A personal statement (no more than 3 pages, double spaced): Approach this statement as an intellectual autobiography that includes a proposed area of study. Which scholarly questions interest you most? Which books, primary sources, research projects, college courses, work experiences, or life experiences would you single out to explain how you arrived at those questions? In short, what brought you to the discipline of history, and why have you chosen the area you now propose to study?

A writing sample (roughly 1025 pages): Submit a previously completed research essay, preferably but not necessarily one based on primary sources. This could be a course paper, a chapter from a senior thesis, etc. It does not have to match your proposed area of study. We want to see your best academic work, regardless of topic.

Three letters of recommendation submitted online by your references. Please note: Interfolio packets are not accepted. Your referees must upload their letters of recommendation to Penn's application portal. If a recommender cannot or will not use our online system, we suggest you ask someone else who will. Letters will be read in electronic format only.

Transcripts from any institution of higher education that has or will grant you a degree. They must be uploaded in PDF format. They can be official or unofficial copies.