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This is not Harvard we are talking about. To me, she should make the cut. I wish her well.
One of the issues that I recall from the 80s and 90s was that a lot of really strong candidates would get wait listed; this was a function of Ivy League kids using PSU as their safety school. No idea if that is still an issue or not, but that definitely used to drive up the admissions criteria for UP fall semester (no waitlist).No, but I recall when when Main admissions was on the level of the likes a UC Berkeley. When I was in HS we pretty much needed a +1300 SAT to have a decent chance but that was in '86 when PSU was probably at its academic and athletic pinnacle. No idea what it takes now. Good luck.
Let’s put it this way. It’s not a disadvantage right now, particularly in the OP’s situation.Depends on the school. PSU admissions is pretty much by the numbers (GPA/rank and test scores) so not submitting a test score may be a disadvantage if the large majority of applicants are.
Ok. What percent of applicants with a 1060 or 1090 (can’t remember OP) get admitted to PSU. Can’t believe it is more than 50%, but you seem to know so what is it? I’m just curiousY’all are way overestimating the SAT/ACT score importance at PSU.
Way more than you think, and that’s as close I’ll get to an answer.Ok. What percent of applicants with a 1060 or 1090 (can’t remember OP) get admitted to PSU. Can’t believe it is more than 50%, but you seem to know so what is it? I’m just curious
That’s pretty sad for dear old state, then, if 50th percentile on the SAT gets you in.Way more than you think, and that’s as close I’ll get to an answer.
Take a look at this link. These are the from The most recent incoming class.My niece's #1 choice is PSU, so long as she gets into University Park. My concern is she visited Pitt last week as a potential back up option...
I felt there was zero doubt she gets in, but wondered if any folks here with better insights agreed. Here are her relevant stats/info:
I told them I'd be shocked if she didn't get in, but I guess I don't really know much about what it takes. Thoughts?
- PA resident
- Small school district, about 250 in the high school, but still a top 100 district in PA.
- 3.5-3.7 GPA
- Class president
- Member of marching band (clarinet), wants to try out for blue band. Already knows PSU fight songs.
- Also plays basketball for HS
- SAT below expected at 1060
- Has other volunteer experience for years
- Looking at health care career (PA, psychiatry, pharmacy among considerations)
- Her uncle is wbcincy (joking, but my family has been going to PSU for 100+ years now, didn't know if legacy means anything)
Can someone explain to me the test optional thing? Is this solely about covid? If so, that seems dumb (not a covid denier, but it would be really easy to administer tests safely). Or are schools really getting away from standardized testing? Tests are imperfect, but so are high school grades (vary too much by school).Take a look at this link. These are the from The most recent incoming class.
Admission Statistics
admissions.psu.edu
Can someone explain to me the test optional thing? Is this solely about covid? If so, that seems dumb (not a covid denier, but it would be really easy to administer tests safely). Or are schools really getting away from standardized testing? Tests are imperfect, but so are high school grades (vary too much by school).
I've often wondered if a way around that would be to use required standardized national testing to rate/rank high schools, and then normalize GPAs to that ranking (in other words, a 3.5 at a top 10 HS in the country is far better than a 4.0 at a lower tier school). I think universities have "unofficial" rankings of high schools anyway (my ex-GF knew a recruiter who when she found out what public HS I went to basically said "yeah, if you are in the top 10% of your class there, you are getting into any non-Ivy league school pretty automatically).
At the end of the day, SAT and standardized testing has been seen as less important in college admissions for several years. That has nothing to do with COVID. But it is still seen as a dick waiving contest as you see in this thread, and schools still talk a lot about SAT scores because it sounds good to some parents.Can someone explain to me the test optional thing? Is this solely about covid? If so, that seems dumb (not a covid denier, but it would be really easy to administer tests safely). Or are schools really getting away from standardized testing? Tests are imperfect, but so are high school grades (vary too much by school).
