How competitive are Penn State University Park's summer sessions?

Applying to College
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I am currently a junior in high school and will applying to colleges very soon. Penn State has been my top choice for a long time. I do not have a set career choice, so I would most likely apply undecided. I would say that my grades are pretty mediocre, I average around a 3.5 weighted gpa. Though I do have several extra curricular activities which I will list below:
Dance team, student government, key club, mini thon, along with volunteering at my church as often as I can.
I ultimately would like to attend fall classes but if I had to do summer sessions I would be okay with that. I was just wondering if you think that with my grades and extra curriculars, would I be able to even get into summer sessions, let alone fall?

Also side note because I know PSU is very big on alumni and that sort of thing
 do you think it would help that both of my brothers, my mom, and my uncles all went to PSU main campus? My brother also now has a job at Penn State New Kensington.
Just wanted to throw that all out there. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you!!

We Are!!!

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One last thing!

I also did take the SAT, but only got a 1050. I retook it, but I am still waiting on those results. I know that they are test optional but I wanted to try to be able to have a little push with a good score.

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What classes have you taken? If you have taken AP classes how many and how well did you on the test? What’s your unweighted gpa?

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No I have not. I wish I would have taken one this year, but I didn’t want to overwhelm myself. I have taken pre calculus, physics, chem, bio, algebra 2, geometry, German 1-3, personal finance, and marketing. I also have taken honors history all three years and honors English this year.
I think my unweighted is a 3.4

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Are you taking AP Stats, German 4, Honors English, Honors history, and APES next year? This would show an upward trend in rigor and PSU would only require you get a C or higher in these classes (Pitt, Temple, and PASSHE schools, too)so it would increase your academic rigor without being too risky academically.
This would really help you get admitted AND help you succeed in college - since one AP is like one college level class, college is like taking 5 AP classes each semester: starting with 2APs+3 Honors would be a first step up.

Penn State doesn’t really take ECs into account. 1/3 of the decision is a mix of ECs, test scores, statement/essay. Those are more like “nice to have” but the deal breakers are GPA and rigor.
=>2/3 decision is GPA×RIGOR.
In order to be competitive, you need 3.6 × 15+Honors&AP courses.

Without that GPA or that rigor, no AP scores and with a SAT below 1300 your odds aren’t very good even for Summer and Fall is almost out of reach.

Use the example above to increase rigor.
Prepare for the SAT using Khan Academy to try and raise your score but if your July score isn’t near 1300 just apply test optional Summer.

You may be better off starting at one of the branch campuses - Altoona, Behrend, and Harrisburg are fully fledged 4 year colleges and Altoona tends to be the most “fun”. This way your transition won’t be as brutal.
But assuming you want to attend UP: you really should apply straight for the summer session (not both Fall&Summer) to have a better shot. You can apply DUS and if rejected ask for a second review for the German major (this works if you take German 4. Or you can straight up apply to the German major - you can ‘change your mind’ and pivot back to DUS at the end of 1st semester. The Psu forum here will have lots of advice for you if you want to be reconsidered for another major after being denied for DUS.)
In summary:

  • increase senior year academic rigor
  • prep for the SAT using KhanAcademy
  • apply in August for Summer start, DUS or German, alternate campus: Altoona

Run the NPC on Penn State, Pitt, Temple, Juniata, Elizabethtown, Susquehanna, Chatham, Lycoming, Gettysburg, St Joe’s, Drexel, West Chester, Millersville, Bloomsburg. Which are affordable?

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