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UPenn Supplemental Essays 2023-24 – Prompts and Advice

August 11, 2023

The University of Pennsylvania accepted 40% of applicants back in 1980—as of 2023, that figure had plummeted to 7.4%. Those wanting to join the Quaker campus a generation ago could gain acceptance simply by producing strong grades and test scores. Today, applicants find themselves in a hyper-competitive admissions process. In 2023-24, they need to find ways to separate themselves from tens of thousands of similarly-accomplished peers. This brings us to the topic of this blog: the UPenn supplemental essays.

(Want to learn more about How to Get Into UPenn? Visit our blog entitled: How to Get Into Penn/Wharton: Admissions Data and Strategies. Here, you’ll find all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

The UPenn supplemental essays present applicants with just the opportunity they need to showcase their unique personality, writing ability, passions, and talents. Further, those who generate responses that are authentic, honest, and compelling can truly capture the attention of a Penn admissions reader.

Below are UPenn’s two general essay prompts for the 2023-24 admissions cycle. The College Transitions team also offers accompanying advice about how to tackle each one.

UPenn Supplemental Essays – Prompt #1

1) Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge. (We encourage you to share this note with that person, if possible, and reflect on the experience!) (150-200 words)

In essence, this one is about how you express gratitude. A mature young person realizes that their success was not achieved in a vacuum. Rather, it was likely aided by many adults and peers. The target of your letter could be a parent, other relative, teacher, coach, spiritual leader, friend, classmate, fellow team member, or boss. This prompt, which debuted last year, is an excellent opportunity for highly-decorated applicants to display their appreciative and humble side. We recommend taking their advice and actually sharing the letter in real life. This will likely make the essay more authentic and from the heart. The more sincere your essay turns out, the better it will likely be received by UPenn (and its intended IRL target!).

UPenn Supplemental Essays – Prompt #2

2) How will you explore community at Penn? Consider how Penn will help shape your perspective and identity, and how your identity and perspective will help shape Penn. (150-200 words)

Keep in mind that Penn has already seen the President’s Volunteer Service Award and the impressive number of hours you volunteered at multiple nonprofit organizations. They know that you have been an active member of your high school/local community. The admissions committee now desires to understand precisely how you will contribute to their community of almost 10,000 undergraduate students. Highlighting the link between your past efforts and future aims is critical here. For example, if you dedicated many hours working with people with Alzheimer’s Disease throughout high school, it will be more impactful when you now express your commitment to joining Penn’s Alzheimer’s Buddies organization.

The strongest Penn community essays show evidence of meaningful school-specific research. This research process will actually give you a better idea of how you would sincerely like to become engaged at each prospective school on your list. Admissions officers will appreciate a Penn-centric answer far more than a generic (often recycled from app to app) response. Moreover, given the word count, you’ll be able to produce the strongest response if you focus on just one or two specific aspects of your identity and perspective.

UPenn Supplemental Essays – School & Program-Specific Prompts

In addition to the above, you’ll also need to write an essay that is specific to the undergraduate school or coordinated dual-degree program you’re applying to. Below, we’ve covered how to approach the most popular choices:

1) The College of Arts and Sciences

The flexible structure of The College of Arts and Sciences’ curriculum is designed to inspire exploration, foster connections, and help you create a path of study through general education courses and a major. What are you curious about and how would you take advantage of opportunities in the arts and sciences? (150-200 words)

To help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about academic offerings within the College of Arts and Sciences at college.upenn.edu/prospective . This information will help you develop a stronger understanding of how the study of the liberal arts aligns with your own goals and aspirations.

UPenn Supplemental Essays (Continued)

In this essay, admissions officers want to see evidence of your drive, passion, and intellectual ambition. Further, they want to learn your specific plans for continuing to be academically engaged while at the University of Pennsylvania. Great things to highlight here include:

Firstly, Specific courses offered in your discipline of interest at UPenn.
Next, Penn professors whose work/research/writings you find fascinating and how you would ideally like to connect with them as an undergraduate.
Additionally, academically-focused student organizations at Penn.
Undergraduate research opportunities in the summer or during the school year as well as independent research you would like to conduct under faculty supervision.
Lastly, Study abroad opportunities.

In addition to Penn-specific offerings that you are dying to take advantage of, you can also cite past experiences which will ideally be tied into future ventures. For example, if you were captain of the robotics team in high school—and hope to continue robotics in college—you might note why you’re interested in joining the UPennalizers, Penn’s student-run robotic soccer team.

2) School of Engineering and Applied Science

Penn Engineering prepares its students to become leaders in technology, by combining a strong foundation in the natural sciences and mathematics, exploration in the liberal arts, and depth of study in focused disciplinary majors. Please share how you hope to explore your engineering interests at Penn. (150-200 words)

To help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about Penn Engineering and its mission to prepare students for global leadership in technology here . This information will help you develop a stronger understanding of academic pathways within Penn Engineering and how they align with your goals and interests.

Similar to the prompt for the College of Arts and Sciences, you’ll want to research Penn’s engineering offerings. You’ll want to pay particularl attention to those related to your primary major of interest. You can discuss several that you find most compelling. Great things to highlight here include:

Specific courses offered in your discipline of interest at UPenn.
Penn professors whose work/research/writings you find fascinating and how you would ideally like to connect with them as an undergraduate.
Academically-focused student organizations at Penn.
Undergraduate research opportunities in the summer or during the school year. Also, independent research you would like to conduct under faculty supervision.

3) School of Nursing

Penn Nursing intends to meet the health needs of society in a global and multicultural world by preparing its students to impact healthcare by advancing science and promoting equity. What do you think this means for the future of nursing, and how do you see yourself contributing to our mission of promoting equity in healthcare? (150-200 words)

To help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about Penn Nursing’s mission and how we promote equity in healthcare here . This information will help you develop a stronger understanding of our values and how they align with your own goals and aspirations.

There are two prongs to this prompt. First, the admissions committee wants to understand how you think scientific advancements and increased equity will impact nursing as a profession. Since you’re applying to this program, it’s likely that you believe in the benefit of both objectives. Therefore, you don’t need to spend time convincing the admissions committee that you’re on board. Instead, and based on what you understand about the nursing field consider discussing what types of positive impact nurses who are prepared for the profession in such a way can have on patient outcomes and/or healthcare in general. Lastly, if you don’t know much about the current landscape, be sure to do some research,

Second, Penn wants to understand how you—as a nursing student—will contribute to the mission of promoting equity in particular. Based on what you know about Penn’s nursing programs and initiatives (which, again, will require some research) how do you see yourself getting involved?

