Penn released its early admissions decisions for the Class of 2026 on Dec. 16 at 7 p.m.
In the current admissions cycle, Penn will require only one teacher recommendation instead of two. The other letter of recommendation can come from anyone who can comment on the student's character.
This year marked Penn's largest application pool in history, with 56,333 — a 34% increase from last year. Penn offered admission to 3,202 of these applicants
The large applicant pool, likely influenced by test-optional policies enacted in the wake of COVID-19, is set to result in Penn's lowest-ever acceptance rate, according to Penn Admissions.
The early decision acceptance rate for the Class of 2025 marks a 4.7 percentage point decrease from last year. This year, 7,962 students applied through the University's early decision program, a 23% increase from last year's 6,453 applicants.
While most colleges assure students that they will not be at a disadvantage if they do not submit test scores, some college counseling specialists question the assertion.
The admissions office decided back in March that their fall programming – like tours and information sessions, as well as traveling to speak at high schools – would be virtual, five months before the University went fully online.
Some students who submitted aid re-evaluation forms did not receive their re-evaluated package before the fall tuition bill's Aug. 30 deadline, and consequently could not pay for the semester on time.
Penn currently reports at least 42 active coronavirus cases in the community, but many students fear potential virus clusters in the next fews weeks and are taking to social media to share their concerns and call out partygoers.
After switching to a completely remote semester, Penn President Amy Gutmann and Provost Wendell Pritchett froze tuition – keeping it at the same value as the previous year – and decreased the fall general fee by 10%.
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