The Basics About Penn State
Penn State is a public institution that was founded in 1855. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 38,630, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 8556 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Penn State's ranking in the 2011 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 47. Its in-state tuition is $15,250; out-of-state tuition is $27,114.
Overview: Pennsylvania State University--University Park
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General Information
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Institutional Control:
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Public
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Year founded:
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1855
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Religious affiliation:
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N/A
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Academic calendar:
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semester
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Fall 2009 Total number of undergraduates:
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38,630
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Setting:
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urban
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2009 Endowment:
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N/A
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Fall Admissions
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Application deadline:
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rolling
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Application fee:
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$50
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Fall 2009 Acceptance rate:
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52%
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Selectivity:
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more selective
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Expenses
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Costs:
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2010-2011 In-state: $15,250; Out-of-state: $27,114
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Mission (as provided by the school)
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Penn State is the flagship public university of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, with an historic land-grant mission of teaching, research and service. The university enrolls more than 90,000 students at 24 campus locations statewide and the Penn State World Campus, including more than 44,000 at the University Park campus in State College. Penn State has a campus within practical commuting distance of virtually every Pennsylvanian. Many students start their degree programs at one of nineteen Penn State undergraduate campuses across the state and complete their requirements at University Park. The World Campus delivers more than 60 degree and professional programs online to nearly 10,000 students a year, including military personnel serving overseas. The university also holds a unique responsibility for outreach and engages in collaborative activities with industrial, educational and agricultural partners around the world to disseminate and apply knowledge. Penn State programs touch one out of two households in Pennsylvania each year. The university also offers degree programs at the College of Medicine at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, and Penn State Dickinson School of Law at the University Park and Carlisle campuses. Boasting one of the nation's largest graduate schools, the university is a leader in engaging students in landmark research. More than $2 million in research activity takes place at Penn State each day. Opportunities for discovery extend beyond the graduate school, as Penn State undergraduates have unique opportunities to work with world-class faculty conducting significant research that advances and serves the nation in important ways. Research at Penn State is enhanced through the university's membership in the Worldwide Universities Network, a consortium of research universities that collaborate on research primarily focused in science, technology and engineering. This partnership is an example of the University's continued efforts to expand the breadth and scope of its collaborations. Penn State's Alumni Association has more than 161,000 members, making it the nation's largest dues-paying alumni organization, with 277 chapters, societies and interest groups worldwide.
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Applications: Pennsylvania State University--University Park
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Regular Decision
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Application deadline:
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rolling
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Notification date:
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N/A
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Deadline for accepting admissions offers:
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Rolling (Fall), Rolling (Spring), Rolling (Summer)
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Early Decision
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Is an early decision plan offered?
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No
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Early decision deadline:
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N/A
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Early decision decision sent by:
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N/A
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Early Action
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Is an early action plan offered?
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No
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Early action deadline:
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N/A
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Early action decision sent by:
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N/A
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Application Fee
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Application fee:
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$50
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Is the application fee refundable?
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No
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Can the application fee be waived for students with financial need?
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Yes
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Is it possible to defer admission?
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Yes
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Application Formats
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Can applications be submitted via E-mail?
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No
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Electronic application URL:
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http://admissions.psu.edu/apply/
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Tuition and Room Deposits
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Tuition deposit:
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$200
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Is the tuition deposit refundable?
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Nonrefundable
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Room deposit:
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$100
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Is the room deposit refundable?
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Partially refundable
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Contact Information
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Admissions director:
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Anne Rohrbach
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Admissions office phone number:
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(814) 865-5471
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Admissions E-mail:
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Requirements and Factors: Pennsylvania State University--University Park
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Admission Requirements
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Admission interview?
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Neither required/recommended
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Campus visit?
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Recommended
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Off-campus interviews?
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are not available
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Does the school have an open admission policy?
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No
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Does the college use SAT or ACT scores in admissions decisions for first-time, first-year applicants?
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Yes
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Standardized tests?
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Either SAT or ACT required.
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ACT Writing test?
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ACT with writing required
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SAT/ACT scores must be received by:
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N/A
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SAT Subject Test scores must be received by:
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N/A
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High school completion requirement for admissions:
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High school diploma is required and GED is accepted
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General college-preparatory program?
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Recommend
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Academic Factors Used in Admissions Decisions
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Rigor of secondary school record?
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Important
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Class rank?
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Considered
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Academic GPA?
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Very Important
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Standardized test scores?
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Very Important
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Application essay?
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Considered
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Recommendations?
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Considered
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Nonacademic Factors Used in Admissions Decisions
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Interview?
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Not Considered
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Extracurricular activities?
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Considered
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Talent/ability?
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Considered
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Character/personal qualities?
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Considered
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Being a first-generation college student?
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Not Considered
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Alumni/ae relations?
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Considered
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Geographical residence?
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Not Considered
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State residency?
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Not Considered
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Religious affiliation/commitment?
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Not Considered
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Race/ethnicity?
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Not Considered
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Volunteer work?
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Considered
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Work experience?
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Considered
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Level of the applicant's interest?
