@MYOS1634 thank you sooooooooo very much! I had some of school on my list too. I’ll look up the schools that you have mentioned! I appreciate it so much! 
@MYOS1634 It seems like you know a lot about PA colleges. Do you think i’d have a chance at university of Pittsburgh? I’ve heard they’re the opposite of penn state and care more about test scores than GPAs.
That’s true but it’s all relative:
the average weighted GPA there is 4.1 (so, 3.4, 3.5 unweighted?) and minimum SAT would be 1250-1300 but they really like scores 1500+.
Penn State, by contrast, has 25% students with unweighted GPA 3.97 and higher, 50% in the 3.55-3.97 range, again, unweighted; average scores are in the 1200-1300 range. So, whereas at Pitt 1500 and a 3.0 would mean admission and a likely scholarship, at Penn State it may mean being turned down and certainly no scholarships, but a 3.9 unweighted with 1180 would likely mean admission at Penn State and would be dicey at Pitt.
Sure, include Pitt along with Penn State and Temple. Don’t forget to run the NPC, as well as on the universities I listed above.
Naviance shows people who got into Penn State. Not necessarily main campus. My son got into Altoona with a 2.7 GPA and 21 ACT. You would likely get into Altoona. He only spent one year at Altoona because his major required him to go to UP a year early. His grades are good and he’s did really well at Altoona. Sometimes it just takes a little more maturity until things start to “click” and grades mean more.
You won’t get into PSU main campus with those stats. Or at least, it’s darn near impossible to, but strange things do happen sometimes. Altoona is a great campus - I’d recommend applying directly to Altoona (IF you are interested in Penn State) early so that if you decide to go there you can deposit early and get a good choice in housing. My son loved Altoona…he was never bored and I’m pretty sure he found many of the parties around campus ;). He only spent a year there but it prepared him for the rigors of Main Campus with a slower start that boosted his confidence.
@jlhpsu thank you so much! I’m glad I got to hear your advice because you know someone who goes to a branch campus!
My guess is that you’ll apply to UP with Altoona secondary campus. Make sure everything is in by November 1.
Keep in mind that your odds of getting offered UP are minuscule (99% odds they’ll deny you - prepare yourself psychologically for this reality and be ready for it. If you’re among the lucky 1% congratulations! That’ll take no psychological adjustment but getting denied from your favorite university is always difficult).
If you’re offered Altoona what will you do?
For instance, if your choice is Temple (graduate from Temple) or Altoona (graduate from Penn State UP), what would you choose?
If you’re offered neither UP nor Altoona, will you drop it or ask to be considered for a commutable branch campus, assuming there’s one?
Have you run the NPC yet?
@happygirl220 I know lots of kids from PSU altoona and I’ve not met one that didn’t like it. There were some anxious to move on to UP campus, but some even stayed at Altoona all 4 years. It’s a pretty campus that is only 45 minutes away from UP campus. My son went to every football game at UP, etc…
@MYOS1634 yes, I am prepared to get denied. I’m a firm believer in everything happens for a reason and fate, so if I don’t get accepted it’s ok. If I had that choice between temple and Altoona (graduating from UP) I’d choose temple. I’ve visited there about 4 times and I’m in love with the campus and environment. It also offers everything I want too! One downside is that it’s very close to my home; it’s about 45 mins away. Where I end up though in year is where I’m meant to be!
Thanks for the answers!
Have you run the NPC yet?
Do keep us updated
@MYOS1634 No, I have not yet. When I get time later on in the week I will definitely do that with my parents. I just started school earlier this week, and it’s a lot at the moment. I have a feeling this year will be a great year though! I am very on top of assignments and managing time!
@MYOS1634 @lucyvanpelt @jlhpsu. Hi, I don’t know if you wanted an update or not… but i’ll Give you one. I took my ACT and I did much better, my grades are great (all As and Bs), and I applied to a lot of colleges. I applied to UofA and I was accepted
I applied to temple- waiting to hear back
I applied to Georgia state- accepted
I applied to west Chester- waiting to hear back
I applied to usf- waiting to hear back
I did not apply to Towson, Udel, Arizona state or any other big college.
