BS Health and Societies

How US Universities Assess Applicants

US universities use a holistic admissions review. Beyond grades and standardized test scores, they weigh the strength of your overall profile to understand who you are as a student and a person.

• Profile Assessment: Applicants are generally expected to show strong preparation in Biology and Chemistry, with Mathematics or Physics helpful for some programs. Healthcare volunteering, public-health initiatives, scientific research, first-aid training, community service and supervised clinical exposure may demonstrate empathy, responsibility and understanding of healthcare. Requirements differ considerably by program, particularly for direct-entry Nursing, Pharmacy and allied-health degrees.
• Extracurricular activities: Estimated extracurricular contribution: 20–30%. Penn values initiative, collaboration, practical engagement, and community contribution. Activities that naturally connect with the selected undergraduate school—Wharton, Engineering, Nursing or Arts and Sciences—may strengthen the application, but students should avoid creating an artificial connection solely for admission.
• Advanced Placement(AP) Guidance: AP availability depends on the student's school. Relevant APs can strengthen an application and may earn university credit, but are not compulsory unless the university or programme explicitly requires them.
  • AP Biology
  • AP Chemistry
  • AP Calculus or Statistics
• Essays & recommendations: Personal essays and teacher/counselor recommendations give context to your achievements and help demonstrate fit with the program.