I’m a High School Senior and Penn State is one of my top choices but a reach. If someone could offer some insight on how to approve my chances in applying or let me know what my chances of being accepted are at all that’d be great.
-SAT 1190 (took multiple times and by far is the highest I’ve gotten)
GPA around a 3.1
-2 AP’s senior year and honors courses all 4 years
-4 Year sport
-Mock Trial and Debate Team all of High School (also member of National Forensics League)
-Yearbook, Youth Action Counsel, Big/Sisters Reach-Out Program
-Internship with a local business where I built and designed a website, did product inventory, marketing, advertising etc.
-Multiple Art Awards
-I’m applying into Graphic Design and am planning on submitting a portfolio. I’m interested in majoring in UIUX too but have little to no knowledge about the program for it at this school
-Hundreds of volunteer hours (Was a volunteer camp counselor for three summers at an all girls sleep away camp and children’s nature camp
-really strong recommendation letters and essay in my opinion
I know my grades and SAT score fall below the margin but I’m hoping the rest of my application will make up for it?
Penn State is a “by the numbers school”. It does not use a holistic approach. It can’t with 75,000 applicants.
A 3.1 GPA is well below the middle 50%, and your SAT is below the middle 50% as well. With a 3.1GPA, I would expect that you will not be admitted to UP campus and instead will be offered a branch campus. Many of the branch campuses have a very typical college feel - such as Harrisburg, Behrend and Altoona.
Graphic Design is pretty competitive at Penn State but I believe you do not submit a portfolio at application. I believe the portfolio is worked on in your first year and then you apply with your portfolio.
From the Penn State Website: “Acceptance into the Graphic Design major (BDes) is determined by a portfolio review after the completion of GD 001S(1), GD 100 GA(3), GD 101(2), GD 102(3), and PHOTO 100 GA(3) with grades of C or better in all of these courses. Faculty conduct this review at the end of second semester. Applicants who are not accepted into the major may re-apply the following year but must realize that this course of action could delay their graduation by at least one year.”
Also, graphic design is ONLY at the UP campus, so I would consider other options if graphic design is your only major of choice, and a different campus if Penn State is your school of choice. Apply with summer session - I am not sure if you can apply DUS for graphic design, but you can ask. Regardless, you cannot do a 2+2 with graphic design.
I’d put your chances of being admitted to UP campus at 5%. Sorry - just want you to be prepared.