Seems to me that if high SAT and high GPA are all that matter and references, GPA trend, community service, activities, etc. don’t count, then admissions counselors aren’t necessary. Feed the numbers into a computer and pick the winners. Since that isn’t the case (yet), I’m assuming admissions must factor in other considerations. I understand that a school the size of PSU can’t be totally holistic, but other factors beyond SAT/ACT/GPA must play a role. Pretty darn difficult, however, to discern that role.
Just wanted to give you guys some info that I got from admissions today. This info applies specifically to the DUS applicants who have not yet heard and to those being denied for their major and then applying for re-consideration for DUS/summer.
-They ARE getting requests for major changes from those who have not been accepted into their major of choice.
-They WILL NOT re-evaluate until everyone from the pre-November 30th priority deadline has a decision.
-AFTER they have evaluated and made decisions on all priority applicants, they will begin re-evaluating.
-She said that it would not be fair to re-evaluate candidates prior to those who have been waiting and that no one will take anyone’s spot.
-The January 31st deadline to hear is a NOTIFICATION deadline…not just an evaluation deadline. So those of us still waiting will hear by January 31st, therefore we will get the ‘Coming Days’ status a day or two before then at the latest.
Good luck to everyone! The admissions counselor was very nice and very sympathetic because she said her son went through the “horrible” waiting period as well (her words!).
@jlhpsu Thanks for the update. It was reassuring to hear there’s some fairness to it. Hopefully these worries will be a distant memory in 2 weeks.
And very interesting that she was sympathetic because her son had been through it. I do alumni interviewing for my alma mater and it’s become a very different process for me after I went through the whole thing with my daughter and now my son.
Status change this morning to coming days. Health and Human services…Anxiety
While it is true that the only concrete promise PSU makes about priority applications is that they will have a decision by Jan 31, there is another stated advantage, as anyone who has read the PSU admissions webpage would know, which is that those who apply before the priority deadline have the “best chance of admission to their first choice campus and/or major.” I think this might be the part some of us have a problem with. Obviously the promise is vague (what does “best chance” mean, really?) but unless it means something, why state it at all? The only way applying early can give you any sort of “best chance” is if those applications are held separately from the general pool. And
Daughter applied by 11/30 but her app got caught in the mess up with naviance not sending out transcripts for many students, so I am not sure how that is going to affect the notification date. Admissions at the time (early to mid-December) told me they had “thousands” in the same position. Still no change from “reviewing credentials”.
Got a birthday card from Erie so I assume I’m rejected by University Park. Messed up way to find out.
@BigBang231 I wouldn’t assume that. Birthday cards are marketing tools. If you visited Erie or ever indicated that you wanted Erie, you could just be on some list somewhere. Marketing and Admissions are not connected. That’s why you get “apply now!” cards after you’ve already applied! Good luck! I know how stressful this is!
Definitely @BigBang231 I agree with @jlhpsu . Don’t be discouraged by that at all.
status changed to “coming days” around 6:30 tonight!!! I’m undecided major!
Just got accepted to Penn State University Park (Chemistry - Eberly College)!
-ACT 27
-GPA 4.0 (weighted)
-Heavily involved in community service and school
-Was suspended for physical violence and told them that.
ACCEPTED - UP College of EMS
ACT: 27
SAT IIs: 620 Chem, 650 Math I
GPA: 3.9 UW, 4.1 W
Rank:
Other stats:
Subjective:
Essays: very good
Teacher Recs: excellent
Counselor Rec: excellent
Hook (if any): Honor Roll every semester, Editor in Chief school newspaper, Robotics Team president, computer programmer employment. Class Officer all years of HS.
Location/Person: Long Island
State or Country: New York
School Type: Public
Ethnicity/Race: White
Gender: female
Other Factors:
General Comments:
Finally- THE “coming days” status! It’s been a very long 4 months!
Well, picture not accurate indicator this year. Stayed UP during coming days, but changed to the lion with a denial today.
Congratulations to all who have been accepted!
ACCEPTED - Eberly College of Science UP - Fall Semester
SAT: 2000 (CR 600, M690, W 710)
GPA: 3.9 W
Rank: top 15%
Other stats:
Subjective:
Essays: pretty good
Teacher Recs: did not submit
Counselor Rec: probably vague – new counselor this year
Hook (if any): brother currently a sophomore
State or Country: PA
School Type: Public
Ethnicity/Race: White
Gender: female
Other Factors:
General Comments: huge upward GPA trend (4.4 junior year), all APs & Honors
#1 Choice – WE ARE!!
Status just changed to coming days, applied to DUS, anyone with the same?
I just got "We are in the final stages of review and an admission decision will be posted here within two weeks.
Status updated: 1/21/2015"
Anyone else??? DUS Summer???
^^Pic stayed UP!!
@PSUGradMom oh, I am so sorry! I know how disappointed she and you must be. I guess Penn State got wise to the picture changing ahead of time and put a stop to that. I am at the point where I am almost afraid for my D’s status to change…because right now we still have hope. But I’m definitely worried. Maybe call and see if she can get into summer?