my weighted gpa is 3.14, unweighted is 2.94 and I’m taking summer courses to bring it up to a 3.0, I’m from the Southern Louisiana area, I’ve been in marching band for two years, president of multiple clubs, and just finished my junior year. I’ve taken 5 AP courses and 3 honors courses. I’ve been invited to several summer law conferences at George Mason and Georgetown. On average I complete 500 community service hours a year. I’ve lettered varisty in swim for two years, and one year in basketball. My current ACT score is a 24.
Very low for main campus – GPA is 2/3 of the decision. I am not sure if branches would be worth it for you at OOS prices?
Choose campus, then go to section C: https://budget.psu.edu/cds/ This will show you what ACT scores and GPAs accepted freshmen have.
Alrighty, I’ll do some investigating, thanks a bunch
I hate to be bearer of bad news, but a 3.1 weighted GPA and a 24 ACT will likely get you deferred to a commonwealth campus. Only 9% of admits last year had between a 3.0 and 3.24. They were likely athletes or other special circumstances. The branch campuses may not be worth it to you because of the higher sticker price for out of state…BUT, if you are willing to do a commonwealth campus for two years (with the cost), you can then go to the main UP campus after that and you still graduate from PSU. It’s their 2+2 program.
If you do consider that, make sure you consider one of the commonwealth campuses that are more like a traditional college (ie dorms, clubs, ect…) as some of them are not like that. The biggest and most typical college like commonwealth campuses are Behrend (near Erie, PA), Altoona (about 45 minutes from the main campus) and Harrisburg (about 1.5 hours from main campus). All three of those campuses are 4 year colleges in their own right. Lots of students stay there all 4 years. Each has their own plusses and minuses, but all 3 are good.
Alrighty, thank you for the tips! I’m hoping to bring up my GPA by retaking courses I got a B or lower in and my goal score for the time being is a 27.
Bringing up your ACT will help. Bringing up your grades will not at this point as Penn State does not consider senior year grades at all. So whatever your GPA ending junior year…that is your GPA on your Penn State application. Penn State is a very difficult school to get into. A 3.5 is generally needed.
That being said, if you can bring up your ACT, apply early, UNDECIDED (DUS) and with the summer option checked. Both of those things will give you the best chance. Penn State summer admission is slightly less competitive than fall.
What’s your family’s budget?
Why Penn State - even if you want to leave Louisiana, there have to be closer colleges for you?
In any case, get that ACT as high as you can; apply DSU/Summer session, choosing a second choice campus (Erie, Altoona, or Harrisburg are the best ones), and definitely apply in September if you can.