4) The Wharton School

Wharton prepares its students to make an impact by applying business methods and economic theory to real-world problems, including economic, political, and social issues. Please reflect on a current issue of importance to you and share how you hope a Wharton education would help you to explore it. (150-200 words)

To help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about the foundations of a Wharton education here . This information will help you better understand what you could learn by studying at Wharton and what you could do afterward.

To craft a strong response to this prompt, you’ll first need to choose an issue that is important to you. The issue can be on either a global, regional, or community scale. If you pick something general (and popular), like climate change or AI, consider choosing a specific angle that relates to you personally. For example, while “climate change” in general is an absolutely massive undertaking that will be difficult to differentiate, discussing the impact of flooding on your city’s downtown businesses could be far more specific and accessible.

After choosing an issue and sharing why it’s important to you, you’ll then need to discuss how Wharton’s specific offerings will help you explore it. Excellent possibilities include:

5) DMD: Digital Media Design Program

Why are you interested in the Digital Media Design (DMD) program at the University of Pennsylvania? (400-650 words)

6) Huntsman: The Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business

The Huntsman Program supports the development of globally-minded scholars who become engaged citizens, creative innovators, and ethical leaders in the public, private, and non-profit sectors in the United States and internationally. What draws you to a dual-degree program in business and international studies, and how would you use what you learn to make a contribution to a global issue where business and international affairs intersect? (400-650 words)

7) LSM: The Roy and Diana Vagelos Program in Life Sciences and Management

The LSM program aims to provide students with a fundamental understanding of the life sciences and their management with an eye to identifying, advancing and implementing innovations. What issues would you want to address using the understanding gained from such a program? Note that this essay should be distinct from your single degree essay. (400-650 words)

8) M&T: The Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology

Explain how you will use the M&T program to explore your interest in business, engineering, and the intersection of the two. (400-650 words)
Describe a problem that you solved that showed leadership and creativity. (250 words)

9) NETS: The Rajendra and Neera Singh Program in Networked and Social Systems Engineering

Describe your interests in modern networked information systems and technologies, such as the internet, and their impact on society, whether in terms of economics, communication, or the creation of beneficial content for society. Feel free to draw on examples from your own experiences as a user, developer, or student of technology. (400-650 words)

10) NHCM: Nursing and Healthcare Management

Discuss your interest in nursing and health care management. How might Penn’s coordinated dual-degree program in nursing and business help you meet your goals? (400-650 words)

11) BIO-DENT: Seven-Year Bio-Dental Program

Please list pre-dental or pre-medical experience. This experience can include but is not limited to observation in a private practice, dental clinic, or hospital setting; dental assisting; dental laboratory work; dental or medical research, etc. Please include time allotted to each activity, dates of attendance, location, and description of your experience. If you do not have any pre-dental or pre-medical experience, please indicate what you have done or plan to do in order to explore dentistry as a career. (250 words)
Describe any activities which demonstrate your ability to work with your hands. (250 words)
What activities have you performed that demonstrate your ability to work effectively with people? (250 words)
Please explain your reasons for selecting a career in dentistry. Please include what interests you the most in dentistry as well as what interests you the least. (250 words)
Do you have relatives who are dentists or are in dental school? If so, indicate the name of each relative, his/her relationship to you, the school attended, and the dates attended.(250 words)

12) VIPER: The Roy and Diana Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research

How do you envision your participation in the Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER) furthering your interests in energy science and technology? Please include any past experiences (ex. academic, research, or extracurricular) that have led to your interest in the program. Additionally, please indicate why you are interested in pursuing dual degrees in science and engineering and which VIPER majors are most interesting to you at this time. (400-650 words)

How important are the UPenn supplemental essays?

There are six factors that UPenn considers “very important” in evaluating a candidate and the essays are among them. In addition to the essays, UPenn gives the greatest consideration to the rigor of an applicant’s secondary school record. Of equal consideration are GPA, standardized test scores, recommendations, and character/personal qualities.

UPenn Supplemental Essays – Want Personalized Essay Assistance?

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

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The Penn application process includes a personal essay as well as supplemental short answer prompts. We read your words carefully, as they are yet another window into how you think, what you value, and how you see the world. Through your writing, we get a glimpse of what you might bring to our community, including your voice and creativity.

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Before you begin writing:

Review the prompt thoroughly. Be sure you’re answering the question or prompt being asked. T opics are chosen because the Admissions Committee wants to know specific things about you. If you don’t address the them directly, we are left to make decisions regarding your application with incomplete information.
Consider your response carefully. We understand that you may be writing responses for different schools and you may want to reuse material, but read through your response to make sure the content is relevant to the prompt.
Double check your writing. Give yourself time to revisit your response. Do not rush your writing process; create space in your schedule to revise your work. Ultimately, it is up to you to polish your response before you submit.

In your Penn supplemental short answers, be precise when explaining both why you are applying to Penn and why you have chosen to apply to that specific undergraduate school. Some of our specialized programs will have additional essays to complete, but the Penn supplemental prompts should address the single-degree or single-school choice.

2023-24 Short Answer & Essay Prompts

Penn Supplemental Short Answer Prompts (Required)

Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge. (We encourage you to share this note with that person, if possible, and reflect on the experience!) (150-200 words, only required for first year applicants)
How will you explore community at Penn? Consider how Penn will help shape your perspective, and how your experiences and perspective will help shape Penn. (150-200 words)
The school-specific prompt will now be unique to the school to which a student is applying. Considering the undergraduate school you have selected, please respond to your school-specific prompt below. (For example, all applicants applying to the College of Arts and Sciences will respond to the prompt under the “College of Arts and Sciences” section).

For students applying to the coordinated dual-degree and specialized programs, please answer this question in regard to your single-degree school choice; your interest in the coordinated dual-degree or specialized program may be addressed through the program-specific essay.

Transfer Essay  (required for all transfer applicants): Please explain your reasons for transferring from your current institution and what you hope to gain by transferring to another institution. (4150 characters)

To help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about Penn Nursing’s mission and how we promote equity in healthcare . This information will help you develop a stronger understanding of our values and how they align with your own goals and aspirations.

To help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about the academic offerings within the College of Arts and Sciences .  This information will help you develop a stronger understanding of how the study of the liberal arts aligns with your own goals and aspirations.

