app, is the penn state optional supplemental essay worth writing, how long should the penn state supplemental personal essay be, scholarships360 recommended.

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About  Penn Statements

Every year, first-year writers are able to see their work published in Penn Statements , a collection of student writing used in every first-year writing course. Compiled and edited by the Program in Writing and Rhetoric, Penn Statements seeks to provide examples of how other students have responded to first year writing assignments that enliven classroom discussion, prompt reflective journaling, and enrich instructors’ assignment preparation.

Access Penn Statements : https://sites.psu.edu/pennstatements/

For Students

We welcome all submissions. Are you particularly proud or excited about an essay you’ve written in ENGL 15 or 30? Feel free to submit your essay for consideration by using the link on the right and filling out the form. Only one essay per student can be accepted, so choose the one or two essays you feel are the strongest. If your essay is selected for publication, you will be notified usually during the Fall semester.

Submit Your Work to Penn Statements

For Instructors

If you receive a student essay or multimodal project that is particularly outstanding, or that you feel really addresses an assignment in a productive way, we urge you to ask that student to submit their work (as per the instructions above). As with our advice for students, try to avoid submitting an entire semester’s worth of essays. Part of the success of Penn Statements depends on our instructors using and adapting Penn Statements to their classrooms and submitting essays and projects that they feel will be useful in future semesters.

All submissions will be reviewed, with final selections made during the Fall semester and the magazine being published annually in the Spring semester. Importantly, though, the magazine has rolling submissions, so any essay submitted after the final selection will automatically be considered for the next year. In other words, ask your students to submit strong papers at whatever point in a given semester or summer term they produce them, regardless of the deadline. We’re always looking for as many great essays and projects as we can.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, penn state application essay prompt help.

I'm working on my Penn State application and I'm kinda stuck on the essay prompt. Can anyone give me some tips or ideas on how to approach it? Just need a little inspiration to get the writing juices flowing. Thanks in advance!

Certainly! The first step to tackling any essay prompt is to carefully read and understand it. Break it down into smaller parts if needed, and focus on what the prompt is asking you to do or explore. Once you've done that, brainstorm ideas that not only respond to the prompt but also showcase your personality, experiences, and values.

For the Penn State application essay, one of their prompts states: "Please tell us something about yourself, your experiences, or activities that you believe would reflect positively on your ability to succeed in the academic environment and/or help the Penn State community."

To approach this prompt, start by identifying a few key aspects or experiences that you believe best represent your ability to succeed academically and contribute positively to the Penn State community. Remember, this is an opportunity for the admissions committee to get to know you beyond your grades and test scores.

Some possible angles to consider:

1. A personal challenge you overcame and how it shaped your mindset towards academics or life in general.

2. Hobbies or passions that demonstrate your commitment, discipline, or creativity that can be connected to potential academic and extracurricular involvement at Penn State.

3. Leadership experiences in clubs or organizations that reveal your ability to collaborate with others and contribute positively to the college community.

4. A unique perspective or background that you'll bring to the Penn State community, such as being from an underrepresented area, having diverse interests, or participating in niche activities.

Once you've identified the experiences or qualities you'd like to highlight, focus on telling a story. Use descriptive details, emotions, and reflections to immerse the reader in your experience. Then, make sure to connect your story to your ability to succeed at Penn State and contribute to their community. For example, if you discuss your leadership role in a fundraiser, explain how this experience developed your teamwork and communication skills, and how you'd use those skills in student organizations at Penn State.

Lastly, always proofread and revise your essay to ensure clarity, coherence, and grammatical accuracy. Good luck with your Penn State application essay!

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CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

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Ready to start your Penn State story? Learn more about admission requirements, important dates, and other information to get you ready to apply.

Review the basic requirements for two-year and four-year degrees, as well as the additional requirements for special programs.

Follow these steps to complete your Penn State application.

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Find out when you should apply and when you can expect a decision.

Compare your high school record with the academic credentials of our incoming first-year class and get a look at the University’s enrollment statistics.

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Penn State's Commonwealth Campuses have partnered with Pennsylvania Community Colleges to provide a seamless Dual Admissions Program for students seeking to complete a four-year degree at Penn State. 

Penn State accepts online applications through the MyPennState Application and the Common App.

