High School Preparation
As you begin the application process, there are several things you'll need to prepare. This section will help you assess your readiness and guide you in assembling materials.
High School Transcripts
Most successful Penn applicants rank in the top five percent of their secondary school classes, but, because high school programs and grading systems vary widely, we look beyond the class rank. We pay close attention to the types and levels of courses taken and the grades achieved, particularly as they relate to your educational interests and the availability of courses at your high school. For example, the Wharton School requires that applicants have taken Calculus. Penn Engineering requires that applicants have taken Calculus and Physics.
Recommendations
Recommendations from guidance counselors, headmasters, and teachers, considered in concert with your classroom performance, give us a more subjective evaluation of your work. They provide a perspective that may not be evident from mere grades and scores. These commentaries are quite important, so it is best to find persons who are well acquainted with your work and potential. It is also helpful to us, and beneficial to you, to obtain a recommendation from a teacher in the area in which you think you might like to continue your studies.
Advanced Standing
The University of Pennsylvania awards credit or advanced course standing to students who have taken Advanced Placement courses or Higher Level International Baccalaureate examinations administered by the International Baccalaureate Organization. Scores warranting University credit vary according to the departments concerned. Matriculants who are seeking credit for Advanced Placement testing must have official score reports sent directly to Penn by the Educational Testing Service or The International Baccalaureate Organization.- Advanced Placement Policy (with table of exams and credits awarded)
- International Baccalaureate Policy (with table of exams and credits awarded)
- GCSE Advanced (A) Level Examinations
Pre-College Credit
If you have pursued studies at an accredited college or university during your high school years, the Office of Advanced Placement and Transfer Credit will evaluate your credentials on the same basis as those of transfer students.To be eligible, the courses must be taught on the college campus by a member of the regular faculty; they must be open to enrollment by and graded in direct competition with regularly matriculated undergraduates at that college; and they must be part of the normal curriculum published in the institution's catalog. Additionally, courses which are being used to fulfill high school graduation requirements may not also count for college credit.
If your coursework fulfills these criteria, please contact the Office of Transfer Credit for more information at xfer@admissions.upenn.edu.
