Welcome Penn Class of 2023!

Congratulations on starting your new journey at Penn!

Here at the Office of New Student Orientation and Academic Initiatives, we're already planning for your arrival in August. Although New Student Orientation (NSO) is months away, our staff wants to provide you with pivotal information and tasks that need to be completed before you step foot on campus. Throughout the summer, we will send bi-weekly digests so you're always aware of what's coming up.

In addition to the digests, we’ve created the Penn10 to provide ten key action steps so you’ll be on top of everything you need to start your Penn experience, such as creating your Penn email if you haven’t done so already.

To get you thinking about the upcoming months, we’ve spotlighted some initiatives that you’ll need know about.

Best of luck and we look forward to meeting you.

- NSO Staff

Thrive at Penn (TAP) 

Completion Required by Monday, August 12

TAP is a mandatory online pre-orientation program that readies incoming students for their Penn experience. TAP prepares students to make healthy choices as they begin their university experience and provides information about resources available to support student success. Topics covered include thriving at a research university, wellness and health, the risks associated with alcohol and other drugs, healthy relationships and sexual violence prevention, and other resources for first-year students. TAP will go live in early July, so please stay tuned for updates and details in the coming weeks.

Throughout your undergraduate career, TAP will be available through Canvas, Penn’s learning management system. At your own pace, you’ll be asked to complete this mandatory program before arriving on campus. As you continue on your path to graduation, TAP will be updated with additional resources specific to your needs during sophomore, junior, and senior years.

Penn Reading Project (PRP) 

Completion Required by Monday, August 12

The Penn Reading Project is now in its 29th year of introducing the incoming freshman class to academic life at Penn. The Provost, the Council of Undergraduate Deans, and the Office of New Student Orientation and Academic Initiatives are pleased to announce that Cathy O’Neil’s Weapons of Math Destruction is the 2019-20 Penn Reading Project selection to kick off the Year of Data.

Weapons of Math Destruction helps prepare us for not only gathering and analyzing data, but also creating the algorithms that govern critical aspects of our lives. It raises awareness of how data affect us and recognizes our collective responsibility to use our skills to enhance our society.

In July 2019, Weapons of Math Destruction will be available to students through an e-book download.

All incoming freshmen are required to participate in PRP. During the summer, students are able to read the text, review resources, and submit a writing assignment in the TAP Canvas site. During NSO, you will be assigned to a mandatory presentation and small group discussions. As with TAP, the PRP book and essay prompt will be available in early July, with more information to follow.

Pre-Orientation Programs

The deadline is fast approaching to apply for Penn’s five Pre-Orientation Programs: PENNacle (student leadership), PennArts (arts on campus and in Philadelphia), PennCORP (community service), PennGreen (environmental sustainability), and PennQuest (hiking and camping). More details regarding each program, scheduling, fees, and contact information can be found here: 

Financial aid is available to eligible students who qualify through Penn’s Student Financial Services department.

First-Generation and/or Lower-Income Student Programming

New Student Orientation (NSO) for all incoming freshmen will begin with mandatory activities on the evening of Wednesday, August 21, 2019. However, we are offering additional programming beforehand that may be of interest to you as you prepare for your exciting transition to Penn and college life this fall. This programming is hosted in partnership with the Greenfield Intercultural Center’s First-Generation Lower-Income (FGLI) Program, as well as Penn First, the University’s student-led organization for FGLI students.

Penn First defines “First-Generation” as any of the following ways:

• One or both of your parents have not received a college degree
• You are the first in your family to pursue higher education in the United States
• You are the first in your family to pursue higher education at an elite institution like Penn
• You are the first in your family to make efforts toward changing your socio-economic status
• One or both of your parents started pursuing a college degree but did not complete it

All FGLI students are expected to move in on Tuesday, August 20, 2019. By moving in on Tuesday, you will be able to take part in programming specifically designed to prepare you to thrive in the upcoming years.

If your move-in assignment in Campus Express says Wednesday, August 21, that means you are not identified by the University as a FGLI student.  However, you may self-identify with some of the characteristics of the Penn First definition listed above.  If you are interested in participating in the FGLI programming and would like to move in on Tuesday, August 20, please contact our office at provost-nso-ai@pobox.upenn.edu.

Still have questions?

We’re happy to help with any questions you might have. Please feel free to contact us at provost-nso-ai@pobox.upenn.edu or 215.898.7000. Good luck, and we look forward to seeing you on campus in August.