Penn State Early Action for Fall 2025 Admissions

@MYOS1634 So, she has all A’s right now (Forensic Science, AP Latin, Honors English, AP Psych, Personal Finance, Yearbook, etc) Interests right now are Criminology or Advertising (random - I know. LOL) We knew the 3.3 would be a tough sell - but the devastation is real. Plan to resubmit - just want to choose the Major/college to give her the best shot (even if it’s a shot in the dark)

I applied in september for DUS summer session but still haven’t heard back. My gpa is a 3.45 unweighted and i went test optional. Any thoughts on when i’ll hear back and my chances at main. Also should i email admissions with my first quarter grades, they
were very strong

If you had everything in for the early action deadline and put University Park as your first choice, they didn’t start sending University Park Admissions out until after the deadline and it doesn’t matter when you submitted - they are all still before the deadline. Early Action is supposed to hear by 12/24. They have been rolling them out as they make the decisions, but there doesn’t seem to be any meaning behind when people are hearing. Some are still being admitted into UP and some are getting 2 + 2, in no particular order. It doesn’t hurt to send the new grades to them, but I don’t know if they really consider them or not. You should hear in the next 13 days. :slight_smile: Good luck!

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Definitely check Summer.
Criminology is a top 10 program nationally and Advertising is the most selective in communication.

Since she’s not taking precalculus/calculus, it’s best if she stays away from majors that require calc and hard quantitative courses.

Has she taken AP Stats or Statistics?

Thinking about it, A’s in Honors English and AP Latin would be best odds for Medieval Studies, French Studies, or Italian. No math and pretty interdisciplinary. Possibly English but these 3 are definitely less requested because they require a level in foreign language that fewer applicants demonstrate.

Cams would also make sense but wasn’t sure if it was just a minor. :neutral_face:

Since she’s in AP Latin and Forensic Science, she could try and ask for Anthropological science: Archeology concentration with a minor in Ancient Mediterranean Studies (CAMS) - the math requirement is Stats 200 so okay grades in HS math through precalculus and elementary stats would be expected.
https://bulletins.psu.edu/undergraduate/colleges/liberal-arts/anthropological-science-bs/#suggestedacademicplantext

In Bellisario, Telecommunications&Media Industries has solid professional outcomes and AFAIK fewer applicants interested in HS (it changes after 1st semester when students discover the field). Requires Stats 200 or Microeconomics (weedout).

Agriculture’s Community& Development would be a solid possibility if she’s interested - Environmental Economics&Policy sounds like sth she may like?
https://agsci.psu.edu/academics/undergraduate/majors/community-environment-and-development

Another possibility might be HPA (in HHD). Excellent job prospects. It requires Stats 200 and Microeconomics (weedout) so you’d have to prioritize taking Econ 102 over the summer.

@MYOS1634 is it possible those close to the 3.5 range are being held up until they establish the line? I have seen some 3.3 and 3.2 UW get 2-2 but a lot of 3.4-3.6 UW asking about their chances still. And if this is the case would it be expected to hear closer to 12/24 assuming they get through all the applications?

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My daughter emailed the regional admissions director about her first quarter grades and she got a reply right away saying that Penn State only looks at 9-11th grades and don’t look at any Senior year grades. Her school counseling department submitted the 1st qtr grades to all the colleges she applied to anyways. I guess it doesn’t hurt to send it in.

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We were at University Park a couple of weeks and had the opportunity to have a 1:1 meeting with an Admissions officer. We asked her this very question whether sending first semester grades would be helpful and she told us they won’t consider/look at them. It never hurts to try but it seems like they wont be considered.

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My son is at 3.7, 1340 sat (690 math, 650 verbal without super scoring) and still waiting - but he is Engineering so possible the line is higher?

That would make a lot of sense indeed.
I imagine 3.45-3.6 TO (no standardized test score, no AP score) would be the hardest to decide and major+whether the applicant checked Summer would play a big role. As part of their state mandate, they also have to balance out the state’s regions (counties/places as different as Bald Eagle, Squirrel Hill, Lackawanna, Hershey, Fishtown and West Chester … must all be evaluated within their own context and represented).

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I’m confused-- should I see if she’s rejected and then call them and ask for DUS? Or call today and switch to DUS? She won’t do summer or satellite

This close to decision, I think I would wait. You can ask for reconsideration if she gets summer or satellite.

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For EA applicants (except Nursing), the decisions would be

  • Admitted UP Fall
  • Admitted UP Summer
  • Admitted 2+2 (and campus)
  • Deferred

If Admitted 2+2 and instate, you can ask for another branch campus
(This doesn’t make sense if you’re OOS because you certainly have similar options in the state you’re a resident of, for a fraction of the OOS costs, or if you really want to be in PA and transfer to PSU you could apply to one of the literal 100 residential/private colleges or to the fully public universities such as West Chester, Lock Haven, or Bloomsburg, which are much cheaper because they don’t have the PSU brand.)
If you want to see if you can get into UP, you should see a tab in your portal, but you can also call or email. For reconsideration, you need to choose a less competitive major and if you wish/can, check Summer in addition to or instead of Fall.

At this point, I really wouldn’t switch anything before a decision has been made.
Stay strong: You’ll know within 10 days. :hugs:

Thank you so much. I am worried they won’t reconsider her for UP under DUS once she’s rejected. In other words, does she have a better chance if we change it now before she’s rejected. She applied Corporate Innovation & Entreprenership. OOS, 4.62/3.83, 34 ACT Superscore, but no Calc. In AP Stat now (has a B). TBH. PSU isn’t her first choice but it’s a good option and easier to get in than our state flagship (except business it seems lol)

I only submitted weighted gpa to penn state via SRAR and there wasnt an option to do both unweighted, i want penn state to see my unweighted. I heard from people that they recalculate your gpa on their side and they are able to see your unweighted if you didnt submit it, is this true?

She will not be rejected, she will be admitted to another campus than UP. If she is admitted to a branch campus, you pivot immediately, she asks for reconsideration for DUS, Fall, UP and you’ll have another decision.
At this point, it’s best to just wait. :hugs:

It is. Don’t worry. :+1:

Thanks, Praying i will get in

CONGRATS!, i have the same exact stats as you, first choice summer session, and gpa, but i went test optional. I have good improvement, 3.08, 4.1, 4.1 which were my gpa over the three years in hs. Do you think i wont get in because i went test optional?

Anyone know the common times of day that Penn State typically tells you your decision?

They come out Shortly after midnight

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