Penn Arts and Sciences High School Programs Developing the Leader Within Online Seminar

In 2026 the seminar met live on Zoom from 9 to 11 a.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday, for the two weeks, which came to about 20 hours of class across ten sessions. Penn also expected roughly 10 hours of work on your own over the program.

You'll need a computer with at least 8GB of RAM and an internet connection of at least 1.5 Mbps download and 750 Kbps upload, and the instructor may add requirements of their own. Penn encourages online students to give the program their full attention but leaves time management to them. If you don't live on Eastern time, check what that slot means where you are, since it can fall very early in the morning or late in the evening.

Penn names Wayne Tarken as program director. He's a teacher, business coach and human resources leader who has advised companies including IBM, Comcast and Johnson & Johnson, and as affiliated faculty at the University of Pennsylvania he co-developed a course called Developing the Agile Leader. He holds an MBA in human resources management and a BA in economics from Temple University.

You leave with a certificate of completion, which Penn's high school programs office sends as a digital copy when you ask for it. It isn't college credit and you don't get a Penn transcript. To earn it, you have to take part in both the live sessions and the self-paced work.

Beyond the certificate, Penn sets out the skills you work on:

• Seeing how leadership helps in class, on the field and in extracurricular activities
• Turning your own ideas into concrete actions
• Leading group projects, motivating peers and influencing others
• Solving problems creatively when something gets in the way
• Presenting ideas with confidence and building trust through clear communication

Penn looks for at least a 3.5 high school GPA, writing that shows technical skill and intellectual depth, strong recommendations and a range of extracurricular interests. The seminar is open to students currently in 9th to 11th grade, including international students, but graduating seniors aren't eligible. You have to submit the application yourself, not through a parent, counselor or agent.

Penn reviews completed applications in the order they arrive and admits on a rolling basis until the program is full, and a decision can take up to six weeks. It doesn't publish a cohort size or acceptance rate. In 2026 the application asked for:

• Two essays

  Up to 400 words each, in one numbered document: why this Penn program interests you and how it fits your goals, and how two non-academic activities have shaped your growth.

• A transcript

  A full transcript for the last complete school year (2024 to 2025 for the 2026 cycle), official or unofficial.

• One recommendation

  From an adult who knows your work, written on their organization's letterhead and naming this specific program.

• English scores, if needed

  Non-native English speakers write a third essay about their English background and need at least TOEFL 100 (iBT), IELTS 7 or Duolingo 130. Students who'll have attended an English-medium school for at least two years by enrollment may be eligible to have the test waived.

In 2026 the seminar cost $2,950, which Penn says covered all program fees, plus a $100 application fee that isn't refunded, so $3,050 in all for an admitted student. Once you're admitted, a $1,500 deposit holds your place, and it counts toward the $2,950 rather than being added on top. Bills come through PennPay, typically available at the start of May and due by June, and Penn adds a 1.5% late penalty on anything past due.

If you withdraw by 15 May, in writing by email to both hsprogs@sas.upenn.edu and penn@summerdiscovery.com, your tuition is refunded apart from the $1,500 deposit, which is never refunded and can't be moved to another Penn program. Penn lists no refunds after that date. Since Online Seminar applications stayed open until 1 June in 2026, a student admitted late could have no refund window at all.

Philadelphia residents at a School District of Philadelphia public or charter high school may be able to attend free with one of a limited number of scholarships, and their application fee is waived. Penn offers no financial aid to anyone else, although families can pay from a 529 college savings plan.