<p>I'd appreciate any opinions of my chances of getting into PSU (UP) engineering with the following stats:</p>
<p>3.3 GPA UW (out of 4.0)
SAT M-680 CR-660
1340/1600
At the end of my junior year I have 1 AP & 3 Honors
Scheduled next year for 3 APs & 3 Honors
Top 15% of class
Moderate ECs
Great recommendations
URM</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Unfortunately (for you) PSU seems to weigh GPA higher that SAT scores. I think PSU (UP) engineering may be a reach for you. Definitely apply to some other schools.</p>
<p>There’s always the option of a branch campus. I think something like 25% of the engineering students start elsewhere.</p>
<p>^^
That’s true. Also if PSU offers you a branch campus you can always turn it down and go elsewhere. Doesn’t hurt ($much) to apply and see if you get lucky.</p>
<p>What’s your weighted GPA? I think they go by that. If you have some AP and honors, you might be ok.</p>
<p>Two things… First, most universities will weigh your overall trend. I mean, are you trending towards a better overall GPA? Did you take a really tough course load in high school, or was your schedule too easy? </p>
<p>Secondly, if you plan on actually graduating with an engineering degree from Penn State you had better learn how to dedicate yourself. Some of the courses/professor can be very tough- actually, scary hard at times! </p>
<p>Lastly, my own point… The economy is really bad, and if you actually plan on getting a job in engineering, I would recommend working harder then you expect. After one test last semester, my professor(at Penn State) blasted the class about our overall performance. She ranted for a good long about how REALLY good smart engineers cant find jobs at this time- so basically, where do you think you’ll be if you aren’t at the top. The answer is, you’ll be stocking shelves at walmart…</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for the opinions.</p>
<p>Yes my GPA has increased each year since my freshman year. This year (junior) I had a 3.7 something. My school does not weight AP or Honors classes. I have taken mostly difficult classes and at least by my school’s standards my schedule is not considered easy. I guess I’ll have to pay my money and take my chances.</p>
<p>Is it just me or is taking engineering at a school like PSU too expensive and difficult to have to worry about getting a job when you graduate? We’re not talking about majoring in Psych or English Lit for God’s sake. C’mon, are we all supposed to work in health care in order to make a living?</p>
<p>Unfortunately, with over 100,000 applications last year (system-wide) Penn State doesn’t really have the staff to look much beyond your GPA and SAT scores (unless you’re applying to the Honors College).</p>
<p>You can certainly ask the different departments about how successful their grads are in the job market. Unfortunately, they have to rely on self-reporting, so they cannot give you precise numbers for job placement.</p>
<p>A Penn State engineering degree is actually really inexpensive compared to some schools. I received a link about a month ago from the college of engineering showing the salaries for the degrees along with the the typical internship salaries. This will give you more information.</p>
<p>[Salary</a> Information | Engineering Career Resources & Employer Relations](<a href=“http://www.engr.psu.edu/career/students/resources/salary-stats/salary.aspx]Salary”>http://www.engr.psu.edu/career/students/resources/salary-stats/salary.aspx)</p>
<p>As to your statement/question about the overall degree and future prospects. Well, let me put it to you this way. Why would a company hire you in the United States as an engineer when they can hire a top notch engineer(first in their class) from South America for less then a quarter of your yearly salary? The world is getting smaller every single day, and becoming more competitive. I did an “honors” Lean manufacturing report for an industrial engineering class last semester, and the numbers I calculated were very depressing. Essentially, companies are becoming lean fighting machines, laying off large numbers of employees to remain globally competitive. However, they are investing money into technology to continue their production requirements. Hence, if you want to become an engineer you will need to continually learn(be a life long learner as they say) and work very hard to remain employed and relevant. </p>
<p>Lastly, regarding getting accepted to Penn State, I would advise you to visit the campus, make yourself seen, and demonstrate that you are serious about your goals. You would not believe the number of students who are zombies. Don’t be a zombie like the rest of them. Ask questions, learn the material to know it, not to just pass a stupid test. Make a call to the university and ask to, meet in person, an engineering professor to discuss your goals and future at Penn State- show them you are top notch and not a zombie! A professor can have tons of sway with getting you accepted. Trust me, THEY LOVE STUDENTS WHO COME TO LEARN, NOT JUST FILL SEATS!!!</p>
