Sorry @MYOS1634 . I see that youâve posted ebf info (and lots more) before! Still curious about TO question and whether specific major selection within Smeal is even a strategy.
Thank you so much for your suggestion! Are Smeal Minors open to everyone? Or are those competitive as well?
Smeal minors are open to all students in Smeal.
Business minors not in Smeal are open to anyone.
Specific premajor sĂ©lection would not weigh into the decision since itâll depend solely on 1st year grades.
If he doesnât get a 1400 on his August SAT or if he doesnât want to bother, I think his record (as far as I can tell from your post, all As in a 15+ H/DE/AP rigorous schedule) is strong enough to have a shot without test scores.
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I am a bit confused. What is a âbusiness minor not in Smeal?â I was wondering if my son could apply for the major you suggested above but also do a Business minor in Smeal with no issues?
Smeal minors are only for Smeal students. There are however business minors in most colleges, with courses from Smeal as well as the college of origin. ITS also has this type of possibility (Informatics minor applied to your field/college).
Hereâs a pretty comprehensive list I put together
(For Labor relations majors)
(For non Labor relations majors)
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My son is very confused about STARS. The Penn State FAQâs says
âIf youâve taken any high school-level math or world language courses prior to 9th grade, please indicate those courses on your Self-reported Transcript and Academic Record System (STARS) Record in the middle school section with a pass or fail grade. For example, some students take Algebra 1 or Spanish 1 in middle school. You do not need to designate the name of your middle or junior high school on the STARS Record.â
He did take Spanish 1 and algebra 1 in eighth grade, but it is not on his high school transcript and he does not receive high school credit for it. In addition, other colleges such as Clemson UConn, Virginia Tech, Pitt, Delaware say to not list middle school courses on STARS. The issue is when you submit stars the update seems now to get sent to all of the schools. It doesnât seem that you can submit different versions of STARS to different schools. What should he do?
If I recall from my older daughter using SRAR, and current daughter now applying with STAR, I think the HS transcript governs in terms of what to include or not include on the SRAR/STAR. If the Algebra 1 and Spanish 1 are noted on his HS transcript then he needs to include them on the STAR and can do some by organizing them within his 8th grade coursework. If his HS transcript makes no mention of the 8th grade (hs level course) I think admissions staff can infer prior coursework if a 9th grader is taking Spanish II and Geometry honors (this was the case for us as our HS doesnât list those earlier courses so they didnât list on their self reporting records).
Asuming youre using Commonapp, his STARS should be linked to his PSU app not necessarily to all others.
Most universities use evaluative systems that assume if at the start of HS the student is in French 2 he took French1, if the student is in Geometry she took Algebra1 before..
AFAIK Penn state uses the standardized Stars to know how many units in each subject were taken and thus evaluate rigor, which is with GPA 2/3 final decision (and if the student is well above a certain threshold for that criterion its sufficient- ie., a bad statement canât ding a great academic record.)
As a result I would include these two classes on the PSU Stars.
DO review with your chils the information included in STARS before itâs sent. A second pair of eyes doesnât hurt since mistakes are easy to make and can have great consequences to the PSU decision.
My son has begun the application process via the MyPennState app. Under the âchoose a programâ part, there is a Business, B.S. choice. This is throwing us, as when you visit Smeal, there are 10 majors to select from and this is not one of them. This is the description: The bachelor of science degree in Business is an upper-division, professionally oriented business degree program for individuals who are seeking general preparation in business. The degree combines the theoretical underpinnings of core business disciplines, notably management, marketing, finance, and logistics, with applied study in a practical setting, especially small businesses. Through the choice of an 18-credit option, students develop a specialty related to a key business sector. Students also develop written and oral communication skills throughout the program, acquire contemporary computer skills, and engage in active and collaborative learning. The degree allows students to become familiar with the unique business environments of their local communities. This is very confusing. What would it mean to select this choice, when trying to get into Smeal? He is of course not completely 100 percent certain and is between Finance and Supply Chain as his interests, knowing full well that you are actually a premajor when accepted. Does selecting Business, B.S. mean he identifies himself as uncertain when in actualty you CAN be uncertain until you actually complete the ETM requirements and GPA standards? Again, what would selecting Business, B.S., a major not listed on the web site mean?
Has he listed UP as his primary campus?
The BS, Business major takes places at branch campuses, not UP.
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I do think there are options like this in HHD, specifically the RPTM major. Students in the commercial recreation option can take courses on Arena Management, and have done internships where they worked in music festivals, sports stadiums, and more. Hospitality management also is relevant, as many venues include a hotel/food service component, and HM includes courses that focus on facilities management, real estate, and more.
I think a major/minor combination that includes some of the COMM and HHD programs, along with a Smeal Business Fundamentals certificate might be a good prep for this field.
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Thatâs a GREAT IDEA indeed. 
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Ok, weâre clear on the Business question. Thanks. However, his SAT score was 1360. Heâs extremely disappointed. In the past the math was in the 700s (but overall score was lower) and this time the break down is 700R 660M. I donât think he should submit it. Heâs choosing Finance, and goes back and forth between that and Supply Chain. Anyway, the burning question is does it look better to submit a 1360? Will it hurt his application to go test optional? I know what the data is for last yearâs admissions w regard to SAT scores submitted. But who knows how many of those kids were Smeal kids. Would be so much easier if we had that data.
Also, there was no place that we saw to report AP test scores on the MyPennStateApp. Donât they want to know what those were? My son completed the STARS part. Essay. Activities. Legacy (which was different from when my other son completed that part via Common App in the fall of 2025). Test Optional or not. But nowhere to say what your AP exams were.
Hi All - does anyone know if they do rolling admissions at all or does everyone wait until Dec if applied EA? I have heard stories of some finding out much earlier so was curious. Also, would anyone have opinions about applying TO with a 4.0 (98.5)? non-smeal major - looking at Animal Science which I believe is much less competitive. Appreciate anyone willing to share thoughts!
Whatâs his other test score where the Math was higher?
Yes AP scores would be useful since theyâre an external certification of mastery. Iâm not sure though wrt the application. I guess he could include it in his personal statement along the lines of âwhen I saw my AP Precalculus score of 4 and my AP Econ score of 5 I knew I was on the right track for Smeal and it gave me confidence. Of course I want to attend PSU for many reasons, âŠâ
They use modified EA in that your best chance is to apply before Nov 1 (make sure STARS is completed by Oct 15 to give them time to process and collate everything by Nov1). Then you can receive a decision at any point between end of November and December 22.
In fact if youâre very strong and a shoo-in (1500 SAT, 3.8 GPA with 15+ honors/DE/IB/AP courses, applying to Schreyer) youâre likely to hear quickly if your application is sent early (but have to wait till February for Schreyer decision which is likely your benchmark) But if thatâs your profile and you donât hear back âearlyâ, donât panic, it only means they havenât got to your application yet.
Finally, students who apply directly to a branch campus or Summer only tend to hear a bit faster.
Wrt applying TO, depends on his actual test scores (do they reinforce the narrative provided by the GPA?) and what rigor there is (2/3 decision is rigorĂGPA).
I remember you from 2 years ago. Will you be applying as a freshman or transfer?
Hi! No, I am trying to help a younger sibling who is now applying as a first year freshman