Business Major - haven’t heard a thing.
Business School
Business Major
I was worried about my chances of getting in to Smeal College of business, so 2 weeks ago i asked if i can be changed to DUS (undecided) --> did i make a mistake? The admissions officer told me that even if you’re in smeal or in a 2+2 program or DUS, you’ll need to meet that 3.5 GPA requirement for finance. So if i am admitted to UP for DUS and am taking the same courses, what exactly is the difference? There has to be some catch that the officer or the website is not telling me.
Applied in late September still haven’t heard. Applied DUS and summer option
Stats:
SAT:1200 New SAT
GPA: 3.4 UW 3.7 W
Rank: 184/333
Other stats:
Subjective:
Essays: Very Strong talked about overcoming my bad freshmen year grades. And how i got all A’s Junior year.
Teacher Recs: Not needed
Counselor Rec: Not needed
Hook (if any): Had 1 brother graduate and currently have 2 enrolled at University Park.
Location/Person:
State or Country: PA
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender:Male
Other: Taken 4 Ap, honors everything else.
@YTarget DUS is easier to gain admission to as a freshman. Everyone applies to their majors later, and it is then that where you are applying from doesn’t matter. No real benefit to being in Smeal earlier besides bragging rights and different advisors.
@bodangles I talked to admission representative and they said those students accepted to Smeal as a freshman have first choice for classes over DUS students.
@SAD1010 Do you know what classes, and when? Freshmen register for classes at New Student Orientation, the timing of which is not based on major but on when you complete paperwork and the ALEKS assessment. I could see having a limited number of spots per class, and maybe giving priority to students in Smeal, but you can’t stay in DUS forever. It doesn’t grant degrees. So it’s in the school’s best interest if you get your classes and move into your major with everyone else.
I think what she may be talking about is the entrance to major classes that are waitlisted can be over ridden by a Smeal advisor but not a DUS advisor. My sons advisor was able to put him in a class that was waitlisted. Apparently it seems the ETM classes book up really quick.
Decision: Accepted
Applied: Nov 15
Heard: Dec 15
GPA: UW 3.79/ W 3.98
Class rank: Top 15% (competitive school)
OOS: MN
ACT: 26 (ughhh)
Tons of community service
Heavily involved in hobbies
Strong essays
Major: Animal science
14 honors and APs
Still waiting, 4 months now…but only 26 days to go
I think what @SAD1010 is saying is that when it is time to register for business classes the students that had been admitted to Smeal will have first choice of getting into those classes because they get to register first. DUS may wind up getting closed out of those classes.
@ZPRMOM your eligibility for registering for classes goes by your credits not by your major. So being pre-smeal or DUS does not make a difference. DUS students will not get “closed out”. But, if you’re like my son, a procrastinator, than you may not get the classes you need for your major.http://www.registrar.psu.edu/Reg_Timetable/spring17.cfm
@ZPRMOM Exactly. In addition, She said this may cause the DUS student to take five years instead of four years to complete their degree.
@SAD1010 @ZPRMOM You have both been misinformed. Registering for classes is done by credit level - not major. So someone in DUS with 15 credits can register at the exact same time as DUS with 15 credits. Same classes… Same time. That’s how PSU scheduling works. So the way the admissions “rep” (my guess it was a student helper or volunteer who didn’t know what they were talking about) explained it is not at all how classes work at PSU. There is zero benefit from being in Smeal other than being invited to Smeal events and to some…having a Smeal advisor. Most students do not schedule with their advisor. The advisor helps direct schedule, but the student schedules online when their date comes up. It starts with Upper Classmen and filters down to Freshmen being last, across the board, regardless of major.
If you want to know for sure if you aren’t sure you believe me, e mail a DUS and/or Smeal advisor. I know plenty of people who started in DUS, and went to Smeal with no problems. One of the parents of one just posted an explanation here on this board just this week. Her daughter started DUS and applied to Smeal this semester. It’s worth a read.
@jihpsu I was confused about what was being said on this forum, so I called admissions. She was wonderful and answered many questions I had about this process. I’m only repeating what she told me. Honestly, what she said made a lot sense.
If you are admitted to the fall semester, you can call admissions so they can switch your starting term from fall to summer.
Hey guys,
I have been going through this thread for a long time.
I am an international student. (US passport)
Have any international students received their decisions?
ACT score 30(one-seating), SAT Math II - 800, any chance getting into the material science and engineering.
Ughhh this wait is killing me. Been waiting for 4 months now!! @jlhpsu any suggestions on how to keep myself distracted from all this anxiety
It stinks, sitting here with a 1430/1600 SAT and still waiting 4 months and counting. I know PSU only makes a promise of if you get your App in by Nov 30th you’ll hear by Jan 31st. Why they don’t go to an EA or ED is puzzling. A number of schools with tougher academic admissions do both ED 1 and ED 2. Despite what anyone says when you see people get in with lower stats and you’re still waiting it gets frustrating very quickly let alone 4 months