West Chester U an elite school?

Applying to College
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<p>If anybody is familiar with the state universities of PA, I'd appreciate an opinion:</p>

<p>My son is interested in West Chester, but we've been told that it's now considered an elite state school here in PA, ranked up there with schools like Delaware and Drexel. But their stats on collegeboard don't reflect that. According to collegeboard and West Chester's own website, they only require a 1080 SAT, however I've been told that information is incorrect and West Chester won't even consider you unless you have at least 600 on each section of your SAT. My son is also interested in Temple, and we've been told he'd have an easier chance getting in there. However, according to collegeboard, Temple requires higher SAT scores than West Chester. Is it possible that information on collegeboard can be inaccurate?</p>

<p>Help. So confused.</p>

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<p>I don’t know what the term “elite” means in this context, I’m sure each of us has different definitions. However –</p>

<p>Really short answer – college board website is often dated or inaccurate.</p>

<p>Somewhat longer answer.</p>

<p>According to West Chester’s Common Data set:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.wcupa.edu/infoservices/oir/documents/CopyofCDS_2011-2012_000.pdf[/url]”>http://www.wcupa.edu/infoservices/oir/documents/CopyofCDS_2011-2012_000.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>They accept 46% of all applicants – 75% of their enrolled class has SATs of 490+ per section. 25% has SAT’s 580+. 1-2% score above 700 on any section. About 12% graduate in the top 10th % of their class, 42% in the top quarter of the class and 84% in the top half of the class. Only 2.4% finish in the bottom quarter of their HS class.</p>

<p>About 1/3 have HS GPAs of 3.75 or higher and another 30% have GPAs between 3.50 and 3.74 – suggesting that the median GPA is just slightly above 3.5. The “average” GPA is 3.48.</p>

<p>Per Delaware’s Common Data Set</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.udel.edu/IR/cds/cds1112.pdf[/url]”>http://www.udel.edu/IR/cds/cds1112.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Delaware accepts about 58% of its applicants (much higher than West Chester). However, Delaware’s Average SATs appear to be about 50 points higher per section. Also Delaware claims that 79% of its enrollees are in the top quarter of their HS class.</p>

<p>Didn’t find Drexel’s CDS with a quick google search – but per USNWR – Drexel accepts about 56% of its applicants. Drexel’s SAT scores look to be comparable to Delaware, The pct of Freshmen in the top 25% of their HS is about 64%.</p>

<p>Aside from the admit rate, Drexel and Delaware seem to be somewhat more competitive to get into than West Chester.</p>

<p>This is mostly borne out by the Rankings – Delaware, 75 Nationally, Drexel 88 Nationally, West Chester 82 (North Region).</p>

<p>However, none of this says anything about what kind of education one can get at any of these schools, which, when you come down to it, is what’s really important.</p>

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<p>omg who told you that! West Chester is hardly elite, though it is one of the more selective of the PASSHE schools (eg Millersville, Kutztown, Shippensburg, etc). <a href=“http://www.passhe.edu/Pages/default.aspx[/url]”>http://www.passhe.edu/Pages/default.aspx&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>West Chester has a reputation of being good for music and education majors. It is also a lot cheaper (assuming you are a PA resident) than the state related schools (Pitt, Penn State, Temple and Lincoln).</p>

<p>Does your son’s school have Naviance? If so you may be able to see the range of GPA/SAT score from your particular school of students accepted to West Chester.</p>

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<p>West Chester is a good, solid school, and as the above poster referenced, more selective than some of the other small Pa. state colleges. But it is not as prestigious, not as selective, and does not have as many majors available as Drexel or U. Delaware. It is also a bit of a commuter school. Most students who go there like it and the town is beautiful.</p>

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<p>pamom59, my college aide professional told me West Chester “made itself into the elite of the state universities.” He used to be a college admissions officer and he helps students apply to schools and acquire financial aid. He insists that even though their stats on collegeboard.org state that they only require about 1080 SAT score, that figure is wrong. He says they require at least 600 on each section of the SAT. My son scored an 1100 combined CR/CM and I’m hearing he’ll never get in with that score. I guess we’ll find out.</p>

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<p>maggiedog, we visited West Chester about a month ago. It’s a nice campus in a nice town, and the tour guide did tell us it is the toughest of the state schools to get into. Even though their SAT requirements aren’t as high (on collegeboard.org) as Delaware and Drexel, my college aide professional is telling me those stats are incorrect. Right now my son is looking at West Chester, Kutztown, and Temple. I was told he’ll have no trouble getting into Kutztown and would be a “strong candidate” for Temple, but West Chester is a serious “reach school” for him. Back in the 80s I remember my friends in high school were able to get into Delaware and Drexel with barely 1000 on their SATs. How times have changed.</p>

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<p>careermom66- I’m sure he must have meant the “elite” of the PASSHE schools, not state schools in general. Temple is considered a better school than West Chester.</p>

<p>also- statistics don’t lie and the common data set is contrary to what he is saying. <a href=“http://www.wcupa.edu/infoservices/oir/cds.asp[/url]”>http://www.wcupa.edu/infoservices/oir/cds.asp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>the mid50% SAT scores for West Chester are
CR 490-580
M 500-580
W 480-570</p>

