Is the email to validate your social security number for financial aid award standard? My son hasn’t been accepted yet, applied RD. We tried to go on the site but it’s says it’s down until tomorrow after 9pm. I’m wondering if they had a problem with hacking? Please, any thoughts?
@xaviermom2017 I received the same email but I’ve already been accepted. I entered my ss on mypennstate and it took me a couple of times to log in but after the third try I was in. I’m really hoping this wasn’t a hacking situation…
I am accepted but didnt get any such email, sounds odd
Didn’t get any financial aide email either, my dd is accepted
Thank you for your ongoing interest in Penn State!
We are asking that you log in to your secure MyPennState profile and validate your social security number (SSN). If you do not provide this validation, financial aid and tax reporting may not be available to you.
Following login, click the blue “Validate SSN” button and follow the instructions on the page. Once you have validated, and following submission of your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), we will be able to process your student financial aid award. Student aid awarding will begin in mid–March for admitted students, so do not delay in validating your SSN.
Please be assured that your SSN will be kept secure and will not be used as a primary source of identification for you. Our primary source of student identification is your assigned PSU ID number. While we do not require your SSN, taking this action will reduce delays in processing your student aid award.
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^ that’s the email I received
Call financial aide tomorrow to ask about that !
@bxlla123 same exact email. It just seemed weird because he hasn’t been accepted yet and the site is now down apparently until 9pm tomorrow night? Idk… I might call in case it was some sort of hack because I did open it.
Sounds very phishy. Don’t enter your SSN (you should have a PSU number). Call tomorrow first thing.
I agree @MYOS1634
D was accepted to Biomedical Engineering. UP campus! GPA 3.6 Act 28 sat 1350
@bxlla123 - As a Cyber person - Never click on a link that was sent to you (even if you think its from a known source). If you want to verify, go to the source yourself. for example - type the address yourself (https://elion.psu.edu) and see if it asks for this information. It is easy to create links or pages that look like the real thing, but aren’t associated with the trusted entity. Same goes for phone calls. If you get a call from a bank, etc, look on the back of you card, or statement and call that number back. This way you know your communicating with the real thing. Just my 2 cents
Just called Penn State and it’s legit.
@wowed777 there was no link to click they just told me to login to mypennstate but thank you!
@bxlla123 what exactly did they say on the phone? does it mean anything if you got it but havent been accepted yet
Just an update Back in January Son got accepted to Berks Campus rather than UP, just got a notication they gave and additional $16K over 4 years. Maybe sweetener for get bumped?
we’ll check it out and see if he likes it. Must be a higher number of engineering applicants this year I thought his numbers were pretty good. We know some kids who go to Berks and speak highly of it.
Anyway, he got accepted to several good schools so decision time soon! Good luck everyone.
Computer Engineering
1360 SAT 700 Math
28 ACT
4.2 weighted
AP courses
wide range of activities including ROTC, band, plays, robotics, baseball, eagle scout
applied in OCT
@avyx14 they just said it’s a legitimate email and they send it as a follow up. I don’t know if it means anything if you haven’t been accepted because I’ve been accepted. Sorry and hope you get in!
Briant: where did you find your son’s scholarship info for Berks? My son was also declined Main Campus but was offered Erie Behrend. He was offered honors there but we haven’t seen or expected any scholarship. Just curious.
I agree that Engineering must have had a large number of applicants. My son had a 3.8 and 1400 SAT (760 math). We were pretty surprised he did not get into main.
We are scheduled to do the accepted student visit next Sat. We drove up after he was accepted and it felt quiet and small.
@MSMead They sent the info in a letter. and it applies all 4 years. They have him set up as 2 at Berks 2 at main.
I was rejected from Penn State Smeal College of Business at University Park on 1/21/17. However, I was offered Penn State Smeal college of business at Altoona for 2 years and 2 years at University as a 1/2 and 1/2 plan. I recently asked to be reconsidered for the economics major at university park on February 14 because I don’t want to attend school at Penn State Altoona. Today I was accepted into the economics major and I guess they still have spots to fill for certain majors at UP.
Also, you can do Paterno Scholars with Economics, which is pretty advantageous. You’d need to take Economics Honors (Macro and Micro, one each semester) and CAS/ENG 137, plus regular Calc 140 or 110 if you don’t have AP Calc AB credit - and, of course, do well.