If I apply in the first week of September ,will I be assured a decision before December?
Probably within 2 weeks or less.
@NASA2014. Would you care to provide a source for your response; as it is not even remotely accurate?
It’s rolling admissions. If you want a good chance, and hopefully want a scholarship you must apply BEFORE November 30.
Applicants are evaluated on a modified rolling admissions schedule. Additionally, some academic programs have limited enrollment and specific application dates
Applying after November 30, while acceptable, may limit your campus and major choices.
So; which of those 3 say that if you apply the first week of September that you will get an answer in 2 weeks or less? Most people that applied in September last year…heard back in January.
You may hear back in November (usually if qualifications are clearly above or below the average) or it may not be until January or possibly February. I think I read on these boards about some acceptances at the end of October. ‘Rolling admissions’ at PSU is not the same as at other schools.
Believe me…just search my threads…Rolling admission IS NOT REALLY ROLLING at PSU. My D applied September 2nd with all application materials in my September 8th. She did not hear until January 26th. It was awful. You must apply by November 30th for the best chance of admission. And some people who apply November 30th very well may hear before those who applied in September. They will tell you outright that they make decisions randomly. Everyone who applied by Nov. 30 is considered in one group and then the next batch of kids. But that’s the only delineation. It does seem that the really high “obvious In’s” hear sooner - but that’s not full proof either. Plenty of very high stat kids waited 4 months or longer.
My advice would be to get your application in prior to November 30th and then expect a decision the last week of January (When MOST of the applicants hear). If you hear sooner, that’s great. But it’s torture for those kids who expect to hear soon and then don’t. Or who expected it to by typical rolling admission because it’s not. At all.
Good luck - this was a very stressful process that thankfully worked out for my D, but it was not without frustration.
A VERY FEW students heard within 2 weeks. Most of the students this past year waited months and months. If you are applying to a branch campus, you will hear much sooner.
I applied the day the application opened and didn’t hear back until the very end if January. I’d check your status once every 2 weeks until then.
A good friend’s son heard back within two-three weeks, so it does happen.
As you can see from the other responses, the most important thing is to get your completed application in before the priority deadline. How much before I don’t think really matters. Both my kids had their application and all materials in about a day before the priority deadline and they both had their acceptances within 3 to 5 business days. YMMV