No.
if you ask for reconsideration, not only does it have to be a different major, but it must be in a different college.
You can change the semester start (for example - indicate that you would start summer if you have not already checked that).
What are your thoughts on the relative competitiveness of DUS this fall given them essentially closing down the DUS to Smeal pathway? I imagine it would be less competitive, but Iām not really clear on how much less. I suppose itās probably anyoneās guess. Just looking for educated opinions.
How is the pathway closed??
Itās not exactly closed, but they now have Smeal Direct entry and the process for moving to Smeal if you werenāt accepted direct is going to be a competitive application process, unlike previously. See here: https://undergrad.smeal.psu.edu/smeal-direct-faq
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Itās not entirely closed but basically, the Smeal direct admits who completed their pre-reqs get first pick and DUS students who completed the pre-reqs take whatever majors that still have space, meaning, probably, Actuarial Science, CIENT, Mis, or Real Estate. Perhaps Supply Chain if theyāre lucky (PSU is very very good in that field and highly recruited). Thereās no guarantee thereāll be enough spaces for the DUS students or that theyāll be able to choose their favorite Smeal major.
It will certainly be less competitive so probably similar to what it used to be a few years back, ie., similar to CLA or Eberly?
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I really wonder how quickly that change will impact admissions to DUS. With the policy change happening only a month before applications opened, I could see this year being a transition year where many applicants were not aware of this change and relied on past strategies to try and gain access to Smeal under DUS admission as many have done over the past few years. I would suspect next year will really see the statistics revert back to how they were previously.
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Thatās a good hypothesis too. 
I was wondering about that. That could end up in a number of disappointed would be Smeal students though. I am not sure how well they communicated the policy change.
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āstealthā applicants who didnāt register for tours or the mailing list and donāt read PSU pages could be badly surprised, yes.
However those doing basic research about their chosen major should have seen the announcement or anyone registered with Admissions would have received the info.
That being said, so few students do that basic researchā¦ Weāll see 
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I keep getting emails for PSU Abington since my daughter had to pick a 2nd campus on common app. Are we receiving these because this is the campus she will be sent to even if we put UP?
Itās one of the growing branch campuses.
But sheāll be considered first for Fall, UP; then for Summer, UP (if she checked summer); and then only for a branch campus (Abington). If the admission is Abington, you can request reconsideration, changing something compared to your original application.
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No.
just to reiterate the process if applied for fall UP:
(1) did candidate fall āabove the lineā for fall UP in their desired major?
=> yes? Admit for fall UP!
=> no? Go to (2)
(2) did candidate check would attend summer session ?
=> yes? Go to (3)
=> no? Go to (4)
(3) did candidate fall āabove the lineā for their desired major for summer session?
=> yes? Admit for summer UP!
=> no? Go to (4)
(4) can we offer candidate admission at commonwealth campus indicated?
=> yes? Admit for alternate campus for fall
=> no? Candidate denied admission Ėā Ė
The candidates that are āclose to the lineā may have their packet reviewed more closely for those āother criteriaā ā¦ like EC, essay, etc. depends on the college. Not a promise, but if can happen.
Hope this helps. Please correct me if any typos.
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My sophomore son applied to Smeal. Got 2 + 2. Asked for reconsideration as DUS. Got fall start at UP. He is taking business pre requisites and will pick Smeal major this year. Itās a shame they are getting rid of the pathway from DUS to Smeal because my son is a perfect example of a student who is on the Deanās List taking Smeal pre-requisites but didnāt get direct admit to Smeal. He still has th keep the same stats and take the same courses as the Smeal direct admits.
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I think the issue was that it was too difficult to predict the number of āSmeal DUS studentsā vs āSmealā . I think the system was overwhelmed and they are managing numbers so that juniors actually GET their classes as opposed to so many students not getting the classes they need. Also manages the professor workload.
Having said that, I also had a student start DUS and was truly deciding between an IST major and a Smeal major. The pathway would now be eliminated since the major chosen is a popular one.