Penn State Schreyer Honors College - do they read common app essay?

Hello Does anyone know if the Penn State Schreyer Honors College admissions reads the Common App essay that I am including in the Penn State application? The two application reviews are supposedly completely separate but do not want to repeat an essay in the Honors application if that is not the case. Thanks!

I don’t know the exact answer to your question but honestly…WHY are you looking for a shortcut or easy way out of an HONORS college application? While they may not read it per se, I wouldn’t be surprised if they looked to make sure it wasn’t the same just so they could use it to eliminate students from consideration.

Not looking for a short cut - the prompt answered for the common app was to share a struggle and and that is the same prompt on the honors app and would like to share that same struggle

Then I would use a different essay prompt for your Penn State application.

The two applications are completely separate. I do not think the honors college sees the regular applications at all.

I asked this question during a Schreyer info session as my daughter spent quite a bit of time on both the Common App essay and the Personal PSU Essay. They confirmed that Schreyer does NOT use either of those essays.

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Essays for application?

Hey everyone! I'm a high school senior applying to Penn State this fall. So Penn State's Common App says the personal essay is optional, and they have another optional supplement asking basically the exact same thing as the personal essay. I also checked their Common Data Set and apparently the essay isn't even considered except for pre-med, which I am not. So is it worth it to submit the essay? I've heard it's good to apply there early, and my personal essay isn't going to be ready for a while yet, so should I forego the essay for Penn State if it's not even considered or should I write it anyway?

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How To Write the Penn State All Applicants Essay

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by admissions counselor Robert Crystal in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info.

What’s Covered:

What is penn state’s all applicants essay prompt, how to approach the penn state all applicants essay, how to make your admissions essay specific to penn state, things to avoid in your penn state all applicants essay.

Penn State asks all applicants to answer the following:

“ Please tell us something about yourself, your experiences, or activities that you believe would reflect positively on your ability to succeed at Penn State. This is your opportunity to tell us something about yourself that is not already reflected in your application or academic records. We suggest a limit of 500 words or fewer. ”

Are you looking for advice on other Penn State Essays? Read CollegeVine’s guide on How to Write the Penn State Supplemental Essays .

One of the main objectives in all college essays, including the Penn State All Applicants Supplemental Essay, is to depict yourself as a strong addition to a specific college’s campus community. To write a good essay, you will need to include significant reflection on particular experiences and demonstrate how your specific personal qualities would benefit you as a member of the community. 

The first part of the prompt is where you are asked to tell the reader something about yourself and your experiences that is reflective of your values, talents, and strengths. The second part is about your ability to succeed at Penn State. Considering what you need to succeed at the university and how your personal strengths will be an asset to you is helpful when starting to brainstorm.

Then, and perhaps most importantly, you need to link the two parts and create a bridge between you and the school. Talking about yourself in a vacuum is ineffective. Rather, describe how and why you will impact this community positively and contribute to this university.

As part of the prompt, Penn State specifies that they want you to write about something not already reflected in your application or academic records. You should take that advice seriously, as they’ve found it important enough to emphasize.

This is an opportunity to write an essay that complements your other application materials, reveals new parts of you, and presents the reader with unexpected information.

Instead of saying that you participated in an extracurricular already listed on your application, for instance, try to “show, not tell” through a specific anecdote.

Don’t Be Too General

First, avoid being too broad. Specificity is key. Almost any poor topic can be strengthened if you make it more specific.

If a student wants to write about friendships they’ve formed, for example, they could consider specific questions to ensure it’s detailed adequately:

• What specific settings have allowed you to form friendships? 
• What is meaningful about the friendships you’re describing? 
• How did you meet those in the friend group you’re describing, and what was challenging in developing those relationships? 
• How have you learned to thrive in new social communities?
• How do you anticipate forming a social network at Penn State?

These kinds of questions exist for any topic, and thinking about what questions to pose about your own topic can help develop your essay.

Don’t Be Overly Cliche

Second, avoid talking about experiences that virtually any applicant will, can, or would share. Persevering through and graduating high school, for example, is something all applicants already have in common.

Topics that may be frequently discussed, though, can be improved through specificity and unique stories. If a student wants to discuss an illness, for example, they could explain how they developed time management skills and sense of perseverance.

