<p>3.4 gpa (uw) , 1310 sat (m+v) , ecs arent a problem </p>
<p>5 aps by the time im done in high school and 3 honor classes. student at very rigorous college prep school</p>
<p>guidance counselor says its a high target, but i think its a safety.</p>
<p>PSU does a combo GPA/SAT evaluation. You look fine...but keep in mind that next year might be tougher since 8000 students accepted offers this year - I think PSU might pull back next year to even things out. Still, I think your SAT score will help to get you in.</p>
<p>do they take into account the difficulty of a prep school compared to a public school. im pretty sure i would have straight a's and a 4.0 if i were at my local public high school.</p>
<p>may be difficult to do this since they have so many applications to review (I think it's over 80,000 to the full state system). I get the sense that much of the process is automated. A number of kids from my son's high school in PA (a top high school in PA) were accepted at Altoona - that's what they do when you don't have the numbers to make it into the main campus. Many then transfer after two years. By the way, it increases your chances to apply as early as possible (Aug or Sept) - it also help your chances if you agree to do their summer session. We know some kids with pretty low scores who got in this way.</p>
<p>Is applying the first week or the second week of November still early? Right now I have a 3.87uw GPA and 380v720m560w. I can apply in early September, but the question is, will i get in? I also have an alternative plan. I can study for the SAT over the summer and hopefully be able to apply by the second week of November with 3.87uw GPA and 450v750m600w. I believe I have more chance with these stats for the main campus. By the way, I want to major in Aerospace Engineering. Is my 380v too low right now? What do you guys think I should do?</p>
<p>I think 380 is low - most kids have scores at 550 or better. You have a shot because your GPA is good but I still think it's a bit of a risk to apply really early with that score. Might make more sense to get that score up and wait until Nov to apply (but also agree to do summer session - it helps your chances). Take lots of practice tests this summer.</p>
<p>tussin</p>
<p>PSU does not take into account any differences in the difficulty of the school you attend. From what we were told, they prefer to use weighted GPA because a high school knows 'the worth of its courses'. (IMO, this is not entirely true. Many schools that don't weight are many times those that have all students taking a large number of honors/AP courses. They do not weight as to not deter students from taking non-honors electives in their courseloads.) If your school does not weight, they will use your unweighted GPA in the calculation. The calculation they use is 2/3 GPA and 1/3 SAT (m&v). You can see the disadvantage when your school does not weight. </p>
<p>If at all possible, try to have your school weight your grades some way!</p>
<p>tussin:</p>
<p>I would say that you have a pretty good chance. Your stats look very similar to mine (3.5 gpa, 1310 m/v) when I applied and I was accepted no problem. Although I don't know how the average stats are going to change next year due to the 8000 incoming freshmen they have this year. I would just apply as early as possible and hope for the best, it's all you can really do. Unfortunately for you, I don't think that coming from a prep school will really help you much, Penn State really doesn't care if you came from a prep school or a public school.</p>