<p>I just finished my junior year in New Jersey. </p>
<p>--General Info--
White male
Junior in New Jersey
Low-income family of single mom, my grand mom, and myself</p>
<p>--Stats--
Freshman and sophomore combined GPA unweighted - 3.35 | weighted - 3.75
Junior year GPA approx. unweighted - 2.3
SAT scores - 1930 - 680 Critical Reading; 630 Math; 620 Writing; 9 Essay
I took the ACT with writing last week and Ill update with scores when I get them.
Class Rank - Has not been released yet. I'll update when it is released.</p>
<p>--Course Load--
Besides 3 or 4 classes I have taken every course at the highest level offered. (Honors or AP) (The 3 or 4 that weren't honors or AP were mandatory classes like the Arts, which had no option of honors or AP)</p>
<p>--AP Courses
AP Biology
AP Chemistry
AP Spanish 5
AP Statistics
AP English 4</p>
<p>--Clubs--
Member of Athletic Training Club - 2 years
" " Astro/Physics Club 3 years
" " Environmental Club 3 years
" " National Honors Society (Junior is the earliest grade to get in)
" " CHA (Cultural Heritage Awareness) 2 years
" " KEY Club (community service) 1 year
" " FBLA Future Business Leaders of America 1 year
" " Spanish Club 2 years (I got in the earliest grade possible)
" " Academic Team 1 year</p>
<p>--Sports--<br>
Freshman - Cross Country - Winter Track - Spring Track (all JV)
Sophomore - Soccer - Winter Track (both JV)
Junior - Varsity Soccer (Captain of undefeated team)
Senior (next year) - Varsity Soccer</p>
<p>--Awards/Certificates--
Black Belt in Tang-Soo-DO
United Way Community Spirit Award (Youth Individual category) awarded for outstanding dedication to community service
Sibley Award (For having all A's and B's) - freshman and sophomore Year
Taking an EMT-Basic class for the ambulance squad this summer. I'm positive Ill pass.</p>
<p>--Leadership--
Vice-President of Spanish Club
Teachers Assistant in Tang-Soo-DO</p>
<p>--Volunteering--
Comcast Cares Day - Worked alongside the Coast Guard to clean up Cape May Beach
Habitat for Humanity - Nearly 30 hours of service
Family Promise - 60 hours of service
Acolyte and Liturgist for my church - One Sunday every two months for 5 years
Bell Choir for my church since '07 - Practice every Thursday (excluding summer)
30 Hour Famine - Raised 3,000 in 3 years doing the event
Family Promise Walk-a-Thon - 3 years
Big Brothers Big Sisters - 3 years as a 'Big Brother'
Member of the Woodstown Ambulance Squad since 7/7/09</p>
<p>--Job Experience--
Worked for 4 months as an aid in an after school program for elementary school students.</p>
<p>That 2.3 gpa is going to hurt you. But your previous weighted gpa is pretty decent. Your SAT scores are good and so are your extracurriculars. Just apply EARLY…very early! Like the moment you can. Also, if Penn State U Park is your number one choice, then mark off the “summer” option when you apply to the school (this might actually get you into the main campus). Since PSU is rolling decision, senior grades wont be super emphasized but try and maintain a 3.5 at least. All in all, just apply early. Good Luck, and I hope you get in!</p>
<p>First, thank you very much for replying. As for the application, should I send it early for a better chance of acceptance or send it after I receive my 1st semester grades as a senior so they can see I’ve improved, and that the GPA of junior year was a fluke?</p>
<p>And also does the fact that I’m in ALL honors/AP help compensate for my low gpa?</p>
<p>Taking all honors/Ap will definitely help make up for the lower gpa. They want to see that you’ve challenged yourself in high school, and will respect that when they look at you. I do agree that the earlier you apply, the better chance you have of getting in.</p>
<p>Ok. Thank you very much. I’m really new to applying and stuff so do have like an actual time that I should apply? Like literally as early as possible? About the start of senior year? Or when I get senior grades back?</p>
<p>That brings up another question. Can I apply really early then send my senior grades when I get them?</p>
<p>apply asap. I had a little better gpa and about the same sat’s and i applied for main campus this past year. I got aaepted to Behrend but not Main campus. I talked to the admissions rep there and they said it was because my sat’s came in a little late.</p>
<p>I got a few words of advice: apply the first possible day. On september 1st have that application sent in the mail along with your gpa and the whole nine yards. With penn state (like no other) if you apply the first day, you have a pretty good shot at getting in. If you wait, it gets progressively tougher. It practically becomes “ivy league tough” if you wait until like december/january. Good Luck! GPA is key.
-Im going to University Park this year as a freshman so I was not long ago in the same boat as you.</p>
<p>Thank you both. I really appreciate it. Do you know if i could/should apply the first day possible and then send my senior grades when I get them or just not worry about it?</p>
<p>Look at: How likely are your students to be admitted to Penn State?
<a href=“http://admissions.psu.edu/info/counselors/bubble_chart.pdf[/url]”>http://admissions.psu.edu/info/counselors/bubble_chart.pdf</a></p>
<p>If the link doesn’t work:go to undergraduate admission, information for, school counselor, How likely are your students to be admitted to Penn State?</p>
<p>Wow thats great news! With my weighted GPA I’m right on the inside of the blue line. So I at least have a shot. Thanks!</p>