Totally agree. This is our second time around and we should’ve learned with the first and went with DUS instead of Smeal as a direct admit doesn’t mean the same as it does at IU-Kelley. My daughter also submitted test scores as she was in the range and now second guessing that decision! With an unweighted GPA of 3.98 we thought UP would be a given but given the popularity and number of in-state students applying, who would’ve thought she would get the 2+2 option.
No. If you meet the posted gpa requirement and entrance to major requirements, you are in the major. They will not raise the gpa above what is posted. They follow the rules posted. (Caveat: they have not in the past and it is not what their rules state… )
Having said that, there was discussion that finance gpa may move up, but it has not yet. (Still 3.5)
1 Like
Wow these admissions are confusing!
My friend got deferred to the summer session today
1450 SAT and 4.0 GPA for polsci
extremely sad for her 
We are poli sci as well. 4.3WGPA, 34 ACT. Admitted earlier this month for fall 2022 UP.
2 Likes
We are waiting anxiously here. Have not received any notifications from PSU yet.
4.3W GPA, 3.89UW GPA, Test Optional, Great EC’s. I’m losing hope…
Forgot to mention–applied to Smeal.
My daughter was accepted (yay!) but she heard that at least two of her classmates were rejected last week (week of 12/6).
1 Like
This process of releasing decisions is ridiculous and cruel. Randomly sending out decisions with what appears to be no pattern or reason puts all of us on edge at about 6:00 p.m. every single night to see if our little TO button is gone. How many nights in a row can our stress levels be pushed to the brink?
1 Like
Try to relax. They get tens of thousands of applications and have only a handful of full time admissions officers. Don’t drive yourself crazy.
2 Likes
Thank you so much for taking the time to explain this to me. I sure wish I had known before applying. If so, I would have advised her not to submit her SAT score because it’s well below 1450. I suggested the reconsideration to her, but after the summer offer, she’s pretty soured on PSU.
They could do it like many other big schools and notify everyone on one date, usually in the early Spring.
Penn State doesn’t promise anything except apply by a certain date, hear by a certain date. That’s it. Nothing about order of decisions - because the truth is, with 100,000 applications fitting many different criteria, that would be impossible. It only looks random to us - but the process that spits the applications out, is not.
That’s not to downplay the frustration - it is super frustrating. I remember in 2014, my daughter applied August 1 - the date they opened…and she didn’t hear until January 26th 2015. Back then there WAS NO EA option. So the first decision date was Jan 31st. It was brutal to wait almost 5 months. But, she got in…for summer…(loved, loved LOVED summer). Loved every minute at PSU. Graduated and is happy today. It all works out…
4 Likes
I’m sorry to hear that. Maybe try to explain that getting in for summer Smeal is a HUGE accomplishment. Some get into UP for fall, some for summer but many more Smeal applicants - even with high stats, are deferred to the 2+2. She should know it was a great accomplishment and that many 2+2 offers would love to be in her shoes right now! She will get in for fall with a phone call. I’m almost sure of it.
2 Likes
Still in review. Losing hope it will come before Dec 24 with the holiday shutdown. after that it is rolling anyways …
No - it’s not. The next decision group is Priority and they will hear by January 31st. After that, it’s rolling.
PSU admissions is going on vacation after this week - so I don’t know how many decisions will roll out between next Monday and Dec 24th.
1 Like
Why don’t you call admissions tomorrow and confirm that you are in the EA pool and confirm that a decision will be made by Dec. 24th? For all you know, something held up your application (SRAR was complete? SAT scores received? etc.) and you don’t realize it. Remember - one of the options could be “deferred”… which I know will be frustrating, but it happens.
Decisions are still being released this week…
1 Like
Yes, the second “rolling” used to be called “priority”. And those applications are received by Dec. 1st, decision by January 31st. Honestly, many of those kids are the ones that didn’t get SAT or SRAR completed by Nov. 1.
Again, was everything received by Nov. 1? Why don’t you call (or email- we have found them responsive via email without being on hold) and confirm that you should receive a decision in the EA pool?
I will remind her of that, thank you for the encouragement.
1 Like
Good point. No way to know what date my son completed the SRAR. Will try to convince him to call, but most likely he will insist he is not in a hurry as UCs post their decisions in March.
Still waiting here too. All info including SAT and SRAR was marked completed well before Nov. 1.