Im starting my senior year in high school. I go to a private - college preparatory school outside of Philadelphia (well known)
I am dying to get into Penn State - University Park for college. My brother graduated in 2015 and my sister is a current Junior at University Park
My GPA: 3.157
ACT: 28
Solid resume
Legacy: 3 graduates/students
Senior Courses: American Literature
Pre- Calculus
Psychology
Statistics
Band
Physics
La Sallian Spirituality
Economics
Job Experience: I have worked all four years in high school.
I am still going to take the SAT and ACT in October again.
Also is it vital to apply right away or does it matter until I wait until November 1? What is the likely hood of getting into main campus? Is there anything that I can do that will help my chances?
The priority deadline for admission is actually November 30, not November 1. However, since we are rolling admissions, it might be better to get your app in soon.
For people with low chances (about 87% of University Park freshmen had a GPA higher than yours and your ACT is respectable but not awe-inspiring: http://www.budget.psu.edu/CDSRedesign/cds.aspx?reportindicator=FreshAdmn&Location=UP&AY=20142015) the common advice is to apply for summer session and in DUS/Undecided. Make sure you investigate branch campuses and pick one as your second choice. “UP or bust” might not net you the results you’re hoping for.
Does legacy help at all? I have a graduated brother, sister who is a junior, and father who got his MBA from PSU. Also, does adding satellite campus option help me at all of getting into main campus?
As noted in the Common Data Set link above (highly recommend reading it thoroughly, it’s a wealth of information), “Alumni/ae relation” is only “Considered,” not important or very important.
No, adding a branch campus doesn’t help you get into main. It gives you a contingency option in case you don’t get into main. From the admissions website: “We will ask for an alternate campus choice for your starting campus. We will only review your application for your alternate choice if we are unable to admit you to your first choice campus.” (http://admissions.psu.edu/info/future/firstyear/apply/)
As an anecdotal example only, my D had a 3.45 and a 28 ACT and got in for summer DUS for fall 2015. Had she not applied DUS with summer option she would have surely been offered a satellite campus. (Altoona was her second choice campus). My husband and I are both alumni. I am not sure it helped all that much but I have no way of knowing for sure. She was borderline for DUS for fall and was put in for summer…which, by the way, she loved and thought it was a tremendous experience that she wouldn’t trade for anything.
It does not really matter when you apply as long as your application is COMPLETE by Nov. 30th. PSU says they are rolling admission but it’s not rolling in the traditional terms. MOST people hear in January regardless of how much before Nov. 30th you apply. Some very high stat people have heard within a few weeks, but those are outliers.
Penn State always considers you first for your first choices. They only move on to the next alternative (summer, etc) if you don’t meet the criteria for your first option. So it’s always best to put more options. However, if you get in for summer start, that’s when you have to start.