Anonymous
12/22/2023 15:57
Subject: Penn State is out?!?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:DC admitted to the Altoona campus. Hmmm.
If they don’t want a commonwealth campus (and most OOS students probably don’t unless it offers a specialized degree or you’re doing sports there), ask admissions for reconsideration with a different major/college for UP. Also, did you check summer start (LEAP)? If not, also ask for reconsideration with the current major as a summer start student - easier to get in directly to UP.
DD in at UP for computer engineering with mandated summer program/LEAP attendance. 3.3 UW GPA, SATs just below the 25th percentile, but submitted. OOS, public. We considered PS a stretch school.
Anonymous
12/22/2023 15:16
Subject: Re:Penn State is out?!?
DS accepted to Smeal UP for business/marketing. He is beyond thrilled as from the other thread found that selection is competitive.
Anonymous
12/22/2023 14:25
Subject: Penn State is out?!?
PSU acceptance for DS engineering. Applied to main campus; however, was offered admission for Erie campus. Is this common? Is this a slight to DS?
Anonymous
12/18/2023 10:00
Subject: Penn State is out?!?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My DS also got into Altoona. He applied in August for University Park, with Altoona as the second choice. He was test optional (because my friend who is a local guidance counselor said don't bother with test scores unless you are over 1400), he was willing to do the summer start, and picked a different major because he knew his preferred major was too competitive at this point. He has a 3.85W and amazing extracurriculars, unhooked otherwise though.
He heard nothing for months. We are in-state and a ton of people from his school (over 30% of the senior class) had also applied. Kids have been hearing here and there over recent weeks but the decisions seem to be dribbling out.
Yesterday around noon, my husband and I both got these random e-mails from the Altoona campus, which we had never communicated with before. It was a generic email that had a list of admissions deadlines (which is unnecessary because our kid already applied...4 months ago!). Meanwhile DS looked at his portal again and it looked different but there was no decision in there. Around dinnertime, he looked again and there it was - in at Altoona. We know PSU had an overwhelming number of applications, but why are the satellite campuses sending out emails to parents when they haven't given the kids notification of their decisions yet?
DS has since heard from other kids at school that the exact same thing happened to them. Kids applied early to UP for what was supposed to be a rolling decision, didn't hear anything for months, parents received emails out of nowhere from a satellite campus, and later that day the kid got into that satellite. I'm fine that he didn't get in but that's really poor form to send out spoilers to the parents before notifying the actual applicants. Glad we won't be funding this nonsense with our tuition dollars next year.
Additionally, only 45% are submitting scores at PS, which is lower than it's primary peer/competitors. That makes a decent SAT even more beneficial.
Penn State's 25%-75% SAT range is 1220-1380. IMO anything over 1200 is solid in this case, for sure a 1300 should have been submitted.
Anonymous
12/18/2023 09:58
Subject: Penn State is out?!?
Anonymous wrote:My DS also got into Altoona. He applied in August for University Park, with Altoona as the second choice. He was test optional (because my friend who is a local guidance counselor said don't bother with test scores unless you are over 1400), he was willing to do the summer start, and picked a different major because he knew his preferred major was too competitive at this point. He has a 3.85W and amazing extracurriculars, unhooked otherwise though.
He heard nothing for months. We are in-state and a ton of people from his school (over 30% of the senior class) had also applied. Kids have been hearing here and there over recent weeks but the decisions seem to be dribbling out.
Yesterday around noon, my husband and I both got these random e-mails from the Altoona campus, which we had never communicated with before. It was a generic email that had a list of admissions deadlines (which is unnecessary because our kid already applied...4 months ago!). Meanwhile DS looked at his portal again and it looked different but there was no decision in there. Around dinnertime, he looked again and there it was - in at Altoona. We know PSU had an overwhelming number of applications, but why are the satellite campuses sending out emails to parents when they haven't given the kids notification of their decisions yet?
DS has since heard from other kids at school that the exact same thing happened to them. Kids applied early to UP for what was supposed to be a rolling decision, didn't hear anything for months, parents received emails out of nowhere from a satellite campus, and later that day the kid got into that satellite. I'm fine that he didn't get in but that's really poor form to send out spoilers to the parents before notifying the actual applicants. Glad we won't be funding this nonsense with our tuition dollars next year.
Penn State's 25%-75% SAT range is 1220-1380. IMO anything over 1200 is solid in this case, for sure a 1300 should have been submitted.
Anonymous
12/17/2023 22:24
Subject: Penn State is out?!?
22:13 again. Meant to add, our DD applied to PSU-UP 2 years ago, higher GPA but very light on extracurriculars, and she got a decision in 3 weeks - was admitted and with scholarship (she ultimately went to Pitt). It is different this year for some reason. We heard a new admissions director but obviously, we are not impressed.
Anonymous
12/17/2023 22:13
Subject: Penn State is out?!?