Wharton prepares its students to make an impact by applying business methods and economic theory to real-world problems, including economic, political, and social issues.  Please reflect on a current issue of importance to you and share how you hope a Wharton education would help you to explore it.  (150-200 words)

To help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about the foundations of a Wharton education . This information will help you better understand what you could learn by studying at Wharton and what you could do afterward.

Penn Engineering prepares its students to become leaders in technology, by combining a strong foundation in the natural sciences and mathematics, exploration in the liberal arts, and depth of study in focused disciplinary majors. Please share how you hope to explore your engineering interests at Penn. (150-200 words)

To help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about Penn Engineering and its mission to prepare students for global leadership in technology . This information will help you develop a stronger understanding of academic pathways within Penn Engineering and how they align with your goals and interests.

Coordinated Dual Degree and Specialized Programs Short Answer Prompts

For students applying to the coordinated dual-degree and specialized programs, please answer the program-specific essay below.

** Character count that only applies to transfer students applying through Common App.

Why are you interested in the Digital Media Design (DMD) program at the University of Pennsylvania? (400-650 words / 3575 characters**)

The Huntsman Program supports the development of globally minded scholars who become engaged citizens, creative innovators, and ethical leaders in the public, private, and non-profit sectors in the United States and internationally. What draws you to a dual-degree program in business and international studies, and how would you use what you learn to contribute to a global issue where business and international affairs intersect? (400-650 words)

The LSM program aims to provide students with a fundamental understanding of the life sciences and their management with an eye to identifying, advancing, and implementing innovations. What issues would you want to address using the understanding gained from such a program? Note that this essay should be distinct from your single degree essay. (400-650 words)

Explain how you will use the M&T program to explore your interest in business, engineering, and the intersection of the two. (400-650 words)
Describe a problem that you solved that showed leadership and creativity. (250 words)

Discuss your interest in nursing and health care management. How might Penn's coordinated dual-degree program in nursing and business help you meet your goals? (400-650 words)

Please list any predental or premedical experience. This experience can include but is not limited to observation in a private practice, dental clinic, or hospital setting; dental assisting; dental laboratory work; dental or medical research; etc. Please include time allotted to each activity, dates of attendance, location, and a description of your experience. If you do not have any predental or premedical experience, please indicate what you have done or plan to do in order to explore dentistry as a career.
Do you have relatives who are dentists or are in dental school? If so, indicate the name of each relative, his/her relationship to you, the school attended, and the dates attended.
Describe any activities which demonstrate your ability to work with your hands.
What activities have you performed that demonstrate your ability to work effectively with people?
Please explain your reasons for selecting dentistry. Please include what interests you the most about dentistry as well as what interests you least.

Phone: (617) 993-4823

October 28, 2021

How To Write The University of Pennsylvania Supplemental Essays (2021-2022)

Working on your UPenn application? Here’s how to write the supplemental essays you need to complete in addition to your Common Application.

Welcome to the Penn supplemental essays for the 2021-2022 application cycle! Unlike many other Ivy League schools, Penn doesn’t ask you a zillion questions. In fact, they only ask you two (unless you’re applying to a more specific program or school), and they’re both pretty standard. There’s a “Why This College?” essay and a “Community” question. You may have written one or two of these already, but Penn has its own way of phrasing these questions, which means you can’t just recycle the essays you’ve written for other schools. You’ve got to write a Penn-specific essay. Here’s how.

Considering the specific undergraduate school you have selected, how will you explore your academic and intellectual interests at The University of Pennsylvania? For students applying to the coordinated dual-degree and specialized programs, please answer these questions in regard to your single-degree school choice; your interest in the coordinated dual-degree or specialized program may be addressed through the program-specific essay. (300-450 words)

This is a pretty typical “Why This College?” essay. Penn wants to see that you’ve done your research and have a truly compelling reason for wanting to attend Penn and not just any top university. As always, though, these essays should ultimately be about you .

Penn makes this abundantly clear at the beginning of the prompt: “How will you explore your academic and intellectual interests at The University of Pennsylvania?” You want to give Penn a sense of what you’ll do once you’re on campus, and why Penn is the right place for you, but you need to ground all this in what you’ve already done . Penn wants you to tell an origin story. They want to see where your intellectual passion comes from and why it’s personal. Show them how you’ve pursued your intellectual and academic interests in impactful and meaningful ways.

Penn wants to know what you’re going to do once you’re on campus, but they won’t be convinced unless you can ground your claims in your past experiences. Think about it: anyone can say they’re going to conduct high-level research, found a profitable biotech company, and become the president of three different clubs as a UPenn undergraduate. Not everybody can give convincing examples of what they have already done that suggest that these future projects are realistic.

It’s a little bit like new tactics in conducting professional interviews. Employers used to ask potential employees about where they saw themselves in five or ten years, how they would handle theoretical problems, and so on. And then everyone realized that the best predictor of future success is past experience and achievement. So employers started asking job candidates: “How have you solved a challenging problem?” rather than “How will or would you deal with situation X?” Admissions officers, like potential employers, are more impressed by concrete, quantifiable accomplishments than by unsubstantiated promises about the future.

This essay needs to include, as always when writing “Why This College?” essays: what you’re going to major in, two or three professors you’re interested in working with, some Penn-specific classes you want to take. Save the student clubs and organizations you’d be interested in joining for the second question Penn asks.

Maybe you don’t know what you want to major in. That’s fine — you’re not signing a contract here. But you’re going to have a very difficult time writing this essay if you don’t have a direction. When choosing a (fictitious) major, go with what makes the most sense. Go with whatever subject fits most logically with your experiences and achievements to date. Once again, previous success is the most convincing way to back up your future goals.

Finding a couple of professors means spending some time on the website of the department you’d like to work most closely with. Again, the professors you mention should teach in the field you have experience in.

When I say you need to mention Penn-specific classes, I mean you need to select upper-level classes (again, in a subject you’ve stood out in) that you can’t find at just any school. A weak response reads like this: “I hope to major in anthropology. This would allow me to work closely with [insert name of Visiting Assistant Professor who only teaches giant lecture classes to first-year students]. I look forward to taking ANTH 001 and 002 along with everybody and their mother.” Try to find classes and instructors in line with your interests. The idea is to show that Penn will allow you to build on all the great things you’ve already accomplished.

