Hello, everyone!
I’m a longtime CC lurker - but I’m getting pretty stressed about my apps so I figured it may be a good time to chip into the conversation with my own stats.
4.62 Weighted GPA
3.96 Unweighted
8 APS (5 on APHuG, APWH, APUSH, STAT, and 4 on AP BIO. Currently enrolled in Comp Gov, USGov, and AP Calc)
1 IB HL (Literature and language)
All other courses are advanced
1270 SAT but applying test optional (I was having medical issues and couldn’t retake for a better score)
Strong extracurriculars (Nonprofit leader, Rowing Captain, 500+ community service hours, etc)
Published Biological Research
I’m applying for the college of engineering (Biomedical engineering) at a State College resident - do you think I will get in? Or should I apply to the college of science for a more assured acceptance? Let me know if you have any more questions, I’d be happy to answer!
I’m looking to apply for Schreyer, so getting into PSU would be my top priority out of the gate. I just worry that since I don’t have a strong physics (enrolled in non-AP physics) background the college of engineering may not accept. PSU is my top (and basically only) choice I’m considering.
I submitted my application a few weeks ago, but I think I can go in and change majors if necesary! Good luck to everyone also involved in this crazy process - the chaos will dissipate soon!
I’m applying for the honors college… it definitely isn’t a process to do if you’re unsure about applying - the essays are no joke.
Does anybody know a good place to get college essays edited? Schreyer is by far my top choice, and I really want the essays I write to be good… I have strong extracurriculars and a relatively high GPA, but I come from a super competitive high school and I worry I won’t look as good as other applicants…
Don’t change your major. With rigor (including calc) and high grades you’re almost certain to get in. Wrt Schreyer however, focus on the essays and do your best.
If by some fluke you’re not admitted to your chosen major, ask to be reconsidered for Biological Engineering (joint COE/Ag) instead of Biomedical - at the end of the first year, if you wish, you can switch to a COE option without any fuss.
I would say to leave your application alone at this point. I think you are in a good spot, but if you don’t get the result you want you can always ask for reconsideration for DUS (undecided).
Keep in mind decisions are released in random order, so don’t get stressed if you see others getting decisions that applied before you.
Most decisions will be released in December if you applied EA
Looking for some advice. My daughter has submitted her application in August. She selected fall semester and yes for the summer option, major DUS. She only wants to go to UP campus.
Her stats are:
3.7 UW, 3.7 W
6 honors
1 AP ( Senior year class)
No test scores
Parents are both alumni.
Is there anything she could do differently to increase her chances?
She really is undecided, but is leaning towards something in allied health ( OT, Speech therapist). Reading that DUS has become more competitive. Is there another major that will increase her chances?
Should she have applied with summer as her first choice and skipped being reviewed for the fall?
At this point, you just have to wait. If it doesn’t pan out, you can always request reconsideration for a less competitive major and/or summer. What you CAN do is go through, together, the many (100+) majors Penn State offers and see whether one might be of interest. This way, she immediately knows how to turn around if it’s needed. Plus she’ll learn something of interest wrt PSU.
To get you started, check out Bio Behavioral Health and the College of Health &Human Development.
Forgot to include that she has played two sports throughout high school, serving as captain junior and senior year; cast in the three school musicals; member of several chorale groups throughout high school; involved in multiple clubs holding leadership positions; volunteers with community organizations; has worked two jobs for the past two years.
I applied Early action for Penn State pre-business smeal. I did not check summer session. My stats are 1410 SAT and 4.1 w gpa from a top school district in PA. I am in state, my brother is currently attending smeal, and my dad is a graduate of smeal. What are my chances at getting into smeal? From what I’ve seen, if you don’t get into smeal, then they decline you from UP. Should I switch to undecided? Is there any benefit to getting into smeal as a freshman?
It all depends what the unweighted is and how many honors+AP courses you’ve taken to reach that GPA, since this will be 2/3 of the decision (everything else: test scores, activities, interest, essay, legacy… adss up to 1/3.)
If you don’t get into Smeal, you’ll have to ask for reconsideration for another major and check summer.
My son had a similar GPA, 4 AP courses and submitted a SAT score of 1380 (and I’m an alumni) and he was offered the 2+2 option at a branch campus. He asked for reconsideration for Economics in the College of Liberal Arts and was offered admission to UP for fall start. @MYOS1634 offers good advice below - your daughter should be prepared to ask for reconsideration quickly. I believe my son emailed the next day and didn’t have to wait very long for a decision. Good luck!
I would be more concerned about getting into UVA and then applying to McIntire as there are set number of seats and they take a holistic approach to admits (approx. 40% get accepted). At PSU, if you meet the entrance to major for Smeal you are guaranteed a seat. IU - Kelly is also very difficult to get accepted if not DA.
Yes, I’m very concerned with that for him. UVA will be an uphill battle, especially as an OOS. That is why I we are focusing on his close second choices and getting as much information as possible. Luckily, he meets the criteria for direct admit to Kelley (4.0/1480SAT), he just needs to get accepted to IU. I prefer he goes direct admit somewhere but not really my choice.
Is there any benefit to applying to Smeal at all? It seems like there is no benefits and everyone gets the 2+2 option. Is it too late to call admissions and switch to DUS?
If you’re a really strong student, you can be invited to Sapphire if you apply to Smeal right out of HS - but you still need to complete the same courses and get the same grades as everyone else.
Nursing, direct admit to UP question. If daughter lists this as her preferred major, but doesn’t make the cut…might she still be admitted to the school. On the university bulletin it states “ When openings at the requested location or in the requested program of the University are filled, qualified applicants will be offered admission to their alternate choice of program or location or notified of campuses where openings still exist.”. She only wants to go to UP and so much so that if she can’t do nursing, she would pursue another health sciences type degree while there instead. She sent questions to both the nursing program and general admissions contacts, but has yet to hear back. Weighted 4.38, SAT 1390, well rounded brag sheet otherwise.
My daughter was admitted to Altoona for nursing in fall 2023. She really wanted UP, but was not willing to change her major for it. (She could have asked for reconsideration for a different major, but you can’t switch majors later to get into nursing at UP so she would not have been a nurse in four years) She decided to go to Altoona with the Provost Scholarship instead.
Thank you! Interested to learn more about requests to be reconsidered for a different major. She’s open to this idea of a different major. It reads like if you don’t get accepted to nursing, very competitive major, then you won’t be accepted at UP in general.