will I get into penn state!!!???

Applying to College
1

<p>Stats/Info:</p>

<p>Male (Rising Senior)
New York
African American (URM)
GPA: 3.8 (unweighted)
ACT: 20 (long story, retaking twice for 25+)
Class Rank: Top 10%
AP/Honors: (none offered at school)</p>

<p>Activities:
- internship in pre-college office (90hrs)
- co-founder/organizer of the music club
- senior representative of the student council
- played guitar for 2 years
- played soccer for 2 years (independently, trying out for team in fall)
- College Now (applied and accepted for an "introduction to business" course in fall, worth 3 credits)
- After-School Volunteering (8hrs, so far)
- Community Service (I currently have 10hrs, plan to compete about 70 more)</p>

<p>Additional Info:
- I intend to double major (business & graphic design)
- I would like to take a graphic design course too, but I have to look around.
- I may tryout for track in the winter.
- I may enroll in a scholar program in my neighborhood (should I? they may offer a small scholarship)
- I'm currently nominated for the Posse Foundation. (I don't really care for any of the partner schools)
- I have a list of many more colleges I plan on applying too, but Penn State is my top choice.</p>

<p>Random Info:
- Disciplinary Issues: 0 (9th - 11th)
- Latenesses: 0 (9th - 11th)
- Absences: 6 (9th - 11th) </p>

<p>I visited UPark last Friday and I fell in love with it the moment I stepped on campus. It's been my dream school since I've started researching colleges. Penn State has been the only thing on my mind ever since I spent the day there. Even my parents love the school and have expressed that they would love for to go there. I just need to know if there's anything I need to work on or should improve to strengthen my chances in terms of getting accepted. I was planning on submitting two teachers recommendations, although they aren't required, along with an additional full-length essay. Am I going to far? When should I apply since its rolling admissions? I'm trying to think of any other things I could do such as contact the NYC regional recruiter, Steven Mitchell (whom I've meet before) and ask him some questions, etc. I need some advice, please! </p>

<p>P.S. I also visited Hazleton as an option for a branch campus and I loved it as well. I even had a one-on-one interview with an admissions officer! Although I meet the requirements to get into a Penn State branch campus and enroll in the 2 + 2 plan, I'd like to complete all 4 years at the main campus. Two great things I also heard at the orientations during my visit is that Penn State admits students based on their high school's specific criteria in terms of top students and that SAT/ACT scores only count as 1/3 of the admission consideration.</p>

2

<p>need to raise act</p>

3

<p>that’s it? what about the rest of my stats and everything else I posted? I need all of the advice I can get.</p>

4

<p>Bump Bump Bump</p>

5

<p>check this: <a href=“http://admissions.psu.edu/info/counselors/bubble_chart.pdf[/url]”>http://admissions.psu.edu/info/counselors/bubble_chart.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>and this: <a href=“http://www.act.org/aap/concordance/[/url]”>http://www.act.org/aap/concordance/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

6

<p>thanks, i’ll check them out</p>

7

<p>With your sat you will most likely get a regional campus.</p>

8

<p>Thanks. Yeah I’ll most likely get into Hazleton with my current ACT score, but I’m retaking it. Also, there are other factors to consider in terms of my admission. My problem is that I currently fall within UPark’s GPA range, but the branch campus ACT range.</p>

9

<p>definitely retake your ACT and apply early by the priority deadline for your best shot. If you can get a 25 you will have a decent shot at the main campus. Unforunately with a big school like Penn State they get so many applicants that admission has to be based mostly on numbers such as your gpa and standardized test scores. i applied this past year and i remember they didnt even want teacher recommendations i sent one anyway but i doubt they read it.</p>

10

<p>I’m definitely aiming between 25 and 28. I understand where you’re coming from about Penn State being a large school. What is the earliest I should apply, because November 30th is recommended, but I was going to retake the ACT twice. Should I just submit my September scores and send the October ones at a later date? I’ll also email my regional recruiter about the letters of recommendation or essays, because he told me that students can submit additional info if they’d like.</p>

