IB as in investment banking or international business? Yes i am a direct admit to smeal here is the message they gave in my acceptance letter: Congratulations - you have been admitted to Penn State!
I am pleased to offer you admission to the Mary Jean and Frank P. Smeal College of Business with the intended major of Business Administration (Pre-Major) for fall 2025 at Penn State University Park.
i agree
You noted Investment Banking but you also said Supply Chain.
You are not direct admit. You are pre major.
But it is the cleanest path of the three mentioned. Well it’s similar to I U if you are pre business. U of SC you are in econ.
Direct admit means you are in the b school no matter what.
Pre major means if you achieve these milestones, you are in. Some will assure your major. Others will not. You’ll be in the b school but not necessarily get the major you want.
I would put Investment Banking off to the side because most come in - that’s what I want. You were not that way.
If you just looked at the campuses themselves - where would you want to be and can you afford it. To me, U of SC is the most different - more compact and in the city.
Amplifying this as OP also mentioned this above. Students have to meet the criteria I posted above, Smeal is not direct admit to major.
My son was def direct admit to Smeal. Said so in his offer letter (he’ll likely choose Kelley though).
Congratulations on great options! My son is a freshman in Darla Moore and loves it, and South Carolina definitely can provide the balance you are looking for, but I would be sure you can transfer in to Darla. It is competitive and you have required courses that my son had to complete freshman year to continue in Darla. Capstone provides nice perks at the University but I don’t think it has specific benefits for Darla other than making you a more likely applicant to get in to Darla.
“Direct admit” means you’re in regardless of how badly you do, as long as you don’t fail out.
Smeal is “Pre Major”: you’re in as long as you pass (or waive through AP) Economics, Calculus, Statistics, English.. AND have a 3.2 by your 3rd or 4th semester. All students who meet the criteria graduate from Smeal.
Competitive admissions are a competition for places - it’s not enough to pass some courses and get a minimum GPA, students can be ranked based on various criteria (that may include rank in class based on some or all classes, clubs that require interviews to even participate, admission interviews, etc.) Only a percentage, sometimes as low as half of those with all the right courses and activities, get in.