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University of Pennsylvania

3500 Spruce St., Philadelphia, PA 19104

Website: University of Pennsylvania

Photos:

Benjamin Franklin Statue, in front of College Hall
Benjamin Franklin Statue, in front of College Hall
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theU.com - UPENN: "Admissions"
[source]

University of Pennsylvania School Description

The University of Pennsylvania's roots are in Philadelphia, the birthplace of American democracy. But Penn's reach spans the globe.

Faithful to the vision of the University's founder, Benjamin Franklin, Penn's faculty generate knowledge that is unconstrained by traditional disciplinary boundaries and spans the continuum from fundamental to applied. Through this new knowledge, the University enhances its teaching of both theory and practice, as well as the linkages between them.

Penn excels in instruction and research in the arts and sciences and in a wide range of professional disciplines. Penn produces future leaders through excellent programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels.

Penn inspires, demands, and thrives on excellence, and will measure itself against the best in every field or endeavor in which it participates.

Penn is proudly entrepreneurial, dynamically forging new connections and inspiring learning through problem-solving, discovery-oriented approaches.

Penn research and teaching encourage lifelong learning relevant to a changing global society.

Penn is a major urban university that is committed to strength and vitality in each of its communities. Penn's campus is located in Philadelphia, one of America's most historic and livable cities. Our community engagement involves many resources throughout the University.

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University of Pennsylvania

From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

The University of Pennsylvania (commonly referred to as Penn) is a private research university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Penn claims to be the first university and the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States. Penn is a member of the Ivy League and is one of the Colonial Colleges.

Benjamin Franklin, Penn's founder, advocated an educational program that focused as much on practical education for commerce and public service as on the classics and theology. Penn was one of the first academic institutions to follow a multidisciplinary model pioneered by several European universities, concentrating multiple "faculties" (e.g., theology, classics, medicine) into one institution. Penn is today one of the largest private universities in the nation, offering a very broad range of academic departments, an extensive research enterprise and a number of community outreach and public service programs. Penn is particularly well known for its business school, law school and its biomedical teaching and research capabilities.

In FY2009, Penn's academic research programs undertook more than $730 million in research, involving some 3,800 faculty, 1,000 postdoctoral fellows and 5,400 support staff/graduate assistants. Much of the funding is provided by the National Institutes of Health for biomedical research. Penn tops the Ivy League in annual spending, with a projected 2009 budget of $5.542 billion. In 2008, it ranked fifth among U.S. universities in fundraising, bringing in about $475.96 million in private support.

Incorporated as The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn is one of 14 founding members of the Association of American Universities.

History

In 1740, a group of Philadelphians joined together to erect a great preaching hall for the evangelist George Whitefield. Designed and built by Edmund Woolley, it was the largest building in the city and it was also planned to serve as a charity school. The fundraising, however, fell short and although the building was erected, the plans for both a chapel and the charity school were suspended. In the fall of 1749, eager to create a college to educate future generations, Benjamin Franklin circulated a pamphlet titled "Proposals for the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania," his vision for what he called a "Public Academy of Philadelphia." However, according to Franklin's autobiography, it was in 1743 when he first drew up a proposal for establishing the academy, "thinking the Rev. Richard Peters a fit person to superintend such an institution." Unlike the other three American Colonial colleges that existed at the time — Harvard, William and Mary, and Yale — Franklin's new school would not focus merely on education for the clergy. He advocated an innovative concept of higher education, one which would teach both the ornamental knowledge of the arts and the practical skills necessary for making a living and doing public service. The proposed program of study became the nation's first modern liberal arts curriculum.

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Read the full entry on Wikipedia

Quick Facts

Chance of Admission:
Location:
Mid-Atlantic
Setting:
Large City Setting
Type:
Private
Size:
Very Large (+10,000 Undergrad)
Mascot:
Quakers
Nicknames:
Penn, UPenn

Students & Campus Life

Undergraduate Enrollment:
12,092
On Campus Housing:
Available
Full Time Students:
100%
Athletic Programs:
Available
More Students & Campus Life

Expenses

Average Tuition:
$ 35,916
Students Receiving Aid:
59%
More Expenses & Financial Aid

