House Life

House Life

Applying to Upperclass PCs

Program Communities: Shared curiosity, shared space.

Program Community applications for upperclassmen open on MyHomeAtPenn starting on January 23rd, 2024 and closing on February 2nd, 2024! You can learn more about the overall housing selection process and timeline HERE!

 

It’s not just first-year students who are offered the opportunity to live with other students and faculty who share a passion for a particular subject—many Program Communities offer membership to upperclass students too! Membership in a Program Community or an approved Student Designed Community is completely voluntary but requires a special application process.

These Program Communities are open to upperclassmen:

World Cultures and Languages

Du Bois: Black and Latin in the Americas (new for 2024)

Harnwell: Ancient Studies, Asian/Asian American Program Community, International Program, Latin American Program

Arts & Letters

Harnwell: Arts House

Harrison: Front Row Theatre & the Arts

Rodin: The Rodin Arts Collective (TRAC)

Identity & Self

Harnwell: Muslim Life Residential Program

Harrison: HarrisonQ

Rodin: Jewish Cultural Studies, Transfer Living Community

Leadership Development

Rodin: Rodin Leadership Program

College House Course Communities (Credit-Bearing)

Gregory: Language & Culture Program* (German House, French House, Spanish House); Film Culture Program

W.E.B. Du Bois College House: Zulu in Residence

  • *Language & Culture Program also offers a Chinese House but this does not currently offer course credit for participation.

Apply to a PC:

  • Investigate your options on the CHAS and House websites and note any special essay requirements here  ***(we also have a CHAS Living Fair on January 22nd from 8-10pm in McClelland dining area for you to ask all your questions!)
  • Select a PC that interests you
  • Apply (with roommates or as an individual) as part of Room Selection from your MyHomeAtPenn portal between January 23rd and February 2nd at 1pm.
  • Watch for email updates about assignment decisions
  • Visit the Residential Services website for general application instructions

Program Community applications require a short essay (1,000 words maximum); guidelines appear in the dropdown below:

Essay Guidelines and Different Prompts for Upperclass PCs

• The general essay prompt for all Program Community applicants is as follows:

Please address the following questions (maximum is 1000 words/10,000 characters):

  1. Why are you interested in joining this Program Community?
  2. What would your involvement bring to this program’s overall experience?
  3. How have you participated in your current House community?
  4. If you have a specific bedroom, roommate pairing, or neighbor preferences, please list them.

• Some PCs want you to cover different information in your essay.  Review below and visit the links for more information:

  • Harrison/Front Row Theatre and the Arts: Students are asked to write a brief essay explaining their participation to date in the activities of the Front Row Theater company, or other theater groups on campus. First preference will be given to students who have participated specifically with Front Row Theater or art initiatives undertaken within Harrison College House (Harrison Art-Ins, Harrison Saturday Night Events, Cinema 180, or PCI).
     

If not listed, then there are no requirements other than the general essay prompt. For a complete list of available Program Communities, visit our list here.