Finally, just because this is a relatively long response does not mean that you should waste any words. Just as with a 150-word piece, don’t bother praising the beautiful urban campus or the world-class faculty. Lots of colleges have nice city campuses, and plenty have world-class faculties.

At Penn, learning and growth happen outside of the classroom, too. How will you explore the community at Penn? Consider how this community will help shape your perspective and identity, and how your identity and perspective will help shape this community. (150-200 words)

First of all, remember that the word “community” can mean just about anything you want it to — your community is for you to define. Maybe you’re looking forward to joining a cultural group at Penn, or maybe you’re excited about joining an intellectual community through participation in a student group. You can find a list of student organizations at Penn here .

When it comes to clubs, once again, make sure you’re reinforcing your narrative — something that fits with what you’ve already done. Not all the clubs you mention have to be directly related to your major, but they shouldn’t cause admissions officers to raise their eyebrows. They should be related to interests you’ve already pursued in meaningful and demonstrable ways.

Writing about your past experiences is also how you answer the second part of this question: “…how this community will help shape your perspective and identity, and how your identity and perspective will help shape this community.” No general statements or platitudes here. Discuss how your past experiences have helped shape your identity and perspective, how you’ve done the same for the community or communities you’ve belonged to, and show us the foundation that will support your work at Penn outside of the classroom.

As always, our Ivy League admission consultants are here to help. Don’t hesitate to reach out .

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How to Respond to the 2023-2024 UPenn Supplemental Essay Prompts

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How to Respond to the 2023-2024 UPenn Supplemental Essay Prompts

Most students who apply to schools as prestigious as the University of Pennsylvania have impressive academic and extracurricular records. If you want your application to shine above the rest, the UPenn supplemental essays are your opportunity!

UPenn has three required prompts. Each ask students to share how UPenn will fulfill their goals, in and out of the classroom. The challenge is crafting a sincere yet differentiated answer to these “Why UPenn” essays. Let’s discuss how to ace each prompt. Our tips include questions that will help you draw upon the best examples from your own experiences.

Also see: How to answer the Common App essay prompts

“Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge. (We encourage you to share this note with that person, if possible, and reflect on the experience!) (150-200 words)”

This prompt asks you something that many colleges do not– they want to know about your relationships. This is great because it shows the admissions committee a glimpse into what type of person you are, and what you care about. Gratitude tells a lot about a person, so whoever you decide to write to, make sure that it is sincere and truthful.

This prompt is to be written with between 150 and 200 words. Depending on how you feel about writing, this can be seen as a whole lot of writing or not enough space to say how you really feel. Either way, if you just write from your heart with this prompt, you can always go back and edit it to get the word count correct.

Questions to consider:

Who has helped you the most in your life?
What are you grateful for?
Have you experienced something big that a family member or friend helped you through?

“How will you explore community at Penn? Consider how Penn will help shape your perspective and identity, and how your identity and perspective will help shape Penn. (150-200 words)”

This prompt acknowledges the social aspect of attending a college or university. One of the big things that many higher education institutions look for in a student is that they are more than just their academics. Penn is big on community, so this prompt is asking you how you will benefit from the community that the school offers, and also how the community will benefit from your involvement.

For many students, the most difficult part about writing college supplemental essays is writing about themselves. For this prompt, UPenn wants to know about your positive attributes. It is okay to hype yourself up– actually, that is what they want to hear! So although it may seem awkward at first to talk about what you have to offer in their community, it is important that you start to get comfortable writing in that way about yourself.

Here are some questions you could ask yourself:

Are you a part of a community at home?
What are you looking for in a college when it comes to community?
What do you feel are the most important parts of your identity that you can see in the community around you?

“Considering the specific undergraduate school you have selected, describe how you intend to explore your academic and intellectual interests at the University of Pennsylvania. (150-200 words)”

For this prompt, you do not want to just repeat what is already on your transcript, resume, or application. This is a place that you can deep dive into the parts of your academics, where you may not have been able to elaborate in your application. It will be important to connect your previous academic experiences to what you want your future academics to look like at UPenn.

In addition to your previous academics, you will want to talk about your goals and aspirations academically and intellectually in college. This does not necessarily have to be specific to UPenn, but it can be. If you want to catch the reader’s attention, you can connect it to things that are specific to UPenn, such as specific professors you are looking forward to working with, research opportunities that UPenn offers that other schools don’t, or classes that you are excited about.

What major are you interested in?
Do you plan to study abroad?
What topics are you interested in researching?
What excites you academically?

See Also: How to write an essay about yourself

Transfer Essay

“Please explain your reasons for transferring from your current institution and what you hope to gain by transferring to another institution. (4150 characters) ”

Also see : How to transfer colleges

This prompt is specifically for students who are wanting to transfer to UPenn from another institution. Although 4150 characters may seem like a great deal of words, remember that this is your opportunity to share your story and tell the university about who you are as a student, as a person, as a community member, and as a friend.

It is a great idea to lean in on the second half of this prompt. What do you hope to gain from transferring to another college? Usually, when a person transfers to another university, it is because they were not getting everything they wanted out of the college that they started at. One thing that you need to remember is that you do not want to speak badly about your previous institution– this can be a bad look, depending on who is reading the essay. Be sure that you are focusing on yourself, and try to remain positive.

If you had a bad experience at your previous institution, how can you turn that around to be positive?
What are you looking forward to academically with UPenn?
What are you looking forward to in the community with UPenn?

Specialized and dual degree program prompts

Upenn offers seven special (and particularly competitive) programs . They each require a separate essay, with a bit longer word limit of 400-650. If you are interested in one of these tracks, be sure to get very specific in your answers. Make a list of concrete examples for how your chosen program satisfies your academic and personal aspirations. Given that these are such unique paths, showcase what you have been exposed to that has led you to develop this niche interest. Outline exactly how you envision this program setting you up for professional success. This is not the time to downplay your enthusiasm for the subject matter and confidence that you are a great candidate!

Also see: How to write a 500 word essay

Final thoughts

After reading the above pointers, you should be ready to tackle the UPenn supplemental essays! Don’t shy away from injecting your personality into the prompts. Also know that you can never do too much research in finding examples to reference. Because these prompts are pretty open-ended, trimming your answers to 250 words is sometimes the trickiest part. Get all of your initial thoughts down, and then revise. You got this!

Additional resources

As you complete the UPenn supplemental essays, you’ve probably got a lot on your plate. Luckily, we can help you navigate it. Check out our guides on when to apply to college , how many colleges to apply to , and how to plan a college tour . We can also provide you with vetted, custom-matched scholarship opportunities which automatically update every day – make sure to try out our scholarship search tool . Best of luck with your admissions process!

