Penn State Early Action for Fall 2024 Admissions

If it gives you any hope I posted my senior’s stats on there with a 3.7 UW GPA. What’s missing from those stats is his freshman year where he finished off with Bs and Cs. I’m not sure if he even had a 3.0. He was up and down all through HS. He took all basic academic courses in tenth grade. Then 11th he took one honors course and one AP course. 12th he is taking two APs and no honors. This is all very apparent on his transcript. He has a part time job, but beyond that very few ECs with low time commitment and no leadership roles. He’s very good at test taking hence the 33 ACT, but he did not put time into studying for it. So it’s not just superstars being admitted right now.

ETA: I checked, he had a 3.1 UW freshman year. He definitely showed some growth throughout HS and I forgot that he has a leadership role in a club this year. He’s an interesting and bright individual which I think was demonstrated in his essay. So many of our kids have a lot to contribute and narrowing down their abilities to a few stats is unfortunate.

3 Likes

Because not every kid knows exactly where they want to go. Undecided (DUS) is designed for kids to figure it out.

They require the same GPA, the same entrance to major classes, and the same credit window.

It doesn’t penalize kids for not applying to the business school - it depends on performance while at college … the great equalizer!

@MotherMother1 what major? We can make a suggestion better if we know that…

We still haven’t heard anything and I think we are just going to wait for snail mail at this point bc checking the portal everyday is giving me anxiety! Waiting for HHD.

SAT 1430, GPA 4.5 W, 4.0 UW

3 Likes

Penn State is aware of not only the grading scale at your high school but also the rigor offered there. Students who attend schools that don’t provide opportunities for AP, IB or college in high school classes are not penalized for not taking them. However, if your school does offer them and you didn’t take any of them, then that can bring your chances down. Rigor and GPA are THE two most important factors in a Penn State admission decision.

7 Likes

Hi jlhpsu,

In your opinion, do you think they will start to release some nursing notifications early December or wait until 12/24? Not sure if you know history of this.

Thanks!

Does anyone know when we might hear from school of architecture? Applied EA.

Psychology BS. Minor French (cant remember if they ask that).
4.27 on the 5.0 scale but that is including PE and Health.

Goes to 2 high schools, one for your main courses, the other theater.

Because she goes to an Honors theater school for her “electives” that you have to audition for, we are hoping those grades are also included, and as honors.

1, 2, 4 aps - total 7 APs. Rest Honors. 3 years French. Tooooons of community service, freshman class president…, wrote a play for an afterschool challenge that was performed… i feel like she is amazing.

But the colleges… I don’t know if they see that.

2 Likes

Similar. I think my kind has a 4.0875 unwieghted and 4.2722 weighted, something like that. I thought our school was the only crazy one out there.

1 Like

Same here. Hoping for a pleasant surprise when we return from visiting family for Thanksgiving.

1 Like

4.2 Weighted GPA
3.9 Unweighted GPA
Applied EA
Applied fall 2024, also included Summer Option
No SAT or SAT scores
Included an essay
As of now only school applied to
Applied to Smeal College of Business (so really nervous)

Also in 2 Duel Enrollment 2 APs
Last year was in 1 AP and 4 Honor Classes

Did the actual TO section disappear? Like you couldn’t see it anymore? Or was the section still there, but no longer had the option to make a change?

My son’s TO section is there, but when he clicks on it, he is no longer given the option to change… it just explains the definition.

1 Like

That’s a tough call. Less than 40 percent of admitted students submitted scores last year. And it’s reasonable to presume that these skew towards higher scores. Of those who submitted, 1300 was median composite, so 1330 is still pretty good. For chemical engineering I am sure they will want the math to be really high. But I think it could go either way?

My daughter has same stats (3.9 unweighted, 4.2 weighted), 7 APs and applied to Smeal except she submitted SATs 1420. Wondering if she should change her major and apply DUS but think it’s too late now. FYI: she spoke with a former Admissions Counselor for Smeal who told her they do not read essays. He said it’s grades and SATs.

1 Like

2/3 decision= rigor and grades + 1/3 everything else (test scores, essays, ECs, anything else).

Those strong enough academically that they’ll be admitted no matrer what score/essay/ECs hear first.

Pitt weights scores more.

4 Likes

In our case, our TO section is still there (even after acceptance). When you click on that section, it only gives the explanation. No option to change.

2 Likes

We received our “Direct Admit” Nursing Acceptance on Dec 6, 2021 for Fall 2022.

Thank you for the response! Hopefully this year is similar timing:) Did your child attend PSU nursing and how are the enjoying? Its my child’s top choice so praying for goods news:)

Daughter applied EA around mid August. She heard last night that her friend was accepted yesterday. He applied in October. She’s happy for him of course but feels more anxious now that she’s hasn’t heard. The waiting game is a tough one. Congrats to all the folks that heard back. It’s a great school! Fingers crossed for my kid.

2 Likes