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2023-2024 Pennsylvania State

• Thread starter chilly_md
• Start date Mar 22, 2023

Full Member

• Mar 22, 2023

Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine Interview Feedback

positivethoughts333

• Jun 2, 2023

Plain-spoken Texan

positivethoughts333 said: Hello everyone! I just wanted to confirm something related to CASPer. When I google the schools that are requiring CASPer in 2023, Penn State is consistently listed as one of them but I can't find the option to select it on my CASPer/Acuity portal for the 2023-2024 cycle and I can't find anything about it on the Penn State website. Could someone confirm or let me know if I'm just not looking at the right thing so I don't miss sending it to them if they're still requiring it? Thanks so much Click to expand...

• Jun 4, 2023

wysdoc said: When I searched in April 2023 to see which schools would require CASPer for the upcoming cycle, I did see Penn State on the list. You're right, it isn't listed on the Acuity Insights page any more for allopathic MD schools, and their MSAR page now says no SJT's are required. Click to expand...

• Jun 8, 2023

Hi PSU-hopefuls, So exciting that we are starting yet another application cycle. I am about to be an M2 here (yikes!) and was on SDN for my application cycle (2021-2022) and was giving advice in the PSU thread for this past year's applicants. Will be hanging around this thread this year as well. Feel free to PM with any questions!  

AstroSidekick

psucowgirl said: Hi PSU-hopefuls, So exciting that we are starting yet another application cycle. I am about to be an M2 here (yikes!) and was on SDN for my application cycle (2021-2022) and was giving advice in the PSU thread for this past year's applicants. Will be hanging around this thread this year as well. Feel free to PM with any questions! Click to expand...

• Jun 14, 2023

AstroSidekick said: Likewise! I'm an incoming M1 to PSU Hershey and would be more than happy to help answer any questions about the application process Click to expand...

shikshack said: Pl share your stats? Click to expand...

• Jun 15, 2023

• Jul 10, 2023

Does anyone know how strict they are with the LORs here? I have two science faculty letters included, but only one of them actually taught me.  

• Jul 11, 2023

OOS (neighboring state) secondary received @wysdoc Prompts: 5. If not currently enrolled in a full-time academic program, please summate your activities from the time of graduation from your baccalaureate program through the time of this application, as well as your plans between now and your matriculation to medical school. (Maximum 75 words) 10. Is there a unique aspect of your application that should be considered by the admissions committee? (Maximum 75 words) 11. Explain why you decided to apply to the Penn State College of Medicine. (Maximum 75 words) 12. Write a short paragraph describing a significant experience you have had working in a team setting. (Maximum 250 words) 13. Write a short statement describing how you envision using your medical education to advance care for under-represented or marginalized populations. (Maximum 250 words) Could’ve been more prompts under some checkboxes I didn’t click. These are the main ones though  

+1 OOS secondary invite received.  

moonshapedpooll

Hippo.Jr said: +1 OOS secondary invite received. Click to expand...

Lo&Behold

• Jul 12, 2023

OOS 2° received  

Wavin' Howdy 🤠

OOS Secondary Received  

madamemichaelscott

IS 2º Received  

IS secondary received 7/12  

vtea6131 said: OOS haven't received anything yet. Is this the same case for anyone else? First time applying! Click to expand...

paperjam said: OOS secondary received this morning Click to expand...

ranmasaotome

Is anyone's checkboxes not "sticking?" I click them, click save, and then when I go back they're not checked. This is both for the campus security disclosure and the MD-PhD graduate program selection  

Just a PSA: PSU does not require CASPer this year. I emailed and asked.  

for the "is there a unique aspect of your application," anyone have any ideas of what they're looking for? as in your application's general narrative/theme?  

demetriusclair

If not currently enrolled in a full-time academic program, please summate your activities from the time of graduation from your baccalaureate program through the time of this application, as well as your plans between now and your matriculation to medical school. (75 words) Click to expand...

happypremed11234

How much do we need to write to describe activities that meet the prerequisites? And how detailed are people's responses?  

deleted1124957

• Jul 13, 2023

moonshapedpooll said: for the "is there a unique aspect of your application," anyone have any ideas of what they're looking for? as in your application's general narrative/theme? Click to expand...

lalaland1234567890

Sweetpotatofever.

