TO optional Penn Stare

[Anonymous]

I know there are other threads. But want the latest thinking.

Son’s ACT is a point above the 25 percentile number for Penn State per trh common data set. He is 2 points below the 50 percentile. Apparently PSU doesn’t super score.

So the rule of thumb is only submit if you are at 50 percentile. And not if at 25 percentile?

Thanks

[Anonymous]

I think that’s right. My kid is going TO. Fingers crossed for us.

[Anonymous]

Yes good luck to you too.

[Anonymous]

I would suggest you go here to determine where your kid stands : https://admissions.psu.edu/apply/statistics/

Most people on DCUM hate PSU. I'm not sure why. My kid loves it!

[Anonymous]

I have been given the advice to submit if it's above last year's 25th percentile IF you don't have a GPA above the 75th percentile. Basically, if your grades alone don't make you a shoo-in, better to show that you're in the range for both values. But I don't think anyone really knows.

[Anonymous]

OP here. PP did your college counselor tell you this?

This is what we are struggling with. He is not above the 75 percentile. Not even close.

His ACT is one point above the low range. (25 percentile).

He really wants PSU! But he wants Business school.

So submit or not. (His GPA is 3.4)

Never thought I would crowd source this kind of decision! Ugh.

[Anonymous]

What’s the range of scores for PSU?

[Anonymous]

3.4 for business school will not work out of high school. Still can get to business school just need to apply DUS or another college transfer to DUS then business school. 3.4 will probably end in a 2 at satellite campus then 2 at UP if applly to business now

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:3.4 for business school will not work out of high school. Still can get to business school just need to apply DUS or another college transfer to DUS then business school. 3.4 will probably end in a 2 at satellite campus then 2 at UP if applly to business now

My kid’s GPA was 3.0 when she applied to PSU last fall from a DC big3. GPA was 3.2 when she graduated. ACT was 33. I assume it was because the rep knows the average GPA at her school, but was accepted for main campus fall start. Not business major, but competitive major. I don’t know if this helps, OP, but I think that unlike some OOS flagships PSU actually considers whether the school had weighted grades, lack of AP classes, known rigor of the curriculum. The ACT may help. I say submit. Ended up picking a much higher ranked school, but really loved PSU.

[Anonymous]

Make sure you are looking at last years scores.

[Anonymous]

My kid’s GPA was 3.0 when she applied to PSU last fall from a DC big3. GPA was 3.2 when she graduated. ACT was 33. I assume it was because the rep knows the average GPA at her school, but was accepted for main campus fall start. Not business major, but competitive major. I don’t know if this helps, OP, but I think that unlike some OOS flagships PSU actually considers whether the school had weighted grades, lack of AP classes, known rigor of the curriculum. The ACT may help. I say submit. Ended up picking a much higher ranked school, but really loved PSU.


This is reassuring. Can you please give a general idea of where she chose? Thx

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:3.4 for business school will not work out of high school. Still can get to business school just need to apply DUS or another college transfer to DUS then business school. 3.4 will probably end in a 2 at satellite campus then 2 at UP if applly to business now

OP here. He will not do the 2/2 program.

What is DUS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:3.4 for business school will not work out of high school. Still can get to business school just need to apply DUS or another college transfer to DUS then business school. 3.4 will probably end in a 2 at satellite campus then 2 at UP if applly to business now

OP here. He will not do the 2/2 program.

What is DUS?

Division of Undergraduate Studies (DUS)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My kid’s GPA was 3.0 when she applied to PSU last fall from a DC big3. GPA was 3.2 when she graduated. ACT was 33. I assume it was because the rep knows the average GPA at her school, but was accepted for main campus fall start. Not business major, but competitive major. I don’t know if this helps, OP, but I think that unlike some OOS flagships PSU actually considers whether the school had weighted grades, lack of AP classes, known rigor of the curriculum. The ACT may help. I say submit. Ended up picking a much higher ranked school, but really loved PSU.

This is reassuring. Can you please give a general idea of where she chose? Thx

OP here. Her ACT was great. Above the 50 percentile. Unfortunately not my son. But I do agree that PSU seems to consider the school much more than other big state flagships. I know the PSU regional director for our area and is very involved and excellent.

[Anonymous]

Penn State Business is a great school but I don’t think it is as hard to get into OOS as you might think. My DD was 3.3uw and 3.8w with 1200 SATs (and submitted) and got in UC directly. It seemed a reach and she didn’t get any money and ended up going elsewhere that she fell in love with but lower ranked. I think they want OOS full pay kids-I could be wrong, there could have been something else in her application that stood out but academically she was so-so and wasn’t waitlisted or deferred, directly admitted and heard pretty quickly. She is Class of 2026….Good Luck!