Transferring To Upenn: What You Need To Know

The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) does accept transfer students, but the process is highly competitive. In 2021, the acceptance rate for transfer students was just 4.6%, dropping to a record low of 5% in 2022. Transfer students are only admitted for the fall semester, and they must apply directly to one of the four undergraduate schools: the College of Arts and Sciences, Penn Engineering, the School of Nursing, or the Wharton School. Each school has its own requirements and policies, and it is important to choose the right school as internal transfers are not allowed.

Transfer application requirements

The University of Pennsylvania does accept transfer students, and they are encouraged to apply if they feel that Penn aligns with their academic and personal needs. The transfer application requirements are as follows:

Application

The University of Pennsylvania accepts both the Common App and the Coalition Application. Applicants are advised to review the features of each application format and use the platform that suits them best. Only one application should be submitted per admissions cycle, without mixing and matching across platforms.

Documents

The following documents are required for a transfer application to the University of Pennsylvania:

• High school transcript
• Essay or personal statement
• Standardized test scores (optional)
• Statement of good standing from the prior institution
• Minimum number of credits completed (24 credits)
• Mid-term report (required for students who will enter as sophomores)
• Two letters of recommendation
• Portfolios (if applying to Architecture or Digital Design Media programs)

Other Requirements

While there is no minimum GPA required to be considered as a transfer applicant, a GPA of 3.75 or above is recommended to be a competitive applicant. Additionally, students with exceptional grades in their first year at a community college or 4-year university and those who have completed the recommended coursework for their intended college will have a better chance of admission.

Essay Prompts

All transfer applicants must respond to the following three essay prompts:

• Please explain your reasons for transferring from your current institution and what you hope to gain by transferring to another institution. (4,150-character maximum)
• How will you explore community at Penn? Consider how Penn will help shape your perspective and identity and how your identity and perspective will help shape Penn. (1,020-character maximum)
• Considering the specific undergraduate school you have selected, describe how you intend to explore your academic and intellectual interests at the University of Pennsylvania. For students applying to specialized programs, please answer this question in regard to your single-degree school choice; your interest in the specialized program may be addressed through the program-specific essay. (2,295-character maximum)

Additionally, applicants to the Digital Media Design program must complete the following prompt:

"Why are you interested in the Digital Media Design (DMD) program at the University of Pennsylvania?" (3,575-character maximum)

Transfer acceptance rate

The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) does accept transfer students. However, the transfer acceptance rate is highly competitive, ranging from 4.6% to 8% in recent years. For the fall of 2022, the transfer acceptance rate was 5.2%, with 3,513 applicants and 185 accepted students. The rate is slightly higher for female applicants (5.9%) than for male applicants (4.6%).

UPenn's transfer acceptance rate for 2019 was 7.64%, with 2685 applicants and 205 accepted students. Of the accepted students, 135 enrolled, which equates to a yield of 65.85%.

To have a chance of being accepted as a transfer student, UPenn recommends that applicants have a college GPA of 3.3 or higher, and a high school GPA of 3.3 or higher.

Transfer deadlines

The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) does accept transfer students, and the process can be daunting but exciting. The transfer application deadline for fall 2025 is March 15, 2025.

The University of Pennsylvania offers only a fall transfer option. The transfer deadline for fall applicants is March 15. It is recommended that you complete your application at least one week before the deadline. It is also a good idea to take a two-day break from your application and then come back to it to check for errors.

Application Process

The University of Pennsylvania accepts applications from the Common App and Coalition Application. The application fee is $75, but you can request a fee waiver if this amount poses a significant financial burden. The University has no preference for either application format and treats both applications equally. However, you should only submit one application per admissions cycle and not mix-and-match materials across platforms.

Application Requirements

Transfer applicants are required to submit three UPenn-specific essays and short answers. These include a transfer essay, an essay on how you will explore community at UPenn, and an essay on your academic and intellectual interests.

You will also need to request that an official transcript be sent by a school official for all high schools and colleges you have attended. Additionally, you will need to submit letters of recommendation and a College Report form.

To apply for financial aid, you will need to submit a separate application. Standardized testing is optional for the 2024-2025 admissions cycle.

