| 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 | Last year's cycle (2026): SPROG 2026 ticket: $0. Participants could select the USD 0 option with the published SPROG26 code.; Optional contribution: $0–$200. Voluntary contribution toward Sierra Club's costs.; Four nights of dorm lodging and bedding: $0. Provided by the program.; Program meals: $0. All meals were provided.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | 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 15–25; Requirement: Be age 15–25 by August 5, 2026; Requirement: Attend the full five-day residential session; Requirement: Provide emergency, medical, dietary, accessibility, travel, and room information; Requirement: Sign the participant waiver; Requirement: Obtain a parent signature if under 18; Exclusion: Applicants younger than 15 or older than 25 for the 2026 session | 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 | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts August 5, 2026; Ends August 9, 2026; 0.7 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 | Little Switzerland, North Carolina | Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania campus, Pennsylvania |
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| Selection and application | Selection: Registration-based 2026 session; capacity and selection method were not stated | 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 2026-08-20Source 2 · checked 2026-08-20Source 3 · 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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