Pixies for my son, please About This Page:

[pparm]

DS(age18) found out today that he did not get accepted to his first choice for college: Penn State at University Park. He is SO bummed! He did, however, get accepted at Penn State Harrisburg. He's not happy about that, though! He has now decided that he may appeal the decision as we had problems with the SAT scores being reported (it was the SAT board's fault!). I have to try to find out exactly when they were reported and then he may write the letter to appeal. He has also decided to apply to Lock Haven University. Of course, Bloomsburg University is a whopping 15 minute drive away, but he wants to be a gym teacher, and can't get that there! I should've been more insistant that he apply to another college, but he was doing it so early, we were sure he'd know about PSU by Thanksgiving, that we figured he'd have time to apply somewhere else if need be. Pixies please as we get through the next few days and decide what to do!
Thanks!
Paula

[Colexis Mom]

[DrDolphin]

Good luck with the appeal!!

[Huntermom]

I know your son is really disappointed, but it may work out for the best. The college admission process is crazy and getting worse every year. In the five years between my DS1 and DD, every school seemed to get much more competitive.

I think your son has several options. Many schools don't close their appications until 2/15 or 3/1 or even later so he can look for other options. He should ask himself why he really wanted Penn State and what other schools might have those same qualities.

He can start at a community college and then apply to transfer. If grades were a little lower than average at the school, that would be a great opportunity to show how well he can do on the college level.

He may be able to apply to start a semester later (admission can be a little easier). He may also be able to apply to be admitted to a different major/college within the university if the major he wanted is particularly hard to get into. He can always change majors. I think the number of kids that graduate with the major they indicated on their application is minute.

If he asks that his application be reconsidered, he should also try to provide/highlight information they may have over looked. He should do it all himself as from what I've learned admissions people hate it when parents call.

He can also go to his second choice and then transfer. My first son transferred (he didn't want to go too far and then ended up transferring 1800 miles away). I was a little concerned as it was pretty uncommon to transfer in my day. It does not seem to be any more and both my boys know lots of kids who transferred for a variety of reasons. DS1 has close ties at both schools and got employment and professional school recomendations from faculty at both.

As far as not going to their first choice my second son was accepted at his dream school as a guarenteed sophomore transfer (strange Cornell alternative to the wait list). He went to his second choice and by mid way through freshman year, he was no longer interested in Cornell as it realized it would have been too big for him - what his mother had been trying to tell him.

DD thinks she is at her first choice (it was actually her second choice until she did not get in her first). Now she says, her only regret is she did not apply early decision as it is such a good match. Of course, it really wasn't her first choice when the applications were due. But today, she is sure it was.

Your son will survive the disappointment he feels now. If he has a positive outlook, he can be happy someplace else. Kids in this country have so many college choices, with so many different "personalities" And many of the smaller, lesser known schools can be much better fits for lots of kids.


that he ends up with the perfect match.

Diane

[rescuesk]

My DS applied to PSU 5 years ago (where does the time go?) and did not get accepted to Main Campus, either. He got accepted to the Berks and the Lehigh Valley Campus. He started his education career at LV and transferred to Berks after a year. He commuted to LV and lived on campus at Berks. In his junior year, he transferred to University Park, finished there, and graduated in May 2006.

At first he was upset/angry/hurt that he didn't make Main campus. But the transition from high school to college was very very tough for him, and the blessing of being at a smaller college with less buildings, less students, and a smaller facutly/student ratio was very helpful. He learned alot of valuable lessons his first year, including what happens to you financial aid if you drop too many classes, what happens when you fail a class, and how much responsibility is on you to succeed, and not your teachers.

I think if he had been at UP he would have been sucked into the system, failed and maybe never gone back.

Your son may find a smaller college is a perfect start to his college career. Diane makes some excellent points, especially about transferring! College is such a different world from high school, and it can overwhelm even the best and strongest students.

Good luck with everything, I hope it all works out!

[clio]

Liz

[Cam22]

[disneygramma]

[Tigger1221]

[chezp]

[BritDisFan]

[magic mickey]

[NanaTink]

[wheatenwalker]

I feel your (and your sons) pain! My older DS didnt get into his 1st choice college either- but somehow, it does all work out! Pixies that it all goes smoothly from here!

[WDWfan]