@jlhpsu Glad you are back! As my D19 was preparing to apply to Penn State, I combed through prior threads and your advice especially (along with a few others who have been on these threads helping for a few years), made all the difference. I learned about maximizing strategies for getting accepted, patience and acceptance with the process (it really is a good process-look at the fabulous alumni and current student base the process has generated), and found so many valuable resources to read while waiting-thank you for taking the time to still educate us. As with any process that is expected to yield superb results, there might be perceived flaws to us looking in from the outside. And with any process, there are always constraints in resources and time, and Penn State continues to examine and improve, such as implementing SRAR and EA. The process works-we may not fully understand it, but they made us a promise-Dec 24th-and they are working diligently with a process that works beautifully for the school when one measures the output at the end. Again, thank you for your always spot-on advice over the years!
Thank you!
@miltonmom1 Iâm trying to just post in this thread if I see a question that is specific. Not just to explain the wait. This thread is a safe place for venting, so Iâm just letting that happen here and staying out of those posts. But if someone has a specific question, Iâll pop in and try to help! Thanks for the post. Iâm glad that this site has helped you 
I have the exact same concerns for my son. We check portal every day. So curious when he will get a response after seeing other people getting answers in this thread. He did EA to Smeal.
My son applied EA to Smeal (3.6 GPA/33 ACT/lots of activities/OOS). While we wait for answer, we keep wondering if we made a mistake not applying to DUS. We asked his college counselor at high school to call and check, and he was told by a PSU Admissions Official that if applicant does not get into Smeal, he or she will be given the option of applying to DUS. I am nervous about this and hope it is true and guess I am not the only one - @mamawitch.
Count me in as another member of the @jlhpsu Fan Club!
Iâve combed through the PSU threads a bazillion times over the past several months. Your current and past posts have been incredibly helpful. Thanks to you, I made sure to take my son on visits to both University Park AND Altoona. And have made sure to fully encourage him on both options. If his goal is a degree from PSU, starting at Altoona will get him there. We are pro both campuses in our house.
All of my bookmarked PSU threads on housing and last yearâs decision process feature your input. And I have (sort of) calmed my own concerns about PSU being such a big school because of your posts.
I have to say that nothing this year seems to be much different than previous ones. Other than the fact that the application opened up a month earlier than it has previously. And as such, it seems that PSU simply backed up the ânewâ EA decision deadline a month earlier in accordance.
Itâs a ginormous school that gets tens of thousands of applications. And itâs pretty clear on the âapply by this date, get a decision by this dateâ modified rolling admission thing. That hasnât changed either. While frustrated, I am remaining (sort of) calm due to all I have learned from your posts. Thank you for taking the time to be so involved with us newbies. That time and your knowledge is most appreciated
@jimmym after learning more about DUS in the psu website My d called a few weeks ago and changed her pre major from chemistry to DUS
Partially to make sure she wasnât on bubble for eberly due to tighter math scrutiny (680 math sat even though she has an unw 4.0)
but also because it seems DUS opens all kinds of opportunities
Like the discover house living and learning
Anyone hear have any experience with DUS discover house to share?
I applied directly to a branch campus if anyone was wonderingâŠ
@amomoffour yay, congrats on completing Schreyer!!
Good luck
Yes I noticed only 1 post in decisions thread
The anxious waiting continues until 12/24 lol
Parents, relax!! There is really no exact science for determining when acceptances are issued. Just because your son or daughter may have applied 8/1, does not necessarily mean they will be the first to know. There are so many factors to consider when reviewing applications. I currently have a JS at University Park, and recall him applying for admission in early August.'16. He received his acceptance a few days before Christmas. True, there may be some that have those unreal stats that may hear right away, but you will hear in due time. We currently have twin daughters that applied for admission this fall as well. Having gone thru the process already, the best advice I can give you is to be patient and donât panic. Enjoy and Trust the Process! As PSU has stated, you will have a decision by 12/24 if you met the EA deadline. Remember too, there is a very small number of persons that post their acceptances on these forums - stay positive!