My DS also got into Altoona. He applied in August for University Park, with Altoona as the second choice. He was test optional (because my friend who is a local guidance counselor said don't bother with test scores unless you are over 1400), he was willing to do the summer start, and picked a different major because he knew his preferred major was too competitive at this point. He has a 3.85W and amazing extracurriculars, unhooked otherwise though.
He heard nothing for months. We are in-state and a ton of people from his school (over 30% of the senior class) had also applied. Kids have been hearing here and there over recent weeks but the decisions seem to be dribbling out.
Yesterday around noon, my husband and I both got these random e-mails from the Altoona campus, which we had never communicated with before. It was a generic email that had a list of admissions deadlines (which is unnecessary because our kid already applied...4 months ago!). Meanwhile DS looked at his portal again and it looked different but there was no decision in there. Around dinnertime, he looked again and there it was - in at Altoona. We know PSU had an overwhelming number of applications, but why are the satellite campuses sending out emails to parents when they haven't given the kids notification of their decisions yet?
DS has since heard from other kids at school that the exact same thing happened to them. Kids applied early to UP for what was supposed to be a rolling decision, didn't hear anything for months, parents received emails out of nowhere from a satellite campus, and later that day the kid got into that satellite. I'm fine that he didn't get in but that's really poor form to send out spoilers to the parents before notifying the actual applicants. Glad we won't be funding this nonsense with our tuition dollars next year.
He heard nothing for months. We are in-state and a ton of people from his school (over 30% of the senior class) had also applied. Kids have been hearing here and there over recent weeks but the decisions seem to be dribbling out.
Yesterday around noon, my husband and I both got these random e-mails from the Altoona campus, which we had never communicated with before. It was a generic email that had a list of admissions deadlines (which is unnecessary because our kid already applied...4 months ago!). Meanwhile DS looked at his portal again and it looked different but there was no decision in there. Around dinnertime, he looked again and there it was - in at Altoona. We know PSU had an overwhelming number of applications, but why are the satellite campuses sending out emails to parents when they haven't given the kids notification of their decisions yet?
DS has since heard from other kids at school that the exact same thing happened to them. Kids applied early to UP for what was supposed to be a rolling decision, didn't hear anything for months, parents received emails out of nowhere from a satellite campus, and later that day the kid got into that satellite. I'm fine that he didn't get in but that's really poor form to send out spoilers to the parents before notifying the actual applicants. Glad we won't be funding this nonsense with our tuition dollars next year.
Anonymous
12/13/2023 20:51
Subject: Penn State is out?!?
Anonymous wrote:DC admitted to the Altoona campus. Hmmm.
If they don’t want a commonwealth campus (and most OOS students probably don’t unless it offers a specialized degree or you’re doing sports there), ask admissions for reconsideration with a different major/college for UP. Also, did you check summer start (LEAP)? If not, also ask for reconsideration with the current major as a summer start student - easier to get in directly to UP.
Anonymous
12/13/2023 19:44
Subject: Penn State is out?!?
Anonymous wrote:DC admitted to the Altoona campus. Hmmm.
huh. did you select that as a second choice? if it's University Park or nothing for your kid, maybe reach out to admissions and let them know that? Does the letter say something to the effect of "we may be able to move you to University Park later in the admissions process"?
Anonymous
12/13/2023 15:19
Subject: Penn State is out?!?
DC admitted to the Altoona campus. Hmmm.
Anonymous
12/13/2023 09:09
Subject: Penn State is out?!?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My kid is in! Thrilled, and don’t care if everyone gets in.
Same here! The more kids from the DMV the better! Lots of carpooling and making friends and finding future life partners that grew up near to my kid. Fine by me.
Congrats! And so true!
Anonymous
12/13/2023 09:03
Subject: Penn State is out?!?
Anonymous wrote:My kid is in! Thrilled, and don’t care if everyone gets in.
Same here! The more kids from the DMV the better! Lots of carpooling and making friends and finding future life partners that grew up near to my kid. Fine by me.
Anonymous
12/13/2023 08:50
Subject: Penn State is out?!?
My kid is in! Thrilled, and don’t care if everyone gets in.
Anonymous
12/12/2023 22:57
Subject: Penn State is out?!?
'Anonymous wrote:Did Penn State accept everyone?! Sounds like it. Congrats!
how rude you are!
Anonymous
12/12/2023 22:56
Subject: Penn State is out?!?
Anonymous wrote:Accepted this morning-political science major!
Congratulations to your kid. Penn State is a wonderful place. I went to the University of Texas and played sports there.
I moved to the Mid Atlantic 35 years ago. I have been fortunate to attend some of the biggest events (mostly football) at PSU but never spent much time in State College.
I have a DD at PSU and she loves it. I have now stayed in many hotels in the downtown area and I absolutely love the college town. It's not Austin, but still quite fun.
The campus is gorgeous. I was really impressed.
The school spirit is a plus and the alumni association is enormous.
My DD had many acceptances/choices for college, including many State U's and SLACS. The made the right choice for her and we are proud of her!
Happy Holidays!!!!