<p>Hey guys. So long story short, I didn’t get accepted to my top choice colleges. Penn State was a school I was considering, but I didn’t apply because I thought I would get into my top choices. Since that didn’t happen, I started looking into PSU and starting liking it more and more.
Since I just applied – like literally on April 6 – how do you think that would have impacted my chances? And if I do get accepted, what are some downsides to finding out so late?</p>
<p>Stats:
GPA: 3.849
ACT: 30
APs: Calc, Lang, Bio, Psych, Stats
An okay amount of ECs, yearbook (leadership), student council, tutor. I work for the DOE at a national laboratory.
I’d say my essays were good, but not phenomenal.</p>
<p>Major: microbiology</p>
<p>Are you out of state and able to pay full tuition? If you applied DUS you might still have a chance. The downside of applying late include it being highly unlikely you will be considered for any merit money and fewer choices in living arrangements. Penn State is very expensive in state, let alone out. Are your parents prepared to pick up the tab?</p>
<p>Highly unlikely you’ll get into PSU main. </p>
<p>@LucieTheLakie Yes I’m out of state and can afford tuition.</p>
<p>What other schools did you apply to?</p>
<p>I think you have a shot then, but it’s still a long one.</p>
<p>I applied engineering in mid january with shoe in stats and was deferred to a branch.</p>
<p>I highly doubt you will get into main.</p>
<p>@ronboy72
I got accepted into UC Santa Barbara, Indiana U, U Alabama.
Waitlisted at UC San Diego.
Rejected UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC Davis.</p>
<p>@immasenior So you’re saying I’ll probably get into a branch but not UP?</p>
<p>That’s what I would guess. I don’t know about microbiology, but most majors guarantee you can go to main after 2 years. Sometimes less.</p>
<p>@benny29, were you offered scholarships at any of those other schools? My son will be visiting PSU for the first time this weekend, so he can attend an engineering session and tour for accepted students. It’s going to have to be awfully impressive to top what we saw at Bama, though, where my son was offered a full, four-year scholarship, plus extra money for engineering. And we’re in-state for Penn State. I can’t imagine paying OOS rates for PSU, unless it’s for a program no other school offers and/or my parents are very wealthy. </p>
<p>@LucieTheLakie Yeah, I got 1/3 of costs for UCSB and 2/3 for Bama. In retrospect, I think I applied to PSU in a haste of panic. I’ll probably end up at UCSB, and if I don’t like it in the end, I can always transfer somewhere else.</p>
<p>UCSB is a great school, especially for someone interested in microbiology. I used to work for someone who’s now adjunct in MCDB, and many are predicting that person will win a Nobel one day. If it’s your most affordable option, look no further! </p>