Admissions

General Information

Students must be admitted to a College of Liberal and Professional Studies degree or non-degree program before they can register for or attend classes. We make a special effort to help students who are working adults to make a successful transition to academic life at Penn.

LPS operates on a "rolling" admissions schedule. Once an application file is complete, the Admissions Committee reviews the application and informs the applicant of the decision, usually within ten days. Students may matriculate at LPS during the Fall, Spring, or Summer terms.

Eligibility

You must be a high school graduate and have the equivalent of a 3.0 (B) grade point average in your previous academic high school or college work. Although a 3.0 is usually sufficient to warrant serious consideration, it does not guarantee admission. Students with prior course work in the liberal arts will generally be viewed more favorably.

If you have not graduated from secondary school you may also apply if you have taken a high school equivalency examination or GED (General Educational Development) test. A total score of 450 is needed to be considered for admission. For information about the GED, you should contact your local board of education or community college.

Though traditionally oriented to the adult student, LPS recognizes that high school graduates under the age of 21 may also need to pursue university studies on a part-time basis (two courses per term maximum).  Students under the age of 21 seeking full-time studies should contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions: http://www.admissions.upenn.edu/.

The BA Program at LPS should in no way be considered a secondary or alternative route to entering programs for traditional full-time undergraduate study at the University of Pennsylvania, including through the College of Arts and Sciences. LPS requires that all interested students under the age of 21 make an in-person or phone appointment with the Applications and Admissions Coordinator prior to submitting an application.

The Admissions Committee examines with care the academic background of each applicant, taking into consideration previous institutions attended, courses completed, and cumulative grade point average. Personal statements (application essays) and professional or volunteer experience are also considered during the admissions process.

Provisional Admission

Depending on your previous academic record, the Admissions Committee may accept you on a provisional basis. This will allow you the opportunity to strengthen or refresh your academic record by taking undergraduate courses in LPS. In close consultation with an academic advisor, you may enroll in four courses, covering various disciplines. One of these will usually be a writing course. During your first four courses, you will be limited to part-time study (1 or 2 courses per term). Re-evaluation for full admission will take place after the four courses are completed; a cumulative Penn grade point average of at least 2.7 (B-) is required. These courses will count towards the degree. Students admitted provisionally to the B.A. program are eligible for financial aid, but are not eligible for LPS scholarships until after they have received full admission.

For More Information

If you would like more information on the College of Liberal and Professional Studies Undergraduate Programs please contact a recruitment specialist in the LPS office by calling 215.898.7326 for an appointment. Telephone appointments can be made if travel to the campus is not possible.