Admissions

Application Fee:
$ 70
Selectivity:
Most Selective
More Admissions

University of Pennsylvania Degree Programs

Associate Degree Programs

Learn more about Associate Degree Programs

Bachelor’s Degree Programs

Learn more about Bachelor’s Degree Programs

Master’s Degree Programs

Learn more about Master’s Degree Programs

Certificate Programs

Learn more about Certificate Programs

University of Pennsylvania Students & Campus Life

General

Full-Time vs. Part-Time
Full-Time 100%
Part-Time 0%
Men vs. Women
Women 57%
Men 43%
Race/Ethnicity
Caucasian 56%
Other 18%
Asian 15%
African-American 7%
Hispanic 4%

Geography

In State vs. Out-of-State
Out-of-State 84%
In-State 16%
Top States for Incoming Freshman
Pennsylvania 16%
New York 12%
New Jersey 9%
California 8%
Maryland 3%
Percent of Students International: 16%

Housing

On-Campus Housing Available: Yes
Percent of Students Living On-Campus: 32%
Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: Yes

Athletics

Member of: NAA, NCAA
Sports Include: Football (Ivy Group)
Basketball (Ivy Group)
Baseball (Ivy Group)
Track (Ivy Group)

University of Pennsylvania Expenses (Tuition & Fees)

Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) Expenses  
Published Tuition and Fees:
 $ 35,916    
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads:
 $ 32,160    
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads:
 $ 3,756    
Financial Aid Avg. Amount Received % of Students Receiving Aid  
Federal Grants:
 $ 6,630 8%  
State and Local Grants:
 $ 3,989 30%  
Institutional Grants:
 $ 20,613 39%  
Student Loans:
 $ 6,276 39%  
Any Aid:
   59%  

University of Pennsylvania Admissions

Acceptance Rate: 16% (Most Selective)
Test Scores  
SAT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting SAT Scores: 98%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Verbal: 650, Math: 680
Top 75th Percentile: Verbal: 750, Math: 770
ACT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting ACT Scores: 30%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Composite: 29, Verbal: 29, Math: 28
Top 75th Percentile: Composite: 33, Verbal: 34, Math: 34

Application Requirements (Undergraduate Only)

Application Fee: $ 70.00
Formal Demonstration of Competencies: Not Required
High School Diploma or Equivalent: Recommended
High School GPA: Required
High School Rank: Required
High School Record: Required
Recommendations: Required
TOEFL: Recommended
Test Scores: Required

College Advice on University of Pennsylvania

Yahoo
Brendon C.
Brendon C.

Question: What should your high school GPA be to ensure admission into the university of pennsylvania?

31 months ago
kimpenn09
kimpe...

Best Answer

There's no such thing as "ensuring" your admission to the University of Pennsylvania. You can have a perfect GPA and STILL be turned down. UPENN is super-competitive, and the school will look at more than GPA. They'll look at your test scores, essays, recommendations, extra-curricular activities, class rank, and awards. They'll also look at your GPA in terms of how difficult your classes are (they'd prefer you to excel in honors/AP classes than in standard non-honors classes), and how tough your school is. According to the Princeton Review, the average GPA for acceptance is 3.83. Good luck.
Brendon C.
Brendon C.

Question: i want to get into the university of pennsylvania what do they look for?

i wanna major in accounting/finance... i took accounting 1 in hs already, i run xc, and play rugby, i will most likely be the president of my xc team and fbla club, and i want to start deca once the school starts, but i took all business courses is that a smart idea? should i be taking precalc and calc? or is accounting 2 and accounting honors better for me?
31 months ago
The Infamous Dr Black
The I...

Best Answer

Your best bet to get into U Penn is to have a well rounded choice of classes. U Penn wants to educate minds. Your accounting classes in hs won't do you much good there. Take all the math, English, science you can. Forget about honors accounting. Take an extra honors English or math course. Be well rounded with good grades. Also, your xc will look good because you just didn't run xc you became xc and fbla pres and that shows leadership skills.
Shanghai
Shanghai

Question: Which would you choose, Harvard Extension School or University of Pennsylvania School of General Studies?

As a County College of Morris (NJ) graduate in spring, '07, I have received a number of high accolades during my time there, including being 1 of the 2 students the team selects per community college across the country to be nominated to the All USA Academic Team in 2007. Two days after being rejected by Cornell, on May 15, Harvard Extension School sends me a congrats on my All USA Academic Team nomination and invites me to earn a degree there. The next day I got rejected from NYU and a week later, I got an acceptance letter from UPenn's School of General Studies. I have an opportunity to stay on-campus there, something Harvard cannot provide for me as an Extension student. What would you do?
33 months ago
nora22000
nora2...

