Is Communications generally considered easier to get into than Liberal Arts or DUS?
My daughter just received her acceptance this morning into Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies at UP starting in the fall 2026. Sending positive thoughts to all those still waiting. The waiting and associated stress is real!
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Based on prior years, does PSU typically release decisions over this weekend?
Applied on August 13th still nothing
Congratulations 
Thatās a cool major, great preparation for Law school, various Masters, can be combined with Archeology, excellent study abroad options 
Also, remember to have her try and join Paterno Fellow Aspirants. She declares herself, joins small, interactive honors classes/seminars, and if she meets the benchmarks she can stay and have all sorts of opportunities.
@gusj2629 @Richard_Lionheart
Thereās even a dedicated Paterno Fellows Aspirant āLEAP prideā during the summer session for those who got Summer and a major in Liberal Arts. Itās 100% worth it 
Can you post her stats for other parents? 
Yes, if similar to previous years, this and next weekend.
PSU doesnāt work on a rolling or āfirst come first servedā basis.
Everyone who applied between August 1 and October 31 (/20 to leave time for SRAR/STARS processingā¦) is treated exactly the same.
I know it can seem long but hold on tight and keep your fingers crossed.
Some universities (SUNYs, UMD ..) only give decisions in January so hopefully you can have a decision and/or ask for reconsideration before Christmas instead of being all stressed out and still waiting over the holidays 
.
If time seems too long, comb through every major in every college with your child in order to figure out which one would be the best fit if they donāt get into UP for their first choice major and would rather not do 2+2. Itāll be a productive way to spend that time.
10 days left! It goes slowly but then you hear and it seems it went so quick
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Some of them, yes.
Some communication majors can be complemented with a professional writing or an IST or other various minors depending on what you want to do with it.
If she was interested in Psychology because she was interested in kids, families, etc, what about those majors
You are so helpful! What are the steps for reconsideration? Should she connect with her regional recruiter?
She can write an email to her admission representative, asking for reconsideration for (Fall or Summer) or (Summer) University Park, xxxxxx Major.
Summer offers a good transition to students but itās expensive. If you can afford it and sheās okay with starting college in July rather than August, then itās worth putting āSummer sessionā and not Fall.
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If I may ask a question, why is summer start deemed expensive. If the student is getting earned credits that they would have to get anyway, especially if coming in with some AP credits, would that not ultimately off set by potentially graduating earlier.
is there some exuberant room amd board cost involved with summer? If so does the potential to find upper class students departed for the summer with a year round off campus apartment/ house an option to sub lease from?
Thank you. Seems like she is on the right path. Her plan- Definitely aspiring Paterno Fellow program, double major with IUG program (BA CAMS and BS in Archaeological Science/IUG MA in Anthropology). Then, apply to PhD programs.
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You must stay on campus, so no hope of finding a cheap sublet. I think it ran about $8k total (donāt quote me on that, trying to rememberā¦) ā¦ that includes tuition, room and board. But for some who give up the opportunity to have a summer job, it can be difficult.
Yes, you can get ahead with credits - with summer credits and AP credits, my kids were all a year ahead of their peers which allowed for study abroad, multiple minors, extra grad school pre-reqs, or completing a masters in the same time as the bachelors.
Some will choose to graduate early, but most do not and use the āextraā semesters as Iāve described above.
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Looks like a great program. UW 3.82/ W 4.18, in-state, test optional, multiple APs, multiple dual enrollment credits. Five years of Latin. She will probably minor in Latin also. She spent multiple weeks in ancient Italy and Greece over the past two years which really solidified her passion for the field.
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How about the potential benefit for summer students getting a jump on an off campus part time job before everyone else is around?
Completely speculative by me, as I do not have any knowledge of what the off campus part time job market is like especially during the summer.
Any insight?
Itās a comprehensive fee for a program called LEAP that includes classes as a cohort (a little lion āprideā), room&board, specific academic support, freshman seminar type (methodology, learn your way around all resources on campus) and field trips. Itās about 8k instate, which parents may not have budgeted for and it means no summer job in July which some students may have counted on. At SUNYs, students admitted to do the Summer program get extra financial aid but AFAIK Penn State doesnāt increase the FA for kids admitted to LEAP.
It does cover mandatory classes so the credits are not lost and these classes ARE NOT weedout. It means either taking 15 credits in the Fall being reasonably sure youāre going to be able to handle it, or taking 13-14 (especially would be premeds, engineers, business.. all those majors where first courses can be a shock and where major selection within the college depends on GPA achieved) and it frees up at least one advanced class to take jr/sr year or one class to take ājust cause it looks interestingā (a unique opportunity thatās to be seized in college because itās the one time in your life you can do that.)
Yes thereād be a benefit in terms of finding a job including on campus (since youāre there). The most desired jobs are the āpaid to studyā jobs: desk attendants in dorms, in the library, etc. Indeed, part of the time there are no students so you just sit and can do homework. As you can imagine these positions are much sought after. If you can get up early thereās always a job at the cafeteria for morning service - many students like to wake up at 9 to roll out of bed and get to their 10:10 class so not many people apply to work at 7 am! I donāt remember if you get free breakfast if you work in the cafeteria but itās an added bonus where you have it because you can have a 14 or 12/WK meal plan even if you are always hungry. And of course if youāve got skills you can find a work study position within a dept but typically it requires taking at least a class or two in a department.
Check if your FA package includes Work Study: it means you have priority over others for any work study job on campus. You need to find the job so the earlier you start the better for you. Work study on campus jobs have to fit around your classes and your exams, unlike an off campus employer who may ha eno qualms asking you do complete two shifts the day before a final.
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Here are my accepted kidās stats: 3.76 UW, 3.957 W GPA. 1260 SAT. 7 APs (World History, U.S. History, Comparative Government, Early and Modern European History, Psychology, and German Language and Culture), 1 IB (World Religions), and 1 Advanced (German 4). Also, heās a local, which may have been a factor.
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I think @MYOS1634 gave a great overview.
I have sent kids to the summer LEAP program, so in general, I am a fan. I gave lots of reasons above why it makes sense.
More importantly, the proof is in the pudding. By and large, kids who attended LEAP felt more prepared for fall and had a great summer. Whole understand it is not for all, it makes sense for more than just the kids who are ārequiredā to go.
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Thanks for sharing! Those are similar to my daughters stats (still waiting 
) May I ask- fall Or summer start? And major? Thanks and congrats!!
What would people say is the least competitive major/college to gain acceptance to University Park? Is it DUS or education or agriculture?