University Undergraduate Advising Handbook

SUMMARY OF ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
(formerly the Profile of Academic Abilities)
PLACEMENT TESTS (ENGLISH, MATHEMATICS, CHEMISTRY)

As part of the admissions process, first-year applicants to the University are required to submit their SAT scores and their high school academic records for evaluation. Students who are admitted participate in the First-Year Testing, Consulting, and Advising Program (FTCAP). During the testing component of this program, students take placement tests in English, mathematics, and chemistry.

When a student's testing is completed, the Division of Undergraduate Studies creates an individualized report, the student's Summary of Academic Performance. This summary—based on the student's high school record, SAT scores, and scores on the Penn State placement tests—is reviewed in detail with students and their families at FTCAP.

Each summary contains the individual student's test results and placement actions. In addition, the summary includes data on the student's past academic performance as well as the range of first-year grades earned by last year's cohort of students. This information can help new students prepare for success in Penn State's academic environment. (See sample summary.)

Newly admitted first-year students participate in this program before registering for first-semester classes. During the FTCAP advising day, students receive copies of their summaries and detailed interpretations of their test results.

Students should not be advised to schedule English, mathematics, or chemistry courses without first reviewing the placement actions and recommendations. Copies of summaries are available from the appropriate deans' offices, from the FTCAP office at University Park, 814-865-2578, and from the directors of academic affairs at Commonwealth Campuses. Students' placement actions also become available on eLion in the FTCAP Summary application at the start of the first semester/session in which the student is enrolled. The Help document that accompanies this application provides details.

Information about scheduling English composition courses appears in Scheduling English Composition Courses. See Scheduling General Education Quantification Courses for details on scheduling (1) basic mathematics, algebra, precalculus, and calculus courses as recommended by the mathematics placement actions on the Summary of Academic Performance and (2) alternatives to algebra, precalculus and calculus to fulfill the General Education quantification requirement.

For additional information concerning course scheduling based on placement actions and recommendations, contact the appropriate office: English Composition, 139 South Burrowes Building, University Park, 814-863-3066, Mathematics Undergraduate Studies, 104 McAllister Building, University Park, 814-865-7528, Undergraduate Chemistry Office, 210 Whitmore Lab, University Park, 814-865-9391.

For additional information regarding the use of the Summary of Academic Performance for advising and program planning, contact the Division of Undergraduate Studies at 814-865-7576.

The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. Please consult a Penn State academic adviser for more detailed information.

This page is part of the University Undergraduate Advising Handbook, which is maintained by the Division of Undergraduate Studies, DUS@psu.edu.

Last Update: May 2009