Hi, I am currently a freshman attending another 4 year university in Pennsylvania.
However, I realized once I got here that this place is not for me. I currently have 17 credits at my current school and would like to go to a Penn State branch campus for this year’s spring semester, and then transfer to Penn State University Park by the beginning of sophomore year. My main goal would to be accepted into the Smeal College of Business. Yes, I know they implemented the 2+2 plan for a reason, and that there are 8 entrance to major prerequisites to be completed before direct admission to UP.
I am just curious to know, that say I complete 3 or 4 of those courses this spring semester at a branch campus, and complete the remaining entrance to major courses in a summer session at this branch campus, would I be eligible for a transition of campus by the beginning of my sophomore year? I read that if a branch campus runs out of courses for you to take, you would be considered to be in advanced academic standing and they would have to directly transfer you to UP to be considered a pre-major… I would like to be able to transfer to University Park by spending as little time as I can at a branch campus.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
I would also like to know, would it be easier/less competitive since I have less than 18 credits to just apply to the branch campus as a freshman rather than a transfer student? Then get myself in good academic standing to go to university park after the spring and summer semesters?
If your grades are good enough with your 17 credits, you may be able to transfer to main campus as a 2nd semester freshman. Penn State allows only transfers for freshman or junior year unless your major requires it. The early transfer process is complicated and difficult. I know this because my son is in a major that requires you to go to main campus sophomore year and even then, he had to jump through a lot of hoops. It is not a likely scenario that you’ve laid out specifically because you’d have to complete the classes before you apply for the transfer and they want you to apply a semester early. So if you wanted to go to UP in the fall, you’d have to apply for that transfer well before the end of your spring semester. The entry to major classes need to be completed prior to entrance into the major, which takes place at the END Of sophomore year. So the entry to major classes have nothing to do with WHEN you get up to UP. If the branch campus still has general ed classes and other classes you need to graduate, then it’s not a necessity to go to UP.
If I were you, I’d try to transfer to UP campus as an undecided major for spring semester. Otherwise, you will have to do the 2+2.
Can you give me some more information of transferring to main as a second semester freshman? I could only find limited information on the Penn State website. Would I still be able to eventually get into Smeal even if I go to main in the spring undecided? Would any of my credits from my current school be eligible to transfer (if the credit is transferable to an equivalent PSU course)? Just how common is it for main to accept second semester freshmen, and would it benefit me to apply for that as soon as possible?
Also, would only my high school academics be taken into consideration? Like having to send over transcripts and SAT scores again, considering I won’t get my final grades for this semester until mid-December.
Also, would only my high school academics be taken into consideration? Like having to send over transcripts and SAT scores again, considering I won’t get my final grades for this semester until mid-December.
You’d have to call admissions to get direct information regarding what they’d need from you, but I have known people who have done this. Many more go to a commonwealth campus sophomore year and then transfer for junior year with everyone else.
Getting into Smeal is the same for everyone that either starts DUS (undecided) or starts premajor at Smeal. No one is actually IN a major until the end of their sophomore year, so no, transferring in as undecided will not stop your progression.