Penn State Summer Start Required?

[Anonymous]

FWIW, I know someone who started in the summer and was thrilled.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like the original point of the program was to ease kids into college through a smaller environment but it does not sound like it’s currently being used that way.

[Anonymous]

Mine is considering applying in the future. Does not selecting the summer button put the applicant at a disadvantage?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine is considering applying in the future. Does not selecting the summer button put the applicant at a disadvantage?

Yes

[Anonymous]

OP this is a gift.

If your kid is starting at a large university like Penn State absolutely start in the summer. So many advantages.

If Penn state is their first choice.

Otherwise move on.

[Anonymous]

They consider you for the main campus first. If your grades, test scores (if submitted), etc. don’t make the cut for your chosen major, they consider you for summer start. If you don’t make the cut for summer start OR you asked not to be considered for summer start, they will offer you 2+2 at another campus with the option to transfer junior year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They consider you for the main campus first. If your grades, test scores (if submitted), etc. don’t make the cut for your chosen major, they consider you for summer start. If you don’t make the cut for summer start OR you asked not to be considered for summer start, they will offer you 2+2 at another campus with the option to transfer junior year.

very helpful - thanks!!

[Anonymous]

As someone who hosts interns, I can say with confidence that the employer will not hold this against him is he explains the situation and says he wanted to go to PS and this was the path they offered. Everyone knows the college process is crazy. They may even be able to arrange for him to come the next summer.

[Anonymous]

*if

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They consider you for the main campus first. If your grades, test scores (if submitted), etc. don’t make the cut for your chosen major, they consider you for summer start. If you don’t make the cut for summer start OR you asked not to be considered for summer start, they will offer you 2+2 at another campus with the option to transfer junior year.

OP here. My kid, non-STEM, has a 3.93 UW, 14 APs including 2 sciences, math through Calc II, all AP history and English courses and capstone. And a submitted 1380 SAT (their range is 1270-1450). I would be shocked if it was their grades that did not make the cut. There are parents on the FB college site whose kids with high SATs than mine were placed in the summer program.

To the other PP - as mentioned PSU is their second choice. We should hear back from the first choice school soon. I think, though, given the merit aid offers from higher ranked schools that DS liked, he should reconsider whether PSU is a true second choice. The summer program is not cheap.

[Anonymous]

I guess not much has changed in 25 years. I was required to start in the summer and there were kids in my high school with lower SATs, much lower grades and no extra curriculars that got Fall admission in the same year back in the late 90s. No rhyme or reason, must be who looks at your application I guess.

I did go in the Summer because I only wanted Main Campus and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. You take 2 classes, get accustomed to college life before there are 50k + kids on campus and can meet and make new friends ahead of everyone else. And assuming scheduling still works the same way, you also have more credits than most Freshman and can schedule classes earlier.

I agree with the PP that the internship would understand if PSU is really your kids first choice. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mine is considering applying in the future. Does not selecting the summer button put the applicant at a disadvantage?

Yes

Not sure about that. On the FB page and college confidential, lots of kids with 25-50% gpas and sats got in for fall. And some who selected the optional fall start with higher scores/gpas were required to do it.

My advice is to only check that box if you are truly willing to do the summer program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They consider you for the main campus first. If your grades, test scores (if submitted), etc. don’t make the cut for your chosen major, they consider you for summer start. If you don’t make the cut for summer start OR you asked not to be considered for summer start, they will offer you 2+2 at another campus with the option to transfer junior year.

OP here. My kid, non-STEM, has a 3.93 UW, 14 APs including 2 sciences, math through Calc II, all AP history and English courses and capstone. And a submitted 1380 SAT (their range is 1270-1450). I would be shocked if it was their grades that did not make the cut. There are parents on the FB college site whose kids with high SATs than mine were placed in the summer program.

To the other PP - as mentioned PSU is their second choice. We should hear back from the first choice school soon. I think, though, given the merit aid offers from higher ranked schools that DS liked, he should reconsider whether PSU is a true second choice. The summer program is not cheap.

I am the PP and not saying your DC’s stats are not great. They are great! I also bet the accepted SAT range is a lot higher this year. However, it depends on the major applying into and how many other kids have already been accepted into that major. I have also heard from our college counselor that Penn State has a new admissions approach and they are really trying to look closely at the rigor of the OOS high schools when making decisions. Penn State, along with so many other colleges in the 50-100 range, are experiencing a HUGE increase in applications with is making these schools suddenly a lot harder to get into. Parents have got to adjust their thinking on all these schools. They are no longer easy admits. As an aside, I have heard the summer program is great!

[Anonymous]

So 14 APS and AP Calc II isn’t enough rigor for Penn State? Good lord college admissions is insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They consider you for the main campus first. If your grades, test scores (if submitted), etc. don’t make the cut for your chosen major, they consider you for summer start. If you don’t make the cut for summer start OR you asked not to be considered for summer start, they will offer you 2+2 at another campus with the option to transfer junior year.

OP here. My kid, non-STEM, has a 3.93 UW, 14 APs including 2 sciences, math through Calc II, all AP history and English courses and capstone. And a submitted 1380 SAT (their range is 1270-1450). I would be shocked if it was their grades that did not make the cut. There are parents on the FB college site whose kids with high SATs than mine were placed in the summer program.

To the other PP - as mentioned PSU is their second choice. We should hear back from the first choice school soon. I think, though, given the merit aid offers from higher ranked schools that DS liked, he should reconsider whether PSU is a true second choice. The summer program is not cheap.

Not sure what the point of this thread is then. Sounds like Penn State is ruled out. He shouldn’t have selected the summer box if starting in the summer was a deal breaker.