Chances for Honor's College

<p>Chances for Penn State's Honors College</p>

<p>ACT: Composite - 30<br>
Math - 36<br>
Reading - 27<br>
Science - 27
Writing - 26
GPA: 4.05 (will go up with additional
weighted classes)</p>

<p>Junior Year:
- AP History
- Honors Precalc/Trig
- Honors Physics
- Honors English
- The rest regular level courses</p>

<p>Senior Year:
- AP English
- AP Biology
- AP Calculus/Analytical Geometry
- CHS Intro to Programming
- CHS Web Page Design
- Honors Economics
- Honors Government
- The rest regular level courses</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
- Football, part-time job, class vice-president,
and about thirty hours of volunteer time</p>

<p>I'd say your in but to be safe I would get some more comunity service hours or add an additional EC</p>

<p>Looks good. So you know, they dont even look at SAT/ACT scores. Just make sure your essays are great. They, along with your grades and activities, are the most important things.</p>

<p>Why doesn't SHC look at test scores anymore, especially given that scores plus grades are just about all Penn State looks at for regular admissions? What makes a great essay?</p>

<p>Some people can test very well. There are people who can get an SAT study guide and ACE the test, but it does not mean that they retain information well. </p>

<p>A transcript that shows a work ethic over 3 years is far more valuable to many schools than just passing a standardized test!</p>

<p>I totally agree with you britbrat, but then the SHC philosophy is very different than Penn State overall, because I understand that the numbers are everything for general admission and that they don't really care about extracurriculars or essays. True?</p>

<p>(Didn't SHC ask for test scores previously?)</p>

<p>It doesn't mean they don't care. They expect over 100,000 applications; they don't have the budget to give them all the same attention the Schreyer applications get.</p>

<p>You misunderstand me, I think. I am familiar with the grid of gpa vs sat score for admission probablility. I guess what I'm saying is that I am a little surprised that the honors college doesn't look at test scores anymore. Don't get me wrong, I am glad because I agree that a four year high school career says much more about a person than a single three hour exam. I am just a little surprised. It seem like SHC admissions are almost completely holistic while the university admissions in general are almost completely statistically oriented.</p>

<p>From what I understand, for the past 5+ years or so they havent looked at SAT's, which I definitely think is a good thing. They do publish the average SAT score of Schreyer though (the middle 50 is something like 1400-1480), so they must be picking the right kids.</p>

<p>I actually hadn't heard they weren't looking at the scores anymore. I would think it might be helpful in making the "first cut" as their application numbers grow.</p>

<p>Yea they def don't look at scores. I've visited multiple times and they've said every time that they don't</p>

<p>Thx, ya those essay questions are a b*tch thats why I was wondaring</p>

<p>If you're having problems with the essays on the application I would recommend a writing course before you attend. English 030 isn't even that hard (for an Honor course) but it will kill you if you think the application was rough.</p>

<p>I wouldn't say you are a shoe-in to be accepted. I have met many freshmen with uber-academic successes in HS (read: perfect SATs, valedict). From what I can tell, the shc admission crew really look toward your essays and letters of rec the most, as well as how tough your HS course selection was.</p>

<p>haha, just because somebody says that the essays are tough doesnt mean that they are not capable of taking an English 030 course. I agree that it's just a pain in the ass to write three essays, and there is no need to suddenly start doubting a person's capabilities or say that they would not be able to handle an english course</p>