PSU Class of 2021 Decision Thread

nice when did u apply? @bgriff39

I received my acceptance last night, I was up late and checked right before I went to bed at about 12:30 A.M.

@averagewhiteguy They had everything by October 14th

anyone accepted to Summer Yet?

They had all my d stuff by sept 15 and we still haven’t heard. It’s just random.

Accepted to Computer engineering

Accepted to Eberly College of Science (checked early am) & Applied Sept. 1st

would they deny people now or do they wait to deny everyone in january?

@finnbd33 Haven’t heard of anyone getting rejected, so I think they maybe wait until January unless its a really obvious rejection

Accepted to Eberly College of Science. Checked around 5:00 pm

@finnbd33 someone in my school got placed into another campus i heard

Son had everything in Oct. 4th & still hasn’t heard. GPA: 3.85 UW, 4.07 W - rigorous course load. ACT: 30. In state. Applied for Computer Science Major.

My older daughter applied mid October 2014 & was accepted 2 weeks later. She had similar GPA and a 29 ACT, but applied for Communications. (She chose another school.)

It’s frustrating waiting so long. He was accepted at OSU on Nov. 18th and it is now his top choice. OSU even had a current student call him. It’s nice to feel “wanted” and sadly the waiting for PSU has decreased his interest.

Will you get an email to check the portal if your accepted?

@college7865231 no. Just check the portal every morning for updates

Accepted!! School of nursing
-OOS
-SAT:1340
-UW GPA: 3.6
-W GPA: 4.1
-7 APs
-most other honors classes
-Lots of community service
-lacrosse

ac2680, I get that. Other schools have accepted your son and are showing him love. Penn State gives you a cold portal to look at and nothing ever changes for months on end. I think it’s only natural to move away emotionally from PSU and frankly it’s their own fault. But at the end of the day they get far more applications than they can accept and will be just fine for PSU. I also think if he gets accepted all will be forgiven pretty quickly. Conversely if after waiting months he is rejected there will be some lingering animosity above a rejection that came quickly

@ZPRMOM You are correct that at some point everyone has to apply into the major at Smeal. That INCLUDES people who got into Smeal as a premajor. They don’t get “out of anything” by being a pre major. They have to fulfill the exact same requirements as a DUS student would to get into Smeal. If your son started DUS, he doesn’t only take general classes. He can work towards Smeal as a DUS student taking the exact same classes Smeal students take. Penn State does not admit the way other schools do. You have to earn your place at several steps in the process.

Your thinking is that if your son gets into Smeal as a freshmen then that’s it. It’s far from it. He’d have to maintain a certain GPA, take certain classes and will HAVE to REAPPLY at the end of his sophomore year. So even if he gets into Smeal, there is absolutely no guarantee he will remain in Smeal unless he meets the requirements. These requirements can be met as a DUS student as well, and DUS is easier to get into. So many intended Smeal students go to PSU as a DUS major and then take the classes they need, get the GPA required and transition to Smeal junior year. There is literally no difference, so stating that your son won’t go to Penn State unless he gets into Smeal as a freshmen is short sighted to say the least. There is no disadvantage to starting DUS. There are no guarantees either way.

@anxious56 It means nothing. Penn State’s decisions are random (though their process isn’t). Most students hear in January so don’t feel discouraged. Not hearing yet means absolutely nothing in the way of possible acceptance or denial.

Hey everybody. Just made this account bc I just called admissions and learned a lot. For one, decisions are over until January 3rd so there will be no more released until then. THERE IS NO ORDER IN WHICH THEY REVIEW AND SEND DECISIONS. If you have not heard yet (like me) it means absolutely nothing so don’t stress. Also, the portal is only refreshed overnight so you only need to check once every morning (after January 3rd). No need to refresh 30 times a day! Hope this helps.

I got my admissions decision last friday. Will include as much as I can for those who are still waiting!

Stats:
SAT: My highest score (the one I sent) was 1300/1600 (600 math 700 reading/writing)
SAT IIs: N/A
GPA: 3.9 weighted, 3.6 unweighted
Rank: My school doesn’t report rank
Other stats: 5 AP classes prior to senior year, 8 AP classes if you count senior year. Tons of honors classes as well.

Subjective:
Essays: I did all of the optional writing. I am a strong writer so I’m sure these were positively received.
Teacher Recs: I got recs from teachers who love me, so should be good
Counselor Rec: None
Hook (if any): Lots of focused extracurriculars, i.e. I’m not in a bunch of random clubs and societies. I have a clear focus in music with involvement in many ensembles and honors such as 4 year all state band member, participated in an all-national band, etc.

Location/Person:
State or Country: West Virginia
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female

Other Factors: I applied to be a music major in the College of Arts and Architecture and auditioned on December 4, so I’m sure me hearing back so soon was related to that. I completed my application in October but test scores and transcripts weren’t received until mid November.

General Comments: Accepted into the College of Arts and Architecture for 2021! My selected major is music ed but depending on how things go I might change it to tuba performance.