Other colleges to consider

Columbia University (New York, NY)
University of Chicago (Chicago, IL)
Duke University (Durham, NC)
Princeton University (Princeton, NJ)
Dartmouth College (Hanover, NH)

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University of Pennsylvania | UPenn’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Gratitude short response.

Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge. (We encourage you to share this note with that person, if possible, and reflect on the experience!)

Diversity Short Response

How will you explore community at Penn? Consider how Penn will help shape your perspective, and how your experiences and perspective will help shape Penn.

College of Arts and Sciences Short Response

Penn Engineering Short Response

Penn Nursing Short Response

Wharton Short Response

Huntsman Program Essay

The Huntsman Program supports the development of globally-minded scholars who become engaged citizens, creative innovators, and ethical leaders in the public, private, and non-profit sectors in the United States and internationally. What draws you to a dual-degree in business and international studies, and how would you use what you learn to make a contribution to a global issue where business and international affairs intersect?

Digital Media Design Program Essay

Why are you interested in the Digital Media Design (DMD) program at the University of Pennsylvania?

Life Sciences and Management Program Essay

Jerome Fisher Management and Technology Program Essay 1

Explain how you will use the M&T program to explore your interest in business, engineering, and the intersection of the two.

Jerome Fisher Management and Technology Program Essay 2

Describe a problem that you solved that showed leadership and creativity.

NETS Engineering Program Essay

Describe your interests in modern networked information systems and technologies, such as the Internet, and their impact on society, whether in terms of economics, communication, or the creation of beneficial content for society. Feel free to draw on examples from your own experiences as a user, developer, or student of technology.

Nursing and Healthcare Management Program Essay

Discuss your interest in nursing and health care management. How might Penn’s coordinated dual-degree program in nursing and business help you meet your goals?

VIPER Program Essay

Bio-Dental Program Short Response 1

Please list pre-dental or pre-medical experience. This experience can include but is not limited to observation in a private practice, dental clinic, or hospital setting; dental assisting; dental laboratory work; dental or medical research, etc. Please include time allotted to each activity, dates of attendance, location, and description of your experience. If you do not have any pre-dental or pre-medical experience, please indicate what you have done or plan to do in order to explore dentistry as a career.

Bio-Dental Program Short Response 2

Do you have relatives who are dentists or are in dental school? If so, indicate the name of each relative, his/her relationship to you, the school attended, and the dates attended.

Bio-Dental Program Short Response 3

Describe any activities which demonstrate your ability to work with your hands.

Bio-Dental Program Short Response 4

What activities have you performed that demonstrate your ability to work cooperatively with people

Bio-Dental Program Short Response 5

Please explain your reasons for selecting a career in dentistry. Please include what interests you the most in dentistry as well as what interests you the least.

Common App Personal Essay

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you‘ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

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How to Write the University of Pennsylvania Supplemental Essays 2023-2024

September 13, 2023

When you sit down to craft your University of Pennsylvania supplemental essays, consider how your passion for UPenn sets you apart. Perhaps you're captivated by the opportunity to integrate your chosen major with your volunteer work through Penn's exceptional community engagement programs. Or maybe it was the charm of Philadelphia's historic buildings and cobblestone streets that stole your heart during your campus visit. Regardless, if you truly believe that Penn could be your home for the next four years, now is the time to articulate your reasons and aspirations on paper. To assist you in tackling this year's essay questions, I have meticulously analyzed each prompt, provided various approaches to addressing them, and shared additional tips to ensure you can excel in your University of Pennsylvania supplemental essays for the 2023-2024 application cycle.

Penn-Specific Essays for All Applicants

Regardless of which school or dual-degree program within Penn you’re applying to, all students have to answer the two required questions. Considering that 93% of applicants got rejected this year, your goal in writing the University of Pennsylvania supplemental essays 2023-2024 should be to stand out in demonstrating an unprecedented commitment to the home of the Quakers.

1. Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge. (We encourage you to share this note with that person, if possible, and reflect on the experience!) (150-200 words)

To become a valuable community member of any college, developing strong relationships and getting along with your peers is essential. The University of Pennsylvania recognizes the importance of these qualities, which is why they have introduced the prompt asking applicants to write a thank-you note to someone they have not yet thanked. This prompt aims to assess how applicants value others' presence in their lives, how they express gratitude, and what they truly value.

When considering who to thank and for what, think beyond the obvious choices. While thanking a parent or guardian for their hard work and dedication in raising you is a valid option, you can also take an unexpected route. Consider thanking the person who supports your theater troupe, the staff member at your school who goes above and beyond their duties, or a friend who consistently gives you rides to and from activities. By choosing someone unexpected, you can showcase your ability to recognize and appreciate the individuals who have made a significant impact on your life.

Additionally, instead of just stating what you did or why you are thankful, take the opportunity to convey your emotions and the impact the person has had on you. Your tone should be directed towards the person you are thanking, rather than the admissions officer who will be reading your essay.

Remember, the purpose of this essay is not just to showcase your writing skills, but also to provide insights into your character and values. Use this opportunity to highlight your ability to appreciate others, demonstrate empathy and kindness, and showcase the qualities that make you a valuable member of any community. By expressing your gratitude and acknowledging the impact others have had on your life, you will undoubtedly stand out in the University of Pennsylvania supplemental essays for the 2023-2024 application cycle.

2. How will you explore community at Penn? Consider how Penn will help shape your perspective, and how your experiences and perspective will help shape Penn. (150-200 words)

This prompt serves as an opportunity for the admissions officers to understand what makes you a unique person and which parts of campus you will contribute to the most. They want to see your passion and dedication to making a positive impact within the Penn community. Whether it is through student government, community service organizations, or cultural clubs, Penn is seeking individuals who will actively engage in and enhance the campus community.

While you can definitely mention which student organizations you hope to participate in at UPenn, focus on 1-2 of your most meaningful extracurricular experiences and highlight how your experiences can help shape Penn’s community. This is a chance for you to showcase your ability to connect your personal experiences to the larger Penn community. How will your unique perspective and background contribute to the diversity and inclusivity of the campus? How will your involvement in specific organizations or activities enrich your own growth and development? These are the types of questions you should consider when crafting your response.

