We had the opposite outcome at my sonās school. Several lower stats/TO kids got accepted to Smeal for Fall UP so you never know!
2 Likes
DD rejected for Architecture last night. Said they are taking 60 from over 1000 applicants. OOS, 3.75 UW/4.75W, ACT 30/SAT 1310 (should have probably gone TO), All honors when available, 2 DC, 13 APs including Stats,Bio,Physics,Pre-Calc,Calculus B/C,Comp Sci. Arch and Art classes in HS, 3 university arch camps, multiple leadership positions/volunteer hours/job. Her first rejection but we werenāt banking on it based on the way PS is more about numbers w/o holistic or portfolio and her test scores are on the lower midrange. BArch program admissions are no joke.
Congrats to those who are in and good luck to those who are waiting!
8 Likes
I wish luck and so much success to your daughter. 
This college stuff is brutal!
2 Likes
My kid was 2+2ād from Smeal which was a bit of a smack. Wasnāt his top choice but he had a 1390 SAT and 3.6UW from a very well-respected private HS. Probably a 4.15 or 4.2 weighted using a conventional weighting system (the school does not weight). Questionā¦if he ends up with a 33 or 34 ACT (he just took it one last time) and straight As in all advanced/honors classes for the first semester, are the stats changes alone enough to warrant a reconsideration request for Smeal, or would he have to designate another major? OOS. Thanks for all of the info and collective good vibes.
2 Likes
If your son didnāt choose summer as an option, he could ask for reconsideration for summer start in Smeal. If he received 2+2 after consideration for both fall and summer, Iām pretty sure he would need to choose a major in a different school. Penn State has not in the past considered senior grades or updated SAT/ACT scores. Penn State doesnāt have different admission criteria for instate and out of state applicants.
2 Likes
Even after the reconsideration request, the original offer will still stand, correct? D asked for reconsideration for DUS Summer at UP after being offered Kines at Harrisburg.
1 Like
If the student is not granted their reconsideration request, the original offer still stands.
3 Likes
Thanks. I should have clarified that he only applied for Fall (not summer) but really doesnāt have much interest in a summer start. Thanks for the follow up.
@MYOS1634 or others, Does the new direct admit process to Smeal slated to increase or decrease the admit rate?
AFAIK, <1K freshman applicants join Smeal in a year but ~2K students graduate every year. I presume this was the students joining from 2+2 and DUS colleges in the past.
1 Like
Your daughter sounds amazing! Any school would be lucky to have her.
3 Likes
Was your A in an actual English class at a college? Then yes itād be your best chance.
The major is Criminology - itās a serious major that Penn State is highly ranked for. It can prepare you for Law School or professional school.
Criminal Justice is seen as an easier major; it mostly leads to jobs in law enforcement, dept of corrections, etc.
For sapphire Smeal program is there a separate essay again? I see you need 2 recommendation letters. Does it have to be from school or both letters can be from outside internships highlighting leadership. Do they look for any specific to enroll in the program.
It increases the admit rate right out of HS (not the total).
Previously most students came either from DUS (mostly) or from Smeal branch campuses as only a minority were admitted straight from HS. All students had to complete the same requirements and had the same shot at getting into Smeal so most went through DUS, which gave Smeal less visibility as to the rising cohort.
By greatly reducing the numbers of DUS students who will effectively be Smeal premajors, they keep better control over who they admit - and can thus increase the number of students they admit.
1 Like
You need to be admitted to Smeal and use your login to see what you need to do. But yes thereās extra work involved compared to what youāve done already to get into Smeal.
If youāre instate and can figure out the logistics with your parents, I would strongly recommend you register for and attend the specific tour (thereās a virtual one if you live OOS or canāt attend the live one).
My son is very interested in applying to this SMEAL Sapphire program. He learned about it on his in person visit day last fall. Do you think it will help his chances (demonstrated interest?) if he attends one of the Sapphire visit dates?
Also, it asks on the visit rsvp form if you are applying to Schreyer, which he is. I am just wondering why they would want to know thatā¦maybe you have to pick admission to one or the other if you are lucky enough to receive a yes from both?
1 Like
You can be in both Saphire and Schreyer. Saphire can be a pathway into Schreyer if not accepted as a freshman. Not sure exactly why they ask, but do know of students that are in both including students admitted as freshman to Schreyer.
1 Like
Anybodyās button disappear?
Very quiet in here
I know. Yesterday it was hectic and today, silence.
We were told itās because they are closing 7 campuses and they want to keep the others viable. Therefore, offering direct to Smeal and 2+2 to Smeal entices those 2+2 offers to take them vs going to another school. The DUS entry and switch practice is essentially over with. Now they can market Smeal as more prestigious than in the past.
Essentially itās about money