They publicize info on those factors in the Common Data Set: https://budget.psu.edu/CDSRedesign/cds.aspx?reportindicator=FreshAdmn&Location=UP&AY=20172018
Alumni Relation is “considered,” while GPA and test scores are “very important.”
@ITBTERP91 , While PSU asks for legacy info, I’m not sure how much It helps. We’ve seen many posts from legacies who went the 2+2 route. I heard something like 60% of grads start as 2+2. It may be a little late, but she could ask to be re-evaluated for DUS and summer at UP. Her stats are so high. Maybe she reported something incorrectly on the self reported app? Good luck
@ITBTERP91 We are double legacy and while my daughter got into UP 3 years ago, she had to start summer. My son is doing the 2+2. I know MANY legacy parents who’s kids were deferred to the 2+2. In fact, among alumni groups, parents are mostly discouraged that legacy doesn’t count for much at all. As one of the heads of admission told me a few years ago, it only matters if you truly could go either way. Very borderline students MAY have legacy help them but I’ve not seen a pattern and there are always tons of legacy parents upset every year.
As for your daughter, those are very impressive stats. My only guess would be that she either (a) didn’t have the classes they want for Smeal (b) her UW GPA is a lot lower than her weighted or © her school very generously weights classes. In any case, I would for sure call with those stats and see if there are other options. She can work towards Smeal from DUS. Plus I would just make sure there were no errors (they do happen) or at least get an answer on her denial. There has to be a reason, but I am sure her non legacy status is not it.
Good luck! You have a clearly talented child!
Accepted 2+2 to Abington for Aerospace engineering, fall semester
Stats:
SAT: 1260
SAT IIs: N/A
GPA: 92% approx. 3.75 (Unweighted) (No AP’s or honors junior year, but freshman and sophomore years I studied in Europe, I did have “advanced and accelerated” classes which I did take, but they do not get weighted per the European system.
Rank: School does not rank
Other stats: First year back in US the only “advanced” class I took was Pre-Calc, everything else regents and regular. Senior year - AP Calc AB, AP Comp A, AP Phys I.
Subjective:
Essays: Both, reviewed by two English teachers, good.
Teacher Recs: from last year physics teacher and pre-calc teacher
Counselor Rec: Sent.
Hook (if any): N/A
Location/Person:
State or Country: New York
School Type: Private, Catholic
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Other Factors: N/A
General Comments: Really was hoping for UP, even saw people with lower stats get in, but it is what it is. I might study by first two years in a SUNY college to save money, then try to transfer, or else I’ll start off with Abington!
Good luck to everyone!
@ITBTERP91 , my goodness, I know Smeal is a tough school to get into, but that seems so strange. Her scores are so high! Sorry.
Well everything happens for a reason. D was advised she could be considered for a branch campus for nursing. So glad the wait is finally over. Have to say I am a little relieved even though she really wanted PSU. Good Luck to all those still waiting to hear.
@ccs0623 , I’m sorry, although it sounds like you and your D are in a good place about it. I guess nursing is just really tough. When did they change her information in the portal?
@kastiaroad It updated after midnight last night. Good Luck!
@croutontwan Look VERY VERY carefully at the transfer requirements. I do not think Penn State allows engineering transfers.
@ccs0623 There are several really good nursing programs at PSU commonwealth campuses. Just keep in mind, because sometimes people don’t know - for nursing, you have to finish at the campus they start at. So if they go to Altoona for nursing, they must stay at Altoona all 4 years.
My portal says my application has been updated and to check back later for a status update. What does that mean?
Also, the picture of Old Main & University Park is still up. Is this a good sign?
jlhpsu is correct, they don’t take engineering transfers at University Park. I believe one possible path is doing one or two semesters somewhere else, transfer to a branch for the remaining time, then transfer to UP for the final two years. But that’s complicated and involves a lot of uprooting.
@wcgch2p what do you mean by old main & university park ??? Does the photo of university on mypennstate changes when decision is released ???
Wow… You and jlhpsu may have just saved me… I must say, at 3am when I saw I was deferred to Abington I was pretty upset… couldn’t fall back asleep, but today after doing some research it looks like a really nice campus and has very nice housing, plus many people start at commonwealth anyway so there’s a very high chance I’ll start and end at PSU! I’ll have to decide soon!
Thank you for helping out!
@croutontwan Something like 60% of ALL PSU grads start at a commonwealth. It’s the typical route for many. The ends justify the means in this case - and a Penn State degree in Engineering is certainly an end worth doing the 2+2 in my opinion. You just have to decide if the 2 years at Abington justifies it for you as well!
My daughter was asked to select alternate campus in yesterday’s decision. She applied for Computer Science at UP. SAT 1510.
We called admissions and selected Altoona which is now reflected in the app. Is the seat guaranteed or they start review process again and there is a chance of getting denied ? By when can we expect results ?
Altoona is a nice campus but if your daughter got a 1510/1600 and has a commensurate GPA, I would not recommend Altoona. It wouldn’t be fair to her (course content not targeting her ability) and it wouldn’t be fair for her classmates (who are generally 3.2-3.5/1200 students, so they’re good students but if the class weeds they need to compete with students in their bracket, not kids this be expected to attend up and/or be in honors there.)
What’s her unweighted GPA? How many AP’s did she take?
Is her GPA lower than her test scores would let us expect (say, if it’s in the 3.0-3.5 bracket) ? In that case she probably got into Pitt, since they prioritize test scores compared to PSU. What are her other choices?
Going on 24 hours with the “Your application has been updated. Please check back soon for a status update.” on my portal. Very frustrating, as I applied in October.
My D switched to DUS less than 2 weeks ago. She was not advised against the switch by PSU and her page changed to under review immediately. However, I see that some on this site have said DUS at UP is full. Since she reapplied before Jan 31 it looks like she should know anytime up until March 31 which is still a long way away. Has anyone had any information about DUS being full? Has anyone switched to DUS and revived a decision?
Stats 30 ACT,
3.55 GPA
3.95 WGPA
Heavy leadership and activities.