University of Pennsylvania Announces New Partnership with Service to School to Support Veteran and Military-Affiliated Applicants
Source: https://admissions.upenn.edu/visit-connect/penn-perspectives/blog/penn-new-partnership-service-to-school Parent: https://admissions.upenn.edu/visit-connect/penn-perspectives/blog
Penn Admissions | March 11, 2026
PHILADELPHIA, PA ― The University of Pennsylvania today announced a new partnership with Service to School (S2S) through its VetLink program, a national initiative designed to expand opportunity and access to higher education for U.S. military veterans and service members transitioning from military service.
As a VetLink partner institution, Penn Admissions will work directly with Service to School counselors to provide veteran and military-affiliated applicants with clear, accurate, and personalized guidance throughout the college application process. S2S offers free application counseling, peer-to-peer mentorship, and networking opportunities to service members and veterans at every stage of their educational journey, helping them identify institutions that align with their academic and personal goals.
At Penn, we recognize that military service equips students with leadership, resilience, and a global perspective that deeply enriches our campus. Our partnership with Service to School reflects our commitment to expanding access to a Penn education and ensuring that veterans and service members have the guidance and support they need as they navigate the admissions process.
- Whitney Soule, Vice Provost and Dean of Admissions
This new partnership builds on Penn’s existing commitment to supporting veterans and military-affiliated students through a range of academic, professional, and community-based resources. On campus, veterans receive personalized support in accessing veteran education benefits through Student Registration & Financial Services’ Office of Veteran and Military Engagement and find connections and advocacy through Penn's student veteran network, as well as school-based organizations such as the Wharton Veteran’s Club and the Penn Carey Law Veteran’s Club. In partnership with Career Services, Penn also supports veterans as they translate their military experience into meaningful academic and professional pathways. The partnership with Service to School supports these efforts by strengthening application and admissions-focused support, creating clearer pathways for veterans and service members considering Penn.
Service to School is proud to partner with Penn to expand opportunity for veterans and service members pursuing higher education. Penn offers the kind of rigorous academic environment where veterans’ leadership, resilience, and global perspective can translate into meaningful impact both on campus and beyond.
- Sydney Matthes, CEO of Service to School
Founded in 2011 by three military veterans and an admissions expert, Service to School has grown into a national nonprofit organization that connects veterans and service members with dedicated mentors. Through one-on-one advising and institutional partnerships, S2S helps ensure veterans are admitted to and prepared to attend the nation’s leading colleges and graduate schools.
Through this partnership, Penn joins a select group of colleges and universities committed to expanding access to higher education for veterans and service members. By joining this growing network, the University looks forward to welcoming more military-connected students into the Penn community and supporting their academic and professional aspirations.