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What are Penn's ACT score requirements?

Hi everyone! I'm a junior looking to apply to the University of Pennsylvania next year and was wondering what their ACT score requirements are. Would someone let me know what an ideal score range is to be a competitive applicant? Thanks in advance!

9 months ago

Hello! The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) is a highly selective institution, and while they do not have a specific minimum ACT score requirement, admitted students unsurprisingly usually have strong ACT scores, around 33-35.

To put yourself in a strong position for admission, you should aim to score in the mid-30s. However, keep in mind that Penn is still test-optional for the 2024-2025 application cycle, which means you can choose whether or not to submit your ACT score as part of your application. In some cases, students with lower test scores have still been able to gain admission based on the strength of the rest of their application.

That being said, at a school as selective as Penn, you generally want to showcase your strengths in as many ways as possible, so submitting a test score would likely still be wise. For detailed guidance on how to navigate test-optional policies, check out this blog post from CollegeVine: https://blog.collegevine.com/does-test-optional-mean-test-optional

Do be aware that the admissions process at Penn is holistic, which means that your application is evaluated in its entirety, with your scores contributing to only one part of the bigger picture. Your essays, extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, and academic performance are some of the other important factors that can make a difference in your application - even a perfect 36 won't get you in on its own, while, as noted above, a slightly lower ACT score can sometimes be compensated for with strengths in other areas of your application.

If you're looking for tips on how to strengthen your overall application to Penn, check out this blog post from CollegeVine, which breaks down how to tackle their school-specific supplemental essays: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-upenn-supplemental-essays/. After all, most applicants to Penn have excellent academic credentials, and the essays are often just the thing that distinguish one talented student from another.

In summary, while having an ACT score in the mid-30s is ideal for increasing your competitiveness at Penn, remember that test scores are just one component of the application, and the holistic review process takes into account a wide range of factors. So, make sure your strengths come across in each piece of your application, rather than relying on any single accolade to get you in on its own.

Good luck!

9 months ago

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CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.