For Penn State, the decision is college by college.
Within that college, the #1 factor is GPAxRigor: ideally 4 courses each from the 5 core subjects, 16+ Honors+APs, and specific classes (ie., for Engineering or Smeal, precalculus honors or calculus is expected so it’s better if you have it v. not, for Engineering all 3 core sciences - bio/chem/physics- are expected and it’s better if you have one of those at the AP level, etc.) GPAxrigor=2/3 of the decision.
Your test score is evaluated within the context of your school.
Statement, legacy, EC’s are also factored in but all 4 of those only add up to 1/3 of the total.
Legacy doesn’t count at all for Schreyer: there, the application isn’t read by AdComs but by the freshman seminar professors. Basically, you need to convince them that, reading your essays, they want you in their seminar. Do you write well, do you have ideas, are you well-read, etc. The essays are of paramount importance. Other criteria include academic rigor of HS curriculum, grades, and recommendation. Legacy or test scores don’t factor in at all. For Schreyer, the college also matters since only the best applicants for each college are admitted.