• Jul 14, 2023

• Jul 16, 2023

reptilian said: Does anyone know how strict they are with the LORs here? I have two science faculty letters included, but only one of them actually taught me. Click to expand...

• Jul 18, 2023

orangecremely said: Is anyone having trouble with token verification? I have no idea what that is And didn’t get an email with a code either Click to expand...

harmreductionist81

Vtravel G said: I too don't have non-science LOR, also when applying to this school I looked at MSAR and it did not specify non-science LOR requirement. Click to expand...

deleted1103368

• Jul 20, 2023

Wondering if anyone is able to check the campus security. It says complete but every time I go back it's unchecked.  

lurking100100 said: Wondering if anyone is able to check the campus security. It says complete but every time I go back it's unchecked. Click to expand...

maunmr said: Strange, mine is unchecked too but also says complete. Must be a glitch on their end Click to expand...

MajesticOtter

• Jul 21, 2023

OOS secondary received after primary verification today. Really struggling with the prerequisites section. Like "critical analysis and reasoning skills". Would this be covered by courses? Should I explain anything else? Also, for "Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior", I never took a psych course and I just studied it for the MCAT. Can I say that? Or explain how little bits of this were covered in my various bio courses/seminars?  

• Jul 23, 2023

has anyone emailed the admission office and not receive response --its been about a week and I sent a follow up and still nothing .  

squid_swim13

Write a short paragraph describing a significant experience you have had working in a team setting. (Maximum 250 words) For this prompt how are you all going about it? I thought about talking about a recent research issue we had where we had to brainstorm as a team to solve the major issue, but was not sure if that was what they were looking for or if it moreso an acitivity kind of thing.  

squid_swim13 said: Write a short paragraph describing a significant experience you have had working in a team setting. (Maximum 250 words) For this prompt how are you all going about it? I thought about talking about a recent research issue we had where we had to brainstorm as a team to solve the major issue, but was not sure if that was what they were looking for or if it moreso an acitivity kind of thing. Click to expand...

ayoooooosauce

• Jul 24, 2023

sweetpotatofever said: For question 2a, do they actually want a full list of every med school we applied to previously Click to expand...

coffeespin23

ayoooooosauce said: did you end up putting all your schools lol bc I am at that question now and I am like uhhh Click to expand...

coffeespin23 said: I actually interpreted it as “list the years you applied” so I just said the year I would’ve started med school if I had gotten in, if that makes sense Click to expand...

Dr.WannabeAccepted

sweetpotatofever said: This is how I ended up answering as well Click to expand...

asclepius12

• Jul 26, 2023

Write a short paragraph describing a significant experience you have had working in a team setting. ( Maximum 250 words ) 250 words is really long for a single paragraph...do you think they'd ideally want less than 250 words but one paragraph, or around 250 words but multiple paragraphs?  

asclepius12 said: Write a short paragraph describing a significant experience you have had working in a team setting. ( Maximum 250 words ) 250 words is really long for a single paragraph...do you think they'd ideally want less than 250 words but one paragraph, or around 250 words but multiple paragraphs? Click to expand...

procrastiknitter

wysdoc said: You don't have to write up to the max, see if you can do it in 1 paragraph. Click to expand...

procrastiknitter said: Just now realizing I split mine up into two paragraphs and already submitted.... I was below the max words and it could have been one paragraph but I chose to break it up. Excuse the neuroticism but do you think I'm screwed? Click to expand...

• Jul 30, 2023

Can anyone let me know when y’all get an interview?  

• Jul 31, 2023

can I submit my secondary if I'm still waiting for one letter of rec to be submitted/sent?  

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• Mar 21, 2023

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University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine – UPenn Secondary Essays & Tips

• Cracking Med School Admissions

Getting accepted to Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania is hard. Very hard. Submitting an OUTSTANDING UPenn secondary application is vital to receiving an interview invite, which ultimately can lead to an acceptance. Perelman School of Medicine loves to recruit the best of the best. Although the UPenn secondary essays are short, you have to convey your leadership and vision to advance medicine. Read more of our UPenn secondaries tips below! Your AMCAS primary application and UPenn medical school secondary application must show strong research and strong academics. 