@jimmym Iâd call ASAP and ask to change the major to DUS. A 3.6 will almost certainly be denied Smeal. Itâs THE hardest college to get into at PSU. Itâs true you can ask for reconsideration after a denial, but you are then being put behind those who applied and havenât heard yet. More waiting and if DUS fills up you can be out of luck.
Starting DUS for Smeal is done all of the time and there is a process and path to follow. Iâd call tomorrow and see if you can still update the application.
Have all your kids applied for the honor college? They keep sending D emails,but she has zero interest, and at this point does not want to right another essay. Can not applying have an impact on admissions? Just wondering
@citymama Yes, let me tell you if she doesnât have interest, donât waste your time with the essays. They are very difficult this year, more so than previous years. They encourage everyone interested to apply, but a very small margin get offers. She can also gateway w/no scholarship after attending PSU meeting the criteria.
It has zero impact on admission.
@citymama9 The processes for regular admission and Schreyer are totally different and independent from each other. If she doesnât want to apply, then she shouldnât. (but it is a great opportunity for many different reasons). If the only reason she doesnât want to apply is to not write another essay, then she doesnât sound like the kid that would be successful in Schreyer anyway, so it sounds like the right decision.
@jimmym I will echo jilpsu advice. If you are admitted to Smeal, you are âpre-majorâ. If you are DUS, you are âpre-majorâ. In both cases, you need a prescribed set of ETM (entrance to major) classes to be admitted to a major. (Calculus, Statistics, Econ, English, Marketing, Management, Accounting, and Finance). Those ETM classes will be made up of DUS and Smeal pre-majors. To get into a Smeal major, you need a 3.2 (3.5 for Finance) ⊠whether or not you are Smeal pre-major or DUS. There are many Smeal pre-major kids that donât make the cut and move to Economics or some other major. There are Engineering kids that struggle with their own ETM classes - to get into Smeal, they have to spend a semester in DUS. The only way into a Smeal major is through Smeal or DUS.
There are a few disadvantages to being DUS vs. Smeal - your advisers will be more general and encourage you to explore majors early on, you canât be in Sapphire (business leadership student group) if you arenât in Smeal (this is not a big deal), and⊠hang on, Iâm thinking. Nothing significant comes to mind.
If you have a kid that is square in the middle (or bottom ) of the middle 50%, I would encourage the switch to DUS. Smeal is tough to get into and offers few advantages.
@jihpsu thanks for the shout-out!
@ziveli513 I certainly understand this thread is one to vent and share frustrations about the process. I just wanted to point out that Penn State has not missed their commitment yet. And I see comments that are more than âfrustratedâ parents.
I know it is hard to wait! Just breathe⊠a year from now, your kid will be doing great (wherever they land) and you will wonder what all the stress was about.
walk away, hug your kid, and enjoy every minute⊠because you are about to lose them and it is sad : (.
@lucyvanpelt thank you, good advice, hugging my girl right now
Not to be defensive, but my daughter would actually be a great candidate for Schreyer, sheâs just tired of the whole college process right now. It doesnât mean sheâs not hard working and intellectually curious.@lucyvanpelt
My son applied to Smeal but my understanding was that your choice of major doesnât impact the decision unless it was one of the âspecial programsâ (golf mgmt was one, premed, visual arts and some special science program) I thought that when we toured they said if you apply to Smeal for example and donât get directly admitted but you would otherwise be admitted to DUS, that you will get an acceptance to DUS and will be told you can apply to Smeal later in your college career. I hope I am remembering this correctlyâŠhe put down Smeal but his GPA isnât very good do to poor performance freshman year. He figured heâd put Smeal anywayâŠlongshot but figured it they say no, he could start with Econ in DUS
Thanks @jihpsu & @lucyvanpelt for the advice - we will consider you recommendations re applying to DUS instead of directly into Smeal.
@mombird: DUS is undeclared. The student MUST be DUS (NO declared majors ie., canât declare economics) to apply to Smeal.
As for admissions, the switch is not automatic: if youâre denied for Smeal, you need to call immediately and request reevaluation for DUS.