UPenn Interview: Everything you need to know (2023)

How to get an interview with UPenn?

Depending on volunteer availability, more than 90% of applicants receive an interview call at UPenn. Although the interviewers are not admissions officers, they are eager to learn more about you and share their experiences at Penn.

Alumni interviews are available for first-year applicantsUniversity of Pennsylvania. Transfer applicants are generally not invited to job interviews. For the 2022-2023 application process, all admission interviews will be conducted virtually to ensure the health and safety of prospective Penn students and alumni interviewers. All interviews are conducted over the phone, via Zoom, Google Hangout or any other similar chat platform.

How to get an interview with UPenn? The members ofPenn Alumni-TalkshowThey will receive applicants' names and contact information and will be in touch with you. Alumni volunteers do not have access to your application and the application documents are not checked in advance. For their benefit, Penn alumni volunteers go through an extensive training program.

If you receive a call asking you to come for an alumni interview, we strongly encourage you to take your time. If you must decline the interview, write to the interviewer explaining why you cannot participate in the discussion. Please contact Penn Admissions if you have questions about specific conditions related to your interview. Contact your interlocutor directly. Rather, it is against the Admissions Policy for candidates to request an interview with UPenn.

Alumni interviewers contact Early Decision applicants between mid-October and the last week of November. Between December and February, interviewers will contact Regular Decision applicants. Interview invitations are typically sent to QuestBridge finalists in November. Interviews cannot be arranged in advance. Don't worry if you don't get called for an interview. Failure to get an interview will not affect your rating as UPenn cannot contact all applicants.

Be patient and realize that while an interview is likely to be offered, it is not guaranteed. The email address you provided in your application is the most likely method that UPenn will use to contact you. So be sure to check your inbox and even your spam folder regularly. You can also receive news from alumni interviewers on the phone number you provided in your application. Please respond as soon as possible, preferably within 3-5 days. Remember that this interaction with your interviewer is just the beginning, so make a good first impression. Alumni interviewers may assume that you want to decline the interview if they don't hear from you immediately.

Perhaps you are curious and looking for someone to talk to; However, Penn discourages applicants from doing so. The school asks you not to research your interviewer online or contact them on social media, just as interviewers have been asked not to screen Penn applicants online. The UPenn interview aims to be a fresh exchange of ideas between two interested (and intriguing) but independent parties.

What questions to expect in a UPenn interview?

The UPenn interview is not a test. It gives you the opportunity to express information about who you are in your own words. Your interests and your decision to apply to Penn will be the main topics of conversation. It is also an opportunity to learn more about the university.

As you begin your preparation, you can ask, "What questions to expect in a UPenn interview?" The interviewer may ask you about:

• Can you tell me something about yourself?
• What is important to you?
• What are your current academic and/or extracurricular interests?
• What made you decide to apply to Penn?
• What courses, programs and activities on Penn campus do you find exciting?
• What plans do you have for your future?

You also have the opportunity to ask questions during the interview. Take this opportunity by planning your questions. If it is more convenient for you, you can write them down and bring them with you. Your Penn alumni interviewer may not have been actively involved with the school or be very up-to-date with campus life, but their experience will provide you with important information.

Consider adding the following Penn-specific queries to your list when designing your own UPenn interview questions:

• Can you tell me about the most influential aspects of your experience at Penn?
• What is one of your favorite Penn traditions?
• How do you stay connected to the campus and your fellow Penn students?
• What are the benefits of the Penn Alumni Network?

What type of students is UPenn looking for?

“Increasing the quality of education and generating research and innovative methods of healthcare by fostering a vibrant, inclusive environment and full acceptance of diversity” is the mission of UPenn.

So what type of student is UPenn looking for? Academic achievements and aspirations are highly valued at UPenn. The school requires successful candidates to have completed the most difficult courses and achieved success in all subjects. Like most elite universities, they value transdisciplinary competencies.

Consider the fact that in recent years, 91% of the institution's admitting students had unweighted high school.grade point averageof 3.75+ and accepted students had an average SAT score of 1494 to give an idea of ​​how highly the university values ​​academic success. However, Penn is looking for students who demonstrate Benjamin Franklin's dedication to "service to society" in other areas as well. Basically, this means that the facility is looking for young people who are actively involved in the betterment of their local communities and society in general.

Penn wants to see an applicant's proof of their genuine commitment to educating the people on their application. However, this does not mean that the institution expects you to participate in large or global volunteer or philanthropic efforts. They pay close attention to the social impact that comes from their genuine interests, skills, and history. They are looking for young people who have demonstrated their ability to initiate, expand or innovate in community development initiatives that are personally important to them.

Also UPennAdmissions AdvisorThey try to enroll people from a variety of backgrounds, aspirations, and interests. They will have a clear reason to bring you to campus if you stand out from the crowd.

Does the UPenn alumni interview matter?

Does the UPenn alumni interview matter? Alumni interviews serve three purposes: they are a great way for alumni to stay involved with the university; they give prospective students the opportunity to ask an informed and committed alumni questions about their studies; and provide Penn Admissions with information about the applicant that may not be included in the student's application (his personality, passion and potential suitability).

According to the admissions officer, the interview report is very helpful in evaluating applications. In addition, candidates report that the UPenn interview improved their opinion of the university and increased their willingness to enroll there.

