| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | February 17, 2027 (2027 cycle) |
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| Cost | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Financial aid | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Limited ESAP financial aid: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. 2026 aid was extremely limited, merit- and need-sensitive, and only for U.S. citizens/permanent residents; next-cycle terms unannounced.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Wild Country2027: $5,200. Selected trek only, not a single umbrella tuition quote.; Mountain Desert2027: $8,795. Selected trek only, not a single umbrella tuition quote.; Paleontology2027: $4,400. Selected trek only, not a single umbrella tuition quote. (2027 cycle) | Last year's cycle (2026): 2026 enrollment deposit (historical): $1,500. Nonrefundable; aid-recipient deposit could differ. Part of the total program fee.; Limited ESAP financial aid: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. 2026 aid was extremely limited, merit- and need-sensitive, and only for U.S. citizens/permanent residents; next-cycle terms unannounced.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Stipend or pay | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Eligibility | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Additional eligibility | Ages 13–18; Residency: Applicants may come from the United States or abroad if they can lawfully travel to the program; no citizenship restriction is published; Requirement: Select the trek and its age/gender band: Prairie14-16 young men; Turquoise14-18 young women; Wild Country13-15; Mountain Desert16-18; Paleontology14-18.; Requirement: Confirm selected trek physical, consent, payment and travel terms.; Exclusion: Applicants outside a selected trek's age band; Exclusion: Applicants who cannot participate safely in the trek's essential physical and community activities with available supports; Exclusion: Applicants unable to attend the full residential dates; Exclusion: Applicants seeking a gender-specific Prairie or Turquoise placement who do not fit that trek's published grouping | Minimum age 15; Requirement: For 2026, be a high-school student at least age 15 by program start; Requirement: Hold at least a 3.0 GPA or equivalent, with strong math/science preparation preferred; Requirement: Submit a complete official high-school transcript through the school; Requirement: Submit the required original essay and all supplements by the applicable deadline; Requirement: International applicants apply by the priority deadline and independently satisfy passport, visa, SEVIS, insurance, travel, and English-proficiency requirements; Requirement: Non-native English speakers meet the published TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo minimum or obtain the English-medium-school waiver; Requirement: Commit to the complete residential program and selected course; Exclusion: Applicants younger than 15 on the program start date under 2026 rules; Exclusion: Incomplete or late online/supplemental materials; Exclusion: International applicants applying after the priority deadline; Exclusion: International applicants seeking ESAP financial aid under the 2026 restriction; Exclusion: Assuming course credit automatically transfers, guarantees Penn admission, or improves Penn admission odds; Exclusion: Using 2026 requirements as guaranteed next-cycle terms |
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| Session dates or duration | Catalog terms: 2–6 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: 3 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Format | In person | In person |
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| Housing and supervision | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Location | Thoreau, New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, American Southwest and Four Corners | Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania campus, Pennsylvania |
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| Selection and application | Selection: Trek acceptance is based on the application and ability to participate fully; Pick Your Price selection does not affect admission. Capacity, fit, health and safety, and financial-aid availability can still limit placement. Application materials: For need-based aid: separate scholarship form, amount requested, household financial information, parent statement, and applicant written statement or video | Selection: Very selective holistic review of academic interests, abilities, achievement, peer contribution, and potential benefit. Penn publishes no current applicant count or acceptance rate. Application materials: Essay no longer than two pages with required header and formatting under 2026 guidance |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-12Source 2 · checked 2026-08-20Source 3 · checked 2026-08-20Source 4 · checked 2026-08-20Source 5 · checked 2026-08-20 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-09Source 2 · checked 2026-10-09Source 3 · checked 2026-10-09Source 4 · checked 2026-10-09Source 5 · checked 2026-10-09Source 6 · checked 2026-10-09Source 7 · checked 2026-10-09Source 8 · checked 2026-10-09Source 9 · checked 2026-10-09Source 10 · checked 2026-10-09Source 11 · checked 2026-08-20Source 12 · checked 2026-08-20 |
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