3.48 unweighted/4.35 weighted (freshman year is significantly lower than sophomore and junior year so there is a big upward trend), 1270 sat and 27 Act (including a 31 on math). Top 13% of my class. Out of state. 15 APs by the end of senior year.
Isn’t Penn State an admit to Pre-Engineering so they admit many and then after a certain number of credits you apply to engineering. That’s my understanding. If that’s the case I think you really are just being admitted to Penn State and need grades and SAT etc for that. Other schools that direct admit to engineering would have higher standsards like Pitt for instance. Don’t many go in as Pre Engineering at Penn Stae and end up with another major cause can’t get in or decide to do something else? Can anyone clarify.
Only about 1/3 of students who come with plans to major in engineering actually earn degree. Most can’t get past weed out courses and maintain a GPA high enough to officially declare major. Also, PSU has so many applicants that it’s just a numbers game…they don’t really look at upward trends. If you get accepted, plan to hit the ground running.
That I totally get that. But is it harder to get in if apply to engineering? Or are they just simply admitting you based on meeting the overall colleges stats not engineering stats since it’s is a weed out and most switch? Would someone be better off applying to arts and sciences for instance.
@goteam2 It is definitely harder to get in if you apply Engineering. While no one is “in” a major at Penn State until end of sophomore year when they meet their entry to major requirements and apply for their major of choice, applying to the schools as Pre-Engineering or Pre-business (which is what they are generally considered) is still much harder to get in to than applying for Communications or Liberal Arts. Once you are in either DUS or premajor status, you can take the weed out classes to actually get into the major. This is true for every major - but some majors have much higher entry to major requirements.
FYI - You also cannot switch to Engineering or Business from any other major other than DUS.
Thank you so much for the response. That makes sense. I think my son should change his major on his application. Hope we can do that! Anyone know about the school of Information Sciences and Technology that was another interest of his. Easier to get into than engineering I assume. Thanks again!
@goteam2 Information Science and Technology is not as competitive to get into as the school of Engineering.
Good luck! This can be difficult to navigate which is why this page is a great resource! You have lots and lots of people here who have “been there, done that”.
Yes. As much as I look on the schools sites there are things I just don’t realize. I have even called admissions. Nobody ever said can only transfer into engineering from DUS. I think that’s the way to go for my son. He will figure it out once there. Lol let’s just get in! Thanks again
If your child really wants to do engineering, be careful applying to an ‘easier’ major/division just to get into a school (not just for PSU). Your child may not be able to get into the pre-req courses, and it may be more difficult to transfer than you think. IMO, proceed with caution with that approach.
@momofsenior1 Not so at Penn State. If you are in DUS you can get into the exact same classes as someone who is pre-engineering. It’s not a transfer. Everyone, regardless of whether they are in DUS or premajor, has to take the same entry to major classes and apply for the major and the classes are open to all. Penn State doesn’t schedule by major, they schedule by how many credits one has. So a freshman DUS and a freshman engineering pre major will have the exact same opportunity to enroll in classes. This changes if you are any other major than DUS or pre engineering. In that case, you may be locked out of classes (for example, if you are a communications major trying to take an engineering course). No one is “In” a major until the end of sophomore year. With the exception of the few direct entry majors such as Nursing, Golf Course Management, etc…
@goteam2 I misspoke about the major change. It is true that for Smeal business you cannot apply to Smeal unless you are pre major or DUS, but in Engineering you can. However, in order to get some of the entry to major classes out of the way, you may need to be either DUS or pre engineering to get into those classes. The early weed out classes are required for so many majors that similar majors may all be taking the same thing. The problem occurs when someone in communications tries to take an entry to major engineering course. Their advisor may flag that.
The entry to major requirements for Engineering can be found here: https://advising.psu.edu/entrance-major-requirements-college-engineering-2018
Yes, I think we are getting the hang of this. Think will switch to DUS. Does he call to switch major on application or send an email to admissions. He is planning on speaking to the local area admission rep on Monday so she will let us know but I was curious. Also hope it isn’t too late to switch on application.
@goteam2 It should not be too late to change. I would call and ask to change the major over the phone. It takes just a few minutes and you will be good to go. If you can’t get through, you can send an e mail as well but that will likely result in a few day wait time for a response. I’ve found calling is quicker - if you can get through.
Keep in mind also, the local admissions reps are volunteers and are unfortunately not always up to date on what’s going on. Yours might be right on it - but if you get conflicting information, come back here and post so that others can give you input.
Wow. Thought they would be the most up to date. I was told that’s who is reading you application often. This whole process is crazy.
@goteam2 The only people that read the applications are employees at Penn State University Park. The local admission reps, especially if outside of PA, are almost always volunteers and they are not always completely up to date. Some may be though - just double check your info. You can see how they are chosen and what they do here: https://admissions.psu.edu/Volunteers/ I was a volunteer for the parents program for a short time which is a similar thing.
Ohhh I see. Ok thank you!!
@jlhpsu if my d declares as chemstry major on freshman application
Is it harder for her to be accepted than if DUS?
and if so, if she changes to undecided will she be able to take any major’s pre requisites?
If she is accepted as pre-chem, would she be allowed to switch or is she committed to applying to chem major in sophomore year?
Thank
@ziveli513 , based on your daughter’s stats, I think she has a very good chance at chemistry. I don’t recall there being a significant demand for that major. Biology major, however, can be painfully competitive because a lot of premeds go there. Provided your daughter’s unweighted GPA isn’t low and she has the high school coursework rigor (RX: AP or honors sciences and math ideally thru Calc) you should be in great shape.
And no, she isn’t locked into chemistry should she change her mind.
Thanks! Her uw gpa is 4.0
I was concerned that chemistry is super competitive
My daughter loves chem, but who knows and I didn’t want her to be at a disadvantage for admission
Thanks for your reply 
And she is in ap calc ap chem and honors physics right now
Block schedule so next block she also has ap chem
Fingers crossed
Pitt accepted her as a chem major in September, 4 weeks after she applied
Penn state main is her first choice so she has been anxious
Has she applied to Schreyer?