11

<p>I didnt apply very early i applied at the beginning of november but i head back in like a month since its rolling admissions. Since you are going to retake you can submit your app and just email them that you are waiting for your ACT scores to come in but actually you should take the ACT the earliest seating in the fall then apply once you get your score. i know applying the early the better but you must take the test first and hopefully you wont need to retake a second time. if you miss the priority deadline you wont hear back from penn state for a while. Yes send you september scores apply and then you can send the october score later if needed. also i spent my first marking period grades out to all my schools although not required I had staight A’s so it couldnt hurt. what other schools are you looking at? are you instate for penn state because oos can be expensive since they arent generous with aid.</p>

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<p>- I’m currently nominated for the Posse Foundation. (I don’t really care for any of the partner schools)</p>

<p>So, does that mean that you’d get free tuition if selected? That’s great because you’re OOS for Penn State and they don’t give much OOS financial aid. </p>

<p>When do you find out if you’re selected?</p>

<p>penn state because oos can be expensive since they arent generous with aid.</p>

<p>Very true…they’re not great for instate either. This student is OOS, so unless his parents pay the costs or he gets this Posse deal, attending PSU will be expensive.</p>

13

<p>@invader71</p>

<p>I’m registered re-take the ACT on September 10th and I may register for October as a backup date. I was thinking about applying as soon as I get my September results which will probably be 3 weeks later. Submitting my first marking period grades does sound like a good idea though, I may try that. Other schools I’m looking at include Purdue University, MSU, UMichigan, UConn, UMaine and like 8 others. I am an out of state resident and I’ve heard about PSU being very expensive, but my parents told me not to worry about that too much. They said if I get in, finances will be taken care of and I will also apply for scholarships.</p>

<p>@mom2collegekids</p>

<p>Yes, if I’m selected I will receive full tuition to one of their partner schools. There are 3 rounds of interviews and the first one begins sometime in August. The problem is, I don’t really like their partner schools based on my research. None of the schools I would like to apply to (including Penn State) isn’t a partner school of Posse. The Gate Millenium Scholarship (a URM based scholarship) will pay for full tuition at any school of my choice.</p>

14

<p>well all of those schools have similar admission stats as Penn state expect for umich being alot harder and possbily umaine being easier. Just check and ask your parents how much they are able to spend because the majority of oos publics are almost 40 grand. So just study for your ACT and with a solid 27-28 you should get into those schools expect for maybe umich. A 25-26 will still give you a decent shot.</p>

15

<p>Thanks, I really appreciate the amount of time you’ve spent to help me out. :)</p>

16

<p>its not a problem i just went through the process a few months ago so i have alot of advice to share lol. if you have any more questions about anything feel free to pm me.</p>

17

<p>will do!</p>

<p>10char</p>

18

<p>I saw the stats for Bronx Science, and most of their applicants who applied to Penn State got in.</p>

<p>However, as you know, your ACT is very low. Study hard for that. Make it your JOB.</p>

<p>My son raised his ACT from a 31 to a 34 with zero studying, so you can certainly raise your ACT, without a doubt, 3 more points if you study hard. I would take an organized prep course, while it is true you can study on your own by buying prep books at Barnes & Noble, if you sign up for a prep course, and go there every day, it will be like “forced” studying.
Literally do not leave the house, or do anything else, except working to raise your ACT, no different than a boxer getting ready for a championship match, like Rocky.</p>

<p>And then, it would be good if you did get onto the soccer or track team, as Penn State is sort of a jock school.</p>

<p>Seldom in life will your path to a goal be as clearly set out as in the instant case.</p>

<p>Raise your ACT to a decent level, and as a minority, I am sure you will get in. That is totally within your power. </p>

<p>Everyone is rooting for you.</p>

<p>Here is another idea. At least in Florida, where they have Florida Virtual, you can take AP level courses on line. This is a great system, because now, a kid in a small town in Iowa can take Latin, for example, even though it is not offered at his school. I would say take one AP level course, on line, this Fall, if allowable, in what you feel is your best subject area.</p>

19

<p>I can’t thank you enough for all of your support and advice! I’m definitely making it my business to boost my score and as for the AP course, i’ll be sure to check it out.</p>

20

<p>Apply early and get your ACT up- I think that you should get in.</p>