I do hope that anyone who still follows this thread and already heard back that no longer feels this is the school they plan to enroll, tells PSU and declines the offer so that the many who truly do want to enroll there, may get to attend.
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totally agree with you! i’m still waiting on my application… i was just wondering if being in state gives you an advantage
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my portal finally worked and i got accepted for Fall 2021 at penn state harrisburg !!
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Thanks! No, he is not switching. He really was torn between two different majors/paths. So, he is happy where he is!
2+2 liberal arts criminology and not happy.
Nobody is in their major unless it’s a direct entry major such as nursing or golf course management. Everyone else has to take certain entry to major classes. This is no different than at other universities where you need to maintain to stay in a major…at PSU you just have to get the GPA in the pre req classes. You can be in the college “premajor” but you will need to qualify for a major eventually.
There are minimal benefits to being in your intended college vs being in DUS. You can work towards any non direct admit major from DUS.
If you are in a college at a commonwealth that isn’t necessarily the same college at UP. For example, the business school at Behrend is the Black school of business…not Smeal. But you can still work towards Smeal from there because you are pre major.
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No. Being in state doesn’t have anything to do with which campus you get into. Your stats do. Remember, Penn State is not a state school.
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There are very few majors at Penn State that are direct entry without ETM (entrance to major) requirements. Nursing is probably the biggest one. And you cannot transfer INTO nursing if you didn’t start there. I think turfgrass management and PGM (PGA professional golf management) are two others. Not a comprehensive list, just examples of the small subsets that are direct entry.
While there are some advantages to being in the specific college (advisors, scholarships, ambassadors, sapphire leadership for Business), if you are a kid who isn’t totally sure, then DUS is a great way to go.
@Noahscott13 Notice the letter says “Pre-major”. You still aren’t in your major until you have completed the ETM requirements - which are really 3 things: a set of classes, a required GPA (which differs by major), and a credit window (usually sophomore spring is most common). Read that link I provided.
@NJcollege2021 yes, the ETMs for some kids can be the great equalizers. Remember how @jlhpsu talked about how a 4.0 isn’t a 4.0 ? Well, this is where the proof is in the pudding. Those kids with tougher rigor… more AP’s… and strong study habits will hit the ground running and be successful.
The unfortunate answer for these kids is that race to get INTO college hasn’t ended. Now, they must be successful AT college. It may mean finding Liontutors for those tough weed-out classes. Or a study group. Or visiting professors during office hours. Or emailing the TA with questions when lost.
But the rewards are great. I have two at Penn State and while the freshman is finding her path, she had a nice freshman fall. The junior had two summer internships already and her dream one lined up for this summer. The kids do very well upon graduation if they work hard, get involved, and go to the career center and take advantage of opportunities when they get them.
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This is the wording my son got…
What this means is that he will have easier access to the ETM courses that he needs for the major. If he were accepted DUS, he might not have access to the same courses as someone admitted to the IST.
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Yes, Thats what I thought, that makes sense!
true! thank you so much
looks like @jlhpsu and I are parroting the same thing!
But this is a good thought-starter for those of you that have to make choices. Before you make a decision, go to your intended major at various schools to see how you actually get into the major or classes.
If you make the GPA cut-off for each major at Penn State, you will get into it. And sometimes, there are “appeals” or lower cut-offs, but it isn’t guaranteed. Other schools may have a GPA cut-off, but then still only take the top 200 kids (or whatever). So even if you make the cut-off, if you are lower in the class ranking, you aren’t getting in. Others have direct entry, but you have less flexibility if you want to switch. Penn State recognizes that many kids will switch majors, so that’s where DUS is a great option.
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Not exactly. Class scheduling is available by credit window and nearly all majors require you to be in the college OR in DUS to enroll in the class. There won’t be any difference to DUS students with the same intended major. The main benefit is having IST advisors.
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All of the IST classes that are ETM have sections that are IST_PMAJ (IST Pre-major) or DUS_PMAJ (DUS Pre-major). There are a few sections of IST 140, for example, that are only IST_PMAJ … IST is playing a little bit of a sneaky game where they give either what are perceived to be “better” professors or times to IST_PMAJ. It is only for one or two classes though, out of the 20+ sections of IST ETM classes.
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@STEM2017 So is #2 heading to PSU? Did #1 end up there?
We have every intention of withdrawing her application if after appealing 2+2 they still want her to do Altoona. Or if she gets into her #1 choice.
Thanks so much @lucy_van_pelt
Do they consider AP comp sci or other AP Calc classes towards the ETM requirement met like CS 111. I know may be too much ask you guess
yes. Don’t know about AP comp sci.
AP Calc B/C - a 5 counts for Math 140 AND Math 141. Don’t know about other scores.
AP Calc A/B - I think a 5 counts for Math 140.
I know my kid had ETM requirements for Math and Econ fulfilled from AP scores. Helps with wiggle room!
There are some people who recommend an engineering major take Math 141 (at least) since they will still have higher calculus. There are lots of strategies, and if your kid heads to Penn State, join the facebook group - it is a common topic.
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Does anyone know the process for appealing 2+2 and asking to do the summer program? Is this something that should be done at a later date?
Thanks
What’s the FB group ? Or any other social media groups will be useful to know to join