Scroll up for Albanatās info and the replies below it 
Did you like the tour? Did it clarify things for your student? How do you/they feel about the change wrt Smeal?
New majors at Penn State
This new major is social-science centered with a focus area (business, cyber security, human centered design, etc).
This is a more technical major with calc and discrete math courses but also lots of esoecialky-designed courses.
3/ Btw, these 2 degree options were launched last year: one deals with pre-health careers and the other educates community health/foster system professionals
1 Like
I totally missed that! Yes, it did clarify things. We both think it is a positive change because you know if you are in or out. If you are going the DUS route you are basically on the outside looking in for two years, missing out on a lot of the great things Smeal has to offer right out of the gate like the business mentor, Smeal advisor and the freshman business seminar. It is nice to know that you are in right out of the gate. With the new system it is a risky bet to hope you make it in through DUS second year consideration and get a major you actually want. That would require some thinking to see if it is a risk worth taking.
2 Likes
2028 son is a DUS UP Sophomore this fallā¦GPA / ETM classes tracking for a Spring 2026 Smeal Supply Chain application .. heard whispers of the loss of the DUS bridge during NSO..just looking for confirmation that his path remains the same as advertised in the 2024 catalog. OOS/ Post 9/11 GI Bill / 100% happy with his choice to move cross country and experience the east coast ..this forum was a real lifeboat during the choppy waters of application season.. thank you to all the moderators and SMEs who return year after yearā¦ WE ARE glad youāre here.
3 Likes
My understanding is that the new rules apply to the new class entering Fall 2026 only so he wouldnāt be affected. Do check with his adviser though.
Is he on track for a 3.2+ GPA with solid grades in all pre-reqs? In particular, did he manage okay in Econ 102, Math 140/110, and Accounting? Those would be the most obvious places to trip. Has he completed Foreign Language level 3 (or attempted the next level)?
Supply Chain is an awesome major Btw- super interesting and in-demand professionally. He shouldnāt hesitate during the Career/business Fair in the Fall to see if he can find an internship for next Summer. 
1 Like
If you read what admissions are saying, it is clear that the new rules are only for entering fall ā26 freshmen.
If you want to verify, attached is the link. (I think I have the entrance year correct based on your information?)
2 Likes
yup, hereās all the info: https://undergrad.smeal.psu.edu/smeal-direct-faq#:~:text=The%20Smeal%20College%20of%20Business,upon%20acceptance%20to%20Penn%20State.
1 Like
Thank you for the pointers about the fall career fair..grades are on trackā¦ 2 Aās during LEAP summer '24; completed Econ 102 & math 110 with Bās .. Deanās list last semester! Accounting and foreign language level 3 scheduled for this fallā¦applied on campus and landed an internship this summer with nation wide electrical supply distributor. Thank you again for all your time and experience ā¦we parents treasure your support.
2 Likes
Hi, I was wondering if it is possible to change majors between two colleges. My OOS kid is torn between Molecular Cell Biology major in Eberly and Earth Sc major in Earth and Mineral sciences. Kid has 3.51uw (high school doesnāt do weighted), but has a C in Chem honors, which I understand is not helpful when applying as a Bio major. SAT is 1440(EBRW 740, Math 700). 4 APs(including AP Bio) so far and taking 4 more senior year, a few honors classes and 1 DE. Penn State UP is a reach for him, but the kid wants to try. Should he try as undecided?
Has he taken Physics (honors, AP Physics 1..)? Does he have an AP scores for Biology (if 4 or 5, include in application or weave the relevant part of the AP course into the statement with the final score)?
I would think Earth Science would be more likely since fewer students apply, or DUS.
In order to pivot easily from Earth Science to Molecular Biology, his first semester would need to include:
Math 140, Chem 110-111, and English 15 or 30H (all 3 classes are common to both) plus the freshman seminar EMSC100 for 14 credits.
