Penn Arts and Sciences High School Programs Writing and Research in the Age of AI Academy

Dr. Clayton Colmon directs the academy. He leads curriculum design for Penn's Arts and Sciences Online Learning team, and before joining Penn he taught digital rhetoric, American literature and science fiction at the University of Delaware, where he earned his PhD in English. His own research looks at technology's impact on creative knowledge-work and social change, which lines up closely with what this course asks you to think about.

Penn says its academies are led by Penn faculty and long-standing professionals, with graduate and undergraduate teaching assistants supporting them. It doesn't publish a class size for this academy.

You finish with a Certificate of Completion from Penn, three pieces of your own work, and the option to ask your Penn instructors for letters of recommendation.

Penn is clear that taking part doesn't count as admission to the University of Pennsylvania and doesn't guarantee it later.

• A research how-to guide

  Your own method for doing a first scan of existing research in a field, topic and medium you choose.

• A writing and research toolkit

  An interactive resource that draws on the social sciences, natural sciences, technological sciences and humanities.

• A final project

  One you share at the end, tied to an area of academic or professional interest you pick.

Current 9th to 11th graders can apply, and international students are welcome, but graduating seniors can't. Penn says a successful applicant has at least a 3.5 GPA, writing that shows technical skill and intellectual depth, strong recommendations and a range of extracurricular interests. Completed applications are reviewed in the order they arrive until the academy is full, and a decision can take up to six weeks. Once an academy fills, Penn keeps a waitlist and gives any place that opens to the next student on it.

You have to submit the application yourself, not a parent or counselor, and Penn won't accept extra documents after you hit submit unless it asks for them.

• Essays

  Two essays of up to 400 words each, one on why this program and how it fits your goals, the other on two extracurricular experiences and how they've helped you grow.

• Transcript

  A full transcript for the previous school year (2024-2025 for the 2026 session), official or unofficial, in English or with an official translation.

• Recommendation

  One letter from an adult who knows you well and can judge your work, which must name this program and be on their organization's letterhead.

• English test

  Non-native English speakers write a third essay about their English background and submit a TOEFL (100 iBT), IELTS (7) or Duolingo (130) score. The test can be waived for students who'll have attended an English-medium school for at least two years by enrollment.

In 2026 the academy cost $10,050, which covered classes, a room in Penn housing, the meal plan, linens, activities and weekend trips, supervision and gym access (for students 15 and over). Penn hasn't published the 2027 price yet. On top of that you pay a $100 nonrefundable application fee, plus travel to Philadelphia, airport transfers, meals off campus, medical costs, laundry supplies and spending money.

Students whose permanent address is outside the US also pay a mandatory, nonrefundable international registration fee, which covers health insurance for the program and a visa support letter. ESF Pre-College, the company that runs the residential side for Penn, lists it as $175.

A nonrefundable $1,500 deposit holds your place and counts toward the total. The rest is billed through PennPay, typically in early May and due by June. If you pay late, Penn adds 1.5% of the overdue amount and your place is at risk. If you withdraw in writing by 15 May, you get everything back except the deposit. After that there's no refund, and Penn doesn't reduce the fee for arriving late or leaving early.

Penn offers no financial aid, though families can use 529 college savings plans. The exception is a limited number of scholarships for Philadelphia residents at School District of Philadelphia public or charter high schools, which can cover the full academy including housing and meals, but not travel or spending money.

Penn works with ESF Pre-College on the residential side. ESF recruits and supervises the residential staff, runs evening activities and weekend trips, and helps look after students' health and safety. Within two weeks of admission, ESF sends enrollment instructions, and every residential student has to register and complete its paperwork in its online system, Bravo.

Students must be at least 13 to live in the residence halls and 15 to use the gym. After-hours emergency or urgent care is provided at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia nearby, and Penn's Division of Public Safety, which includes the Penn Police Department, offers 24/7 walking escorts. You can read more in Penn's safety and security information.