So PSU, University Park is my number one choice on my college list and the pressure has been on for me to do as well as possible to be accepted into the school and I am almost constantly stressing. I just finished my junior year in highschool and will be a senior in the upcoming 2015-2016 school year (class of '16). I would also really like to go to this school because I would get a 75% discount on tuition since my mom is an instructor for nursing at Penn College. I really want to make her happy, she’s been affiliated with all 3 of the schools, attending the University of Pennsylvania for her under grad, teaching at PSU, university park for 5 years, and now instructing nursing at Penn college. But anyways here are my credentials:
GPA: 3.75 - 3.8 w (I did poorly my freshman and sophomore years in my opinion)
SAT (surely not the greatest): 460 CR, 540 Math, 520 Writing
Course rigour: junior year I took AP chemistry and AP economics, the rest was honors, and I will be taking 5 AP classes next year (not that it matters) including AB calculus, statistics, and physics. Last year (sophomore) I had all honors courses including double maths and science
Extras: 1 year of track and field, 4 years of varsity soccer, 4 years of basketball (1 year varsity). For soccer, last season (sophomore year) we won the district championship and won the first state playoff game in school history only to lose to the defending state champions 1-0 with 5 seconds left in OT. 2014 National Blue Ribbon School recipient (please note that this is not an individual achievement but rather our school was awarded it, only 3 other highschools in the nation got it). Spanish club.
I will be applying early decision as (at least I believe so) undecided (though I think I know what I want to do)
Please be completely honest in your reply, thankyou!
My junior year was also my best year acidemically. I got a 97 overall for the year, making distinguished honor roll each marking period with my last marking period GPA being a 99. Just thought I would mention this.
You have a good chance, but you gotta get that SAT up. You could also try the ACT.
@ptkid16 thanks a lot for your response. And I know, I wish my SAT (especially reading) score was a lot higher. The only problem is I don’t think I’ll be able to take it again before I apply early decision. The same goes for ACT.
I think if you take it in October (or September for ACT) most EA/ED schools will accept it, I’d be surprised if Penn State wasn’t one of them.
Chance me back!
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1782833-chance-a-rising-senior-for-uchicago-georgetown-ivies-etc-will-chance-back.html#latest
@ptkid16 I really appreciate the responses. I’ll see if I can take the ACT for sure seeing as that’s the earliest one available.
Yeah no problem. I suggest getting a practice book now and working through it this summer, Barron’s is usually a good choice. Best of luck, feel free to ask me if you have any questions I can answer!
@ptkid16 yeah I have 2 really good practice books which are the blue book and the black book I guess I just didn’t utilize them enough even though I did do some studying. But yeah I’ll let you know, thanks!
No problem, chance me back if you can please!
You’re below the 25th percentile in all three areas of the SAT. Would you be open to the 2+2 plan, in case you can’t raise it as much as you need to?
@bodangles I was considering it but at this point I feel as if I would want to go main and if not, then another school, which is probably a little selfish but I figure I have to be a little ambitious.
PSU does not have ED. Only a priority deadline which is in November. Your SAT score is too low for the main campus, you will most likely end up at a branch campus unless you retake. You might get in because of your mother’s affiliation.
That’s how I felt about applying here too. But you’ll probably get branched with that score, so be ambitious in your retaking instead! Good luck!
Are you sure they even consider past affiliation of family members @invader71 ? And with rolling admission my mom told me the earliest I get my application in the better. I would really love to take the SAT again and the ACT for the first time if I could but still be able to apply early
@MJBross28 I am not positive that it will be considered. I know kids with parents who are current professors usually have an advantage or an admissions boost. That is true, apply as early as possible. But i think PSU main campus is definitely a reach without higher SAT scores.
@invader71 alright well thanks for your consideration.
Hi guys, I have another question. I want to apply as early as possible, but would it be worth it for me to wait and take the ACT or retake the SAT before applying? The ACT is available to take I believe 11 days after Penn State starts accepting applications, not sure about the SAT but I don’t want to be applying any later than the end of September if possible. Thanks so much.
Okay so I just read some information regarding the ACT. It takes about 2 weeks to get scores back with writing. So if I wait and take the ACT September 12th, I’ll receive my scores by September 26th and I can get my application in by the end of September for sure. So I have to make a decision. The deadline for ACT registration is August 7th. Also, PSU starts accepting applications September 1st.