<p>Weighted GPA: 4.23
Unweighted GPA: 3.52</p>
<p>SAT : Math- 660
Reading- 530
Writing- 530</p>
<p>He is going to apply for both Fall and Summer Session. </p>
<p>He plans to apply to Liberal Arts however, I was wondering if he was a candidate for Smeal. I would rather not have him take a chance of applying to Smeal and being rejected from PSU.</p>
<p>I understand there is a formula that PSU uses to average out a student's weighted GPA, allowing them to review fairly all GPA's from all types of high schools. Have you heard of this ?</p>
<p>his SAT score is on the low side for university park. which GPA is on the transcript? if the weighted GPA then he's definitely in. also, it looks like you're an alum, which would also help him. </p>
<p>And i'm not sure how much applying to Smeal would hurt his chances.</p>
<p>His school will submit both weighted and unweighted GPA's. They place 2/3 of their decision on GPA and 1/3 SAT so I think Summer Session could be the ticket. Also, if he is borderline, they can look into his involvement with Honors Jazz Band and our family legacy. (me and his dad and his sister who is a junior). He will start the app today and of course, write the essay.</p>
<p>With the volume of applications PSU receives the admissions office doesn't have time to look at his involvement with Honors Jazz Band and your family legacy. I would recommend the summer session application.</p>
<p>I realize that they don't put much emphasis on legacy due to the competetive nature of their admission process but it certainly is a positive rather than a negative :-)</p>
<p>I think he'll get into Smeal.</p>
<p>The legacy is a nice thing, but the chance of anyone seeing it is minimal, unless he's applying to SHC.</p>
<p>Lil_killer, what kind of stats are needed for Smeal ? Seems like it is tough/competitive to get in as a Freshman. Perhaps Summer in Smeal ? Or DUS Summer ? I would appreciate your thoughts on this. We are from the Philly suburbs btw. About 45 kids from our HS went to UP.</p>
<p>^I would say around the 75%ile of accepted students. According to the admissions website, that would be a 3.97/1980.</p>
<p>Middle</a> 50% GPA & SAT Range - Penn State Undergraduate Admissions</p>
<p>Your son's SAT scores may be low, but the 4.23 should help. I don't think it's necessary to do DUS/summer. Smeal/summer sounds good though.</p>
<p>Actually, he shouldn't worry at all. Isn't Smeal and engineering both tough and competitive? I applied around November 1st last year with 4.0/1660, and got into Fall engineering by November 14. You really don't need to be in the top half of the accepted Smeal pool to get in. Remember that there will always be a bunch of kids accepted to Smeal with lower stats than your son. He won't be at the bottom 1% with 4.23/660+530+530.</p>
<p>You are so knowledgeable... thank you very much for the vote of confidence. Perhaps we will try Smeal/summer. I wonder if he is not accepted into Smeal would PSU admissions divert him into Liberal Arts or DUS ?</p>
<p>^If he gets rejected from Smeal but still wants to go, you should give PSU admissions a call and tell them you want to get into DUS. I've heard some people do this, got re-evaluated, and got in afterwards.</p>