Remember, Penn is looking for students who not only excel academically but also demonstrate a genuine commitment to being active and engaged members of the campus community. Use this prompt to showcase your leadership abilities, your passion for making a difference, and your desire to contribute to the vibrant and diverse community at Penn.

Dual-Degree Specific Questions

The school-specific prompt will now be unique to the school to which a student is applying. Considering the undergraduate school you have selected, please respond to your school-specific prompt below.For students applying to the coordinated dual-degree and specialized programs, please answer this question in regard to your single-degree school choice; your interest in the coordinated dual-degree or specialized program may be addressed through the program-specific essay.

If you’re applying to one of UPenn’s dual-degree programs, you’ll have to write additional essays. To answer the University of Pennsylvania supplemental essays 2023-2024 for each of these highly competitive programs, you have to convey how you’ve pursued the intersection of the respective fields, as well as why you’re choosing Penn’s very specific programs over schools that are already specialized.

In your response, dive into details about discovering your love for your prospective field, whether it’s engineering, business, or biology. Was there one instance that catalyzed your passion and goals? How have you explored the subject of your interest since? How has your curiosity about the topic grown? The majority of your essay should be dedicated to tying your interest in what the specific Penn school has to offer. Admissions officers must have no doubt that you have done thorough research on both the college and what Penn looks for as a whole.

For example, Penn Engineering values students who are able to apply their distinguished background in physics and math into innovation, design, and scientific discoveries. You can talk about some ways that you’re excited to elevate your passion for engineering and entrepreneurship through Penn’s Clarks Scholars Program for leadership in engineering. Or you might dedicate your essay to your plans to advocate for minority representation in engineering through the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Undergraduate Research Program .

An easy mistake to make in this essay would be to write about Penn in a broad and general sense when the prompt clearly asks you to write about the specific college you’re applying to. Think about that school, what makes it unique, and how it can help you reach your aspirations. If you could recycle this response for another school’s supplemental essays, it’s time to start a new draft.

Additional Tips for Writing the UPenn Supplemental Essays 2023-2024

Here are some final tips to get you on the right track for your University of Pennsylvania supplemental essays 2023-2024.

Don’t underestimate the power of your extracurriculars: Admissions officers want to know what makes you tick outside the classroom. Don’t just shrug off this essay and repeat information you’ve already included in your activities list. They want to know about your perspective and identity. Your activities could have shifted your views in a way that you might not have even realized before sitting down to write the essay. And you won’t be able to analyze their impact properly if you don’t look at them from a more nuanced angle.
If you’re pursuing a dual-degree, don’t write about it in the first two questions: Your response should only talk about the main school within Penn you’re applying to. For example, if you’re applying to the Life Sciences and Management program, which falls under both Wharton and the College of Arts and Science, you must pick either Wharton or the College of Arts and Sciences as your main school of choice. You’ll get a chance to elaborate on your interest in the specific program later.

The supplemental essays for the University of Pennsylvania are specifically designed to assess whether you would be a good fit for one of the colleges within UPenn. By thoroughly researching and understanding the distinct characteristics of each college, you can craft compelling responses that will persuade admissions officers that they are making the right decision, bringing you one step closer to becoming a proud Quaker. You've got this!

If you are looking for a college admissions counselor to help maximize your chances of getting into your dream school, we can help! InGenius Prep has helped more than 6,000 students around the world gain admission into the most competitive schools including Harvard, Yale, MIT, Johns Hopkins, Cornell, NYU, and more. Sign up for a free strategy call today and join the 6,000+ students we've helped get accepted into their dream schools.

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How Important Are Your Essays When Applying to UPenn?

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Vinay Bhaskara and Aja Altenhof in in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info.

What’s Covered:

How upenn uses essays to narrow down applicants.

How to Stand Out in Your Essays

How Luck Plays a Factor

In this article, we will discuss how the University of Pennsylvania uses essays as a tiebreaker between applicants, tips for making your essays stand out, and the role luck plays in the essay review process. For more information on University of Pennsylvania’s other supplemental essays and writing dos and don’ts, check out our posts on how to write your UPenn supplemental admissions essays .

To put it bluntly, the essays in your University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) application are very important. They account for 25 to 35% of the admissions decision. To give some background as to why this is, you have to think about the type of applicants UPenn receives. A lot of students applying will have similar academic qualifications. This could be anything from a killer GPA , rigorous course load, or high standardized test scores.

Because a lot of students applying have already met the level of academic rigor to be considered for UPenn, the next thing the admissions office will look at is the essays. This is how they narrow down the applicants further and get to know what kind of student you will be like outside of the classroom.

The essays can almost be seen as a tiebreaker between two applicants. If both applicants have similar academic backgrounds, the essays are what UPenn uses to determine who received the acceptance. Your essays could be the determining factor in your application, so you must put a lot of effort into writing them.

How To Stand Out in Your Essays

show you are a good fit.

The essays help UPenn determine if you are a good fit for their campus. While your academic background tells UPenn if you have the ability to succeed at their school academically, your essays are how you convey your personality. This is how you can show what kind of student you will be like on campus. Your job with these essays is to make the admissions officers actively want to choose you over the other applicants. Focus on showing your interests and making these essays extremely personalized to your life. Your personality is your biggest asset in these essays.

Know Your Audience

It is important to keep your audience in mind when writing your essays. Each admissions officer will have a different personality and background, so they will read your essay completely differently. If you are writing about a niche topic or making an obscure reference in your essay, make sure to provide plenty of context so each admissions officer will understand where you’re coming from. You want to make sure your essay is easy to follow and that even someone unfamiliar with the topic you’re writing about will understand.

One thing to keep in mind while writing is if you are including any potentially controversial topics, such as politics or religion, make sure they align with UPenn’s mission and culture.

Unfortunately, when it comes to a school as competitive as UPenn, luck does play a factor. With so many applicants meeting the academic threshold, the admissions officer makes the final decision based on your essay. If for some reason the admissions officer had a bad day or even didn’t enjoy the essays they read before reading yours, this might impact their mood while they read yours. This is just how negative emotions work. At the end of the day, the admissions officers are human and how their day is going will make an impact on their decision. This is also known as “ the human factor .”

Even if you have the most prepared application and you are really proud of the work you’ve submitted, there is still an element of luck needed. This is the case for all schools that have low admission rates, such as the University of Pennsylvania.

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, pennsylvania.

Academic Requirements

Essay Requirements

Costs & Scholarships

Successful Application

The Penn application process includes a personal essay as well as supplemental three short answer prompts. If you are applying to other special programs, you must also complete the special program essays.

