Yo! I'm a junior and I've been researching Penn State for a while now. Does anyone have any information on what kind of essay questions they might ask on their application? I want to get a head start and have some ideas in mind. Also, is there a word limit? Thanks in advance!
Hey there! Good on you for starting your research early. Penn State typically has at least one supplemental essay that is required for all applicants, and other essays that are required if you are applying to particular, more competitive programs, like Schreyer Honors College. You can find a breakdown of how to tackle each Penn State prompt from the current, or most recent, applications cycle on CollegeVine's blog: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-penn-state-essays/.
Keep in mind, however, that these prompts can change year to year. So, while you can use this post to get an initial sense of what you might need to write about, I'd hold off on actually starting to draft until August 1st before your senior year, as that's when the updated prompts are officially released. You don't want your hard work to go to waste if the prompts change!
Once you do have drafts in hand, though, consider taking advantage of CollegeVine's Free Peer Essay Review Tool, or submitting your essay for a paid review by an expert college admissions advisor through CollegeVine's marketplace. Sometimes, getting a second set of eyes on your essay is just the thing that helps you determine whether your approach is working.
Best of luck with your application to Penn State!
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