My S is interested in STEM majors. Does Penn State direct admit students to those majors or put them in exploratory tracks first? Also, if he applies as undecided, would it be possible for him to choose a STEM major during or after the first year?
ALL Penn State majors are considered “pre-major” until their junior year, with the exception of true direct admit programs like nursing, golf course management etc… For everyone else, even if accepted into the engineering school, they are really considered pre major until they complete their entry to major requirements. Everyone has to complete the same entry to major requirements - whether they are pre major, or will be applying to the major from the DUS (undecided) major.
So, for example, to get into the CS major at Penn State, a student has to have an overall GPA of 3.0 by the end of their sophomore year and they need to have completed these classes with a C or better and apply during the credit window of 40-59 credits:
CMPSC 122
MATH 140 and 141 and 230
PHYS 211 and 212
If your son is undecided, he can take the exact same classes and apply for the major at the exact same time as someone who was accepted as a pre major as a freshman.
@jlhpsu Thank you so much!