-White
-Male
-Middle class
SAT
-1160 (New SAT)
GPA
-3.45 Unweighted
-3.9917 Weighted
-All honors classes for major classes (math, english, history)
-AP stats
-Difficult electives (Accounting 3, Honors Physics 2, Marketing)
Other Info
-3 Years of Varsity Soccer (one year captian)
-I invest actual money in the stock market
-Involved in Youth Group
-Had a job since summer before junior year
-Will have good counselor and teacher recommendations
Also, I want to get into Smeal, but can go in undecided. And I will apply for the summer session.
Smeal is one of the most competitive majors at UP. I don’t think you will need to go summer session if you put DUS, (undecided) but it never hurts to also put summer as an option. They will only consider you for summer if you can’t get admitted for fall, so it doesn’t hurt you at all to put summer as your second choice starting semester. You can still work towards Smeal with starting in DUS. So that also doesn’t hurt you.
Thanks a lot! When I apply do I have to put DUS for my major for a better chance, or is there an option for like a backup? Sort of like with choosing summer as a backup to fall.
No, unfortunately, they don’t offer a back up option for major. You only get to choose one major to apply under- but you can put back ups for both starting semester and starting campus.
The only difference in getting into Smeal from the start is you get a Smeal advisor. However, the DUS advisors know all of the requirements for all of the majors. Also, even the Smeal admits aren’t really “IN” the major until junior year after they complete the entry to major requirements successfully. With DUS, you can work on the exact same entry to major requirments and get formally accepted into Smeal at the same time as those who entered Smeal as pre majors freshman year.
Good luck! Applications open September 1, with priority given to applicants that apply by Nov 30. Expect to wait a while for your answer and hopefully you hear sooner. My daughter waited almost 5 months for her response! (applied Sept 2, heard January 26). My husband and I are also both alumni of PSU so if you have any other questions feel free to ask!
@Mberger23 Do not put down Smeal. My son is a freshman and got into Smeal but at orientation this year, they told us only 11 percent of applicants were admitted directly into Smeal. We didn’t realize how competitive it really was or my son would have gone in DUS. Good luck!!