Heād have to make up his mind by the middle of the Fall semester since Earth science requires the regular freshman bio class (Bio 110) whereas Cellular requires the Chem 110/111-based Bio class (201+ 202 or 203).
1 Like
Wanted to get some perspective on DDās chance at UP. We are OOS. Full pay. Interested in Engineering. Attends rigorous Governorās Magnet School. School does not rank. 3.78 UW / 4.28 W. Will have 8 APs and 3 DEs by end of senior year. Will have taken DE Calc 1 and 2 (equivalent to Calc BC) and AP Physics I and II by end of senior year. SAT is 1390 - 700 V and 690 M. Retaking in August. Perfect math score on PSAT and will likely qualify for National Merit semi-finalist. Lots of Engineering exposure and experience. I know that Engineering is very competitive so trying to get a feel for her chances at Penn State. School is not her first choice, but she liked the campus and could be happy there.
1 Like
Apologies - meant to say 5 APs and 3 DEs. Could not figure out how to edit
If she can increase her SAT math score a little I would say admission is likely based on what you shared. Perhaps in the personal statement emphasize Governor School, most favorite part of AP physics and Robotics activities + why Penn State (for instance, something from her visit, a part of the Psu Engineering curriculum that āclickedā, the new building and some of its featuresā¦)
Will she consider applying to Schreyer? SAT score is not used, only curriculum rigor, evidence of intellectual curiosity, the recommendation, and most importantly the essay(s).
Wow thank you so much for such a detailed reply!! Really Appreciate it.
Heāll be taking AP Physics 1 senior year. AP Bio score is 5. I was thinking he should apply for DUS. But he wants to try for either Earth Sc or Mol Bio. Thanks again for all the info. Gives us enough to think about and decide.
1 Like
Weāve finished our spring & summer college visits and Penn State is at the top of our sonās list. Weāve also visited Pitt, Delaware, Villanova, and Drexel.
Looking to understand our sonās chances for acceptance to University Park campus for Engineering (Chemical). He intends to apply early decision. We are PA residents.
GPA: 3.58uw / 3.84w
SAT: 1260
ACT: Waiting on results
Is SAT strong enough to submit?
APās Through Junior year: Physics 1
Honors through Junior Year : Algebra 1 &2 , Biology 1, Chemistry 1, Geometry, Pre-Calc, and US Gov / Econ.
Other: Capstone (Engineering)
Senior year APs: Calc AB, Chemistry, Physics 2
Dual Enrollment Senior year: College English
1 Like
Heās definitely getting into PSU Behrend but Iām guessing he wants UP.
What grade did he get for Precalculus Honors?
Whatās the split like on the 1260?
Engineering really really wants to see a math score - wait till you know what he got for the ACT math but consider retaking the test heās most likely to improve, focusing solely on the math section (Iām not saying bomb the English section but rather all review&prep should be dedicated to math-only, till a couple days before the test.)
He can also look at the other Engineering majors in EMS and Ag: His first option would be ChemE of course, and his favorite among these could always be a second option if heās offered a branch campus and wants to try āreconsiderationā (a sort of second chance system, where your application is reviewed for a new major/college.)
LEAP (the special summer session) is expensive so not all families can support that ācheckā but if you can, to increase his odds of getting into UP, he could check āsummerā.
Make sure he submits his SRAR by Oct 15 (it takes a while to process; an adult should review what he inputs before itās submitted); his SAT or ACT score needs to be received before Nov1 too.
The most important yet most difficult universities are safeties and likelies - they need to be affordable, well-liked/share characteristics with the favorite choices, and be a sure thing admission-wise.
(He could also check out UScranton, Commonwealth (formerly Bloomsburg), Duquesne, Elizabethtown, Rowan, Alfred, Clarkson, the SUNYs.. for different selectivity and vibes. For instance, SUNY Buffalo is an engineering powerhouse that could be considered a likely or safety for him - itās large, itās got sports, but of course itās also 
cold etc )
EtA: PSU doesnāt have ED, but EA ā meaning you can apply to several universities by Nov1 and youāll hear back from Penn State by Dec 24 - your decision can be: admitted Fall UP, admitted Summer UP, admitted to a branch campus, deferred, denied.
