Each year, Penn invites thousands of prospective students to campus, offering a firsthand glimpse into day-to-day life at the University.
The annual program — dubbed “Quaker Days” — welcomes visiting students and their families with a lineup of activities designed to help them learn more about Penn. This year, Quaker Days will run from April 13-15.
In a statement to The Daily Pennsylvanian, Vice Dean and Director of Strategic Communications Paul Richards described the event as an opportunity for students “to experience campus for a day and imagine for themselves what it will be like to pursue their academic interests and build community here.”
Except for Monday — which offers select academic events for four of Penn’s coordinated dual-degree programs — the three days consist of nearly identical programming.
Visiting students will begin their day at Tse Ping-Cheng Cheung Ling Sports Center and the Palestra, two of Penn’s athletic facilities.
The Palestra is home to many of Penn’s largest sporting events, hosting games and competitions for men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, wrestling, and gymnastics.
Next year, the hundred-year-old stadium is set to host the Ivy Madness tournament. This March, the men’s basketball team claimed the Ivy League tournament title, advancing to its first March Madness appearance since 2018.
For the rest of the morning, students can choose from a variety of activities.
Houston Hall, the nation's first college union building, will host fairs on student life and the College of Arts and Sciences, alongside a variety of open houses — showcasing Penn’s cultural centers, Pottruck Health and Fitness Center, Van Pelt-Dietrich Library, and other campus resources — will be available for prospective students and family members to explore.
Prospective students will also have the opportunity to tour the Penn Museum, which is home to a variety of artifacts from archaeological sites around the world.
For the first time this year, Penn is offering “The Penn Community: Insights for Parents and Supporters,” a program tailored specifically for the parents of prospective students.
"We added a program specifically for parents this year to introduce them to senior leaders from admissions, university life, wellness, public safety, housing, and dining to learn about all the ways Penn students are supported on campus," Richards explained.
In the afternoon, students have the option to explore academic programming from Penn’s four undergraduate schools — the College, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the School of Nursing, and the Wharton School — and tour campus.
If prospective students are unable to make it to one of these Quaker Days, Penn also offers five “Quaker Campus Visit” days throughout April. The visit days consist of smaller programs for admitted students to experience campus life. The University will also host a calendar of virtual events over the course of this month.
“Our intention with having these three event pathways is to reach admitted students in whatever way they are most comfortable or able to engage with us,” Richard stated.
Staff reporter Kathryn Ye covers central administration and can be reached at ye@thedp.com. At Penn, she studies biochemistry and philosophy.
