University of Pennsylvania AI Policy for College Applications
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
“Your work contained within this application must be your own”
— View source(Updated: 2024)
Applies to: application work
Penn Law School
“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
Program | AI Allowed? | Disclosure | Enforcement |
---|---|---|---|
General/Undergraduate | AI use permitted | Optional disclosure | E1 • Manual review possible |
Wharton Business School | AI use prohibited | No disclosure required | E2 • Uses screening tools |
Penn Law School | AI use prohibited | Must attest no AI used | E2 • Uses screening tools |
Sources Verified
All sources checked (4)
Policy Sources:
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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