Best Answer

Go visit UPenn. It's wonderful. I loved that campus as a child, and used to ride my bicycle there. As an adult, I watched my daughter go to school there, and she lived on campus for four years. She loved it, she loved the city, she graduated on time in biology and is now at NYU in med school. They are supportive and encouraging to students. You should get the full college experience, and a world-class city at your feet doesn't hurt.
RuneAmok
RuneAmok

Question: University of Pennsylvania?

My niece, who at the moment is planning to be a lawyer, has chosen to attend this college. She had her choices of Madison, Georgetown, New York, and I don't know what all. Naturally she has her own unique reasons for making this choice (which I'll ask her about), but I'm wondering what this college is known for, how it's perceived, is it considered one of the better universities? Does it have a good sports reputation? She's played basketball and was even named player of the year in her division, and now is getting into track. Thanks! I had no idea (obviously!) that it was considered ivy league. The funny thing is that her father is from Pennsylvania and his initials are UP! I have to wonder if that played a role in her choice - lol!
34 months ago
kimpenn09
kimpe...

Best Answer

Assuming you mean University of Pennsylvania, and not Penn State (which is also a pretty darn good school), your niece has chosen to attend one of the top 20 schools in the country. University of Pennsylvania is an Ivy League school located in Philadelphia. They are best known for their school of business, Wharton, but their other schools are also very strong, including their school of Arts and Sciences. Admissions is extremely tough and your niece is very lucky (and obviously smart). As far as a sports reputation, it's not about to win any National championships--it's in a small sports league (actually called the Ivy League) and competes against other Ivy League schools, as well as other schools with similar-caliber sports programs. But the school has just about every major type of team--including football--and there will be plenty of opportunities for your niece to play sports. Just to clarify: a school isn't "considered" Ivy League. It isn't a label assigned to a school because it's good or bad. Ivy League refers to 8 exceptional academic schools that happen to belong to the same sports leage: the Ivy League. Not sure it you knew this, but thought it would be good to clarify because a lot of people think that a school can "join" the Ivy League when it reaches a certain academic level.
Dillon
Dillon

Question: How prestigious is being admitted to the University of Pennsylvania as an undergraduate student?

I'm just looking for opinions. The more detailed your answers, the more likely I'll choose your answer as the best.
35 months ago
Taranto
Taranto

Best Answer

US News ranks Penn #7 in the country -- just ahead of Duke and just after MIT. That is pretty good company. It is the fourth highest rated school in the Ivy League -- behind Harvard, Yale and Princeton, but ahead of Columbia. Some colleges are more prestigious than others. Getting into Wharton as an undergraduate is a lot harder than getting into "the college" (liberal arts & sciences). The engineering program is excellent -- but the truth is that many state schools have better engineering programs (this is true of all the Ivies -- big state schools have great engineering programs). If you can get in there -- I highly recommend it. I've taught finance to students at Berkeley, MIT, Wharton and Maryland. All four schools have great undergraduate programs. The Wharton students were the most brilliant I have worked with.
NONAME
NONAME

Question: University of Pennsylvania or University of Colorado?

Which college is better. Please tell as much as you can about them I would appericate. Thank you very much. Also if you think that there are better colleges please tell me also but include it with which college is better too please. Add anything else that you wish to add but please try to put nice comments and rude comments.
35 months ago
Linkin
Linkin

Best Answer

You party more and likely will have more fun at Colorado. However, since ultimately, college is to learn and to get a job, UPenn BLOWS Colorado away in terms of rep. If I had that choice, I'd totally take UPenn. Can you tell us why you picked those schools? Might help us give better suggestions. I can't figure out why you chose to compare those schools. They're not competitors at all. Totally different locations, totally different if you're an athlete, totally diffrent if you're looking at prestige, etc.
Mover3000
Mover3000

Question: Is University of Pennsylvania the best school in the nation for finance and finance related majors ?