I've often wondered if a way around that would be to use required standardized national testing to rate/rank high schools, and then normalize GPAs to that ranking (in other words, a 3.5 at a top 10 HS in the country is far better than a 4.0 at a lower tier school). I think universities have "unofficial" rankings of high schools anyway (my ex-GF knew a recruiter who when she found out what public HS I went to basically said "yeah, if you are in the top 10% of your class there, you are getting into any non-Ivy league school pretty automatically).
It’s been happening since the Spanier days, so don’t blame Barron.That’s pretty sad for dear old state, then, if 50th percentile on the SAT gets you in.
My daughter was accepted into Penn State, but the out of state cost is crazy. She is headed to Arkansas on a partial scholarship instead. It will save us $120k over 4 years. Wooo Pig!My niece's #1 choice is PSU, so long as she gets into University Park. My concern is she visited Pitt last week as a potential back up option...
I felt there was zero doubt she gets in, but wondered if any folks here with better insights agreed. Here are her relevant stats/info:
I told them I'd be shocked if she didn't get in, but I guess I don't really know much about what it takes. Thoughts?
- PA resident
- Small school district, about 250 in the high school, but still a top 100 district in PA.
- 3.5-3.7 GPA
- Class president
- Member of marching band (clarinet), wants to try out for blue band. Already knows PSU fight songs.
- Also plays basketball for HS
- SAT below expected at 1060
- Has other volunteer experience for years
- Looking at health care career (PA, psychiatry, pharmacy among considerations)
- Her uncle is wbcincy (joking, but my family has been going to PSU for 100+ years now, didn't know if legacy means anything)
My niece's #1 choice is PSU, so long as she gets into University Park. My concern is she visited Pitt last week as a potential back up option...
I felt there was zero doubt she gets in, but wondered if any folks here with better insights agreed. Here are her relevant stats/info:
I told them I'd be shocked if she didn't get in, but I guess I don't really know much about what it takes. Thoughts?
- PA resident
- Small school district, about 250 in the high school, but still a top 100 district in PA.
- 3.5-3.7 GPA
- Class president
- Member of marching band (clarinet), wants to try out for blue band. Already knows PSU fight songs.
- Also plays basketball for HS
- SAT below expected at 1060
- Has other volunteer experience for years
- Looking at health care career (PA, psychiatry, pharmacy among considerations)
- Her uncle is wbcincy (joking, but my family has been going to PSU for 100+ years now, didn't know if legacy means anything)
I know several kids who attended Penn State Altoona and they loved it. Both of my kids had a very similar resume to your niece. SAT scores were a little higher but GPA's were a little lower. They both started at UP in the Summer, but must admit they benefited from having a parent who was an employee at PSU.
I take it admissions have gotten easier as of late? Feel like that sat score would have been borderline for a branch campus when I was applying ~15 years ago.
Check the box to start in the summer……widely known secret to get UP.
she will have way more fun there than missing her “last summer with her friends”.
It would also seem to be an easier transition. More laid back with less of the Fall chaos.Summer at UP is a very wise choice if she wants UP vs. branch campus options.
This. With testing becoming less of a factor your high school means a lot more. All colleges have rankings of state high schools and data on how they historically perform at PSU. In NEPA it is better to apply from Abington Heights with those scores vs Scranton or Dunmore.Can someone explain to me the test optional thing? Is this solely about covid? If so, that seems dumb (not a covid denier, but it would be really easy to administer tests safely). Or are schools really getting away from standardized testing? Tests are imperfect, but so are high school grades (vary too much by school).
I've often wondered if a way around that would be to use required standardized national testing to rate/rank high schools, and then normalize GPAs to that ranking (in other words, a 3.5 at a top 10 HS in the country is far better than a 4.0 at a lower tier school). I think universities have "unofficial" rankings of high schools anyway (my ex-GF knew a recruiter who when she found out what public HS I went to basically said "yeah, if you are in the top 10% of your class there, you are getting into any non-Ivy league school pretty automatically).
