@dhanvit That’s awesome! So happy for you. It’s my D’s dream school too and she’s been waiting since september as well. Answers coming for everyone soon! Make sure to post your stats in the decision thread once you get the final answer!
@jlhpsu will do! thanks for the insight!
First time posting. I have been obsessed with reading this info on college confidential. My D status changed Friday evening to “decision in coming days.” She is on the low to mid end of the spectrum. Only school she wants to attend for many reasons. She is not a good test taker and SAT scores were not indicative of how well she did in high school-maintained a 3.75. I broke down and called admissions today. When I asked about the status, I got " it’s a good thing your daughter will have an answer by Jan 31st. Your wait is almost over." Why did I call
Thats what they say to everyone and its so frustrating. What picture does she have on the portal when the status changed?
University Park
@mlkcccslp Did she have an alternate campus listed? If she did not then the picture is pretty meaningless. But if she had an alternate campus selected and her picture remained at UP then she most likely got in to UP. 
Yes, her alternate was Altoona. I forgot to mention she applied for DUS Summer 15. She wanted to have a better opportunity to get accepted. She was worried about her SAT scores.
@mlkcccslp So then it looks like she got into UP, you just don’t know if it’s for summer or fall! That is, if the picture thing remains accurate. My D also applied DUS, with summer as an option and Altoona as a back up! Still waiting!
Best wishes for both young ladies! I know we will all sleep better once this wait is over. At least I hope we mothers will.
My daughter was admitted to Altoona today. When she had her status change to decision in coming days the UP pic was still up. However it was Altoona she was accepted in to. She said she thought she applied to DUS, however she had not. She applied to Health related and was accepted to Fall 2015. She is happy, however disappointed as she really wanted UP. She was also disappointed as she read on her MyPennState that admissions had to take the highest students first for UP. As her mom and a teacher, I know this young lady has the potential to excel in anything she puts her mind to and a test like the SATs should not determine my daughters motivation and potential.
@mlkcccsip, I know your daughter’s outcome is disappointing, but to be fair to Penn State, they’re very clear that the two most important factors when making a decision about students is their academic GPA and their standardized test scores. It’s just way too big a school with way too many applicants to do any kind of “holistic” evaluation for admission.
http://budget.psu.edu/CDSRedesign/cds.aspx?reportindicator=FreshAdmn&Location=UP&AY=20142015
That being said, do have your daughter contact the admissions office to let them know she’d be willing to start in the summer as a DUS student. Several students last year were admitted to UP after making those changes.
@mlkcccslp I’m so sorry. It may be because she didn’t apply DUS. Other majors have much higher entrance requirements. I know how disappointed you both must be.
Thank you for your kind words. We will try. As for the “holistic” response Luciethelakie, maybe they should. My daughter is academically sound(honor roll-highest honors all throughout high school), a gymnast/competitive dancer and Captain of her Competitive Cheer Squad at her high school. She has always been about her academics in the
midst of her many activities. She is not
Into the “party” scene. She was adopted from a foreign country. She has fought all criticisms of her ethnicity. we are blessed to have such as strong and motivated child. I understand rules are rules. But I’ve seen plenty of Ivy League candidates go to University Park and “flunk out” there first year because they can’t handle stress or the environment of a large school! She is way beyond an SAT score!!!
@mlkcccslp do not be discouraged… Get on the phone today with admissions and ask to change to DUS university park fall first and then summer UP. Don’t accept Altoona if you don’t have to she sounds like a pretty strong candidate for UP. I always advise friends who might not have strongest SATs and applying competitive major to apply DUS to increase chances. I have a senior there who went DUS and was accepted into her major by mid sophomore year (Speech Pathology). She originally thought she was going business communication so entering DUS worked in her favor. She also had many friends who did summer at UP and just loved it. Good luck and keep us updated.
@mlkcccslp, I’m not really sure what that means. The kids I know who were true “Ivy League candidates” are either at Ivies or other highly-selective schools now (and doing well) or are excelling at big state flagships. Also, you can’t assume that kids who DO have the stats wouldn’t be competitive if Penn State went to a holistic process. Regardless, they have no real need to do that–they have no lack of applicants and seem to fill their classes with bright, capable students year in and year out. Kids flunk out of all big flagships, but I would bet the majority of them were not the top-stats students.
Your daughter is going to do well because she has the right stuff.
Promised an update. My D sent an email an requested a change to DUS status summer 2015. She receive a nicely written explanation that it would not make a difference. Each branch has its own DUS program. I followed up with a call and again had a positive response. There were many more applicants this year. It continues to be their policy to admit incoming Freshman with the highest scores even for the DUS program. They said it was positive that she got her admission packet on time with an alternate school. Unfortunately they are having to turn people away this year completely. It’s a learning process for us all. I still believe that high SAT scores don’t make the student succeed, but their motivation and commitment will. I have enjoyed a career as a certified Speech/Language Pathologist for 25 years now. By the way I received an 880 on my SATs, but graduated second in my Masters Degree program. Good Luck to everyone while you continue to wait!
@mamahills Good career choice for your daughter!!!
@mlkcccslp Thanks for sharing this info! In light of the competitiveness this year, I hope your daughter is proud of her accomplishment, even if it is not UP.
Question: when PSU offers you the alternate campus, do you have the same timeframe to accept or decline, or do you have to tell them right away if you intend to decline the alternate?
@mlkcccslp I’m glad you were able to get some answers. Just to shed a little light on your situation also- I spoke with admissions today about DUS and they said that they weren’t doing any reconsideration of applications until after all of the applications that were filed by priority. Most of the DUS decisions haven’t been released (at least not from the people here on CC). That may mean that they knew that they simply wouldn’t have the room by then. My daughters boyfriend is at Altoona and he likes it. I am surprised that with a 3.7 (I think that’s what you said…I can’t find the post now) that she wouldn’t be a viable candidate for summer even with low SAT scores…but you never know how PSU does things. Best of luck to your daughter. I think she will like Altoona.
Also as an aside…I have three internationally adopted kids
@Leyland Yes same time period. She is proud! Thank you @ jlhpsu. I have one international and one domestic adopted S and D. They are my world! So proud of both!!!