Any main campus acceptances yet?
Donât expect any till November.
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Hi there! Thank you! My DD has a 3.9 UW and 4.28 W; 1320 SAT; 29 ACT; Strong leadership/volunteerism/athlete; good career experience; PA Resident; competitive school; wants nursing. Should she apply TO or submit scores? She is leaning TO. Any idea what her chances are? Already got into PITT. Thanks!
Whatâs the ACT score breakdown?
(29=~1350)
Has she taken AP Bio or AP stats ?
Correct. Most decisions came after 12/1. Iâve witnessed students with low stats get in UP (fall) and high stats get 2/2. There is no rhyme or reason. If youâd like some tips to increase your chances for UP, please DM me. Iâve been involved with Penn State admissions (no, I donât work there), but know more than the average bird when it comes to âportal astrologyâ and specially penn state UP.
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Would you mind if I DM you?
I feel like Penn State likes to see test scores. My daughter applied test optional for nursing two years ago and did not get accepted to University Park. However, she was accepted to Pitt (main campus) and Villanova. Her grades and activities were similar to your daughterâs.
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Sure
Based on last year and my many data pointsâŠtest scores didnât matter all that much, I can speak specifically on DUS.
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Test scores (especially Math or Math/science on the ACT) matter for EMS, Eberly, Nursing, COE. (A white paper was released on this last Spring I think).
AP scores in Calc&Science can be used too since theyâre an objective metric to compare applicants or strongly indicative for these majors.
Even for these, 2/3 is GPAĂrigor, with 15+ honors/AP/IB/DE the best bet, and 1/3 is test scores&ECs.
4 years of English&History/social science, 3-4 years in one foreign language, math through precalculus or calc or AP stats, bio/chem/physics or a 3rd science depending on major, 1 art (most of these Honors or higher) would be considered a good academic background.
Pitt uses slightly different criteria, weighs test scores more if theyâre provided so that students have a chance at either or both state flagships if they show academic strength.
WowâŠthank you! My daughter is also applying to Villanova but thought it was a complete reach! Did she submit her test scores to Pitt and Villanova? Thanks so much
This is so helpful! Thank you!
She has not taken AP Bio but is in AP Calc BC and AP Stat. Has taken honors for all the sciences. ACT: 29 Math; 27 Science; 27 English; 33 Reading
Thank You
She did not submit her test scores. She did apply ED to Villanova, which probably helped her chances.
In that case I would submit. 
29 M, 33 Reading would definitely not be against her and would likely help.
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D25 applied EA to Pitt and PSU UPark same date 8/20; under review by both by 8/22. She applied as a Nutritional Science intended major at PSU. She was 3.6UW GPA (5 AP/9Honors/14 dual enrollment) test optional with many EC/Clubs; leadership program graduate, Varsity sport/Captain; pre professional ballet training with substantial community arts engagement; Associate degree earned in HS through dual enrollment; substantial volunteer hours and maintained part-time employment throughout academic years and summers.
Excited to be admitted at Pitt this past week - is November/December the general timeframe for PSU EA? She selected Fall 2025 w the option of summer start but with outright admission to Pitt for fall, that may factor if required to complete summer session w PSU. Thoughts on her UP admission chances?
The rigor and grades are there + the best evidence of academic success in college is⊠Academic success in college (DE) so Iâd say excellent chances for Fall start.
But caveat Iâm not in admissions right now and admission results vary every year depending on how competitive the other applicants are! So, if things remain the same, excellent, with a âkeep your fingers crossedâ thrown in 
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Hello Friends -
Sorry Iâve been MIA so far this admission cycle! Life got in the way in a major way with some health issues, but Iâll be checking in here regularly from here on out.
Some good general advice is to be extra cautious of anyone who seems to have too much inside information if they havenât been on this forum helping out for years. Sometimes we have people who show up out of nowhere with what they consider to be big important inside information and their information usually doesnât pan out. Those here who have been here for 10+ years helping students, such as @MYOS1634 or @lucy_van_pelt as well as myself are your best bets for accurate historical admission information.
Good luck everyone!
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Glad to see you are back and hopefully feeling better.
Just to put this out there, but the three of you were extremely helpful to me last year during my daughterâs PSU application process! The advice you give is 100%!
My daughter applied for and completed the summer session, (so far the best decision she ever made), is a successful freshman and loves her life in Happy Valley!
Your advice was much appreciated and very helpful!
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SO GLAD to hear everything is working out! Iâve never heard of ANYONE who didnât love summer session!
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