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Not Considered
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Required High School Course Work
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High school units required in English:
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4
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High school units required in Foreign Languages:
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2
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High school units required in History:
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0
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High school units required in Mathematics:
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3
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High school units required in Science:
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3
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High school units required in Science Labs:
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0
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High school units required in Social Studies:
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3
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High school units required in academic electives:
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0
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Total high school units required:
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15
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Recommended High School Course Work
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High school units recommended in English:
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0
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High school units recommended in Foreign languages:
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0
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High school units recommended in History:
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0
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High school units recommended in Mathematics:
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0
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High school units recommended in Science:
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0
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High school units recommended in Science Labs:
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0
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High school units recommended in Social Studies:
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0
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High school units recommended in academic electives:
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0
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Total high school units recommended:
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0
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Entering Class Statistics: Pennsylvania State University--University Park
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Fall 2009 Selectivity
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Selectivity:
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more selective
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Fall 2009 Acceptance rate:
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52%
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Early decision acceptance rate:
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N/A
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Early action acceptance rate:
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N/A
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Acceptance rate (excluding early action and early decision students):
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52%
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Fall 2009 Applications, Acceptances, and Enrollments
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Number of applicants:
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40,714
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Number of applicants accepted:
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21,017
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Freshman enrollment for Fall 2009:
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6,560
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Percent of total enrolled incoming freshmen who been accepted under either early acceptance or early action:
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N/A
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Number of male applicants:
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21,173
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Number of male applicants accepted for Fall 2009:
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10,292
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Male freshman enrollment:
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3,351
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Number of female applicants:
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19,541
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Number of female applicants accepted Fall 2009:
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10,725
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Female freshman enrollment:
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3,209
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Fall 2009 Wait List
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Does the school have a waiting list?
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Yes
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Number of applicants placed on a waiting list:
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1,494
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Number of students on the wait list accepted:
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1,456
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Number of students enrolled from a waiting list:
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1,455
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Fall 2009 High School Rank
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Percent of first-year students submitting high school class standing:
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65%
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2009 Freshmen in top 10 percent of high school class:
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50%
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2009 Freshmen in top 25 percent of high school class:
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86%
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2009 Freshmen in top 50 percent of high school class:
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98%
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Fall 2009 High School GPA
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Percent of first-year students submitting high school GPA:
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95%
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Average high school GPA:
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3.6
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Fall 2009 Freshmen SAT Scores
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Percent of first-year students submitting SAT scores:
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82%
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SAT Critical Reading 25th-75th percentile range:
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530-630
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SAT Math 25th-75th percentile range:
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560-670
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SAT Writing 25th-75th percentile range:
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540-640
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SAT Essay 25th-75th percentile range:
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N/A
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Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 700-800 range:
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7%
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Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 600-699 range:
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36%
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Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 500-599 range:
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44%
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Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 400-499 range:
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12%
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Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 300-399 range:
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1%
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Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 200-299 range:
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0.2%
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Percent with SAT Math scores in the 700-800 range:
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15%
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Percent with SAT Math scores in the 600-699 range:
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47%
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Percent with SAT Math scores in the 500-599 range:
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29%
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Percent with SAT Math scores in the 400-499 range:
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7%
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Percent with SAT Math scores in the 300-399 range:
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1%
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Percent with SAT Math scores in the 200-299 range:
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0.1%
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Fall 2009 Freshmen ACT Scores
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Percent of first-year students submitting ACT scores:
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11%
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ACT English 25th-75th percentile range:
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N/A
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ACT Math 25th-75th percentile range:
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N/A
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ACT Composite 25th-75th percentile range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT English scores in the 30-36 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT English scores in the 24-29 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT English scores in the 18-23 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT English scores in the 12-17 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT English scores in the 6-11 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT English scores below 6:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Math scores in the 30-36 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Math scores in the 24-29 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Math scores in the 18-23 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Math scores in the 12-17 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Math scores in the 6-11 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Math scores below 6:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Composite scores in the 30-36 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Composite scores in the 24-29 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Composite scores in the 18-23 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Composite scores in the 12-17 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Composite scores in the 6-11 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Composite scores below 6:
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N/A
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Transfer Students: Pennsylvania State University--University Park
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Deadlines
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Terms for which transfer students may apply for admission:
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Fall, Spring, Summer
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Application date for transfer students:
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Rolling (Fall), Rolling (Spring), Rolling (Summer)
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Admission decision sent:
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Rolling (Fall), Rolling (Spring), Rolling (Summer)
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Deadline for accepting admissions offers:
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Rolling (Fall), Rolling (Spring), Rolling (Summer)
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Requirements
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Do transfer applicants need a minimum number of credits to apply?
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Yes, 18
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Minimum required high school GPA:
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N/A
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Minimum required college GPA:
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N/A
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High school transcript?
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Required of all
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College transcript?
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Required of all
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Essay/personal statement?
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Not required
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Admission interview?
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Not required
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Standardized test scores?
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Not required
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Statement of good standing from prior institution(s)?
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Not required
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Lowest course grade that may be transferred for credit:
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2.0
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Maximum number of credit/courses that may be transferred:
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N/A
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Is there a minimum number of credits needed to complete degree?
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18 credits for an associate degree, 36 credits for a bachelor's degree
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Transfer Student Application and Enrollment Statistics
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Total number of transfer students applying for Fall 2009:
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1,650
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Total number of transfer students accepted for Fall 2009:
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732
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Total number of transfer students enrolled for Fall 2009:
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398
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International Student Admissions: Pennsylvania State University--University Park
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Deadlines and Requirements
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Application deadline:
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February 1 (Fall), October 1 (Spring), February 1 (Summer)
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Preapplication form required?
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No
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Separate application form required?
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No
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TOEFL
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TOEFL requirement?
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N/A
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May the TOEFL be submitted in place of the SAT or ACT?
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Yes
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Minimum TOEFL score required (paper test):
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550
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Minimum TOEFL score required (internet test):
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213
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Average TOEFL score (paper test):
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N/A
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Average TOEFL score (internet test):
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N/A
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