35 months ago
Taranto
Taranto

Best Answer

At what level? On the undergraduate level University of Pennsylvania is clearly the best university for finance. On the MBA level, it is near the top -- and is probably at the top. I would say that University of Chicago, MIT, Stanford and a few other schools are close. For a PhD, I would rank schools as follows: 1. University of Chicago and MIT 3. Stanford University 4. University of Pennsylvania 5 UC-Berkeley and UCLA Other schools that might claim to be in the top ten in finance include: Duke University, Carnegie Mellon, NYU, University of Rochester, University of Michigan, Columbia University and Cornell. Someone up above claimed that Harvard is the best school for finance. Note that I do not include them in my top ten. In fact, I would palso put Maryland, Texas, Northwestern and North Carolina above Harvard for finance. Harvard does not offer an undergraduate degree in business or finance. They have an excellent Master's and Doctoral program -- but are better known for management and strategy than for finance. They do have some outstanding Finance professors -- particularly their recent hires. However, it is a very odd school for finance that is unlike any others. It is one of the better places to go for corporate finance -- and not a very good place to go for capital markets finance. Their MBA classes are all taught using case studies -- so Harvard MBAs usually lack the theoretical basis needed to really understand finance.
cyberkid1029
cyberki...

Question: anybody go or went to the University of Pennsylvania? What are the requirements (GPA, SAT scores, etc.)?

42 months ago
11yrsold
11yrsold

Best Answer

Trust me you can't get into the school without connections I got a 2400 out of 2400, had a 4.3 gpa, was leader of debate, young kids against adversity clubs, golf, captain of football team, etc. all at Hill School, which is very prestigious to say the least. I mean c'mon all the hollywood or sports stars send their children there. I got there by scholarship not with money which is equivalent to that of a regualr college. I was good friends with the Donald's son named Donny too. That school is rediculous, but i'm still tryna get in there for grad school. I'm trying to go to the Wharton school of business, but first i need a real good recommendation. I'm tryna squeeze one out of the Donald himself. So yeah, in essence you could be the ideal student but we are not living in a meritocracy, but rather, a world where social networking is a must-have. Good luck, actually you're better off just not applying. Apply to some other state school like millersville, west chester, kutztown, or some other school
pinknlimited2
pinknli...

Question: please help me, what are my chances of getting to the university of pennsylvania?

hello, i am going to be a junior in high school in about a month, currently have a GPA of 3.8, i came to the united states when i was in 7th grade so the english language was a problem for me. i will have honors classes on 12th grade. i do volunteering, and community services and some clubs. I am nubian from sudan so my race is very uncommon. I am only 15 so when i graduate high school, i will be 16. Please help what are my chances of getting to upenn? also if any 1 is attending there, what was ur GPA and SAT score, and do you kno of any 1 who has GPA less that 3.8 that attends there. i want to study pre-med, so i want to attend school of medicine. i have more than enough credits in high school, like i take classes during my lunch, and advisory, by the time i graduate, i will have 7 science classes, and 6 math classes, 4 social studies, 4 english, 5 spanish classes, i don't kno if that will help please help me. THank YOu.
42 months ago
andmi23
andmi23

Best Answer

I graduated from Penn in 2005. I had a 4.0, I got in the upper 1400s on my SATs, and I got a National Merit Scholarship. I think you're in good shape...it definitely helps that you have such a unique background! If you focus on that in your application essays, that would give you a great advantage. Your GPA is fine for getting in, as long as you're taking challenging classes. I think around a 3.8 is probably the average GPA for accepted students. The more activities and difficult classes you take, the better off you are. Leadership activities and volunteer work help. So keep working at it! You should make sure to visit Penn and any other schools you're interested in this year so you can learn a lot about them and know what you're talking about in your application essays. Good luck! I loved my time at Penn, it's a wonderful school. I hope you get in!
pinknlimited2
pinknli...

Question: to any one that attends upenn, what are my chances of attending the university of pennsylvania?

hello, i am going to be a junior in high school in about a month, currently have a GPA of 3.8, i came to the united states when i was in 7th grade so the english language was a problem for me. i will have honors classes on 12th grade. i do volunteering, and community services and some clubs. I am nubian from sudan so my race is very uncommon. I am only 15 so when i graduate high school, i will be 16. Please help what are my chances of getting to upenn? also if any 1 is attending there, what was ur GPA and SAT score, and do you kno of any 1 who has GPA less that 3.8 that attends there. Thank You. i want to study pre-med, so i want to attend school of medicine. i have more than enough credits in high school, like i take classes during my lunch, and advisory, by the time i graduate, i will have 7 science classes, and 6 math classes, 4 social studies, 4 english, 5 spanish classes.
42 months ago
ajflkajfsalkfsalkfna
ajflk...

