Update: An acquaintance from my son’s school district received an offer of admission yesterday from PSU. I am assuming this must be our Commonwealth campus since it’s only October. The mother posted on FB and didn’t specify which campus.
Does anyone have preference for applying via Common App vs. Portal? I think I heard last year(?) there were some issues with the Common App. Also, does admissions have a preference for the Common App’s listing of extracurricular activities over uploading a resume to the Portal? Personally, I’d rather have D upload her resume - only activity option using Portal - since I believe it covers more territory (she has a lot of impressive activities), but given the number of applications received does Admissions really have time to look at a resume? I’m thinking the Common App listing might be more efficient (if they even bother to look at the activities).
I think for a school like Penn State, just use the Common App for everything. My D was told by her counselor not to send things that slow down the process…i.e., resumes, & letters of recommendation. My D just begun the Honors Program application–I haven’t seen it yet, but imagine there is more space to elaborate there–along with an interview where you would have the opportunity to detail all those impressive activities. I can’t imagine they even have time to look at the list of activities in the common app format.
@Yocco1 , the PSU experts on here will know more, but my understanding is that Penn State won’t pay much mind to extracurriculars. There are just too many apps to go through.
2/3 GPA (including rigor) and 1/3 test score (no Superscore) will be the primary determining factors in admission. Good luck!
@Yocco1 Penn State is pretty much a numbers game. I say pretty much because when a student is on the fence, they will take in the other factors. But IN GENERAL, it’s 2/3 GPA, 1/3 test scores and other factors. So a resume likely won’t be looked at. Nor will letter of recommendation, etc… I’d tell them what activities she is in through the common app listing that way it’s down and dirty and quick access. Anything that takes them more time will likely get pushed to the back burner. If last year’s reports are to be believed, Penn State received more than 100,000 applications for UP campus alone. It still remains to be seen if that is accurate, but still - they get a lot of applications! So that’s why it usually falls down to a numbers game. With or without the EC’s, if you have the numbers, you are in.
My daughter said someone from her school heard back from UP. She said the girl applied August 1 and is really smart… so maybe they are starting to send the out!
Now my checking of the portal will become even more obsessive. Lol.
UP is extremely unlikely to drop any decisions, even for the tippy top, prior to Nov 1. Keep in mind that many many people use University Park as a term interchangeable with Penn State. My guess is the acceptance is for a commonwealth campus, which are always the first to start acceptances.
I’m still assuming that most won’t hear anything before mid-Nov, but with PSU’s switch to EA, I do wonder if their traditional decision roll out dates could shift a little if they want to test something or if they, for whatever reason, decide it’s better for them.
The Office of Planning, Assessment and Institutional Research says the updated CDS will be released late November/early December. So we’ll have to wait until then for the real numbers.
So what would be considered a “safe” GPA. I currently take 7 ib classes, but its taking a toll on my unweighted GPA since I have not been receiving the best grades
First, you should only be taking 6 IB classes, u less you count TOK as a class.
Second, are your grades on the 0-100 scale or 1-7?
Accepted. College of Engineering University Park. ChemE
@Journey24 , Congratulations!! And thanks for updating us! How did you find out (email, checked portal, USPS)? Any details?
Exciting that UP is starting to give out decisions. Best to you.
Thanks @OceanIsle. It was updated in the portal today. All the best to everyone. I am sure all of you will hear good news soon.
@Journey24 , would you mind me asking if you are an extra high stats student? There is often no rhyme or reason to the order of acceptances but it’s not unheard of for a school to offer admission to elite stats kids early on. Either way, Congratulations!
@OceanIsle thank you! UW:3.98,W:4.4
SAT:1510; 9 AP courses, heavy in STEM.
@Journey24 , excellent job! Wishing you all the best.
Anybody else hear of people being accepted already to UP? I know a few who have heard from Commonwealth campuses but those people did not apply to UP.
I wonder if the ones who have heard from UP are all Engineering or if other majors have released any decisions.
Nothing from an OOS from NJ. My son was told Dec 24 still (as the website states). But they do sneak in and state “…except for a few programs”. Very vague.