1-Does the school feel overwhelmingly large? I’m wondering if it feels crowded, if there’s long lines for everything and if all the freshman classes are huge.
2-When they review the application do they use unweighted or weighted gpa? Do they just look at the core classes?
3- Do you suggest using their application or just using the common app?
Thank you
No one??
It’s very big indeed.
Unless you’re in Schreyer, you dont have a personal adviser, so it can be hard on navigate.
The freshman classes can be huge. Getting into Schreyer helps, as well as preparing for Paterno Fellow (Liberal Arts) or Sapphire (Business). Paterno Fellow Aspirants (freshmen) take the same small classes as Schreyer Scholars - for instance Economics could have 300 students whereas the Honors section would have 35. Foreign language has ~24 in the lower levels, 16-18 in the upper levels. Having at least 2 seminars or small classes is essential for freshmen (otherwise they don’t feel as connected to academics). Choosing a living learning community also helps in establishing ties with others (Schreyer students also have a built in community).
The GPA is re weighted according to academic rigor, which means math through precalculus or calculus, foreign language through level 4 or 5/AP, each of bio, chem, physics, 4 years of English and social science, any other Academic class, and if adding all honors and AP classes taken by graduation what number of you get -5?20?
We used the PSU application. But that’s because S19 got a fee waiver for attending an open house at one of the branch campuses. If this is not a factor, I would think that it is fine to apply whatever way works best on your end.
Lots of your early courses will be verylarge, but overall that is not the experience you will have. Campus is huge so it doesn’t feel crowded until you want to register for a class, or catch a bus, or mail a letter. But it isn’t any worse an any other small city (which is a handy way to think of campus) . I don’t know which gpa they use but I expect they recalculate anyway. And it doesn’t matter which app you use to apply, just be timely and proactive!
Thank you both!!
Thanks to all 3 of you!!
Another question: When D put in Penn State on the common app they required she put down 2 schools. Of course she put down University Park, but we had no clue what to put down as a second choice (she would only go to the main campus). I told her it didn’t matter and write down any name so she picked DuBois. Is there any way to get around listing a second school? Thanks
Apparently it’s required now.