UPenn Essay Prompt 2 (2026-2027)
University of Pennsylvania's supplemental essay 2 of 15 for the 2026-2027 application: the prompt, the limit, when it is due, and how to answer it. Verified on August 7, 2026.
“The College of Arts and Sciences is designed to foster discovery and connection. Describe something you are curious about, something you'd like to learn more about or find a new approach to, and how you might pursue that curiosity in the College.”
Limit: 200 words. Deadlines: Early Decision: November 1, 2026. Regular Decision: January 5, 2027.
What UPenn is really asking
Can you map your curiosity onto a real Penn course, lab, or professor?
The mistake most applicants make
Copying your Why Us from another school and swapping the name in.
Do this instead
Name a course number, a research center, a professor. Then say what you would do with it. Proof beats passion.
How to spend 200 words
200 words is two or three short paragraphs: the specific moment, what it revealed or changed, and why it points to this school. Cut any sentence that could appear in another applicant's essay.
How to start
Jim starts by asking you: “Which Penn course, lab, or professor connects to something you have already done? Tell me about that thing.” Answer it with Jim, free →
Rate My UPenn Essay 2
3 ratings a day. Your draft is scored by our AI and is not saved on our servers. The score is Jim's read of this draft, not a prediction of admission.
Writing the UPenn essays? Jim has every UPenn prompt, word limit, and deadline loaded. He asks the questions that surface your story and gives feedback on your drafts, in your own words. Free to start, no credit card.
Draft it with JimFAQ
What is the UPenn essay 2 prompt for 2026-2027?
"The College of Arts and Sciences is designed to foster discovery and connection. Describe something you are curious about, something you'd like to learn more about or find a new approach to, and how you might pursue that curiosity in the College." The limit is 200 words.
How long should the UPenn essay 2 be?
200 words. 200 words is two or three short paragraphs: the specific moment, what it revealed or changed, and why it points to this school. Cut any sentence that could appear in another applicant's essay.
When is the UPenn essay due?
With the application: Early Decision: November 1, 2026. Regular Decision: January 5, 2027.
Can Jim help me write the UPenn essay?
Yes. Jim, the AlphaApply.ai counselor, has every UPenn prompt and deadline loaded. He asks the questions that surface your story and gives feedback on each draft. He never writes it for you. Free to start.
The other UPenn prompts
Prompt and limit for 2026-2027, verified on August 7, 2026. Always confirm on University of Pennsylvania's official admissions site before submitting.