ABOUT DEAR PENN FRESHMEN
Dear Penn Freshmen was created in 2016 by Lauren McCann in Adam Grant's Organizational Behavior class. Since then, it has impacted the lives of countless underclassmen finding their way at Penn, created a supportive digital community, received national press, and been a source of wise perspectives in our sometimes insular lives. This year, the project will continue in its eighth year, with a fresh set of letters.
Want to get in contact with us? Email us at dearpennfreshmen@gmail.com
Thank you to the Kelly Writers House for supporting this project.
DPF in the Press
NBC News | 3.16.16 →
‘Dear Penn Freshmen’: Upperclassmen Share Advice In Honest Letters
The Philadelphia Inquirer | 3.24.16 →
Dear Penn Freshmen: Seniors write advice letters to younger selves
Quartz | 3.3.16 →
‘Dear freshmen, shut up and breathe’—Students at one college are tackling mental health in a new way
Grown & Flown | 3.7.16 →
Dear Penn Freshmen: New Hit Site Offers Honesty and Advice
You & Me Talk Show | 3.24.16 →
College Seniors Give Advice to Their Freshmen Selves
The Wharton School Blog | 2.17.16 →
This Wharton Senior’s Letter Writing Project Gets Global Attention
The Daily Pennsylvanian | 2.21.16 →
'Dear Penn Freshman' shares seniors' letters to freshman-selves
The Daily Pennsylvanian | 4.14.22 →
Upperclassmen write letters to their younger selves in student initiative "Dear Penn Freshman"
34th Street Magazine | 2.13.18 →
Dear Penn Freshmen is Relaunching for Valentine's Day
DPF Through the years
2024: Annabelle Noyes, Catherine Chow
2023: Anna Wang, Jasmine Wang, Colin Liu, Amanda Cui
2022: Jessica Shen, Margaret Chen, Adya Aggarwal
2021: Joanna Hu, Rachel Kulik, Sarah Rogers, Ally Zhang
2020: Amanda Ngo, Carmen Lau, Lina Shi, Paulina Paiz
2019: Savi Joshi, Beatriz Go, Gretchen Bednorz, Debbie Rabinovich, Nikki Lin, Lisa Yang
2018: Savi Joshi, Maddie Gelfand, Krish Mehta, Matthew Mizbani, Serena Bian, Lisa Yang
2016: Lauren McCann (Founder)