University of Pennsylvania AI Policy for College Applications

General Policy:L1AI use permittedD1Optional disclosureE1Manual review possible
Important:Some programs have stricter policies - see details below

Quick Answer: Can you use AI at University of Pennsylvania?

It depends on your program:

  • General/Undergraduate: AI use permitted
  • Wharton Business School: AI use prohibited
  • Penn Law School: AI use prohibited

Last verified: 2025-09-18 • Confidence: High

Policy Evidence

University General Policy

If it is unacceptable to have another person substantially complete a task, it is also unacceptable to have AI complete the task

AI Guidance - Penn Information Security(Updated: 2024)

Be transparent about the use of AI. Disclose when a work product was created wholly or partially using an AI tool

AI Guidance - Penn Information Security(Updated: 2024)

Program-Specific Policies

Wharton Business School

L4AI use prohibitedD0No disclosure requiredE2Uses screening tools

Your work contained within this application must be your own

View source(Updated: 2024)

Applies to: application work

Penn Law School

L4AI use prohibitedD3Must attest no AI usedE2Uses screening tools

work must be sole and original

View source(Updated: 2024)

Applies to: application materials

Specific Guidelines

Allowed Uses

  • brainstorming
  • idea generation
  • limited assistance

Not Allowed

  • substantial completion of essays
  • direct submission of AI-generated content

Policy Summary by Program

ProgramAI Allowed?DisclosureEnforcement
General/UndergraduateAI use permittedOptional disclosureE1Manual review possible
Wharton Business SchoolAI use prohibitedNo disclosure requiredE2Uses screening tools
Penn Law SchoolAI use prohibitedMust attest no AI usedE2Uses screening tools

Sources Verified

All sources checked (4)
Confidence: HighLast verified: 2025-09-18

Additional Context

Penn allows limited AI use for brainstorming with disclosure requirements. Wharton and Law School have stricter policies requiring original work. Wharton uses AI detection tools to identify AI-authored content.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does University of Pennsylvania allow ChatGPT for essays?

Yes, University of Pennsylvania permits AI use in application essays. Students may include AI-generated content as long as it's accurate and they take responsibility for it.

Do I need to disclose AI use to University of Pennsylvania?

University of Pennsylvania encourages but does not require students to disclose AI use. There may be an optional field to describe how AI was used.

How does University of Pennsylvania check for AI?

University of Pennsylvania may conduct manual reviews to check for AI use, looking for inconsistencies in voice or style.

Which University of Pennsylvania programs have different AI policies?

Wharton Business School, Penn Law School have specific policies that differ from the general university policy. Programs that prohibit AI entirely: Wharton Business School, Penn Law School.

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