What are my sons chances of getting into University Park?
GPA - 3.7
SAT - 1200
Major - Biomedical Engineering
Would consider Summer Session
Does putting Biomedical Engineering hurt his chances from getting accepted? Is he better off putting DUS? From what I read, he can still work toward that degree. Thank you!
Here is the freshman profile for last year’s class at University Park (not factoring in the commonwealth campuses):
GPA
25th percentile - 3.55
75th percentile - 3.97
SAT
25th percentile - 1250
75th percentile - 1430
Is his GPA weighted or unweighted? By graduation, will he have completed any advanced coursework in Chem or Physics? Or finished Calculus I by the time he starts college? Of the 1200, what part of the score is math? Can he retake the SAT and shoot for a higher math score?
The engineering program is also a VERY challenging course of study at PSU. He isn’t technically in biomedical engineering until he declares (really “applies to”) his major typically at the end of his sophomore year. Basically to be accepted into the major, he has to complete the entrance-to-major requirements. These requirements include taking several weed-out courses and he must have an overall GPA of 3.2 to be considered. Here’s a link to those requirements. As you can see, biomedical engineering has the more difficult requirements.
https://advising.psu.edu/entrance-major-requirements-college-engineering-2018
Admissions to PSU is 2/3rd GPA and 1/3 SAT/ACT scores. I think your son is on the bubble for UP engineering as it’s one of the more competitive colleges, so he may want to consider applying DUS for summer. Just my two cents. However, he may actually benefit from going to a small campus, like Altoona, Harrisburg, or Erie. Many students spend two years at the smaller campuses to conquer those weed out classes, get more individualized attention, and strengthen their GPA before finishing their degree at UP. About 60% of all PSU graduates start at a smaller campus.
Hope this helps! Good luck.
Thank you for this. I was wondering, If a student doesn’t get accepted into the major he/she puts on their application In my son’s case, biomedical engineering. Do they get declined from Penn State University Park, or do they give you options such as UP as DUS with the goal to apply again at the end of their sophomore year or another smaller campus? Thanks in Advance!
Penn State’s application only has a back up campus and a back up starting semester as options. No back up major. So if your son were denied fall start at UP for engineering, he could have a summer start as a back up and an alternate campus as a backup. But if he wants to switch to DUS after a denial, he’d have to call and ask for reconsideration in that major.