First-Year Students - Admissions Requirements

Admission decisions for first-year students are made on the basis of several combined factors including:

• Final grades in all subject areas for years nine, ten, and eleven of high school
• Weighted average or class rank for students who have taken AP/Honors courses
• Required Carnegie (high school) units
• Standardized test scores (SAT or ACT)
  The writing component of the new SAT will not be used for admissions purposes until fall of 2008. Penn State will continue to consider applicants on 1600 scale. SAT II exams are not required)

Approximately two-thirds of our evaluation is based on high school grades and one-third on standardized test scores. The evaluation may also include a review of the personal statement and list of extracurricular activities that you submit with your application.

The chart below shows the middle 50 percent range for students offered full admission to Penn State for the fall of 2005.

High School GPA* Middle 50% Range		Composite SAT Middle 50% Range		Composite ACT Middle 50% Range
University Park	3.51 - 3.90	University Park	1180 - 1340	University Park	26 - 30
All other campuses	2.87 - 3.35	All other campuses	960 - 1150	All other campuses	20 - 25
*High school GPA range is based on a 4.0 scale.