Applicants need two thoughtful essays, two Penn faculty recommendations , and copies of their high school transcripts. Applications are evaluated on intellectual interest and ability. The quality of what you write will be important, along with the detail and evaluation of your faculty recommenders. We will also want to know why you wish to join the Benjamin Franklin Scholars program, and whether your claims are supported by your career at Penn before applying. While we accept applications from students after one semester at Penn, unless you have some exceptional accomplishment, we advise you to wait until the end of your first year to apply.
Students submit their parts of the application separately from the faculty recommendations.
It is your responsibility to make sure we receive the recommendations. Please feel free to call us to find out. The faculty admissions committee meets three times yearly - deadlines for application are October 15, February 1, and June 1. The General Honors Program offers approximately fifty courses a year. If you are not in the BFS program you may still take many of the GH courses with permission from the instructor.