I enrolled in 1963 and am SAT of 1065 would have been a long shot. They have dumbed down the SAT over the years too. I got 1248 and was easily accepted at State and Pitt.
She’s good. But, isn’t Cal cheaper?Granddaughter considering PSU in 2022. 2 AP courses so far, Senior year to go. Weighted average 4.0+.
San Jose, CA resident.. Took ACT last weekend.
PSU relationships (Grads);
Father, Mother, Both .Grandfathers., 1 Uncle, 2 Great Uncles, and 2 other distant relative grads.
One Grandfather:
Golder Lion Society - Contributor every year since graduation (1963)
Centennial Fellow of Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics.
Grandfather and Uncle - Football Season Tickets Holders and 2 ORV Holders
Odds?
Yes, I think so, but parents are willing to pay if that's where she wants to go. She probably will not want to be that far away.She’s good. But, isn’t Cal cheaper?
Granddaughter considering PSU in 2022. 2 AP courses so far, Senior year to go. Weighted average 4.0+.
San Jose, CA resident.. Took ACT last weekend.
PSU relationships (Grads);
Father, Mother, Both .Grandfathers., 1 Uncle, 2 Great Uncles, and 2 other distant relative grads.
One Grandfather:
Golder Lion Society - Contributor every year since graduation (1963)
Centennial Fellow of Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics.
Grandfather and Uncle - Football Season Tickets Holders and 2 ORV Holders
Odds?
Interesting question. I don't think PSU had anything similar when I was there but perhaps that has changed.Another question for those who may have some experience with PSU admissions....
The UMD will only accept a certain amount of kids from one HS no matter how qualified. I have personal experience with this and was told directly from admissions. (Schools like Centennial HS in Ellicott City will have their top 100+ kids all graduate with a 4.2+ weighted GPA and 1400+ on the SAT but only a dozen or so will get initial acceptance without being waitlisted)
Does PSU have a similar standard?
Another question for those who may have some experience with PSU admissions....
The UMD will only accept a certain amount of kids from one HS no matter how qualified. I have personal experience with this and was told directly from admissions. (Schools like Centennial HS in Ellicott City will have their top 100+ kids all graduate with a 4.2+ weighted GPA and 1400+ on the SAT but only a dozen or so will get initial acceptance without being waitlisted)
Does PSU have a similar standard?
Nothing officially stated.Another question for those who may have some experience with PSU admissions....
The UMD will only accept a certain amount of kids from one HS no matter how qualified. I have personal experience with this and was told directly from admissions. (Schools like Centennial HS in Ellicott City will have their top 100+ kids all graduate with a 4.2+ weighted GPA and 1400+ on the SAT but only a dozen or so will get initial acceptance without being waitlisted)
Does PSU have a similar standard?
Nothing officially stated.
As a side note: I haven't read this thread in a while. What you see here is why schools love to tout average SAT scores of admits. It sounds good to the parents who get to brag. In reality, declining SAT scores are not unique to PSU--it is industry wide. Standardized test scores as a major factor for admission is not as big of a "thing" as it was even 10 years ago.
As Art or someone else mentioned in this thread, some majors are more competitive than others--but those are few in comparison to the whole.
This issue has come up before. For example State High sends 100's of kids to PSU each year. Would it make sense to restrict local kids from attending the local university? Especially when many of the kids parents work for PSU.Another question for those who may have some experience with PSU admissions....
The UMD will only accept a certain amount of kids from one HS no matter how qualified. I have personal experience with this and was told directly from admissions. (Schools like Centennial HS in Ellicott City will have their top 100+ kids all graduate with a 4.2+ weighted GPA and 1400+ on the SAT but only a dozen or so will get initial acceptance without being waitlisted)
Does PSU have a similar standard?
Tweren't me.
While it' impossible to measure, I wonder if with the decline in test scores there is a decline in the overall quality of college students.