Penn State Summer Start Required?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

The question in the OP is “did anyone else encounter this?” I am guessing that is the point of the thread?

[Anonymous]

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

But let’s be honest, a 1380 SAT doesn’t really match a 3.9 UW GPA. The SAT should be much higher.

[Anonymous]

But let’s be honest, a 1380 SAT doesn’t really match a 3.9 UW GPA. The SAT should be much higher.

It's well within the range for Penn State and the kid had a strong GPA with rigor. There's no reason for him to submit a higher score as he's clearly ready for college. I suspect, as mentioned, the summer program is a money maker and a way to juggle the number of students on campus.

[Anonymous]

Yes that is a great way for rich underachievers to attend Penn State.

[Anonymous]

Insanely expensive school for OOS & instate. Highest average student debt in the US

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If its completley off the table, why even start a thread on it?

Maybe to share their story. Isn’t that the point of this site?

NP here
Yes, as the parent of a current junior, I appreciate reading about these things so I won't be as shocked if it happens to my student next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

But let’s be honest, a 1380 SAT doesn’t really match a 3.9 UW GPA. The SAT should be much higher.

It's well within the range for Penn State and the kid had a strong GPA with rigor. There's no reason for him to submit a higher score as he's clearly ready for college. I suspect, as mentioned, the summer program is a money maker and a way to juggle the number of students on campus.

It is within range. But OP said her kid had taken through second year Calculus and 14 APs. The SAT score for math alone should be close to 800. Given the kid isn’t a stem kid, the english scores should be very high too. A 1380 is a red flag when compared to the applicant’s other stats. Why is the GPA so high if they can’t crack 1500 on the SAT. Or even 1450. The SAT isn’t that hard for high achieving kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

But let’s be honest, a 1380 SAT doesn’t really match a 3.9 UW GPA. The SAT should be much higher.

Sure it does. That's 93rd percentile. Plus the "reported" SAT scores of a lot of these schools are very inflated now since only kids who did better than average sent their scores. A 1380 still puts him above the 50th percentile of the kids who sent scores and his GPA is at the 75%. That plus 14 APs makes it a bit surprising.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There should be no 'shocked' anymore in regards to anything college admissions related. High stats does not guarantee a thing.

OP - I think I am shocked because there are so many College Confidential posts with Fall acceptances and the stats are well below his. But yes, I agree there should be no “shocked” anymore.

I guess you have to weigh summer internship vs. going to PSU.

Re admissions...maybe they have more than enough of his major incoming already accepted and applied EARLIER. Maybe they read he was not their first choice. Years ago in my AP calc class, many of the engineering applicants got the "summer start" offer. 1 took it. He does well today. The other 3 declined and went to Lehigh, Bucknell, and Tulane. They are doing well today too. In-state was a bargain, so competition was high at that price.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

But let’s be honest, a 1380 SAT doesn’t really match a 3.9 UW GPA. The SAT should be much higher.

My kid struggled with the SAT "only" scoring a 1400, even after private tutoring, but is a hardworking, dedicated student. Standardized testing isn't everyone's cup of tea.

[Anonymous]

Have your child call admissions and ask about the possibility for a fall start. Did his HS send his 1st semester grades? See if he could write a letter describing his predicament and emphasizing his interest in Penn State along with his new transcript. Maybe they have some kind of waiting list? Also, he should talk to his guidance counselor and ask their advice.

No idea why he received the summer start. Could be when he applied or his major selection or because he is OOS. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Insanely expensive school for OOS & instate. Highest average student debt in the US

It sure is. I always read that the state funding that is provided to PSU as a % of its budget is super low compared to other state flagships nationally.

"Penn State currently receives $242.1 million from the state to fund its education expenses. Divided evenly among 43,000 Pennsylvania undergraduates, that works out to about $5,600 in support per student, a funding level that ranks far below the national average and that lags behind the state’s other public institutions by between $2,600 and $3,400 per student. Based on each institution’s most recent state funding and enrollment data, Temple University receives $8,275 per Pennsylvania resident undergraduate student, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education receives funding of $8,378 per in-state undergraduate, and the University of Pittsburgh receives $9,049 per in-state undergraduate student."

[Anonymous]

It is within range. But OP said her kid had taken through second year Calculus and 14 APs. The SAT score for math alone should be close to 800. Given the kid isn’t a stem kid, the english scores should be very high too. A 1380 is a red flag when compared to the applicant’s other stats. Why is the GPA so high if they can’t crack 1500 on the SAT. Or even 1450. The SAT isn’t that hard for high achieving kids.

We need to stop this nonsense about the test score equating to intelligence. We're in the process of hiring a test prep company and they've all said the SAT is NOT an intelligence test. A high score is related to learning the tips and tricks of the test, using those to pick the answer the test writers want, within a set time frame. That's it. If you have the resources (time, money etc), you have a very good chance to achieve a high score. If you're able and willing to pay $1000s, some of these companies guarantee a 200 point increase or a 1500 +. And I'm not even getting into the multiple test and super score game that many kids play, taking the test 2-3 times. There are definitely some "one and done' kids, but there's no advantage for those kids.

[Anonymous]

Has your kid considered calling them and telling them that he had clicked Summer Start as an option but now he has a great internship (that he can tell them about) that makes summer start a conflict? I mean, he's already accepted, what could it hurt?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

It is within range. But OP said her kid had taken through second year Calculus and 14 APs. The SAT score for math alone should be close to 800. Given the kid isn’t a stem kid, the english scores should be very high too. A 1380 is a red flag when compared to the applicant’s other stats. Why is the GPA so high if they can’t crack 1500 on the SAT. Or even 1450. The SAT isn’t that hard for high achieving kids.

We need to stop this nonsense about the test score equating to intelligence. We're in the process of hiring a test prep company and they've all said the SAT is NOT an intelligence test. A high score is related to learning the tips and tricks of the test, using those to pick the answer the test writers want, within a set time frame. That's it. If you have the resources (time, money etc), you have a very good chance to achieve a high score. If you're able and willing to pay $1000s, some of these companies guarantee a 200 point increase or a 1500 +. And I'm not even getting into the multiple test and super score game that many kids play, taking the test 2-3 times. There are definitely some "one and done' kids, but there's no advantage for those kids.

If this were accurate, there would be a lot more 1500 plus scores.

And even controlling for demographics, the SAT plus gpa is more predictive of college success than gpa alone.