If admitted to a branch campus you can ask for reconsideration (for another major and/or summer.)
Then you have till May 1 to weigh all your options and choose the best one for you - you donāt have to commit early.
Thank you for your reply. He did fall in love with the UP campus. In Honors Pre-Calc he received a very high B which is unfortunate and we were afraid it may come back to haunt him. He did get an A in AP Physics, but scored a 3 in the AP exam. His math score on the SAT was a 690.
You are of course correct about EA and ED options at PSU, I used the wrong term. Right now University Park at Penn State is his first choice. Of all the schools we visited Drexel would likely be his safety school at this point knowing that they do not have competitive admissions; and although we are very familiar with the school, we are also somewhat conflicted by it also.
From your response I take it that you view his chances at UP as being a long shot? Or perhaps just a coin flip? Do you believe selecting yes to summer session appreciably improves his odds?
He does have some extracurriculars in school sports, clubs, community activities, and holding down a job, but I doubt those make too much of a difference versus raw grades and test scores.
Been following this thread for a bit to help my son determine his chances. Thought I would speak up and just ask outright what you think his chances would be of acceptance for UP in Fall 2026.
OOS (Utah)
GPA: 3.94 UW / 4.4 W
ACT: 32
ECs: Multi-year baseball captain (All-American honorable mention but not playing in college); National Honor Society; Humane Society volunteer; and others
On-track for IB diploma and bi-literacy seal (French)
Through Junior Year: 3 APs / 6 IBs / tons of Honors classes
Intended Major: Political Science
Thanks in advance for any thoughts you have!
Just returned from SASD and my daughter is totally sold on Penn State as a result. Itās at the very top of her list with nothing else even close. She loved everything about it. The campus, the food, the people we talked to, etc. Sheāll be applying as soon as possible (planning for September once she gets her rec letters). Attending SASD did clarify that she plans to apply to DUS since sheās not sure between Liberal Arts or HHD. We talked to someone about the Human Development and Family Science program and that seemed like it could be a great fit for her but she wants to be sure before committing to that. She will probably apply to Schreyer as well.
I thought the SASD program was very well organized and gave us a really good idea of what campus life is like. We attended a few info sessions for different colleges/programs, spoke to someone about study abroad, ate food on campus, visited two dorms - one unrenovated which was not great, but she said it was āfineā and one renovated which was really nice. I would recommend doing SASD if you can.
We didnāt get a chance to ask admissions this, so asking here. If she applies EA in September, what are the odds she would hear BEFORE December?
1 Like
Really happy it all went well 
. (You can copy/paste this account of the visit on the ācolleges that went up/downā thread.)
Recommendations are only needed for Schreyer so she can complete her application now (review the SRAR with her before she submits because the rigor and grades are converted through a single formula to ācompare apples with applesā so any mistake there can become a huge problem), checking Schreyer, and completing the Schreyer app before Nov 1 once she has her recommendations. I would recommend she complete her safety apps first, for practice - thereās always something you find after submitting. With safeties, that little something wonāt matter and itās an opportunity to realize it and correct it before an app where itād matter 
. Completing these apps before school starts is likely to lighten the burden of applications.
That being said, applying Aug 1 or Oct1 doesnāt really change a thing because until this year they didnāt review application by filing date. No one can honestly predict if she will hear before December. She might but (this is very important) if she doesnāt hear before the end of December or only means they havenāt got to her application yet, not that thereās anything wrong with it.
Typically, some of the strongest applicants, those applying directly for Summer, and those applying directly for branch campuses hear first, with a trickle starting in November and lots hearing by Dec 24-ish (21-22).