Batches…but that means nothing really since we don’t know how big each batch is. Decisions are just starting to trickle out. The bulk will likely arrive in December if admissions holds true to previous years. Of course, with COVID, nothing is the same so who knows!
Keep in mind that when you applied means nothing except to determine whether you are early action (hear by Dec 24) or priority (Hear by Jan 31) or regular decision (hear usually 6-8 weeks after application).
Do you have a weighted GPA?
Daughter accepted last week!
ACT:N/A
SAT: 1530
GPA:4.0 non weighted/4.47 weighted
Rank:. 12/381
State Residency: PA
Major: Health & Human Development
Applied date: Mid-September
Decision date: 11/5-11/6
College: University Park
We received a teaser yesterday- a large packet with a letter that said thank you for applying and that your application is complete and you should be hearing from us in the next few weeks. They also referred us to a chart in the packet basically saying that stats drives admission. For those that have been admitted did you get that packet first? How long between packet and acceptance? Sorry just trying not to flip out as my oldest is applying to colleges this year and she has no acceptances yet.
We got that mailing too.
My daughter applied to the ag school on Oct. 4 to a niche major, but without test scores., and hasn’t heard yet.
She has put down a deposit on a great program that accepted her about a month after applying, but still would like to know PSU’s decision.
we got that mail too yesterday. Based on that, middle 50% admitted students for fall 2020 have high school GPAs in the range of 3.55 - 3.9 on 4.0 scale for the University Park Campus.
@CSJA2025 that packet is not automatically sent to everyone before Penn State releases a decision to applicants. it is not something that should be used as a barometer to when you will hear back.
We received the packet yesterday as well and it’s addressed to parents. I am not taking it as an indicator of admission. After reading the letter, I’m actually concerned. It stressed the fact that our student can change to test optional and suggested to thoroughly review the middle 50% for test scores before making that decision. It also stressed that once a decision has been made it is unlikely they can change their response without compelling evidence through an appeals process.
@jlhpsu or any other seasoned member: your thoughts and insight would be most welcome!
1 Like
We received the packet after our son had already been admitted via the portal. So don’t worry about the test optional info…it’s not indicative of any hidden message.
1 Like
I don’t think it’s meaningful either. My kid’s SAT is above their 50th percentile on page 13 which would be 1325 and we got the same letter about switching to test optional. I’m sure it’s been sent out to most.
Anyone want to weigh in on if my D should change to test optional? Her SAT is 1330 which is 5 points above the median of last years middle 50%. I’ve read that one should submit if at or above the median and she based her decision to submit on that information. Do you think a 1330 hurts her? Thanks.
@CSJA2025 Agree with you as ACT score sent in was a 33 with a 4.5556 GPA.
@ashley41 Do not read into the mailer. if anything we saw it as a way for Penn State to market themselves in a Covid world. They know that parents and applicants are watching from the sidelines right now very carefully and taking into consideration how schools are handling themselves during these unprecedented times.
Didn’t receive a mailer guess that’s not a good sign ? And it looks like acceptances posted here are way above the average gpa stated above
@DianeMartin2025: I’m going to take the advise of others and not read anything into this mailer. We are in-state and just received the mailer yesterday. If you’re OOS I’m sure it will take longer. Best of luck to you!
1 Like
Got accepted w/ a 1380 SAT instate about a week ago and didn’t receive a mailer.
Thanks @ashley41 just stressed out not submitting scores and having an unweighted 3.6 compared to what I’m seeing here as those admitted
Your kid has higher stats than more than 1/2 of students admitted. Of course, your kid should not change to test optional. What I got from the letter is if you have these stats, you are probably in. It might be the opposite that they want 1200 plus SAT kids to send in rather than not submit. If I had a kid right near the 25th percentile- I’d probably call. I’ve read that some schools are seeing that only 50 percent of kids are submitting SATs. I would imagine for a school like PSU, it would be much more taxing on admissions to figure out who to let in without scores.
I’m not privy obviously to inside info so it’s just pondering.
so far the one person from our oos high school to hear back got a 36 on ACT and is in top 20 of the class, possibly top 10.
@CSJA2025 : Yes, that was our thought process when we decided to submit. Now I’m contemplating that if kids with very high scores submit, and the ones with lower scores don’t, she could end up in the bottom percentile for this years applicant pool. With applications up at most schools that’ve gone test optional, and the school’s commitment to give test optional kids an equal evaluation, could her score which was respectable in previous years end up being a liability this year? Maybe I’m playing Devil’s Advocate, or venturing down rabbit holes I shouldn’t - just another line of thought. Hoping that isn’t the case.
Yes but I don’t think that they’ll think those 50 percent without a score are better. There are some- people in CA who really haven’t had the opportunity to test. In our area, people have had multiple opportunities to test. So the people who aren’t sending scores in our area are doing it because they decided not to take or have something to hide. I think it’s hurtful and kind of stupid for some independent counselors to say don’t send your score unless it’s at the 50th percentile. If people keep doing that- and colleges keep test optional profile- every school in a few years will have average SATs in the 1500’s. If it’s any consolation my DD applied to another school with slightly lower than average SATs and submitted to that school.