That 5% direct admit may be a bit exaggerated but it’s true that until this year, almost all students who wanted to get into Smeal had to go through DUS (the “pivot to anything” pre-major); either they applied to Smeal and were denied but offered “reconsideration”, ie., a second chance, through DUS. Or, of course there were all the applicants who applied DUS right off the bat - DUS to Smeal Premajors and Smeal Premajors had the exact same classes and exact same requirements to fulfill.
Then add students from the branch campuses, especially Altoona and Harrisburg, who would transition to University Park Smeal after completing the same pre-reqs.
As a result, only a handful of exceptionally strong students “got into Smeal” out of HS, which was mostly bragging rights since they had to take the exact same classes as everyone in DUS->Smeal.
All this has changed for Fall 2026. Now, almost all Smeal would-be majors will be admitted to Smeal out of HS; they will be allowed to choose the Smeal majors that their grades in the Premajors pre-reqs+overall GPA allow them to pick. DUS students who took these pre-reqs will take whatever Smeal majors still have space (which can be very strong: accounting, supply chain management..But not popular.) The capacity issue has been with Finance in particular so for that major the main/only shot now is out of HS.
If @Wilrf7 wants a strategy, Smeal can be a safety or near safety as long as they apply Summer only (NOT Fall or Summer). It means they COMMIT to attending the LEAP Summer session, which adds to total costs. It’s not possible to switch back to Fall. LEAP is a special program that covers pre-reqs in small cohorts of 24 - you live with your “pride” (like lion 
prides..) and take 2 classes together in the mornings and your RA shows you the ropes of university studies in the afternoon, takes you on field trips, etc. It’s a bridge program like summer camp and college rolled into one.
Fewer students apply to Summer directly so in the Fall it’s easier and since they don’t have to evaluate your application for Fall first you hear faster. With the decision made early, it’s easy to know where you stand - if, denied, you need another safety or if that admission is a satisfying fallback should Duke and co not come through.
Honors is Schreyer (consider the application due Nov 1) and Sapphire for students admitted to Smeal.