Expert Admissions hosted a webinar with the University of Pennsylvania’s Vice Dean and Director of Admissions Jordan Pascucci. We discussed Penn’s admissions process, the role of the essay and the supplemental questions, what makes an effective essay, and ways that AI is changing the admissions process.
Penn’s Admissions Process
The University of Pennsylvania’s admissions process is intentionally holistic, adaptive, and in constant evolution. Each year, the admissions team reflects on the previous cycle, asking what worked well, what could be improved, and how changes in higher education, student behavior, and the enrollment landscape might influence the year ahead. This ongoing refinement ensures the process remains relevant.
Holistic review at Penn means looking beyond numbers to understand an applicant in the full context of their life. The team considers academic records alongside the environment in which they were earned—acknowledging differences in resources, school offerings, and personal circumstances. They weigh not only what a student has achieved, but how they achieved it and what challenges they may have navigated along the way.
A cornerstone of Penn’s evaluation system is its committee-based review model. Instead of a single admissions officer reading an application in isolation, two officers evaluate it together in real time. This approach allows for immediate discussion and reduces the influence of individual bias. It also helps ensure that each application receives careful, multifaceted consideration. The discussion covers quantitative factors—grades, the rigor of courses taken, and standardized test scores when available—as well as qualitative factors such as essays, recommendation letters, and extracurricular involvement.
The team is also committed to transparency with applicants, families, and counselors, sharing what they value and how they make decisions. That said, they stress the reality that the number of highly qualified applicants far exceeds the number of available places each year.
The Role of the Essay
The personal statement is the most prominent place in the application for an applicant’s voice and individuality to come through. Admissions officers view it as a narrative space where the numbers and bullet points from other parts of the application take on color and meaning. The strongest essays are those that sound distinctly like the student, rather than a polished composite shaped heavily by adults or professional editors.
Penn encourages students to think about whether their essay would be recognizable to someone who knows them well if it were found without a name attached. Specific, personal details that help the reader really get to know you as a human being—rather than broad, generic statements—help achieve this sense of identity.
The essay is not the place to rehash a résumé or summarize accomplishments already evident elsewhere. Students often dwell on research experiences or academic achievements, but instead, the essay should introduce something new, perhaps a formative experience, a deeply held interest, or a reflection that reveals values and perspective. Penn also recognizes that students are works in progress and encourages them to exhibit a growth mindset and an openness to learn in their essays.
While essays matter, they are one piece of a larger whole. A less compelling essay will not automatically ruin a strong application, just as an exceptional essay will not guarantee admission on its own. The essay’s main role is to enrich the overall picture of the applicant. Overly formulaic writing—whether because of over-editing or AI involvement—can strip away the personality admissions officers look for. Essays that feel thoughtful and sincere are more persuasive than those that seem crafted to meet an imagined admissions formula.
The Role of the Supplemental Questions
Supplemental questions provide targeted insight that neither transcripts nor the main essay can fully convey. These prompts allow the admissions team to assess an applicant’s fit with Penn specifically, as well as their broader readiness for the college experience.
Penn uses short-answer formats for many of its supplements to encourage candid responses. Shorter word limits push applicants toward clarity and authenticity, reducing the temptation to produce overly polished answers. Penn’s thank-you-note prompt encourages students to reflect on gratitude and the influence of others; their community prompt asks applicants to envision how they will contribute to Penn beyond the classroom; and the school-specific prompt pushes students to consider the curriculum of the school or major they chose. The admissions team is looking for a clear sense of how students see themselves engaging with Penn’s community, what excites them about the university’s offerings, and how those opportunities align with their academic and personal goals.
Effective supplemental responses show awareness of Penn’s distinctive features—academic programs, interdisciplinary possibilities, campus culture—without resorting to flattery or generic enthusiasm. The best answers convey a concrete and credible vision of the applicant’s place within the Penn environment, and of what kind of learner they want to be.
Rather than submitting additional portfolios or materials, it generally works best to use the application itself to introduce any relevant information, at least at Penn. Because Penn is not a conservatory, admissions officers are not evaluating applicants on the merit of their artistic work, but are most interested in what applicants’ interests are and how they are pursuing them.
The Role of AI and the Future of the Admissions Process
The rise of artificial intelligence tools is reshaping the context in which students prepare their applications. At Penn, the primary concern is whether the application reflects the applicant’s genuine perspective, rather than focusing on catching AI use. AI-assisted writing that removes the human voice can work against a student’s interests, as admissions officers are adept at detecting work that feels impersonal or detached. AI can be a useful tool to help students organize their thoughts, but if they rely too heavily on it, they will be at a disadvantage in the application process.
In addition to the Common App’s attestation of integrity that applicants must sign, Penn has their own attestation statement that lays out its expectations. Students should carefully review it and reflect on the community standards of the university as they complete their applications.
Looking ahead, Penn anticipates making adjustments to essay prompts and evaluation techniques to protect authenticity. These could include prompts that lend themselves to personal reflection, spontaneous writing, or responses less easily produced by AI. Some possibilities discussed in the broader admissions field include timed writing samples, portfolio-based evaluation, or interactive assessments.
Even as technology changes, Penn’s process will continue to rely on human judgment. Admissions remains fundamentally about understanding people—their stories, motivations, and potential contributions to the university community.
For all the details on these topics and more, watch the webinar above.
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