What happens if I get rejected from Smeal?
Can I go into another school/major at UP? Can I put down a 2nd choice?
Can I then start at DUS and transfer to Smeal after two years?
Will I get deferred to another campus??
My stats
NJ Res
3.64 UW 3.70 W
1370/ 1980 SAT single sitting
If you’re worried you should probably put DUS to begin with; if I recall correctly, you get a second choice of campus but I’m not sure about a second choice of major/college. Getting into your major junior year from DUS is the same as it is from Smeal.
If I get rejected from Smeal will I get rejected from UP all together in that case I will apply as DUS
Can you look at the app right now? If so, open it and see what it says about selecting a major. As a current student, all I’ve got is the Applying on the Web Worksheet (googleable), which only says that the app will walk you through selecting a major. It does specify for campuses that you can select an alternate, but doesn’t say that for majors, which might imply that you only get one slot for major/college.
There is no second choice in major. Only campus and starting semester. So, if you get rejected from Smeal, you will get rejected from UP. Then you can call and ask to be reconsidered for DUS. Sometimes they allow it, sometimes they don’t. Last year, only 11% of smeal applicants were accepted in as a pre major freshman year.
Your stats will likely get you into UP, but unlikely to get you into Smeal (my opinion). I’d apply DUS if I were you.
I recommend switching to DUS and Summer session right now.
Also, remember even if you are accepted to Smeal as a freshman. You have to “re-apply” when you enter your junior year. With certain GPA’s. I believe finance is the highest requiring a 3.75 for your first 2yrs to get accepted.
https://advising.psu.edu/entrance-major-requirements-smeal-college-business-2017 Finance is currently a 3.5. May go up in the future but that’s what it is right now.
@zipbags currently finance is at 3.5 gpa and you apply when you are between 44-59 credits. So for my son, he can apply fall semester of his sophomore year.
@japsmom Really? Your son will have 44 Penn State credits in two semesters?
Third Semester credits count even if he has not completed the classes yet. Also, he took 7 credits in the summer for Leap and will take six more this summer. @bodangles .
@japsmom I applied for my major during my fourth semester. If those uncompleted credits counted, then I applied with 64.5 credits – outside of the credit window. Given how many people apply during fourth semester (basically everyone) I am not sure if that way of measuring is accurate.
http://handbook.psu.edu/content/cumulative-credits-total-credits#cumcr
In-progress credits don’t have a letter grade and can’t be used to calculate GPA. I feel like they are not included in the “44–59 cumulative credit window.”
Normally I wouldn’t argue about such a trivial point but it could really affect your son’s college career, depending on which way they calculate the cumulative credits.
Thank you @bodangles . We thought that is what his advisor said when we spoke to him at orientation but my son has an appointment with him next week and he will check. He’s in no rush on entering his major but I want to make sure he does it correctly. Thanks for your help.
Anyone know how competetive the kinesiology program is to get into at PSU?