Hello, I was recently waitlisted for Penn state university park. I applied by November 30th for the priority deadline. I have a 1480 sat (710 w 770 m) and a 92 gpa weighted (which I believe is about a 3.75 or so). I’m out of state, but still surprised at being waitlisted, considering I’m significantly above avg sat and a little above gpa. Does this news come as a surprise to anyone? I read online that up to 90% of waitlisted students are eventually offered admission, and that Penn state may be waitlisting “overqualified” applicants in order to increase yield. Could anyone corroborate or deny these claims?
Yea, same I too have a record significantly above their average and I got waitlisted. This shocked me as people with way lower credentials from my school have already been accepted.
This year is very different. Penn state just received too many apps. I wouldn’t compare this year’s wait list with previous years. They will extend offers as kids turn down their acceptances, especially when they realize PSU is stingy compared to other state schools when it comes to financial aid. If you are a high stat student, accept the spot on the waitlist and sit tight. You aren’t required to make a final decision until May 1st for your second choice school.
I just heard someone change to undecided two weeks or so ago and didn’t get waitlisted and got in. I thought changing major didn’t matter according to their website?
Major Selection
When evaluating applications, we look at the standardized test performance in math more closely for admission to our math and science programs. Additionally, some of our programs, due to enrollment limitations, are more competitive for admission than other programs.
Summer Session at University Park
Alternate Campus Selection
Additional Application Materials for Special Programs
It is not uncommon for colleges to have different admissions standards for different programs:
Ross (at UM) is harder than LSA, Kelley (at Indiana) is harder than general freshman admits. Just two examples that I know.
The logic behind direct admits to Smeal is that almost all Smeal majors are capacity controlled. And that DUS has a path to get into Smeal without petitioning like other colleges.
To my knowledge, Admissions does not send out a list of “unfilled majors”. They don’t want people just to choose a less competitive major just to get it and then change it immediately upon getting to UP.
You can ask experts which majors are less popular and they can make recommendations, Probably DM is better than public posting.
also from that link:
The most important piece of our review is your academic record, which represents your individual four years of academic development.
==> translation: GPA is more important than SAT/ACT.
Penn State’s holistic assessment of application materials includes the academic courses, grades and levels of those courses and standardized test scores.
==> translation: Admissions looks at:
course levels (AP, Honors, etc.) - what is the rigor of that GPA?
grades in those classes?
ACT/SAT
note: this is where they probably have a sense of which high schools are grade-inflaters (is that a word?), and which high schools are notoriously stingy with tough grades.
plus additional factors that may include an audition, a portfolio review, the geographic and cultural background of the student, the personal statement, and the activities list.
==> translation: some programs need auditions, portfolio reviews
we will consider geography (were you raised in Greenland? might add diversity!)
we will consider cultural background (are you a first generation college student?)
we will read the personal statement
we will look at activities
note: it does not state how much weight will or will not be placed on these things.
We take a hard look at the many roles you serve as a student, sibling, athlete, son or daughter, volunteer, and/or employee. Assembling a class of students with diverse interests and experiences is a task that we take seriously.
==> no translation needed.
Also use critical reading to understand what they DO NOT list:
(for the record, not shouting, just emphasizing)
demonstrated interest is not tracked
letters of recommendation are not considered.
essays (only the short personal statement) are not included.
@lucyvanpelt I read that at well but it’s not a special program which is odd. This person switched to DUS and we were recommended to apply WITH a major Psyc. Additionally we just heard someone got accepted from same high school to same major Psych. How can that be if they already waitlisted and said there is no space?
I was put on the waitlist for university park on January 25 and then received an offer for summer session on February 6th. I originally applied early action with a mathematics major and then was deferred. My act is a 25 and my sat is 1190 (610 for reading and 580 for math) I have a 4.2 GPA and took mostly ap and honors classes throughout high school.
My son was waitlisted for UP in January-Comp Sci major. He was offered direct admit to any other campus, but he only wants UP. He accepted spot on waitlist. He can still commit to another campus by 5/1 (he won’t.) His stats: GPA 3.8 UW (school doesn’t weight,) ACT 31. Three APs including one full year, self-study for APCS which he passed. Two community service clubs; one of which he co-founded, classically trained pianist, two sports and a job. Pretty well-rounded kid.
I just post this to Waiting for Decisions as well.
As for me… and my S still on the wait list… If he’s not admitted by about March 8, he’s going to have to make summer plans which would preclude a Summer Start if he were later offered that as the way to get to UP. I think he is firmly against an alternate campus; at least he sounded like that that last time we discussed his options.
Given that he applied October 22, to Liberal Arts, with stats more than adequate to gain admission through Early Action, I am now furious. I was patient and reflective and understanding and all of that. WAS. Since they are still admitting to UP, they must have been keeping aside quite a few slots. So they were never really “full up” - only in theory, and only in thinking ahead to how many more applicants would be in the pipeline.
What about my S who thought ahead and applied EARLY? What about the other approximately 4,000 wait listed early in the process?
I can’t even begin to express - nor should I here I suppose - the utter rage I now feel about how this process has gone.
My only hope now is that the end of March hurries up and gets here and my S hears a (very unlikely) Yes from his #1 long shot school, so I will never, ever, ever, ever, have to think about this again. I have 3 PSU shirts I got during “Spend a Summer Day” and I am wearing one today, but I can barely stand the thought. I can’t even think about my one that says “Happy Valley”.
He sent a personalized form letter to accepted students earlier this week. I am tempted to convey my feelings about their process and our decision not to accept.
You should. I can’t stress this enough. Part of the remedy is making noise – it might not help you, but at PSU the first lesson you learn is that while the squeaky wheel might not get attention, the quiet wheel definitely will NOT. You have to learn to make yourself and your situation known.
I was wondering if accepting a spot in the UP waitlist is binding? If a spot for admission does open up, am I able to still decide whether I will take it or not?
The portal has updated! “We have completed our review of the Penn State wait list. Please allow 3-5 business days for your admission decision to be posted here.” Whoo hoo! An answer will be coming at last! And at least not in May!