Penn State Early Action for Fall 2024 Admissions

I thought in Business also you can pick Undecided that’s what my DD did it

This is what it looks like before

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Ours looks a little different. Still has the Test-Optional but not the SSN. Also on the right there are only 2 blue boxes with check marks that say Application Fee and SRAR completed. I can’t remember if there used to be a 3rd box or not.

The other checkmark is for standardized test scores being submitted.

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Makes sense, my daughter did test optional.

I have a question, what if the student were to change his/her mind now and change the decision to submit or not submit scores? Would that then take them out of the early action pool of applicants and put them in regular decision?

You are still considered for EA. You can update the Testing option until a decision is made. That’s why it “disappears” once they make the decision.

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Applying to Smeal as a freshman is extremely competitive with about 5-10% of applicants successfully admitted. EVERYONE at Penn State, whether you get ‘accepted’ as a freshman or not, is considered Pre-Major unless you are in a direct entry major such as nursing. That’s why the acceptance will say ‘accepted with an INTENDED major of XYZ’.

Whether you are pre-major as a freshman or start in the Division of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) you will complete the same entry to major requirements and then apply for admission to the major, usually at the end of the sophomore year. Many other colleges have hoops to stay in a major - Penn State has them to get into the major. Once you are in though, you are in.

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Yep - and I’d add the summer option. As more people are aware of this “back door” into the major they want, DUS has become more competitive as well.

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But, are you then guaranteed to get into that major, business-for example, after doing the prerequisites?

Applying Business undecided is still applying to the Smeal College of Business which is not the same thing as applying to the Division of Undergraduate Studies (DUS). DUS is it’s own thing. Smeal applicants - whether to a pre-major or to business undecided - should have top grades and scores. Smeal has a 5-10% acceptance rate.

Yes, as long as you complete the entry to major requirements, you are in the major. What major are you considering? Some entry to major requirements are simply to have a 2.0GPA. Some have many classes and a high GPA requirement.

Smeal is one of the hardest colleges within PSU to get directly admitted. They had a 4.7% direct admit rate last cycle, so it’s like getting into an Ivy. Much better to apply to a less competitive college or to DUS, meet the Smeal entrance requirements and declare your business major.

Just to be clear: Entrance to Smeal is possible only by entering from pre-Smeal or DUS. In other words, not from Liberal Arts, Education, Agriculture, or any other PSU colleges.

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Wow, is this true? My son is a freshman now and was admitted to Smeal for fall start. I knew it was competitive, but didn’t know about the 4.7% for this class. I will say, the classes he has had so far as the entry to major are very challenging and getting the necessary GPA is not going to be easy!
Daughter is waiting on her DUS decision (but not intending to try for business, she just really is undecided).

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Did anyone else get an email from Penn requesting them to apply to the honors college two weeks after you submitted your application. The email acknowledges he already applied but states he should consider applying to the honors college given his strong academic credentials?

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Mine did as well.

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From those other colleges you’d need to move to DUS snd meet the Smeal requirements for the entrance year before you can declare a major in Smeal.

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Yes, correct. We heard it directly from PSU at accepted students day this past cycle. The Math and Accounting courses are the most challenging - think weed-out here. Plus you’d need the foreign language level 3, 4 credit course to graduate from Smeal, but not to enter. 8 courses are required for entrance into Smeal, 4 need to be taken at PSU. Grade C required for all and depending on the business major declared a 3.0 - 3.5 GPA is needed. Finance being the highest requirement at 3.5.

No he has a 1530 sat so he sent his scores

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