Are these ECs "enough" for Penn State?

Colleges & Universities A-Z Penn State
1

<p>I am the photographer/web designer of my high school's newspaper, I am therefore responsible for all graphics of the paper, updates and also the design of our website. I am involved in photography outside of school, portfolio pictures and senior pictures are what I do most often. I was a lead actress in a school play in 9th grade. I also learned how to play to piano that year, and I still play today. I volunteer for the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, and an organization called Project B.A.R.K. I was a member of FBLA in 11th grade, and participated in leadership activities such as a fundraiser we organized and held. I was also a member of the French club in 11th grade. I helped many students with their understanding of french, being that I am fluent in the language. I also currently work as a babysitter and french tutor regularly and since 11th grade.</p>

<p>Is that "good enough"? Or are these weak ECs for Penn State? (I applied to University Park, and as an alternate campus Hazleton)</p>

2

<p>your ec’s are fine. admissions to penn state is more numbers based in any event.</p>

3

<p>Well the issue is that I have good SAT scores, but a very low cumulative GPA (2.91), my Junior year GPA is 4.1 (weighted) and my senior year is looking approx the same, but my 9th and 10th grades in France (where I lived from age 7-16) really killed my GPA. (the system is completely different and extremely hard)</p>

<p>While the low GPA is explained, and I am “defended” as a hard working and motivated student, in my counselor statement (sent with my transcript), I fear that if everything else isn’t great, like ECs, they’ll reject me.</p>

<p>Opinion?</p>

4

<p>I think your cumulative GPA is your biggest problem.
“The high school grade-point average (GPA) accounts for approximately two-thirds of our decision.”
[Penn</a> State Undergraduate Admissions](<a href=“http://admissions.psu.edu/academics/majors/requirements/]Penn”>http://admissions.psu.edu/academics/majors/requirements/)
Unfortunately, PSU receives tens of thousands of applications every year, so there is no way for them to read that many recommendations and counselor statements. pamom is correct; it is all about the numbers.
<a href=“http://admissions.psu.edu/info/counselors/bubble_chart.pdf[/url]”>http://admissions.psu.edu/info/counselors/bubble_chart.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

5

<p>Thank you for the honesty. So I suppose my chances are next to none? My SAT is 1900.</p>

6

<p>It sounds like you won’t have any trouble succeeding at a branch campus (Hazelton) and then transferring to University Park your junior year. I’m sorry your time in France worked against you.</p>

7

<p>So being that I applied to Hazelton as an “alternate” campus, they might accept me, letting me go there?</p>

8

<p>Yes, I think they’ll accept you to the Hazelton campus. If they don’t, I would call admissions, explain why your GPA is low and point out your high average from the last two years. I don’t think this would get you accepted to UP, but it would probably get you into the branch.</p>

9

<p>Oh, I didn’t know that you could call admissions after being rejected to potentially change the decision?
Thank you for the advice!</p>

10

<p>I have heard of it happening and I think you have a pretty compelling case. I would wait until after all the decisions come out when they are not so overwhelmed with work. Bonne chance!</p>

11

<p>I see! Merci!</p>

12

<p>From anecdotal evidence I have heard about other applicants who have been accepted, it does not appear that Penn State is that hard to get into. Much easier than I thought. Especially if you are OOS. They probably desire the higher tuition.</p>

13

<p>So you don’t think that my GPA would make me an automatic reject for UP?</p>

14

<p>PSU does not differentiate between IS and OOS applicants. Outside of the Honors College it pretty much comes down to numbers because of the large number of applications. The middle 50% GPA for University Park admittance is 3.52-3.97. (Smeal and the College of Engineering applicants would be towards the upper end of those numbers.)</p>