Honestly, I saw the wave on the FB group of acceptances go from accepted UP, to accepted 2+2 and then many branch acceptances. I think the EA may be the item messed up, but the wave is just as in previous years.
I’m one of those parents who is still lurking here despite receiving our decision back in early December (applied in mid-October). It makes me realize that we must have been very fortunate to receive our decision in weeks and not months.
I was talking to my son the other day, and he was telling me that even his friends are talking about how messed up the admissions process is at PSU. He knows high stat students who were rejected, others who applied EA who just recently received decisions (he’s not aware of anyone still waiting), and other lower stat kids who were accepted before high stat kids…
I don’t know all the details (majors, test scores, etc.), but he did say that several kids see this as an indication of how Penn State treats their students, and this whole process has helped them make their decision. Penn State was never high on my son’s list, but he told me that just hearing his friends’ stories has pretty much eliminated it.
Pitt may see more students than usual accept their offers this year 
A variety of sources indicates something’s off this year, yes.
@2019gradsmom thank you for the feedback
and congrats to your son!?
I am mindful of the fact that many happy students had no problems with psu admissions this year, and it’s good to remember that
@2019grandsmom while I do understand the frustration I must say, that it has been our experience after 2 kids that have graduated from Penn State (direct admits to University Park) - Penn State runs like clockwork - and as students their four years there were absolutely seamless. It was a much better experience than one of our children who attended a well-known and highly sought after LAC.
I must clarify that I am speaking about the student experience once admitted - Admissions varies every year and does depend on major and number applying
Absolutely, there are still lots of kids who never had issues and/or many who have PSU as their clear #1 choice. I don’t blame them - I’m a PSU alum and I loved my time there! I’m sure those who attend will have a great experience.
I’m just saying anecdotally that if my son’s group of friends are discussing the admissions process, I’m sure there are other kids doing the same in other high schools around the state. PSU will have no trouble filling their spots. The comment about Pitt was really just a joke - I doubt this will have much of an impact on the final admission numbers, but it may sway a few decisions.
@ziveli513 - Congrats to your daughter, too! It sounds like she has some great options!
@2019grandsomom Yes, I have a senior now too so I definitely can relate 
(fourth one through the process and whew)
BTW just realized my typo its @2019gradsmom now that’s better!
@2019gradsmom I agree with you completely, I’m very glad that many students have had positive admits
and thanks for the congrats to my d!
She is so blessed that she has fine options so no bad feelings for psu or stress for her, she just doesn’t feel the pull to psu as she did last August when she applied, and for many reasons
she loves happy valley and grew up going to football games with her dad who is a proud alum, who still hopes she will get accepted to UP and choose PSU
But she is leaning Pitt as I mentioned, for lots of unique reasons , even if she had gotten a UP admit by now Pitt has been appealing from start too (her first admit, after 6 wks only lol)
Saying good things about Pitt doesn’t take away any respect for psu as a fine university, we have an equal pull to Pittsburgh since I have family there and my d loves the big city and all the opportunities that gives
Penn State admissions this year not withstanding, Penn State as a whole usually runs very smoothly. You have 45,000 kids trying to register for classes, etc. and usually no one has a problem as long as they follow directions.
While the admissions debacle at Penn State this year may sway some students from attending, I think it’s more unlikely that there will be a significant number that go to Pitt because of it. Penn State and Pitt have enormously different campuses and campus ‘feels’ (as someone with degrees from both Universities, I can speak to this). While the education is amazing at both, and Pitt is better for anyone going into a clinical medical field, the general student deciding between both probably have a preference for type of campus. Usually people are happy at one or the other, not both. Pitt is also half the size of Penn State. That can be a positive or a negative depending on the type of student.
ALL of that being said, any losses of Penn State enrollment is deserved this year I think. However, there are so many people in line waiting that I do not think their enrollment yield is going to suffer one bit. Which is why I think at this point people SHOULD be calling and making admissions hear the way that things have been messed up this year and the effect it’s having on families. They don’t want bad PR and that’s pretty much the only thing that I think will mean anything to them at this point unfortunately.
My son got admitted to UP Smeal! We’re OOS and were waiting on the EA list so I’m thrilled that the wait is finally over! Good luck to everyone still waiting! I’m hoping most of you hear today like we did:)
@SAD1010 and @ziveli513 hi in regards to the post about PSU STUDENTS Facebook page you need to understand that a lot of students no longer use Facebook (in our area they view it as a place parents post) My daughter was is in that two year ago Facebook group and I know she created her Facebook for that group and still rarely uses it (most posts are her older friends tagging her). Just like the posts on CC I felt that more people responded here from that year too (but it’s hard to tell because moderators did not remove “non status” posts from the decision thread.
@Propinquity4444 hurray!!! Congrats. Nice to hear good news!!
Just to be clear, your son was wait listed and now admitted? Or just waiting EA? Thx
@skibunny2 thanks for more feedback. All is interesting and helps Someone somewhere too !
@skibunny2 I think there are 5000 in the class of 2023 currently, I’d say that’s not bad!
@amomoffour for the record I did not say it was bad. I was saying that you can’t compare year to year because each year students use different technology. This is my industry and I wanted to state facts. The original post was stating that “2 years ago there were 9,000 and currently there is 5,000 I kind of take it as there might be many students yet to hear a decision, etc.”
I get this is this persons gut feel. I respect peoples opinions regardless if I agree. I feel you can’t make that judgment based on the numbers in a Facebook group.
Now do I think that 5,000 is a good #-truthfully as long as everyone who wants to be in the group is , then I think it’s great. I really hope I don’t offend anyone it’s clearly not my intent.
I wish all good luck!
@skibunny2 yes…the students are definitely shifting to Instagram but they are initially connecting on the facebook group and then communicating with Instagram. There is no Instagram group to start the connection.
^ also using snap chat
My D19 is on that FB page and the VAST (like overwhelmingly VAST) majority of kids on there are not committed to PSU. Almost all posts lead with ‘I have not committed to PSU’. D19 has messaged a few to get roommate feelers out there everyone is basically like ‘not sure I am going yet’.
@Cotton2017 thx, this Facebook feedback is fascinating