<p>Actually, at a university the size of PSU a professor does not typically have tons of sway with the admissions office. Perhaps if a student has done something exceptional (e.g. an aspiring aero student who has built a sail plane or a ChemE with an amazing Intel project), someone will go to bat for you if your GPA is less than stellar. Aside from that, the time to show you are top notch and not a zombie is during your high school classes. Sheer enthusiasm is not enough. If you have not shown by your academic record that you can handle the engineering coursework you will be given an opportunity to do so at a branch campus.</p>
<p>^^^
1moremom: Thanks for the words of encouragement.</p>
<p>I’m not sure if you’re being sarcastic; I’m just trying to be realistic. So often on these chances threads I see people being told they’re in and can imagine the disappointment they feel when that doesn’t happen. If you look at the admissions bubble chart <a href=“http://admissions.psu.edu/info/counselors/bubble_chart06.pdf[/url]”>http://admissions.psu.edu/info/counselors/bubble_chart06.pdf</a>) you will see that with a 3.3 GPA even a perfect SAT results in “The student is likely to be offered admission to a Penn State campus other than University Park.” (Though a perfect SAT course could be grounds for a review of the application.) I would encourage you to apply early and be willing to begin summer session. Good luck!</p>
<p>^^^
Actually, I think the rest of the statement for the yellow bubbles on the chart says:
“Additional review would be needed to determine eligibility for admission to University Park.”
Nothing about needing a perfect score for review.</p>
<p>While I agree with you about the unrealistic nature of many chance threads, I think the OP has a decent chance of getting into UP…especially if s/he is willing to do the Summer session. The URM status probably won’t hurt and may be considered in a holistic view of his application.</p>
<p>No, but with the SAT scores so far off the mark I doubt the application would get a second look. Also, these numbers are for admissions university-wide. The COE numbers are even higher. Outside of the Honors College PSU does not use a holistic approach in admissions.</p>
<p>SAT scores off the mark? I think his SAT scores are in the top 25% percentile for both Math and Reading at UP:
[C</a>. Freshman Admission](<a href=“Error Page”>Error Page)
Clearly his GPA is weak but his 1340 might be enough to get his application reviewed. Are you of the opinion that PSU admissions looks at an applicant’s GPA & SAT scores and if they are not in the blue section of the bubble chart…rejects the applicant? I thought the blue bubble section represented more of a historic representation of where most admitted freshman’s scores align and that those in the yellow were reviewed to determine which campus (including UP) they should be offered an acceptance. Clearly 25% of the enrolled freshman at UP had a GPA within the OPs range according to the Common Data Set. I can’t believe they all had perfect SAT scores in order to have their application looked at.</p>
<p>Looking at the Common Data Set his GPA is probably in the lowest third. Obviously PSU thinks high school performance is a better predictor of success in college than SAT scores or they wouldn’t give it twice the weight. Factor in the fact that that he is applying to the COE and the numbers on the bubble chart are a few years old. (I doubt they have gone down.) He might get reviewed, but I think it’s unlikely.</p>
<p>^^
Granted his GPA is in the lower third. But his SAT scores are in the top 25% as of the 2009 Common Data Set.</p>
<p>BTW - I think there is a rather large difference between giving an opinion on a candidates realistic “chance” of gaining entry and editorial comment about his GPA.
I just don’t think the above was very helpful.</p>
<p>I was trying correct the previous poster’s implication that one could “Make a call to the university and ask to, meet in person, an engineering professor to discuss your goals and future at Penn State” and that it would affect their chances for admittance. While that is a great thing to do as a potential student, it is not going to make one iota of difference as to whether or not they will be accepted. For them to “visit the campus [and] make yourself seen” when you are mid-level applicant sounds like a recipe for annoying the faculty and staff. At a school like Penn State it comes down to the numbers, which are the result of one’s efforts in high school. I think clearing that up for future applicants was a useful thing to do. These threads are read by many others than the OP.</p>
<p>I wish the OP nothing but a great Penn State engineering career, but I think being honest about the likelihood of attendance at a branch campus, where s/he can benefit from the advantages of smaller classes and more personal attention, could make that possible outcome a little less of a disappointment. It also might spur him/her to seriously consider the relative merits of the different branches beyond proximity to UP (i.e. Altoona).</p>
<p>Accepted into the School of Engineering University Park this AM!!!
For those still waiting…don’t give up hope…anything is possible if they accepted me.</p>
<p>That is great, congratulations!</p>