Got it. Thank you!
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Just wondering, if an applicant is denied fall but has summer option checked, is the determination for summer admit done right then, or does the application go back into the pile for evaluation later?
Wondering the same!
My in state son just got accepted to UP fall 2025. 3.6 UW, 1460 SAT, 6 APs, the rest of his core classes are all honors. College of Education with coursework (AP Psych, Child Development) and ECs that align with that major (soccer ref, camp counselor). Very exciting.
Never noticed any change to his test optional button unless that happened sometime late yesterday. The email came in just after midnight today.
Good luck to everyone!
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My understanding of the process is that they start with a review of everyoneâs stats. The high-stats kids are easy âadmitsâ, so they go ahead and push the button. Most of the middle gets lumped into a group and they figure out where the âlineâ is. At that time, they will figure out who is:
- fall admit
- summer admit
- commonwealth campus admit.
So, I wouldnât expect to hear many summer admits just yet, because they are still working through the high stats kids and who will be offered fall.
I am not speaking from the inside and donât know the specific process, but that is how I expect it would be administered.
And while I do not know this for a fact, anecdotally, Iâve heard that submitting with a test score is another data point that can push a kid over the line into the fall admit vs. summer admit. I do know there was a study done by admissions and they found that TO kids (even with similar HS GPAs) tended to have a lower GPA first year than kids with test scores submitted. They may be doing a deeper dive with TO kids, so they may be the last to hear. (also less data points, so may review application more in detail).
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Thanks! The SHC website says the interview is Optional and therefore not part of the selection process, not factored in, etc. And that it is more about Q&A then an interview. So my only point with saying its an âIQ testâ is to suggest that it is a good way to demonstrate interest as well as get questions answered, etc. At the end of the day⊠can only hope for the best. 
After digging around in Penn Stateâs Fall 2023 common data set (doesnât appear 2024 has been released yet), I was surprised to discover how much of a benefit Early Action actually is. Common wisdom is EA roughly 67% vs. overall around 53% admittance. If you really breakout the #s for EA vs Rolling, in 2023 it was 70.3% vs. 42.8%. Thatâs a big difference! Was also surprised to discover that EA admits were over 69% of enrolls.
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Curious, what would be considered a high-stat kid for direct admit to Smeal in peopleâs experience? 3.99uw, 1480 SAT/34 ACT OOS considered high-stat? Smeal appears to have a low admit rate.
I looked at the common data set. If you go off that, I would think your stats would be very high for Smeal. Their 75% starts at 32 ACT, but that includes engineering applicants (very high stat) and only around 40% (canât remember exactly) even submitted ACT
Thatâs exactly the type of stats theyâre looking for.
Smeal is actually more selective than Engineering. Very few students are admitted to premajor out of HS.
If you get a branch campus, immediately request reconsideration for DUS.
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Thanks, this is good information. Itâs my son and i know he only wants UP. If he is not accepted directly to Smeal, Iâll mention the DUS option and applying to Smeal that route.
DS25 submitted on 10/30 and SRAR was marked received on 11/1. His portal still says âmaterials are being verified.â How long does it typically take to make it to the âunder reviewâ phase? TY!
DUS+ completing the pre-reqs is the typical way to a Smeal major. Note that it is selective (students MUST take certain courses and get certain grades) but itâs not competitive (all students who meet the requirements get in).
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We toured Smeal at UP this past summer, submitted to Smeal. Wants UP only, both parents are alum, 3.96 UW, TO, All honors, 3 AP, tons of EC. They said while we were there only 800 students get in. Not a lot!! Thoughts on those stats?
Midnight email it is (actually 9:04 pm in the west coast). Son admitted to college of engineering (intended major:CS) at University Park. OOS
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My son was admitted to IST for fall at UP, email came out at 12:05 am this morning. Unweighted GPA 3.8, weighted GPA 4.4, 10 APs (no AP Calc) and most others are honors. Test Optional. OOS. He is very excited, older brother is a sophomore at PSU 
.
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S25 received Fall 2025 UP acceptance yesterday! Pharmacology and Toxicology major in College of Ag Science.
OOS, UW GPA 3.73, W GPA 4.0, 1440 SAT (770 math), 1 DE, 5 APs (Calc AB and Econ scores sent w/ two 4s and a 5), 8 honors.
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When did they apply?
Is it just luck of the draw or is there any rhyme or reason to the admission decisions? My DC applied in September to the College of Liberal Arts. OOS, 4.0 UW, 10 or 11 APs, 1460, lots of ECs. The status has been under review for a long time.
Havenât seen any decisions from College of Liberal Arts on this thread yet. My daughterâs in the same boat.