University of Pennsylvania Specific Questions

Answer all questions:

150-200 words

Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge. (We encourage you to share this note with that person, if possible, and reflect on the experience!)

How will you explore the community at Penn? Consider how Penn will help shape your perspective and identity, and how your identity and perspective will help shape Penn.

Considering the specific undergraduate school you have selected, describe how you intend to explore your academic and intellectual interests at the University of Pennsylvania.

Special Program Essays

Pick one based on your area of study:

400-650 words

Digital Media Design (DMD)

Why are you interested in the Digital Media Design (DMD) program at the University of Pennsylvania?

The Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business

LSM: The Roy and Diana Vagelos Program in Life Sciences and Management

M&T: The Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology

Explain how you will use the M&T program to explore your interest in business, engineering, and the intersection of the two. (400-650 words)
Describe a problem that you solved that showed leadership and creativity. (250 words)

NETS: The Rajendra and Neera Singh Program in Networked and Social Systems Engineering

NHCM: Nursing and Healthcare Management

Discuss your interest in nursing and health care management. How might Penn's coordinated dual-degree program in nursing and business help you meet your goals?

VIPER: The Roy and Diana Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research

Seven-Year Bio-Dental Program

Please list pre-dental or pre-medical experience.
List any activities which demonstrate your ability to work with your hands.
What activities have you performed that demonstrate your ability to work cooperatively with people?
Please explain your reasons for selecting a career in dentistry.
Do you have relatives who are dentists or are in dental school? If so, indicate the name of each relative, his/her relationship to you, the school attended, and the dates attended.

Helpful Resources

How To Answer The “Why This College” Essay Prompt

We’ll go over the best ways to approach the 'Why This College" essay and provide helpful tips to help you write an effective essay that impresses admission officers.

How To Format & Structure Your College Application Essay

Your essays are a chance for admissions officers to get to know you beyond your grades, test scores, and ECLs. But how do you craft essays that reflect who you are AND impress the admissions officers?

Everything You Need To Know About The Supplemental Essays

Supplemental essays are required by many highly selective institutions in addition to the personal essay included in your Common Application. You can learn all about what they are and why they’re important here.

Get Your Essay Reviewed

Feel confident when submitting your college application essay by getting it reviewed by a professional admissions expert..

University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) 2020-21 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Regular Decision:

University of Pennsylvania 2020-21 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 1 essay of 300-450 words; 1 essay of 150-200 words

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Community , Why

How will you explore your intellectual and academic interests at the University of Pennsylvania? Please answer this question given the specific undergraduate school to which you are applying. (300-450 words)

*students applying to digital media design and computer & cognitive science should address both the specialized program and single-degree choice in their response. for students applying to the other coordinated dual-degree and specialized programs, please answer this question in regards to your single-degree school choice; your interest in the coordinated dual-degree or specialized program may be addressed through the program-specific essay..

You’ve probably seen this before: the why essay. Clocking in between 300 and 450 words, UPenn’s take on this classic prompt is on the longer side. There’s only one thing to do, the same thing we always tell you to do: research, research, research. Set aside some quality time to get up close and personal with UPenn’s website (or campus if you’re able to visit) and take some detailed notes on everything that appeals to you. Go deep. Read some descriptions of the classes you will take in your major and Google the professors you will be learning from. Think about telling a story that illustrates your path to UPenn: how do its’ offerings align with your own interests and goals? You could, alternatively, paint an aspirational picture of what you’d be like on campus. Any way you slice it, you should be focusing on “intellectual and academic interests” related to the undergraduate school to which you’re applying. Show admissions that UPenn the ideal fit for you and your academic goals.

At Penn, learning and growth happen outside of the classroom, too. How will you explore the community at Penn? Consider how this community will help shape your perspective and identity, and how your identity and perspective will help shape this community. (150-200 words)

UPenn’s first prompt asks about your intellectual and academic pursuits, but admissions also wants to know about who you are and what you’d like to do when you’re not cramming for exams and soaking up your professor’s sage wisdom. Start by thinking about the here and now. Where can you be found when your homework is done? How do you spend your weekends? Think of something that gets you interacting with others or diving deep into your area of expertise. Admissions wants to know what your area of influence will look like at UPenn: an on-campus job, a unique hobby, or maybe an organization to which you contribute innovative ideas and exquisite cake decorating skills. (Bake sale, anyone?) Finally, remember to address how UPenn will shape your identity and vice versa. Will the Black Wharton Undergraduate Association help you to explore your entrepreneurial interests? Will your plethora of non-profit internship and volunteering experience make you a fantastic addition to and a natural leader in the Social Impact Consulting Group? Whatever you write about, make sure your response to this prompt shows that you have put some serious thought into what your life will look like at UPenn.

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The Conversation

Some of the ‘Adults in the Room’ Aren’t Who We Thought They Would Be

A man in a dark suit and a scarlet tie (Speaker Mike Johnson) stands before the assembled press corps, who are holding up phones, digital recorders and cameras.

By Gail Collins and Bret Stephens

Ms. Collins and Mr. Stephens are Opinion columnists. They converse every week.

Bret Stephens: Hi, Gail. I think the theme for last week was the return of adult supervision. Mike Johnson, the speaker of the House, finally showed a spine by staring down Marjorie Taylor Greene and joining forces with Democrats to pass critical foreign aid bills. And Minouche Shafik, the president of Columbia University, authorized the police to arrest pro-Palestinian student protesters who had occupied part of the campus in violation of university policies.

Are you cheering with me?

Gail Collins: Bret, as a former college sit-in-er myself, back in days of yore, I have mixed feelings. Not saying President Shafik was wrong, just that I just can’t get into cheering administrators who try to solve nonviolent campus demonstrations by calling in the cops.

Bret: Since Hamas’s massacre of Israelis on Oct. 7, demonstrators at Columbia have called for the elimination of Israel, praised Hamas, urged the murder of Jewish students and physically assaulted Israelis on campus. That’s not my idea of young idealists reliving the peace-and-love marches of the late 1960s. I also wonder how these kids have all this spare time to protest just as term papers are coming due and final exams are on the near horizon.

If it were up to me, I’d sentence them to six months of hard academic time at the University of Chicago.

Gail: On the Mike Johnson front, I was thinking all week about how we’d be joining forces to praise him. Didn’t really expect he’d be that kind of stand-up guy, but every rational member of Congress has to feel that he’s doing the right thing. And every rational voter, considering the people leading his opposition, is gonna have to come around to his side.

