Hi guys!
I just got an email from UMass Amherst saying that I was accepted into the Business Exploratory Track because I am an undeclared business student. What does this mean? Does anyone have any experience with this?
Thanks!
Also, on the UMass website it says that youre invited to this program if u were not directly accepted. What does this mean?
My child received the same email but was already accepted into Isenberg. I called the Isenberg undergraduate programs office to inquire and was told that these emails may have gone out in error and to contact the undergraduate admissions office for further clarification.
Yes, I’m very confused as well. My D got the same email but her admissions letter also says she was accepted to Isenberg. The admissions letter says nothing about “exploratory track.” This is thoroughly confusing.
@pilgrim6 or anyone else-- did you get further clarification from the undergrad admissions office? What did they say?
@pilgrim6 ok thanks for your help! i’ll try contacting them tomorrow.
@redpoodles yeah me too. On my Spire account it says I was admitted to Isenberg so I don’t know what’s going on.
I got the same thing. My acceptance letter says I got into Isenberg but doesn’t say what major. It also says nothing about this exploratory track. I assume this means I didn’t get into my first choice major (finance)
@katross98 Is there a major on your spire? My D’s says “Your primary major is:
PR-School of Management” We don’t actually know what this is.
My spire says "admitted to your first choice major(click here for more info) -PR-School of Management " I’m very confused.
@Drizzy248 Same (on a different page). My D’s acceptance letter doesn’t have a major in it, it says “Based on your stellar academic credentials and personal accomplishments, you have earned a position in the Fall 2017 entering class as a major in the Isenberg School of Management.” This is weird. They should communicate better than this.
@redpoodles @Drizzy248 yeah no major just PR-School of Management
nothing about exploratory
Do other people have a major?
@Drizzy248 my friend who also got into Isenberg got the email, has no major, and her spire account just says PR-School of Management
Yep, mine is exactly the same
Got an email saying the previous email was a mixup and that I was accepted to Isenberg not the Business Exploratory Track
alrighty then
Yay. My D too. Just a simple mistake. I do think in future years they should explain what “P.R.” means though–at least lay it out on the website. We couldn’t find anything.
Aside from if these went out in error.
The school puts people into the exploratory track when they are not a direct admit to the program. All it means is that you need to take a few business classes to prove your worth and then apply to Isenberg. The website should list the requirements for transferring into the program from another major. this is basically how it would treat you. The process is definitely doable and not all that difficult. You just need to make the grades. It will be all on you.
I actually think experiencing an exploratory track would be a good thing for every student. What I have a problem with is the vague language in the acceptance letter and website that made us wonder if you’re accepted to Isenberg already or not accepted. “What does this mean?” is right. It feels like a bait and switch.
Today’s email clarified what happened. A simple mistake. I think these people must be very overworked and sending out emails when they are dead tired. It happens to the best of us.
Regardless, I hope my D has a chance to explore so she can figure out what she really likes.
Alright, I’ll clear this up for you guys as best as I can. When you get admitted into Isenberg, you’re automatically gonna be considered PR-ISOM. What this means is that you have no major, but you’re in the business school. You won’t have anything else except for this until you declare your major, which is a little after the halfway mark of a semester. You can wait to declare during any semester all the way up until your 4th, which would be right before you start Junior year. At this point, if you wait any longer, you might not be able to graduate on time (or will have to do a semester with an overload) because some of the higher level required courses are locked off to specific majors. I personally declared during my first semester, but that was just because I already knew what I wanted to pursue.
As for the business exploratory track, you’re technically a part of Isenberg but not completely. You will have access to regular Isenberg classes though. If I remember correctly, someone told me that if you’re on this track, they’ll review your college transcript after your first or 2nd year or so to decide if you’re gonna be allowed to continue into Isenberg or not. It’s kinda like doing an internal transfer, but a bit easier.
P.S: @redpoodles The exploratory track isn’t any different than being admitted directly into Isenberg, except for the fact that you might get rejected when they review your transcript later and would have to change majors (internal transfers for Isenberg are 3.5-3.7 avg I think). You would still take your “Isenberg Transitions” class, which is basically just to help you get used to all the things that Isenberg has to offer. The list of base required courses for all Isenberg students (regardless of major) spans across all the majors available within the business school. It’s why PR-ISOM students are considered as such, so they can explore what they want to do in Isenberg before they declare.
@BladeHunter Thanks, that was very helpful! They should put this in the acceptance letter!