I am currently a junior in high school and have been thinking about applying to Penn State. However, I’m not positive about my stats. They include
Weighted GPA- 4.0
SAT- 1250
IB Diploma Candidate
Multiple AP classes
Major I plan on taking-Criminal Justice
EC- Vars Lax 2 Years, Vars golf 2 years, key club, president of my own club, volunteer at local hospital/local events, and other non important clubs.
Penn State’s avg gpa is a 3.6 and sat of 1270, but the 25th percentile is 1180. You’re a bit below average for sat, but significantly higher for gpa.I would say you have a good shot considering scores alone. Your ECs didn’t seem to last very long, but starting your own club should help.
Yes I think you will get into Penn State. Where else are you applying to?
Why criminal justice? (It’s a more vocational major and you could attend a PASSHE for that).
IBD+APs will help you - and the GPA indicates strong potential for success (could be a candidate for Schreyer - they don’t count test scores but essays are very important).
All in all academically it’s a match.
Run the NPC and bring the results to your parents: can they afford the costs without loans, from their income and savings?
I’m thinking about UAlbany, John Jay, Temple, Boston University, and University of Maryland etc.
Criminal Justice because I want to become a forensic scientist. I know I could just major forensic science but I’m not positive if I wanna commit.
@yolebme you say your GPA is a 4.0 - is that weighted and what scale? What is your unweighted (out of a 4.0 scale)?
@yolebme : if this is your goal then you should apply for Criminology or Forensic Science, not criminal justice (which leads to careers such as police officer, corrections officer…) Also check out the cybersecurity program in IST.
If you’re not sure, you can apply to Penn State DUS - it means undecided.
Do you live in NYC? Because John Jay is purely commuter. Considering your stats compared to the average John Jay stats, make SURE you apply for Macaulay at John Jay. If you don’t live in NYC already, I wouldn’t recommend attending John Jay from out of district.
UMaryland has one of the best Criminology programs in the country. To improve your odds of admission retake the SAT.
Are you instate for NYS? Qualify for the Excelsior? If so, it’s going to be hard to find a better value than SUNY Albany (definitely apply to honors college).
Penn state doesn’t give financial aid. Temple has merit but has severely cut back on the fantastic automatic scholarships they used to have. Boston U is infamous for bad financial aid and high costs.
In short, run the net price calculator on each college you listed and being the results to your parents. Ask then what they can afford our of pocket, that is, from income and savings.
(You can take a $5,500 loan, that’s it ).