<p>I got accepted into Penn State Altoona. I did not even try for UP, for a few reasons. I'm visiting on Monday.
Can any current or former students, or even people who simply visited, tell me what the campus is like and what I should be expecting on Monday?
My heart isn't set anywhere, as I got denied from my number one choice. </p>
<p>Hi! I live here so I’ve gone to various events at the campus. I can say it’s very nice looking. What’s your major, because that can play a big role in whether or not the school works for you.</p>
<p>@BachStrad700 I was accepted into Smeal at Altoona with the 2+2 Plan. They said students are being waitlisted for on campus housing. What is the best way to find a roommate for off campus housing?</p>
<p>@Novelnerd - starting at Altoona is the best of 2 worlds. You are in a small university environment (4000 students) yet all of the benefits of PSU UP. Students there get to ‘Main’ for Big10 athletic events, yet have a great set of programs at Altoona. Re the academics, there is a majors curriculum set for students who start at UP or at one of the other campuses, so you can complete your major by starting outside of UP. Congrats on the Penn State acceptance. You will not be disappointed!</p>
Anyone reading this thread a current PSU Altoona student or parent of a student? I have been given great info abou PSU Altoona on another thread but thought I would see more on here. Looks like no one has posted since 2014?
@NovelNerd My son also applied directly to Altoona and is going there next fall. He was one of the first to be accepted back in October, so he put in for housing ASAP. It goes fast. Off campus housing in Altoona is good though because freshman aren’t required to live on campus. There is not enough housing at Altoona for all students. Nittany Point is just up the hill and A LOT of students live there. It is only student housing. They will match you will roommates as well. Most of the other complexes will do that as well. We looked at Nittany Point but ended up choosing the dorms because they were available, but the apartments are nice - and very active with student life there. There is also a shuttle that runs between campus and the apartments every 20 minutes plus it’s an easy walk DOWN to campus. Getting back is tougher because it’s up a big hill!
My husband did Altoona for his first 2 years at PSU and loved it…that was a million years ago, but the situation remains the same. It is close to main campus, it is really pretty and many activities etc. going on on campus. Our daughter goes to UP main campus and knows people who come up regularly from Altoona. Any other questions, feel free to ask.
Sounds like PSU Altoona has some really great selling points. I think my son is into it now and we’re going to schedule a trip. Taking the ACTs on Saturday. I think that will also help determine a lot.
Well I just found out that DS may not be recommended for Latin 2 next semester. He has not taken any foreign languages until now. He has some LDs with reading. Despite many, many discussions about most colleges requiring a minimum of 2 foreign language units, again the college and guidance counselors have not been helpful regarding this. . He has a C in Latin I and Latin was chosen because of his interest in science and technology. It was also chosen mostly because it is not really a spoken language.
Are there alternative ways to get around a 2 unit minimum for college admission? It seems that PSU Altoona
has a 2 unit requirement. I’m very concerned about this now. Thoughts? Suggestions ? PSU Altoona has become a big interest.
Would you have the means to have him do the summer intensive program level 1+2 at Penn State - I recommend Italian or French - they’re very much speaking/listening based , although they require a lot of work since you cover a lot of ground over 5 weeks. You could even ask psu Altoona, if he completes summer intensive 1 at Penn State, would that fulfill the language requirement? He’d suffer for 2 1/2 weeks and be done.
PSU Altoona will likely work with you on this - they will probably have him complete an entry level language. I would call the PSU admissions office and let them know that your son will have 1.5 years of Latin and see what they can do. The good thing about the commonwealth campuses is that they work with you more than UP campus does because they are not as hard to gain entrance.
Don’t worry…YET. Call - ask to speak to an admissions counselor. I am positive he is not the first kid wanting to go to Altoona and didn’t have the language requirement.
Must have missed some of these responses. What’s the acceptance at PSU Altoona for a 2.9 - 3.0 GPA and a 18 - 19 ACT ? No surprise that 1st ACT results came back with an 18 but still a huge kick in the stomach.
If he applies DUS he may have a shot but it’d definitely be on a low end. He may be directed to a less selective branch, like Greater Allegheny.
@dspflyer I can tell you my experience with Altoona thus far. My son got accepted this year with a 2.66 and a 20 ACT. He was one of the first to apply however. He was notified in the first week when they began sending out notification in October to commonwealth campuses.
I know someone two years ago that got in last minute with a 2.3 GPA but housing was full of course. I´m assuming they had a lower than expected yield so he was able to get in late. Housing is currently full but there is a waiting list becase some people who put deposits down don´t end up going. I think with a 2.9 or 3.0, he will get in as an undecided student, especially since GPA is 2/3rds of the decision. Remind me…is this for this coming academic year…ie 2017 or the next?
That is good news. He will probably take the ACT 3 or if necessary 4 times (I know everyone is aware that scores don’t change much after the 2nd try). Goal is to get a 20 and a 3.0. My son will be a senior Sept 2017, so this would be an application for Sept 2018. I am especially excited about hearing your son applied early and was accepted early. We are too on the ball to wait. If my son could get in to PSU Altoona by October then we would have some relief from 10 years of academic agony.
@dspflyer we felt the same way. Our son had all applications in in Sept and he heard back from all in October (3 out of four acceptances, one denial) and committed to PSU Altoona as soon as that acceptance came in. The commonwealth campuses notify on a truly rolling basis…much sooner than UP. I think with those scores he will be OK, especially if he applies early.
@jhpsu that is even more encouraging! Thank you for the info!