University of Pennsylvania AI Policy for College Applications
Policy Changed Since September 2025
Permission: L1 → L0 (No explicit policy)
Disclosure: D1 → D0 (Unknown policy)
Enforcement: E1 → E0 (Unknown policy)
This school updated their AI admissions policy between our September 2025 and February 2026 reviews.
Quick Answer: Can you use AI at University of Pennsylvania?
It depends on your program:
- •General/Undergraduate: No explicit policy (No explicit policy)
- •Wharton Global Youth Program: Brainstorming only
- •Penn Carey Law (Graduate Admissions): No explicit policy
Last verified: 2026-02-17 • Confidence: High
What This Means For Your Application
✓Generally Safe
- Grammar and spell-checking tools
- Getting human feedback on drafts
✗Avoid
- Submitting AI-generated paragraphs as your own
💡No explicit policy doesn't mean AI is allowed — err on the side of caution
Policy Evidence
University General Policy
“No AI-specific admissions essay policy found on Penn undergraduate admissions website.”
— Application Requirements | Penn Admissions(Verified: Feb 2026)
“The work you have written and presented as your own reflects your ideas, your writing, and your own editing.”
— Application Requirements | Penn Admissions(Verified: Feb 2026)
“If someone who knows you came across your writing without your name on it, would they know you wrote it?”
— Writing | Penn Admissions(Verified: Feb 2026)
Program-Specific Policies
Wharton Global Youth Program
“You may use generative AI tools to brainstorm and explore ideas.”
— View source(Verified: Feb 2026)
Applies to: application essays
Penn Carey Law (Graduate Admissions)
“We expect you to submit a professional and easy-to-read personal statement authored exclusively by you.”
— View source(Verified: Feb 2026)
Applies to: personal statement
Policy Summary by Program
| Program | AI Allowed? | Disclosure | Enforcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| General/Undergraduate | No explicit policy | No disclosure required | E0 • No enforcement stated |
| Wharton Global Youth Program | Brainstorming only | Must disclose AI use | E2 • Uses screening tools |
| Penn Carey Law (Graduate Admissions) | No explicit policy | No disclosure required | E0 • No enforcement stated |
Sources Verified
All sources checked (14)
Policy Sources:
Additional Sources Checked:
- https://admissions.upenn.edu/how-to-apply
- https://admissions.upenn.edu/how-to-apply/first-year-applicants/application-requirements
- https://admissions.upenn.edu/how-to-apply/preparing-your-application/writing
- https://admissions.upenn.edu/how-to-apply/transfer-applicants/requirements-deadlines
- https://isc.upenn.edu/security/AI-guidance
- https://cetli.upenn.edu/resources/syllabus/generative-ai-policies/
- https://mba.wharton.upenn.edu/application-guide/
- https://www.law.upenn.edu/admissions/jd/faqs.php
- https://www.law.upenn.edu/admissions/grad/admissions.php
- https://gradadm.seas.upenn.edu/how-to-apply/
- https://www.med.upenn.edu/admissions/
- https://globalyouth.wharton.upenn.edu/ai-policy/
Policy History
| Date | Permission | Disclosure | Enforcement | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-17 (current) | L0 | D0 | E0 | High |
| 2025-09-18 | L1 | D1 | E1 | High |
Additional Context
Penn's undergraduate admissions website does not contain any AI-specific policy for application essays. The application requirements page includes a general authenticity attestation requiring that work reflects the applicant's own ideas, writing, and editing, but does not mention AI or generative tools by name. Penn's university-wide ISC AI guidance (isc.upenn.edu) addresses AI generally and states that AI should not substantially complete tasks like essay writing, but this is institutional IT guidance not authored by admissions. The Wharton Global Youth Program has an explicit AI policy for its pre-baccalaureate applications (brainstorming OK, AI detection used). Penn Carey Law Graduate Admissions requires personal statements be 'authored exclusively by you' but does not specifically name AI. Wharton MBA and Penn Engineering graduate admissions pages have no AI-specific policy. Downgraded from L1 to L0 because no admissions-authored AI-specific policy exists; general integrity attestations without AI mention do not qualify per rubric.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does University of Pennsylvania allow ChatGPT for essays?
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