I’m just now entering my junior year in a college prep high school. I have a few questions about my chances of getting into Penn State. Throughout my first 2 years of high school I have maintained a 4.0 unweighted gpa. Freshmen year I took no honors classes and then sophomore year I took 1 honors class. This junior year I’m taking 1 honors class for first semester and second semester I am taking 2. How do you think my chances are to get admitted into the college? Also does being in a college prep help me in any sort of way for admissions?
Penn State will mainly assess your GPA and SAT score. You should try to increase the rigor of your coursework in the last two years in high school to show a willingness to challenge yourself. If you are considering a STEM related major, you should get through advanced or honors precalculus as a minimum, although AP Calc is the best option. You will also want additional advanced coursework in science through physics. If it’s not a STEM major, strive for honors/AP English, social sciences, etc. You ideally should complete several weighted courses by the end of your senior year. Do your best to maintain high grades in this year’s courses and you should be fine if you are applying undecided with an option to start in the summer…assuming you can get an above average SAT/ACT score.
I forgot to mention I took the sat for the first time a couple weeks ago and got a 1200. 630 math and 530 English
570 English*^
What is your intended major?
I’m still undecided, but I’m thinking possibly Graphic Design, Business, or Pharmacy.
Is your college prep school well known at Penn State (instate or out of state feeder)? Can they evaluate the rigor of your curriculum? Can you take AP classes this year or next? (Grades from 12th grade aren’t factored into the decision but 12th grade rigor is).
No my college prep school is in Florida, so I don’t think it is well known at Penn State. My school offers only a few classes above Honors level called Honors Seminar, which didn’t become available until this year, but I wasn’t recommended for any . My schedule rigor is already set in stone because it is to late now to switch into any honors from regular. Next yearI might be recommended for 1 Honors Seminar, but the rest would only be regular Honors.
So, your school doesn’t offer AP, IB, AICE, options?
Unfortunately not. We have the regular classes and Honors classes. In addition we have a few courses called Honors Seminar, which is pretty much an AP class,but isn’t labeled as one. These Honors Seminar classes aren’t available until junior year, but I wasn’t recommend any.
An important factor is course rigor, as measured by number of honors/AP/IB/AICE classes + whether you’ve had 3,4,5 years of a foreign language, bio/chem/physics, math through Precalculus/calculus.
So, if your school doesn’t offer APs but is college prep, check out the School Profile to see how it describes rigor and whether it lists the % who get into 4-year colleges.
Probably apply DUS to be safe.
Here are the public school admission rates and SAT scores.
My school has a 100% graduation rate. I’m on my 3rd year of foreign language, I’ll finish with 4. I’ve completed physics, bio, and chem, now I’m in astronomy. I’ll finish calculus senior year. I’ve also taken a few rigorous electives such as computer science and sports medicine
You have a good chance but apply early. Business and engineering are the hardest to get into so the earlier the better. Work on your SAT. When applying have a backup with DUS and if possible summer start. DUS is the best college to be in at Penn State if you aren’t sure as it will allow you to transfer into business.
Graduation rate doesn’t matter as much as % that goes to college and % going to 4-year colleges.
Ask for your “school profile”. That’s what the adcoms will see and that’s how they’ll evaluate rigor. If 100% students attend 4-year colleges they’ll know “non honors” really weighs as much as honors elsewhere and they’ll adjust. If they can’t make that switch then they’re going to dock you for lack of rigor.
DUS keeps most options open and would be less selective than the “straight to major” requirements.
I just found my school profile. It says that 97% of our graduates attend 4 year colleges.
OK, then Penn State will be able to analyze the rigor of your coursework and will assume that regular courses at your school are similar to honors courses in other schools.
Ok, thanks a lot.
Do apply DUS though - you lose nothing (all students, whether “pre-major” or DUS, take the same classes and have the same priority for registration/enrollment) and potentially gain a lot (DUS is relatively easier than some majors).
Yeah, I will for sure. Also about Penn state analyzing my coursework, is it guaranteed that they will consider my regular classes similar to an Honors level, or is there a chance they dont?