Transferring to the College of Arts and Sciences

The University of Pennsylvania does accept transfer students, with 1.13% of the student body being transfer students. Transferring to a new university can be an exciting but daunting process, so the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania has outlined steps to help students transition as smoothly as possible.

Steps to Transfer

• Students will receive a welcome message in mid-June from the College, which will include directions for getting started and the name and contact information of their pre-major advisor.
• Set up your PennKey.
• Create an SAS email account.
• Get started with Transfer Compass, a course in Penn's learning management system, Canvas, which provides an introduction to information about course registration and the transfer credit process.
• Once you have worked through Transfer Compass, reach out to your pre-major advisor.

Registration and Course Information

• Students who transfer to Penn as juniors are eligible to request transfer credit for a writing seminar.
• Students should plan to fulfill the Language Requirement as soon as possible.
• Transfer students who come to Penn with sophomore standing will have one full semester before they are asked to declare their major.
• Transfer students who come to Penn with junior standing should declare their major as soon as they are reasonably able to. Junior transfer students who are athletes must declare their major as soon as possible after arriving on campus to be eligible for athletic competition.
• At least half of the courses satisfying the major requirement must be taken at Penn.
• Only the department or program advisors determine which credits transferred from another institution can count toward the major.
• In order to be eligible for Penn equivalent credit, courses taken at a transfer student's previous institution must have earned a grade of C or better.
• Transfer students who took a math course at their previous college or university should speak with their academic advisor about the proper placement in a math course at Penn.
• Students who did not take a math course at their previous college or university and plan to do so at Penn should take the Math Diagnostic to determine the proper level of calculus course to take.

Internal Transfers

Students who wish to apply for an internal transfer between any of the four undergraduate schools should attend an information session or speak with an advisor in the school to which they are applying. Applicants should be prepared to discuss why the curriculum of the target school is a good fit for their academic interests and goals.

Students are not eligible for transfer until they have completed 8 c.u. (or two semesters, whichever comes later) at Penn. Applications for internal transfer will not normally be considered after the end of the sophomore year.

Transferring to the Wharton School

The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania is the world's first collegiate business school. The undergraduate program combines a liberal arts education with a comprehensive business curriculum. As a Wharton student, you will take courses in the arts, sciences, and humanities while also learning business fundamentals and pursuing a business concentration.

Eligibility

The Wharton School only admits transfer students applying to enter as second-year students, with one year of credit. Penn undergraduates who are at the end of their first year (after two semesters) or in the middle of their sophomore year (after the third semester) are eligible to apply. Students who have already transferred to Penn from another college or university are not eligible to apply for an internal transfer to Wharton.

Academic Requirements

In addition to the eligibility requirements, there are specific academic requirements and course prerequisites that all students wishing to transfer into Wharton must meet. Students applying for an internal transfer must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.30. Applicants must complete at least four course units per semester at Penn (fall and spring semesters only). Students must earn a "C" (2.0) or better in required courses to be eligible to apply.

Course Prerequisites

There are specific course prerequisites that must be completed before applying to transfer to Wharton. These include:

• One course in calculus (MATH 1400), which can be fulfilled by a score of "5" on the AP Calculus BC exam or an equivalent course.
• One course in microeconomics, which can be fulfilled by a score of "5" on the AP Microeconomics exam, a score of "6" or "7" on the IB Higher Level Economics exam, or an equivalent course.
• One course in introductory macroeconomics, which can be fulfilled by a score of "5" on the AP Macroeconomics exam, a score of "6" or "7" on the IB Higher Level Economics exam, or an equivalent course.

Application Process

The application process for transferring to Wharton is very selective. In addition to meeting the eligibility and academic requirements, applicants should ensure that their application essays are well-written and demonstrate a strong fit with the school. The Admissions Committee will consider the quality of the answers to the application questions as well as the extent to which the applicant has explored and challenged themselves academically.

Transfer Credits

Transfer students should note that only department or program advisors can determine which credits transferred from another institution will count toward their major at Wharton. At least half of the course units in the major must be taken at Penn, and some departments may require more.

Frequently asked questions