UPenn Updates Recommendation Requirements

In September the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) published a blog post from Dean Whitney Soule revealing the updated admissions policies with regard to recommendation letter submissions. So what does that mean for students? According to the blog, students can now select one of 2 options when submitting their supplemental letters of recommendation. Here is an overview of these two options: 

Option 1 
Students are required to submit one recommendation letter from their school counselor, and two teacher recommendations. 

Option 2
Students are required to submit a letter from their school counselor or counseling office, one letter from a teacher and the third letter can be composed by an adult of the student’s choosing. This can be a coach, a supervisor at a job or an adult that has had the opportunity to see the student serve as a leader in some capacity. 

The second option is where students applying to the university, ranked 8th nationally, will notice an update to admission policies. According to UPenn’s website, the college’s admission team does not have a preference of what option students choose, but are more concerned about the quality of the letter as a means to get to know the applicant on a deeper level. They also state that this change is an attempt to give students more flexibility and  “a chance to introduce yourself to us in a way that feels great to you”.

For students interested in the new letter of recommendation requirement, remember to pick the third author of your letter strategically and wisely.  Letters of recommendation stand as a testament to a student’s unique qualities, tenacity, character, personal and academic achievements and are important supplemental documentation of why a student will make a good fit into a college’s community. In addition, these letters help round out your profile as an applicant, provide insights into what you are like as a student and person, and put the rest of your application in context. 

For more guidance on choosing who to ask for a recommendation letter, check out our blog, What Makes An Effective Letter Of Recommendation?

Regardless of which letter of recommendation option a student picks for UPenn or any other highly selective school, Ivy Link’s college admission advising can devise strategies to optimize their selection of and interaction with the writers of their recommendation letters to maximize the usefulness of these recommendations to their application. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.