<p>@mamahills I tweeted at them and asked if they would be updating MyPennState over the holidays. They said they are off Thursday and Friday. The last day anything would be updated is Wednesday and then not again until Monday. </p>
<p>They also went on to say that it will probably still be a while because they are just passing their priority deadline. They also said that VERY FEW decisions have been released…and NOT to worry since we hadn’t heard yet. It always helps me to hear them say that!
The twitter account is great. I’ve asked a question one other time and both times they answered within 5 minutes. Of course, you can’t ask specifics about your exact application…but general questions get answered there ASAP. They’ve been really helpful in 140 characters or less </p>
<p>Yay!! jlhpsu thanks for looking into that all great information to share with our fellow readers to set everyones mind at ease a bit. I actually created a twitter account this afternoon for this specific reason and once I get comfortable with it will start using it haha… Have a Happy Thanksgiving!</p>
<p>I wonder if some of the colleges wait until the Nov 30th deadline passes to start sending out acceptances. That would explain why it seems that the accepted students tend to come in by college. Maybe they sort applicants based on stats and then see what they’ve got to work with. It must be a little different each year as far as what a cutoff stat would be based on the number/quality of applications. Especially since some majors fall in and out of favor with kids and that would effect how many applications they get to each college. </p>
<p>inre: Holistic. Actually Berkeley and Wisconsin-Madison are just two examples of huge public universities who evaluate holistically. Or, so they say they do.
inre: My son’s situation: still nothing. Status unchanged. </p>
<p>Just wish we didn’t apply so early… I would advise any future applicants to not even bother submitting an application until mid November, unless their stats are spectacular. This is not a rolling admission for the general applicant pool. Applying any earlier just makes the waiting longer. So frustrating, really.</p>
<p>agreed @PSUMom1321 My D applied September 2nd with her app complete on September 8th. We did that with the belief that “earlier is better” and now we know it’s not. Perhaps she could have taken the ACT’s again…or just waited without doing anything, but also without the anxiety. That “rolling admission” label really confused us as to how things are done. The good news is, we have to be almost done waiting. We’ve waited 3 months already, and there is only about 7 weeks left to wait at most!</p>
<p>But here is my question: do the applications that were sent prior to Nov 30 (whether they were sent in Sept or last week) still hold an advantage over the applications that are coming in now? Ordinarily I understand the advantage of early submissions in a rolling application process, which is that there are many spots available for reasonably qualified applicants early on. As time goes on, those spots get taken , and the latecomers, even high stats ones, are left fighting for the few remaining spots.
But in this case, there are still many spots left. Only a very few have been taken, in fact. So it seems that my borderline kid who sent an app in Oct but has heard nothing is now competing with the post-priority deadline kids, many of whom certainly have higher stats. Not saying they are not more deserving of a spot than my kid, but since the website clearly states that there is an advantage to applying before Nov 30, I’m just wondering if that is true and if so, how? Are the post-Nov 30 applications set aside and not considered until all the priority applications are dealt with? Seems hard to imagine, doesn’t it?</p>
<p>@greatwhiteway No, that’s not true. The applications prior to November 30th are all considered equally. The applications placed AFTER November 30th are in their own category and it is more competitive at that point because other spots are taken. That’s at least how I understand it. The “Rolling” part starts after November 30th. But who really knows? I don’t understand how they do it. There are some interesting posts on the PSU Blog that really tells what happens to applications after they are received etc. Here is their post for the November priority deadline:
<a href=“Log In ‹ We Admit: Penn State Undergraduate Admissions — WordPress”>Log In ‹ We Admit: Penn State Undergraduate Admissions — WordPress;
<p>I think priority deadline means that you get considered first for the school you applied to. Those that apply after November 30th get second priority to the school of choice. I agree that rolling probably really starts after the 11/30. I’m pretty sure they probably know the status of those that applied before 11/30 by now. There’s only two weeks left before winter break, right? Not sure admissions is open or not. I do not remember.</p>
<p>The ones that have heard already seem to be OOS or high stats or accepted to schools that are not heavily populated. I read on another CC forum that one student mentioned that a kid in his HS school didn’t get accepted to PSU. I’m not sure if that was true or not.</p>
<p>Also, something to consider. PSU excepts roughly more than they can really accept for admission (like any other college) knowing their projected yield for “20XX” will accept and certain % will not accept. The example we were given was, “PSU ( which I believe included branches) accepts ~28,000 students and their expected yield is around 16,000. If their yields are correct around 12,000 will not accept, or change their mind after admission or transfer out. Sometimes their projected yields are incorrect, and you have that scenario of students crammed into dorm rooms.” Even when the semesters starts, students do not show up, or leave within a few weeks or leave at the end of the semester and not return. Bringing back the balance.</p>
<p>Only a small percentage of people use CC. Some lurk and do not post their acceptances or denied admission. I still feel there are plenty of spots left even if you apply after NOV 30. People were applying in January and February and getting accepted.</p>
<p>Only a few more weeks left. I know it’s hard waiting. I was here last year. The biggest week of acceptances was after MLK holiday and there on. Seemed to be grouped by the College of “XX”. Good luck!</p>
<p>Then, the waiting begins for those wondering if they got any scholarships or merit aid. </p>
<p>I agree @PERplexD that rolling must not start for most until after Nov. 30th. But I can’t tell you the frustration (or maybe I don’t have to because you know!) in seeing people get accepted who applied 2 weeks ago, when many have been waiting for months. It seems inherently unfair. </p>
<p>Now, if it’s with all people who applied prior to Nov. 30th, then I understand that to an extent, but I tweeted at admissions the other day asking if all applications completed prior to Nov 30th would be considered prior to any applications that come after Nov 30th, and I was told basically “mostly”, but some students who apply after November 30th will be notified prior to students who applied before November 30th. HUH? How is that priority status then? I just don’t get it. </p>
<p>Finally! my status has changed to “we are in the final stages”. I had to email them regarding a change in majors, and as soon as the lady emailed me back,my status changed.Shouldn’t be too much longer! But I’m happy I emailed them</p>
<p>That’s great @aquablue0128 ! Now I’m trying to think of something to e mail admissions about, lol…I’ve got nothing other than to ask WHEN we will hear something, but I already know the answer! By January 31st! Wishing you good luck!</p>
<p>I think it really maybe the fact that you guys selected undeclared. They may go through the schools first then do undeclared. Because some people who do not get into their school of choice then ask to change into DUS. Thus adding to the amount of DUS applicants. So Penn State most likely waits to do them last when they have finished all the declared majors/schools. </p>
<p>We are still waiting as well if that is any comfort. All documents in since mid-September. Hoping for admittance to Smeal ( OOS, 3.9 GPA and 31 ACT). </p>
<p>still waiting here for a Smeal admittance since 9/24… Son’s classmate heard within 2 with lower stats. OOS, 2100 Sat’s and 4.0 gpa… I don’t get it!! </p>
<p>@Aly310 Well there goes that theory! I was tending to agree with you, but a DUS major who applied on November 27th (!) just got accepted. I cannot stand how random this all is. It’s very frustrating and anxiety inducing. </p>
<p>@aly310 Wouldn’t that be nice I’m still going to just assume January and if before then be pleasantly surprised! I know I complain a lot, lol…I’m just an anxious mom with her first kid going to college. </p>
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