Bret: Nothing is more difficult these days in American politics than going against your own ideological tribe. And nothing is more admirable than politicians who are willing to challenge their base and gamble their office for the sake of a great cause. I wasn’t much of a fan of Johnson when he became speaker of the House, but what he’s done is a profile in courage. For which, no doubt, the MAGA folk will tear him limb from metaphorical limb.

In the meantime, we have — the Trump trial! Your thoughts, hopes, fears and prayers.

Gail: Do love the idea of Donald Trump being forced to sit, for hours on end, listening to other people talk about him and not being allowed to interrupt.

Bret: I’m not a fan of this particular prosecution, but I’m with you on that.

Gail: My ideal outcome would be one that exposes him as a totally failed businessman, without a prison sentence that would just turn him into a martyr.

Bret: Was there any doubt before this trial that he was a totally failed businessman? I mean, Trump University , Trump Shuttle , Trump Steaks ?

Gail: Team Trump can’t talk enough about the left-liberal bias of a Manhattan jury, and I admit you can wander around my neighborhood for ages without running into a Trump voter.

But I have faith the jurors will try to do the right thing. Have you ever served on a jury, Bret?

Bret: I’ve been called up twice but have never served. One time there were no cases to try. The other time I got to the voir dire stage but wasn’t selected. Afterward I went out to a Chinatown lunch with some of my fellow rejects, and it turned out we all had advanced degrees. Make of that what you will.

Gail: I was on a jury a trillion years ago, long before I worked for The Times. We had the case of a guy who’d attacked an elderly woman, I think on a bus, and his only defense was a claim she hit him first. We all knew before we entered deliberations that the defendant was deeply, totally guilty. But we wanted him to understand we were trying to be fair, so we forced ourselves to argue for a very long time before we came back with the verdict everybody — I think including the accused — had been expecting in 15 minutes.

Bret: You’re a better person than I am. But getting back to the Trump trial, I’m deeply apprehensive about it. The case is built on the legal stretch that falsifying a business record, usually a misdemeanor offense, should be treated as a felony. John Edwards, a former Democratic senator and vice-presidential nominee, was acquitted of a similar charge. An acquittal would be a political triumph for Trump. A conviction — which might well get overturned on appeal — would vindicate his argument (at least with his voters) that he is a victim of politicized justice by a progressive prosecutor. And it would open the door for conservative prosecutors to return the favor against their own political opponents.

My point being: The only way to defeat Trump is through normal political means. Which makes it heartening to see President Biden doing a little better recently in head-to-head polls, though he’s still behind in most of the swing states.

Gail: You offer me yet another opportunity to complain about the fact that the presidential candidates are obsessed with Pennsylvania, population 13 million, and totally unconcerned about California, population 39 million.

The whole swing states thing is a polite way of talking about the Electoral College, which ignores the total number of actual votes a candidate gets nationwide — have I mentioned that Democrats won the popular vote in seven out of the last eight presidential elections?

Bret: Your complaint needs to be lodged with the founding fathers. Personally, I think the system is fine. It keeps smaller states relevant, forces candidates to campaign in places where the contests are tight and usually provides a decisive result.

Gail: … and disenfranchises city dwellers.

Bret: Or conservatives who live in blue states.

But whatever else one thinks about it, the system is not about to change anytime soon. And I think Biden can still win by pushing hard on the subject of abortion. Kinda ironic that if he wins a second term, he’ll owe it in part to Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh, Clarence Thomas and the other conservative justices who foolishly decided to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Gail: I have to tell you the intense political support for abortion rights has kinda stunned me. In a good way, but it’s been wild seeing all the politicians who made their careers as abortion opponents suddenly discovering ways to, um, recalibrate their positions.

Bret: If the overturning of Roe causes Kari Lake to lose her bid to win a Senate seat in Arizona, it will be something of a silver lining.

Gail: And as I wrote last week , it does really bother me that gun safety doesn’t get the same kind of political support. You’d think there’d at least be a sweeping movement for national rules requiring gun owners to take a safety course before they get a license and prohibiting people from trotting around the shopping mall with a loaded revolver in their pocket.

Bret: Fine by me, though I don’t think gun-safety laws will do much to change gun violence. California has such a law, but gun violence is hardly disappearing.

Different subject, Gail. The Biden administration just closed off millions of acres in Alaska to energy exploration and mining, including a huge copper deposit. I understand that Biden wants to placate environmentalists in his base, but how does that square with his demand for more electric vehicles? Help me out here.

Gail: The copper thing is a short-term problem, I gather. The electric vehicles of the future are supposed to be better on that front. And the advantages of getting rid of gas guzzlers are more important.

But do I get the impression you’re not a fan of the whole transformation from gas to electric?

Bret: I’m fine with electric vehicles, though I think their environmental benefits are overstated if you consider all of the mineral and energy inputs that go into building and powering them. What I don’t get is the argument that we need millions more of them while also refusing to mine the stuff — copper, lithium, cobalt and so on — that goes into making them. Trade-offs are a fact of life, and too many environmentalists confuse virtue signaling with clear thinking. We should especially want to mine those minerals within the borders of the United States, where we can regulate their production, rather than getting them from, say, the Democratic Republic of Congo, where we can’t.

Gail: I’m rooting for the increasingly efficient-to-build electric cars of the future, but I bow to your argument. We’ve got a long way to travel. And more research required.

Bret: Which reminds me, Gail: The most important book I’ve read lately comes from our colleague and friend Frank Bruni. It’s called “ The Age of Grievance ,” and it’s not just the most astute diagnosis of the rage, recrimination and revenge culture that ails our country. It’s also the best prescription for our redemption. At its heart, it’s a call for humility: the humility to accept that we don’t have all the answers, that we have a lot to learn from those with whom we disagree, that thinking well is impossible if we can’t listen well.

Gail: Totally agree with you about Frank’s analysis. He’s one of the smartest people I know.

Bret: Also, you should get a copy because we need to keep Frank’s dog, Regan, well fed.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , WhatsApp , X and Threads .

Gail Collins is an Opinion columnist, is a former member of the editorial board and was the first woman to serve as the Times editorial page editor, from 2001 to 2007. @ GailCollins • Facebook

Bret Stephens is an Opinion columnist for The Times, writing about foreign policy, domestic politics and cultural issues. Facebook

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