The UPenn secondary application is rather short, so if you receive a secondary from the admissions committee, make sure to fill it out right away. 

Our Cracking Med School Admissions team has a track record of helping our mentees receive acceptances to UPenn Medical School year after year. We are successful in helping students receive acceptances to both MD, MD/MBA, and MSTP (MD/PhD). C ontact us if you want help or have questions about your UPenn secondary essays. 

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UPenn Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2023 – 2024

• If you were offered an option to continue courses with a standard grading system or switch to Pass/Fail, and you chose Pass/Fail, please describe the reason(s) for your decision here. (500 characters max)
• Have you taken any online courses for credit? (Not due to the COVID-19 pandemic)
• Have you been nominated for or received an award from any state, regional or national organization?
• Have you taken or are you planning to take time off between college graduation and medical school matriculation? (500 characters max)
• Have you participated in any global activities outside of the U.S. prior to submitting your AMCAS application? (1,000 characters max)
• Are there any special, unique, personal, or challenging aspects of your personal background or circumstances that you would like to share with the Committee on Admissions, not addressed elsewhere (siblings/relatives at Penn, applying as a couple, educational environment, culture, ethnicity, etc.) (If yes, 1,000 characters max)
• Have you or your family experienced economic hardships? (1,000 characters max)
• Have you been employed at the University of Pennsylvania Health System or Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and worked with a Penn faculty mentor? If yes, please indicate name, department, phone number of faculty, and start/end dates.
• The Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM) is deeply committed to recruiting a diverse class to enrich an inclusive team-based learning experience. How would you and your life experiences contribute to the diversity of the student body and/or how would you contribute to an inclusive atmosphere at PSOM? (1,000 characters max)
• Please explain your reasons for applying to the Perelman School of Medicine. (1,000 characters max)

Tips to Answer UPenn Secondary Essays

UPenn Secondaries Pre-Writing Guidance: The UPenn secondary application is rather short with fewer essays and a low character limit. Many of the questions are yes/no. So if you receive a secondary from the admissions committee, make sure to fill it out right away.  

• Read all our secondary essay tips –   Cracking Med Secondary Essay Workbook and Examples

UPenn Secondary Essays Tip #1: Highlight your leadership, passion to change healthcare, and impact on society. What is your vision to advance medicine? How will you pursue that vision throughout your career in medicine? 

What will make you stand out is if you can convey your desire to be innovative and improve healthcare through interdisciplinary approaches. The undergraduate and graduate schools of University of Pennsylvania are extremely collaborative, and there is a lot of cross-school / cross-department projects. If you like interdisciplinary approaches to improve healthcare, then this school is for you. 

UPenn Secondary Essays Tip #2: Other than leadership & innovation, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania values research and clinical experiences. Make sure to include research + patient care in your UPenn secondaries. 

UPenn Secondary Essays Tip #3: Don’t forget to add awards, even if you included them in your primary application / AMCAS work & activities section.

Common awards mentioned for in UPenn secondaries:  Marshall Scholar, Rhodes Scholar, Fulbright Scholar, Gates Scholar, Truman Scholar, national research grants

UPenn Secondary Essays Tip #4: Be very specific about why you want to go to UPenn School of Medicine. Talk about projects and research you want to do at UPenn. UPenn is a very interdisciplinary institution, so don’t hold back if you have ideas to work with a leader in the business school professor, a nursing in the School of Nursing, or a professor in the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering. Read an example of how to write a strong “ why this medical school ” essay. For this UPenn secondary, you don’t have much space! Be very specific in opportunities you want to take advantage of at UPenn.

UPenn Secondary Essays Tip #5: For the UPenn secondaries question, “ The Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM) is deeply committed to recruiting a diverse class to enrich an inclusive team-based learning experience. How would you and your life experiences contribute to the diversity of the student body and/or how would you contribute to an inclusive atmosphere at PSOM? ” For the diversity essays, remember that diversity is all encompassing. We recommend our students to talk about their strengths and skills they will bring to the Perelman School of Medicine. It is important to convey to UPenn that you have made a big impact on the world through your activities.

