<p>I am receiving 2 recommendation letters from alumni of Penn State. One is a consolate general of the US, and one is from an author of many books and owner of a worldwide multi million dollar company. Would PSU even look at these recs and if so how much would they influence???</p>
<p>as far as i've heard unless you're applying to the honors college Penn State does not consider recs.</p>
<p>they dont read recommendation letters that thye get unless its for honors. so if youre not applying there then dont send them because it will be a waste of paper</p>
<p>Send them anyways, they might look.</p>
<p>anyone else?</p>
<p>My son sent in a recommendation even though we figured it would just get thrown out. No harm in trying. But from what admissions said at the info session we attended, they don't even read the section with ec's and the essay unless they need to make a decision between two very similar candidates and they need to cut one of them. So it seems like they do a very bare bones, basic assessment, which, in all likelihood, precludes the reading of rec's.</p>
<p>Although PSU has to wade through a huge number of admission applications, prediction of college academic success is far more linked/related to high school academic performance (GPA/rank) than anything else, including standardized testing. </p>
<p>Lots of EC may make the applicant feel good about their application, but it is NOT a predictor of college success...sorry if anyone's bubbles are busted. Certainly individuals with a wide diverse group of ECs may add to the overall campus mix. </p>
<p>Maybe ECs work for those on the fence, but in the big scheme of things, colleges want to accept people who they think will succeed and do well, thus the overwhelming focus on high school performance....any realistically, with all those applications, they just don't have time to microanalyze every piece of information unless the applicant is straddling some defined cut off.</p>
<p>PSU is strictly numbers driven. GPA, Test Scores. You fall into the cut off - you are in. My son has great refs and was named Scholar Athlete admissions does not accept as part of decision process. He is still holding his breath with fingers crossed - 680 math, 610 verbal, 650 writing and a 3.9 w GPA. Application was in early September.</p>
<p>wrestlersdad, we are in the exact same position; my son has a weighted average of 96.4 and 1280/1600 1940/2400 SAT, and we still haven't heard. His application was complete later than your son's, though (3rd week in Oct.). My son's application status is still "...we are reviewing..."</p>
<p>Plaid Freak, So I guess there is a bunch of hand wringing going on at your house also. My son has been accepted to Pitt, Vermont (Honors College) and Drexel (honors college) but we are a PSU family and is his absolute first choice. Well, I'll keep my fingers crossed for your son and hopefully our young men will be classmates.</p>
<p>wrestlersdad, all the hand wringing is on my part; my son and husband think I'm nuts to worry. My son's been accepted to U Wisconsin Madison, but I think he'd prefer to go to PSU if given the chance. I think it would be very odd if our sons didn't get in. After all, it seems like PSU's only admitted the top top applicants so far and a few who are just slightly above our boys (I'm basing this on CC postings). It's got to be their turns soon! Has admissions changed your application status to "we have reached a decision" yet? Ok, I've got to stop typing now so I can wring my hands some more. Good luck to your son!</p>
<p>Plaid Freak, My son is also pretty laid back about it. He is busy into wrestling right now and oblivious to the real world. His teammate just accepted a full wrestling scholarship to PSU, but that will not be in the cards for my son. He'll be attending on a full MomandDad scholarship more than likely. His status is still "being reviewed".</p>
<p>yeah im like your two childern, psu is my 1st choice and im a 3.7 gpa and a 1200 Sats. I applied in augest with alot of recs but i kno its really just gpa and sats. im confident ill hear good news just kinda worried about when. a friend of mine is there now and didnt hear till mid feb of last year. he was on the fence with a low gpa though, im just hoping i dont have to wait that long.</p>
<p>So I don't even need a guidence counsler's rec?</p>
<p>You need your GC to fill out a little form about you/your school, but no actual letter of recommendation is necessary.</p>