<p>maybe he means 600 is the SAT score you need to get merit scholarship?</p>

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<p>No, he meant 600 to get in. I asked him to clarify that. I know Kutztown wants 600 to be considered for merit scholarship. Same with Temple. Anyway, I’m hoping he’s wrong about West Chester.</p>

<p>By the way, my son is interested in majoring in Graphic Design, but does not want to go to an art school. He wants a regular university in case he changes his mind. He loves West Chester’s and Kutztown’s campuses, but he likes Temple’s Tyler School of Art the best, but isn’t crazy about being in the city. He’ll have a real dilemma on deciding if he gets accepted to all 3.</p>

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<p>I agree that West Chester is one of the strongest PASSHE schools. Not that long ago it was easy to get into. Not so much anymore.</p>

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<p>make sure that each school offers the major he is looking for. Are you sure that West Chester and Kutztown offer that major?
Also- maybe consider Drexel? [Graphic</a> Design | Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design | Drexel University](<a href=“http://www.drexel.edu/westphal/undergraduate/VSCM/]Graphic”>Graphic Design Undergraduate Major | Drexel Westphal)</p>

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<p>pamom, Kutztown supposedly has a strong “communication design” program which attracts a lot of art students. We looked at West Chester because my son’s art teacher in school told him he knew some people who graduated from West Chester with art degrees and were successfully working in the art field now. And of course Temple’s Tyler is world renowned. I wish we could consider Drexel, however I don’t think his SATs are up to their standards, and I’ve heard it’s very tough to get into the Westphal college.</p>

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<p>I would not have thought that SAT scores were as important for design majors (wouldn’t the portfolio be more important?). And remember, Drexel has a lot of engineering students who probably raise the average SAT score. If I were you I would call Drexel and talk to someone there. You might be ruling it out too soon. Especially since Drexel offers the specific major he wants. Plus, the opportunity through coop to gain job experience. It would give him a leg up on getting a job after college. (full disclosure: my D is attending Drexel next year so I’m partial to it!)</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.drexel.edu/undergrad/about/facts/freshman-class/[/url]”>http://www.drexel.edu/undergrad/about/facts/freshman-class/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>pamom, thanks for you help. I’m from the Philly suburbs so I’m familiar with Drexel and knew a lot of kids who went there back in the 80s. One friend of mine in particular got accepted there with only an 860 on his SATs. Things are different now. A lot more competition. Rising standards. I know it’s mostly an engineering school. In fact my husband sort of scoffed at the idea of sending our son there for art. I believe his exact words were, “You don’t send your kid to Drexel for art.” Well, apparently nowadays you can. I’ve seen how these colleges have expanded and changed and diversified. So the college scene is very different now than it was when I went to college (La Salle University). We’ll look into Drexel. I know they have summer tours we can attend. The cost is an issue for us though. Best of luck to your daughter. She’ll love it there. I know a lot of people who went there. They loved it.</p>

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<p>pamom, I forgot to mention that the portfolio is very important too. There are two hurdles my son will have to clear: Gaining admission to the college itself, and then gaining admission to the art program with his portfolio. We went to Portfolio day in Philadelphia last fall and many college reps seemed impressed with his art work. It does seem as if a high SAT would not be required for art, however I read on another forum that Westphal is very competitive to get into. But I should call and find out for myself.</p>

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<p>careermom- you might want to the poster named phillyartmom who has just been through the process with her daughter. She was accepted to Temple for art, but is attending Ringling (?) in florida.</p>

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<p>Here is a forum that may be helpful for you…I know that phillyartmom posts there from time to time [Visual</a> Arts and Film Majors - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/visual-arts-film-majors/]Visual”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/visual-arts-film-majors/)</p>

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<p>I ran a search using the tool on this site and Millersville popped up. Have you looked at that? it offers graphic design within the art dept.
[Millersville</a> University - Undergraduate Academics](<a href=“http://www.millersville.edu/academics/undergraduate.php]Millersville”>http://www.millersville.edu/academics/undergraduate.php)</p>

<p>also have you checked to see if Graphic Design can be pursued at Penn State satellite campuses and/or with the 2+2 program?</p>

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<p>pamom, thanks so much for your help! Didn’t know that Visual arts thread existed. Yes, I’ve noticed Millersville. We may take a look at that one too, but it’s two hours away from us and my son isn’t sure he wants to go that far. But we do know someone who went there for graphic design and is now working in the field as an art director.</p>

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<p>West Chester, from what I’ve seen at my school, is a tad easier than Temple to get into. The average accepted SAT for my school for WCU is 1100 and GPA of 3.24 (100/177 accepted past two years).
The average accepted SAT for Temple is 1180 but GPA of 3.18 (86/140).
Delaware is 1250, 3.56, and 44/83.
Drexel is 1225, 3.45, and 81/101.</p>

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<p>Id go to Drexel any day before West chester IF I WAS INTERESTED IN ENGINEERING. Also if your talking about te University of Delaware in the state delaware, it is far ahead of west chester. WCU is a good school and an awesome college town ( i applied to wcu and visited) but it isn’t elite.</p>