Best Answer

it wont help you to find out other peoples scores and gpas because they are other people. however it might interest you to know that there are A LOT of international students at penn!
cheerusa06
cheerusa06

Question: Did anyone go to the University of Pennsylvania?

I'm considering attending the University of Pennsylvania, but I don't know much about it. I live in Indiana right now.. but it seemed like a good idea to go away.. if anyone has been there would you recommend it? I'm interested in majoring in pre-med or chemistry.
43 months ago
Taranto
Taranto

Best Answer

I taught there for three years. It is an excellent school -- ranked in the top ten. It is the largest of the Ivy League schools. It is an urban school. The campus is nice -- but the area of Philsdelphia west of the campus is a little rough. Many students live on campus or in apartments east of campus. Their medical school is one of the best -- so their pre-med program is very good. I was really impressed with the quality of student there. There are very few schools that I would choose over Penn. But there aer a few.
stephanie
stephanie

Question: Who has gotten into the University of Pennsylvania?

What did you do to get in? How many extracurriculars were you involved in? I know this might be personal, but how high was your SAT score? There are many sites that have statistics for the SAT scores of UPenn students, but I want to know if anyone got an average score and got in. How hard was the interview? What questions did they ask? What did you pick for your major? Also, did you apply early decision?
45 months ago
sunshine_today
sunsh...

Best Answer

A friend of mine got in their graduate program. Colleges don't just look at one thing like an SAT score. Colleges first off are looking to attract well-rounded individuals and a diverse student body as a whole. They look at grades, SATS, activities and acheivements you have had, any adversities you may have had to succeed so far, etc. Think of it this way: What do you have to bring to the party? How are you contributing to the diversity at UP? Diversity is more than an ethnic thing--it's hobbies, where you come from, talents, etc. Why do you want to go to that school, how will that school in particular help you acheive your dream? That is what you include in your essay and interview. What you can bring to the school and what the school can give to you. Good luck!
Piana
Piana

Question: Sororities on University of Pennsylvania campus?

I'm looking to join a sorority on UPenn campus. I'm Asian-American but perferably I don't want to attend a sorority exclusive to only Asians. Anyway, I'd appreciated ANY names of UPenn sororityes that I could possibly attend. Also, I don't want to attend any sororities that have really weird pledges or do hazing...that just freaks me out completly. Thanks.
45 months ago
robm425
robm425

Best Answer

I sugesst you check out this site: http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/ofsa/about.html As for hazing I don't know of any sorority girls at penn so i could not give you the skinny but i will tell you there have been no recent reports of hazing in either fraternities or sororities that made it to the news. Hazing depends on the house and how strict national is I have a friend at UVM who pledge process held here higher than the current members, but that house was very strict about following the national rules. Hazing really isn't bad at all for girls is my experience of talking to sisters at many schools

Photos

  • Benjamin Franklin Statue, in front of College Hall
    Benjamin Franklin Statue, in front of College Hall [source]
  • Quad in the Fall, facing Ware College House
    Quad in the Fall, facing Ware College House [source]
  • Lower Quad in Winter, from Riepe College House
    Lower Quad in Winter, from Riepe College House [source]
  • University of Pennsylvania Dental School
    University of Pennsylvania Dental School [source]
  • Logan Hall, home of The College of Arts and Sciences
    Logan Hall, home of The College of Arts and Sciences [source]
  • Overlooking Lower Quad from Upper Quad
    Overlooking Lower Quad from Upper Quad [source]
  • Upper Quad Gate.
    Upper Quad Gate. [source]
  • [source]

Videos

  • theU.com - UPENN: "Admissions"
  • Andrea Mitchell - University of Pennsylvania
  • theU.com - UPENN: "The Scene"
  • theU.com - UPENN: "The Shelter"
  • theU.com - UPENN: "The Setting"
  • theU.com - UPENN: "The Food"
  • theU.com - UPENN: "Academics"
  • theU.com - UPENN: "Intro"
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University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA 19104
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