Although participation in these interviews is optional, most candidates do so. Approximately 96% of freshmen have been interviewed by Penn alumni in the past year, making Penn's program the largest attempt of its kind in higher education. Of course, declining the invitation would not have a positive effect on one's enthusiasm.

How do I prepare for a UPenn interview?

After the interview, the interviewer will write a short report that will be attached to your admission file. While it doesn't usually alter or change the situation, it's still beneficial to do so and you should be prepared to do your best. Many questions may be running through your mind, but let's answer the crucial question: "How do I prepare for a UPenn interview?"

Present it as the number 1 institution on his list.

If your preferred school isPrinceton, but you have also requestedBraunand Penn too and they invited me to do an interview, that's fantastic! But no one at Penn is allowed to mention it. This applies to all admission interviews at other schools, but is extremely important at renowned universities. You should present this institution as your best dream school.

The best universities only want to admit students who are sure they will enroll if accepted. Go into the interview with that attitude. Don't even consider it a lie. Your college list should only include institutions that you would attend. You should already be looking forward to Penn if he's on your list; just lean in

Research the school.

"Why do you want to study here?" is one of the questions asked in almost every job interview. This question should be ripe for a great answer from you. You should be able to talk about academics, special opportunities and details. For example, when you say, "Because Penn is a wonderful school," you don't reveal anything about yourself, the institution, or the kind of student you would be. Instead, you can say something like, "I want to study criminology, and I was thrilled that Penn not only offered that, but also included biological approaches to crime in the program." I appreciate Penn allowing it and would like to enroll in some courses at engineering schools. I was interested in learning about CURF at Penn University as I also want to be involved in undergraduate research.”

Your answer should be academic in content, but you can also search for extracurricular activities. Make sure you are accurate. The answer "I like the theater" is fine, but it would be better if you said "I aspire to join Penn's Mask and Wig Club because I love musical comedy."

Check possible queries.

Each interviewer asks different questions. Although Penn posts sample questions, the format is more conversational than written. Many graduates will use these questions, which are provided to interviewers as a general guide. Think about your answers as you read the questions ahead of time. Even if not all of them, your conversation partner will most likely use some of them. Make sure none of these questions catch you completely off guard. You can also search for othersgeneral questions in job interviews at universitiesso that you are better prepared to answer other types of questions.

Discard single word answers.

A one-word answer ends a conversation faster than anything else. When asked what you like to do after school, if you only answer "Volleyball," the interviewer has the burden of continuing the conversation. With the expression "Volleyball. I play setter in my school's university team. I haven't missed any training this season and I've been playing since my freshman year," the interviewer said. Be careful not to ramble, but most students find it harder to speak than not to speak during the UPenn interview.

Avoid falling into the stress trap.

When interviewing students, UPenn provides interviewers with a list of some things to look out for. One issue that crops up frequently on the list has to do with whether Penn students can handle the challenging assignments and adapt to the fast pace of the campus. To get to this topic, interviewers often ask about time management. To this question, students often respond, "I already do a lot." That makes sense since I'm going to do well in Penn because I did well in high school. The problem now is that college is a lot harder than high school.

Just mentioning that you do a lot of things in high school doesn't say much about your time management skills. When you talk about your time management strategies or organizational systems, you learn more about you. Instead of simply saying, “Even though I get a lot done, I make sure to prioritize my time,” instead say something like, “I'm incredibly busy right now and I'm doing fine. I have a well-organized planner and a structure that prevents projects and tasks from sneaking up on me. I also make sure to limit my participation in extracurricular activities to those that I can devote significant time to.”

Ask relevant questions.

You can often ask the interviewer questions. You should have some. Asking questions can get you excited about UPenn and give you useful information about the university. Make sure the questions you ask are relevant. Some things are obviously inappropriate, like asking "Are there any good parties?" and others less obvious.

Even if your interviewer is an alumnus, your senior year may vary. Try asking open-ended questions, e.g. For example, if the respondent graduated in 1982, "What did you enjoy most about being on Penn?" or ask things like "If you could go back in time, what would you change about Penn?" If you can avoid it, try not to put the interlocutor in a difficult situation.

Be more relaxed and open!

Another fairly general interview tip, but one you should use to your advantage. An interview will not go well if you are very shy. Especially if your interviewer is a college graduate, as many Penn interviewers are. Recent graduates are just as excited as you are to pass the interview and eventually attend UPenn.

However, this can be a challenge when it often sounds robotic. Don't be afraid to discuss your interests during the UPenn interview. Penn is always looking for mature students with a variety of skills and passions. Interviewers will perceive you as more approachable if you relax and talk about your interests. This is crucial if the interviewer needs to submit their report to the admissions office after the interview. It's easier for them to write about you the more information they know. There are only about 6 open questions in the report. The more information they have about you and the more they can learn about you, the more accurate the report will be.

What is UPenn known for? Students actively participate in itextracurricular activities, and the motto "work hard, play hard" dominates the campus, earning it the nickname "Social Ivy". However, don't be fooled by the relaxed atmosphere of the school; Academics are a challenge. UPenn's prestige has meant that admissions become more difficult every year. So students use every opportunity, like the UPenn interview, to get a little boost for their application. Now, if you need more help with the admissions process, partnering with AdmissionSight would be the perfect answer.

AdmissionSight war in derAdmission AdviceIndustry for over 10 years and have helped thousands of students get into the best universities in the world including UPenn. If you are interested in meeting us, book ainitial consultationwith us today.