Hi, I have an unweighted GPA of 3.42 I have taken a total of 14 Honors/AP classes. How does Penn State take this into account when applying and what would my weighted GPA be? Thank you so much I really want to go to Penn State.
@bodangles @PSU85MOM @jlhpsu @MYOS1634
They’ll recalculate, adding weight to the 14 honors/AP classes. But they also check if you took the following:
Math through calculus or precalculus; Foreign language through level 4 (or 5, ie., AP); each of bio, chem, physics, and one more science.
Then, it matters in relation to the major or college you apply for.
uh oh i didnt realize that about language… i thought it was three years
Well, you can have three years, but if you want to max out you’d have all of the above. It also depends on what major you’re applying for.
@MYOS1634 so why weighted GPA is a 3.55 is that good for Penn State UP?
3.55 is the minimum for a not very selective major.
However with a 3.42 UW and 14 honors/AP classes you’d have more (the typical “weight” is +.5 for honors, +1 for AP, so recalculate and post, as well as what major you’d be interested in).
Ok so I recalculated the GPA weighted and it was a 3.42 unweighted and a 3.57 weighted @MYOS1634 does that put in a spot for Penn State UP?
What major would you apply for? Because it’d be okay (60% odds) for some and unlikely (10-20%) for others.
Also, can you list your APs and grades or scores?
https://admissions.psu.edu/apply/requirements/4year/
Only two years of a foreign language is required. However, many colleges prefer to see 3. For some majors, you will need to take up to 3 semesters of a foreign language, so the better foundation you have, the better off you’ll be.
If you are concerned about getting in with the lower unweighted GPA, consider applying with a summer start date as your second choice. This way, if you are denied a fall admission, they will reconsider you for summer. This would mean coming to University Park at the end of June and taking two courses prior to fall. It’s an expensive investment (about $8K OOS), but it’s a wonderful transition to college life and preferred by many students who would prefer to take a lighter load their freshmen year. Typically kids who are on the bubble will start in the summer – but recognize that a 3.8 could be on the bubble for Smeal business whereas a 3.4 could be on the bubble for a comm degree.
It seems like the new trend for kids wanting UP is to apply for DUS (“undecided”) with a summer start as a backup.
@MYOS1634 @Sophley so I have already planned to do summer and DUS because it gives me a better chance. I have taken
Honors Spanish I – A
Honors World History --B
Honors Spanish II – B-
Honors Geometry – B
Honors US History – A-
Honors Algebra – B
Honors English III – A-
Honors US Government – A
Honors Pre Calc-- A-
Honors Engineering --A+
AP Econ-- A
AP Language – A
Thank you
Try to take Spanish III, AP Gov, AP Lit, and APES. Either take AP Stats or Honors calculus. Add an easy elective or late arrival/early release (to keep a job and save money). That would be a strong senior schedule (remember that senior year is only weighted for rigor, not grades, as long as you don’t get F’s). Having a job is seen as a good EC since few teenagers nowadays manage to do it consistently.
Do you know what you want to study? Last year DUS turned out to be pretty competitive since all the applicants had caught on to the fact it was easier than applying for a competitive major. Some majors consistently aren’t too competitive, especially in Agriculture, Communications, Liberal Arts.
@MYOS1634 thank you so much for the advice. So this summer I am working at an accounting firm and then apply in August. Im figuring out the senior schedule now, thanks again it is very helpful. Also, I want to end up studying business but I came to realize about a year ago that I will not have a 3.8 to get into Smeal, I then set my sights on DUS because it takes nothing away from a business major your first two years and then transferring into Smeal. I do understand that DUS is getting harder so a question, if I were to apply say to Economics in the Liberal Arts school, would I be able to transfer after my freshman year or am I stuck with it??
No, if you want Smeal then you must apply dus.
It means taking Calculus honors (or AB and drop another AP) senior year will be important since the Calculus course at UP is weedout.
Also, completing Spanish III means you will only have to take one semester of foreign language (if you continue with Spanish) v. If you stay at Spanish 2 level (2 full semesters). That will make a big difference in your first year schedule by freeing one space spring semester.
@MYOS1634 so I have taken 3 full year courses of spanish 1, 2, and 3 or 6 semesters of spanish
What do you mean that Calc at UP is a “weedout”
@MYOS1634 so for Smeal I have to do DUS I cannot do College of Liberal Arts and then transfer??
Yes you must be DUS to get into Smeal.
Weedout means there’s a set percentage of students who WILL be eliminated. In high school roughly, 40% get As, 40% B’s, the rest C, D, F. In weedout class where only the ’ high school A-B students’ are, half of them (so, even A students in high school) will get a B- or less. And since you need B to B+ in every class to get into Smeal, it means half the class will lose its chance at Smeal right there. So you must’ve prepared and you prepare by taking Calculus in high school before you take calc 110.
Ok that sounds good so if I do well in Honors Pre Calc I should be set for calc 110 @MYOS1634
No, you must take Calculus in highschool to do well (B or higher) in calculus 110 at PSU because everyone who gets good grades will have taken Calculus before. If you haven’t you state behind and in a weedout class it’s lethal.
Are you saying you’ll be taking precalculus next year? I thought you’d taken it this year.
No I take calc next year @MYOS1634
Taking pre calc now