• Read more tips for diversity essays:  Medical School Diversity Essay Examples and Tips
• Examples from our past successful students : Innovations through research; Founding a public health organization; Working with the World Health Organization; Leading a global health initiative

UPenn Secondary Essays Tip #6: It is super important that you have guidance from advisors from top medical schools and who repeatedly have helped medical school applicants get accepted to UPenn Perelman School of Medicine. Contact us below. Need editing help on your secondary? We can help you edit and strategize your UPenn secondaries through our secondary essay packages .

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Changing the trajectory of people’s lives.

Undergraduate Princeton University, cum laude

Medical School Stanford School of Medicine

Residency Harvard, Emergency Medicine

Awards & Scholarships Fulbright Scholar USA Today Academic First Team Tylenol Scholarship

Rishi Mediratta, M.D., M.Sc., M.A.

Advising students to attend their dream schools.

Undergraduate Johns Hopkins University, Phi Beta Kappa

Residency Stanford, Pediatrics

Awards & Scholarships Marshall Scholar Tylenol Scholarship Global Health Scholar

stand out from other applicants with our secondary essay edit packages

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Use this essay guide and workbook to write standout secondaries.

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UPenn Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2022 – 2023

• Were there changes to your academic work and/or personal circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic that you would like to share with the committee? Yes or No? If yes, please describe these changes during this time. (500 characters max)

Our students successfully receive interviews at their reach schools.

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UPenn Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2021 – 2022

Upenn medical school secondary application essay prompts: 2020 – 2021.

• Were there changes to your academic work and/or personal circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic that you would like to share with the committee?  Yes or No? If yes, please describe these changes during this time.  (500 characters max)
• If you were offered an option to continue courses with a standard grading system or switch to Pass/Fail, and you chose Pass/Fail, please describe the reason(s) for your decision here.  (500 characters max)
• Have you taken or are you planning to take time off between college graduation and medical school matriculation?  (500 characters max)
• Have you participated in any global activities outside of the U.S. prior to submitting your AMCAS application?  (1,000 characters max)
• Are there any special, unique, personal, or challenging aspects of your personal background or circumstances that you would like to share with the Committee on Admissions, not addressed elsewhere (siblings/relatives at Penn, applying as a couple, educational environment, culture, ethnicity, etc.)  (If yes, 1,000 characters max)
• Have you or your family experienced economic hardships?  (1,000 characters max)
• Please explain your reasons for applying to the Perelman School of Medicine.  (1,000 characters max)

UPenn Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2019 – 2020

• Have you taken any online courses for credit? Yes or No?
• Have you been nominated for or received an award from any state, regional or national organization? Yes or No? List all awards received.
• Have you participated in any global activities outside of the U.S. prior to submitting your AMCAS application? (If yes, 1,000 characters max)
• Have you or your family experienced economic hardships?  (If yes, 1,000 characters max)

UPenn Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2018 – 2019

• Have you taken any online courses for credit?  Yes or No?
• Have you been nominated for or received an award from any state, regional or national organization?  Yes or No?  List all awards received.
• Have you taken or are you planning to take time off between college graduation and medical school matriculation?  (If yes, 1,000 characters max)
• Have you participated in any global activities outside of the U.S. prior to submitting your AMCAS application?  (If yes, 1,000 characters max)

UPenn Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2017 – 2018

Upenn medical school secondary application essay prompts: 2016 – 2017, upenn medical school secondary application essay prompts: 2015 – 2016.

• Have you been nominated for or received an award from any state, regional or national organization? If so, please describe. (Each line, 100 characters max)
• Have you taken or are you planning to take time off between college graduation and medical school matriculation?  (If yes, 500 characters max)
• If you are traveling outside of the U.S. during the application year, will you need special scheduling if invited for an interview? If so, please describe and indicate dates that you are in the U.S. (255 characters max)

UPenn Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2014 – 2015

• Have you been nominated for or received an award from any state, regional or national organization? If so, please describe.  (Each line, 100 characters max)
• Have you taken or are you planning to take time off between college graduation and medical school matriculation?  (If yes, 250 characters max)
• Have you participated in any global activities outside of the U.S. prior to submitting your AMCAS application?
• Are there any special, unique, personal, or challenging circumstances that you would like to share with the Committee on Admissions (siblings/relatives at Penn, applying as a couple, educational environment, culture, ethnicity, etc.)

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