Congratulations on your acceptance to the University of Pennsylvania's Master of Behavioral and Decision Sciences (MBDS) Program! We are proud to welcome you to our community of outstanding students dedicated to expanding their intellectual and professional horizons.
Orientation and course registration are supported by the College of Liberal and Professional Studies (LPS). The following checklist will guide you through the necessary steps to begin your coursework. Please be sure to follow each of the steps, in order, for your own convenience. Our staff is available to answer any questions as they arise.
Getting Started
- Accept offer of admission
To accept our offer of admission, revisit your online application and answer a few short questions. Once you have submitted your decision form, we will be able to create a student record for you in the Penn system. - Review Pre-Orientation materials
Pre-Orientation is the gateway to getting started at Penn. You will find a checklist to complete for a successful start at Penn as well as a wealth of helpful resources. Pre-Orientation documents are designed to introduce you to Penn, policies and procedures, registration, and next steps. - Submit all final transcripts
You will be unable to register for courses until we have received and verified all final official transcripts. Learn more about how to submit transcripts, and about our transcript policy. - Get PennKey and password set up
You will receive your PennKey setup code via email within 3-5 business days of the receipt of your decision form. If you have not received a PennKey setup code within that time frame, you should contact pennkey@isc.upenn.edu. If you wish to get it sooner, please allow two business days after submitting your decision form before visiting the Registrar’s office. You will need to show a photo ID. - Create School of Arts and Sciences email address and update directory
As a School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) student, you will create an email address based on your PennKey. For example, if your PennKey is "bfranklin," your email address will be "bfranklin@sas.upenn.edu." This is the address that is entered for you in the Penn directory and is the address that your professors, advisors, and others at Penn will use to communicate with you. You can find directions on how to get started setting up your email by visiting SAS computing. - Attend your appointment with your advisor
The MBDS program will reach out to students after the entire incoming cohort is established about advising and course selection. If you have not heard from the program by August 1, call (215) 746-3618 or email penn-mbds@sas.upenn.edu to set up a welcome meeting with the MBDS team. - Attend new student orientation
Visit the Orientation Information page for the dates and location of your on-campus orientation.
