I’m not sure if it’s been done on another thread, but I think I would be really helpful and valuable to OOS kids if you guys could rank the regional campuses from “most like UP” to “most like a community college.” I’m not trying to stir up a nasty debate, but I truly believe that most OOS applicants have no idea about this when choosing an alternate campus on their app. This info would be helpful both for future applicants and also applicants who were offered 2+2 and may have a chance to request a change.
Frankly, my OOS kid would never accept an alternate starting campus, mostly because he/we have no clue.
Anyway I called and the admissions lady was more than helpful in setting it up so that i’m reconsidered for the summer session at UP and if that doesn’t work out being transferred to Altoona so it is a little less “community college”. Obviously I have other universities and options on the table but penn state would be my first option if I were to get into UP somehow.
@STEM2017 Great Idea! I will make a sticky thread at the top with that!
@greencarrot01 Altoona is a 4 year college in it’s own right but much smaller than UP. It has about 5000 students and is only 45 minutes from UP campus. My son started there, as did my husband, and they loved it. Quiet, suburban campus but also a great option if you want smaller classes to get through the weed out classes for Smeal. TONS Of Smeal grads start at commonwealth campuses for just this reason. Just some thoughts if the DUS/Summer at UP doesn’t work out (it often does though!)
@myboys01 CONGRATS!!! And thanks for the shout out
@marie2001 You will not be automatically admitted to DUS. There are no “back up” majors at Penn State. You would have to call to be reconsidered for DUS. It’s not really a new application - just a resubmitting of the old application with an update of major.
My daughter also got deferred. She applied to the CoE. Architectural engineering is a 5 year program. She wants to do the 5.5 for Masters at PSU. After the first year she would be able to declare AE. When looking at the program online it says no transfers accepted into this program. Does that included their branch campus. Someone said if she did have to go to altoona she could do a 1+3 program. She was upset she got deferred when she has better stats or equal stats to most of them who got accepted CoE. So I’m wondering if this was a harder program to get into then most. Any info is welcome.
@Psumom23 A deferred is not a denied. She was probably deferred because of the sheer volume of early applications they received and could not get to by 12/24. It just means they need more time and has nothing to do with her stats. Ask her not to get upset just enjoy the holidays!
Architecture is almost always near the end of the offers, and as was said – deferred in the EA context just means " couldn’t get to you in time". Her chances are every bit as good as they were a month ago
Commonwealth campuses can be roughly divided by residential/commuter, or urban/rural, or smaller/larger. Like UP, you need to consider fit, and also keep in mind that not all majors are offered all places. If I were interested in business, I might prefer urban Behrend (Erie) to suburban Altoona. If I’m wanting to stretch my money, I might opt for Beaver (nearer Pittsburgh) wih new dorms. If I’m prelaw or poli sci, Harrisburg might make sense. It’s a little harder than a simple list.
Wonder what others think…given that the Admissions Office announced that it will be closed Monday 12/24 thru 1/1 for the holidays, tonight and tomorrow are the last opportunities for updates to the MyPennState portal for decisions before the new year.
3.87W, 1360 (OOS)
Got into Smeal but 2+2 at Harrisburg…
Sad to say I won’t be attending Penn State (my dream school of 10 years) because of this. Best of luck to everyone else, this thread was very helpful to me through the waiting process.
@cwcpsu :
Smeal is a very hard admit right from HS and there’s no advantage to being Smeal premajor v. DUS.
call back today and indicate you’re interested in being considered for DUS at University Park, since you’re OOS. If you can afford it, indicate you would be okay with LEAP and summer session.
Hopefully you have affordable instate choices.
If an applicant is not admitted directly to Smeal as an incoming freshman and instead asks to be admitted DUS and is admitted DUS, is there an opportunity for the student to work toward re-applying to Smeal during or after their sophomore year?
