You’re confusing deferred with waitlisted.
You’re right. Didn’t realize they were separate things.
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Do you have any idea how the SRAR is “normalized?”
Thanks for the reply.
Considering the university, I don’t think they will meet need, but between “enough” and “nothing” there’s quite a gap; most importantly, there IS a process for this family - the parent who posted didn’t sound like they knew that.
It is however dispiriting there FAFSA itself doesn’t have a direct system/process for parents who lost their jobs between 2023 and the time they filed.
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At this point I think we’d prefer a deferral with decision next month rather than a 2+2
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The Higher Education Act doesn’t allow this. Regulations require it to be done at the school level, by individual schools.
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Yes, I agree. I did not think that 24 hours ago, but having read through everything here and on their website, I think you’re right. Fingers crossed for both of us!!
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They take UW grades and apply a consistent “weighting” to them. So an honors course has the same weighting for all students in spite of what your HS weighting was.
Do I know the exact methodology? No.
Penn state uses an “EI” - Evaluation Index. They actually predict what your freshman year gpa will be based on this EI. Is any of this public? No.
Still a little bit of a black box for applicants.
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Thanks. My son‘s school does a percentage score not a GPA. I think his UW should be about a 3.7 and he has several honors courses and one AP but the black box part of all the calculations is disconcerting.
I share your instinct! We’re giving him some space to be disappointed and then will focus on his great options. Thanks for your kind words!
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I can empathize with his being disappointed 
. It reads like 
someone made a mistake - his application is competitive for colleges as prestigious as Bucknell, Lafayette, or Lehigh. If his SAT math is 750+ he could even throw a Hail Mary pass and apply to Cornell or Penn. 
Cheer up kid 
He’s got the math chops, AP physics, plus a broad array of other APs plus a job! Seriously this makes no sense to me. 
Anyway, he can ask for reconsideration for Fall/Summer for something else (Industrial Engineering? Systems Engineering?) or just Summer for MechE. Once he’s got all his decisions he can decide whether he wants Penn State or somewhere else. 
I would send an email highlighting all his APs with scores in parentheses next to each + College Physics DE with grade if available + SAT score with math score in parenthesis to highlight it. “I wish to major in … And feel prepared to excell at Penn State because… . In addition,… Finally, … That’s why I hope to enroll as an Engineering premajor at UP in the Fall or Summer of 2025.”
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He is really happy with his Clemson acceptance and you are right - it’s a great program and school! And I’m happy we get to head south in February for a campus visit! Thanks for your kind words!
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Thanks for the advice on how to approach admissions for reconsideration. If we get to that point, we will use it! Funny you mention Bucknell, Lehigh, and Lafayette. We visited all three this summer. He wants to attend a bigger school but really did like a Lehigh and has applied there.
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He’s got Clemson and Pitt in his backpocket: one rural college town in the South, one vibrant urban close to home. If both are affordable, they’re terrific choices. Two wins! 
Of course PSU would be a bit of both (rural college town close to home)
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Omg that’s crazy. I just don’t get how they decide. your son sounds amazing.
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Oh my heavens… I’m kind of sitting here with my hand over my mouth in disbelief. We still have not heard back for our S25 who applied EA. He too wouldn’t consider a 2+2 option. I think my disbelief is that this is PSU and your son’s stats are very very good for PSU. My mind is still stuck in the 1990s where your son would be a slam dunk to get into PSU. ((not to be disrespectful but in my mind only it seems like PSU is often thought of as a safety school… I shouldn’t write this comment b/c folks will over react to it… but I think you know what I mean its not a “hard reach” or “hard target” or like a Harvard … again I get myself not in good graces with some that join this forum who put words in my mouth…)) Wow, just wow. I am kind of thoroughly shocked… and I wish you and your S25 peace.
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There is nothing wrong to be a ‘safety’ school - I think the admission process should be just straightforward: you have what is required, you get it, as simple as that. PSU is a ‘safety’ because we believe it’s straightforward and transparent.
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It’s not a “reach for everyone” for sure (ie., sub20% acceptance rate)… but the acceptance rate varies so much between colleges and major… That the overall stats are not very clear.
As to whether it’s a reach, match, or safety depends entirely on the student and their background.
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Not sure how I’d feel about deferral vs. early 2+2 decision. The obvious pro to deferral is that you still have a shot at your first choice. The big con is that if the deferred decision ends up being 2+2, you’re now a full month behind for a reconsideration request.
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