Lastly I applied to penn state UP and somehow idk why and how but I got accepted!!! I wish I could add pictures to show you guys my accpetance letter! Now i’m Just going through the process of making a decision and I might apply to one other big school!
WOW, congratulations!!! Can you indicate your new GPA and ACT, in case new readers check your thread and want to find inspiration or hope?
The odds were minuscule because Penn State is such a big school, they don’t really look into personal circumstances, but you improved and… you made it!!
What major did you apply for? Did you apply Summer session?
Back in August, Penn State was your favorite, but now have you looked into Georgia State and UofA? Visited?
@MYOS1634 My new GPA is a 3.2 and I hope to end with a 3.3! My act was a 25 it was not what I was aiming for, but I tried my best! I really don’t know what made the admissions counselors decide to accept me but i’m really grateful. On my application I listed as many important Ecs that I could and I also made a brief explanation. I wrote my essay on a different hardship I faced but I talked about the positive things that came out of it, what I achieved, what I learned, and how it changed me for the better. I applied undecided and for the summer session because I knew that would better my chances of getting in UP. Lastly, I just believed that I could get in and I never thought negative thoughts. I was also realistic and knew that I was most likely going to get deferred, but I still believed. I also knew that if I did not get accepted it was ok bc it just meant it wasn’t meant to be. Penn state was my favorite school back in the summer and probably still is now. From the first day I applied back in November till today I’ve checked mypennstate to see if a decision was made everyday. I also LOVE U of A just as much as PSU because they have many amazing programs, a beautiful campus, nice weather, great alumni connections and benefits, etc. I have been interested in Georgia state since fall 2017 and i visited back in 2015! It was a great campus and something different from the big schools I could see myself at. I visited Towson their homecoming week and I loved the campus and the town, but I did not love it enough. I just couldn’t see myself going to Towson. I am pretty sure I will not get into temple just because of how selective they are with GPAs (but hey I might!) and i’m not sure about USF either their acceptance rate is pretty low but my guidance counselor told me to apply because apparently in the south they have lower standards when it comes to GPAs and test scores compared to the north east. Anything is really possible! I don’t know what the admissions counselors saw in me but I am forever thankful! They made my dreams come true ? I want to thank everyone who has helped me in this thread too!
Sorry if there are grammar mistakes I did not go back and reread!!!’
And I am visiting U of A in early April!
Excellent! Congratulations!
3.2/25 is quite an improvement. It shows that your previous GPA really didn’t reflect what you’re able to do.
(Some numbers you listed still don’t make sense but… ey, it worked!!!)
You did everything right - you didn’t skip the essay but wrote something + you didn’t just focus on mental illness but on various hardships AND what positive came from it despite it all + DUS and Summer session gave you a good chance. If you pick a LEAP you’ll have friends right away (or at least people you know, so that the big campus isn’t as anonymous and scary), you’ll get to know the lay of the land, you’ll get some credits out of the way, your Pride Mentor will suggest cool ideas of things to do (State College can be fun in the summer!) and… when Fall comes, you’ll be ahead and will hit the ground running. I have never met a student who did Summer Session/LEAP and regretted it.
Read the post in #15 and get the book “the naked roommate”. It’s funny, frank, and very useful to deal with anything “college”.
Congrats! I was also a low gpa that got into UP for fall 2019. 3.4 W, with a 30 ACT It does happen! So glad you applied and got in.
Also you may get into Temple, I got in with a scholarship. You have such a nice pool of choices to choose from for college.
Congrats!! I am a little confused about your circumstances because it was my understanding that Penn State doesn’t look at senior grades at all. Is that not true anymore? Your GPA is a 3.3 now, but was it a 2.75W when you applied (meaning, is that the GPA Penn State considered?). I’m just trying to understand because if Penn State is taking senior grades that’s a big new thing! For your application, were they looking at a 2.75W and 25ACT? Did you get in for fall or summer?
Thanks for answering my questions because it helps for future students to know these things! Congrats again!
@LM3232 Congrats on Penn State and Temple! That’s so amazing