Every year, the University of Pennsylvania asks applicants a question that feels deceptively simple:
“Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge.”
At first glance, it might feel like a soft, feel-good prompt. But in reality, it’s a powerful opportunity to demonstrate emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and insight.
That said, most students get this one wrong. Why? Because they go for the obvious. Below, we break down who not to thank—and what you should do instead to write an essay that actually resonates.
You might feel grateful to your teachers, principal, peers, and school staff. But trying to thank all of them at once weakens your message. Generalities blur impact.
This is not the place to give a speech. You have 150 words—tell a story.
Instead, zoom in. Is there one teacher who truly saw you in a moment you didn’t even see yourself? One coach who made you rethink your limits? Choose a person who stands out and describe the moment that made them unforgettable.
This one stings, we know.
Yes, your parents likely deserve a Nobel Peace Prize for surviving your teenage years. But they’ve already gotten a lot of your gratitude—birthday cards, Mother’s/Father’s Day, family dinners. And they’re the expected answer.
The real power of this prompt lies in uncovering someone unexpected—the person whose influence might otherwise go unnoticed. That quiet librarian who recommended the book that changed your worldview. Or the janitor you talked to every morning before school. These are the people who bring the magic.
We all have our icons. Maybe Beyoncé taught you poise, or Messi taught you discipline. But unless you’ve had a personal interaction, thanking a public figure isn’t a compelling answer. It makes your story feel distant, abstract, and impersonal.
Instead, focus on someone whose impact was direct. That doesn’t mean they have to be famous. In fact, the more ordinary they seem, the more powerful your essay will be—if you can show the extraordinary role they played in your life.
You might think this is polite or strategic, but let’s be clear: this is not the space to write a thank-you note to the UPenn admissions team. They don’t want flattery. They want reflection.
Using this prompt to praise the university or express your excitement about applying will come off as disingenuous—and frankly, a little lazy.
Use the prompt for what it is: a window into who you are and who’s helped shape that person.
We’re not saying your friends aren’t important. They are. But unless a peer has truly shaped your intellectual or ethical growth, besties can feel like a shallow pick.
A thank-you that says “Thanks for supporting me through breakups and AP season” doesn’t go deep enough. Instead, think about people who challenged your assumptions or beliefs, helped you grow into a version of yourself you couldn’t see before.
If your SAT/ACT tutor was just that—a tutor—then leave them out. Raising your math section from 660 to 750 is great, but it’s not a story that will stick with admissions.
Now, if your tutor also mentored you through burnout, taught you how to reframe failure, or believed in your potential when you didn’t—that’s a story worth telling.
The key question: did they change your score, or did they change you?
“I’m thankful for the opportunity to attend this program” is not an answer. That reads like a conference speech, not a personal essay.
Instead, focus on the person within that program who made an impact. Was it the workshop facilitator who gave you the courage to speak up? The research mentor who encouraged your ideas? The teammate who helped you recover from imposter syndrome?
Get specific. Get personal.
The best responses to this prompt are not just about gratitude. They’re about growth. The person you choose should represent a turning point in how you think, how you see yourself, or how you show up in the world.
Here are a few examples that work well:
Thanking a younger sibling who unknowingly became your role model
A cafeteria worker who reminded you to smile during a hard year
A classmate who challenged your worldview in a heated debate
A mentor from your first job who taught you how to fail and recover
These are the notes admissions officers remember.
Your job with this prompt is not to make the reader feel good. It’s to show them how someone made you better. That’s what makes a thank-you meaningful—and memorable.
So look past the obvious. Think smaller. Think deeper.
And don’t forget: the person who changed you might not even know it yet.
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