Just curious. How does Penn State (& most other schools) decision process work? I assume that an admissions counselor goes through his/her allotment of applications and separates them and then brings it to a larger meeting of counselors. Or is it different?
Anyone have any idea? Thx
Although this article is almost two years old, it shows some aspects of the admissions process.
http://sites.psu.edu/weadmit/2013/12/06/behind-the-scenes-look-at-your-application/
Interestingly, Penn State is moving forward with:
Good general information website – Good luck.
I saw a YouTube video once where the showed how the admission process works (not Penn State). They show each counselor going through a stack of applications…then it goes to a group meeting where they go over the applicant…then they decide…yes, no or waitlisted. Will have to find the link.
Actually…here it is…,
I don’t think Penn State works on committees the same way smaller schools do. I think that each college or area of the country has their own admissions rep and those people make the decision based on the criteria for the major you are requesting.
Unfortunatrly, PSU admissions is a little bit of a mystery. The above article posted by @pilot 201 is really the best I’ve seen about what happens. When I called last year I was told that the process is completely random. The vast majority of applicants applying prior to Nov 30 will not even get looked at until after November 30th. Then at that point they just take applications and randomly select files for a decision. Very high Stat applicants may hear early. But many did not. There was no rhyme or reason that we could determine last year EXCEPT that majors seemed to have decisions released together…ie…Engineering decisions came out one day, smeal another day.
There were so many anomalies that what is “normal” didn’t even matter because nothing was normal. The best advice I got…and it was snarky and not meant to be nice, was to sit my but down and wait. You will know by the end of January. That’s all you can hold onto absolutely. I was ticked when they said that, but honestly, accepting I had no control helped me to chill a little bit and just wait. My D finally heard on Jan 26th after applying Sept 2. Longest 5 months but my worrying didn’t change one thing. Good luck. I empathize with attempting to figure the process out.
I find it amazing that they would wait until after November 30 to start looking. Each counselor must get thousands of applicants to review and decide on. Seems like something you want to get a jump on. Lol
This is what I was told last year by an admissions counselor. I also find it hard to believe. However, you will see that very few decisions come out before mid December…at least among people here on CC. The branch campuses release decisions much earlier.
“Penn State President Eric Barron and guests outline the various stages of the University’s admissions process, including rolling admission deadlines, post-application steps and applicant evaluation”
https://wpsu.psu.edu/tv/programs/infocus/taking-the-mystery-out-of-admissions/
I haven’t watched; this just aired this week.
It is an interesting that of the 25k who ARE admitted…Only 9k accept.
It’s a popular safety school.
Never would have thought of Penn State as a safety school.
I understand the early acceptances by applicants who are way above average. But, I have some questions that maybe someone can answer…
-if most replies come at the end of January. Does that mean they are making decisions now till then and then just do mass release? If they are making decisions now…why no just release acceptances and rejections as they are decided?
-On a side note. If someone is rejected by the admissions officer (even if it doesn’t go to committee) do they let the applicants know right away or do they also wait until Jan?
If you’re applying to ivy schools, PSU might be considered a solid safety school.
Pitt and Penn State were my safeties. For anyone with a good GPA and 2000+ SAT it starts to become less and less of a match.
@zipbags as a few people have commented on here earlier, you will drive yourself nuts if you try to figure out the PSU admissions process or think someone will be able to explain it to you. It is like the land of oz. PSU does not explain it and if someone from Admissions does give you a sliver of information, someone else will post something contradictory that they will claim they received first hand from Admissions. I followed my son through the process with five or six schools last year and PSU was (by far) the least transparent. Take a deep breath, drink a beer, watch a movie. Or even bang your head on the wall…they will all be more productive than checking here every day for answers. Sorry, but it is what it is. Good luck.
@pennysdad I agree.
@PennsyDad @zipbags last year I tiled a backsplash in my kitchen and re tiled my bathroom to keep busy. Believe me,it made me crazy because I like answers. I’m type A and I learned that I needed to give in to the uncertaint of the process. I was notoriously impatient and overwhelmed last year. By January I was nuts…hence the tiling. I empathize. I really do. But take the advice of those of us who’ve been there. You will drive yourself crazy over the next 3 months if you try to figure out how or why Penn state does hat it does. And just wait until decisions come out and they have no rhyme or reason. Lots of upset students and parents who didn’t understand why one was accepted and another student denied. PSU has its way, but they don’t really tell us what that is!
I am curious if admission counselors take whatever applications they are given. Or do certain counselors get for certain majors. For example one counselor gets all the engineering apps, another is given Smeal…etc.
are international applicants required to send official transcripts along with the application? It isn’t necessary for US citizens, I believe.
US citizens do have to submit official transcripts, not sure about international students.