Thanks!!
Sorry for asking a dumb question, what is Entrance to Major? He is direct admit to Smeal summer start. Does he still need to take some kind of entrance classes or credit to get into a major? I did not go to college in USA and not sure how things work. This is our first experience with college admissions.
He is doing AP Calculus AB and AP Economics in senior year. He finished AP stats in Junior year.
In order to get into your major in Smeal, there are a series of classes required and other criteria that must be met. As a freshman, they come in as āpre-majorā whether it is Smeal or DUS. (Iām going to address this for business majors specifically).
This is last yearās, but gives you a good sense of what required. (Note: the GPA requirement is typically the only thing that may change).
To get āintoā your major:
credit window of 36-59 credits completed at Penn State (AP credits and transfer credits do not count).
specific classes: (C or better)
Most kids apply in spring of sophomore year.
Hope this helps - can I answer more questions?
This is a real conundrum. Smeal UP Summer Start is a real achievement (only 5% get a Smeal offer at UP out of HS).
But you canāt afford it and it means thereās no chance heāll get Smeal Fall; DUS is already almost full, so the choices really are either 2+2 (I would recommend Altoona or Behrend) or one of the Smeal-adjacent majors (Labor relations/HR in CLA, Agribusiness in Ag, Enterprise Tech Integration in IST, Health Policy&Management in HHB, Energy Business&Finance in EMS). Or you can request one of these majors (or Economics)+Fall and after a semester switch to DUS, from which you can apply to Smeal Spring sophomore year.
Does anyone know if you can cancel your reservation for the Accepted Students Program if you end up not being able to go the day you scheduled for? Not certain about transportation right now, but I wanted to schedule ahead of time before slots are filled.
Yes, you can. Go to your portal under āvisits and eventsā, then click on āaccepted students programsā. That will take you to the list of dates available. If you select the date you originally scheduled, it will give you the option to either reschedule or cancel.
Ok thanks!!! 
How does my daughter find out who her admissions rep is? or do we just contact the general PSU admissions email address or call admissions with a question?
Call and ask to speak specifically to an admissions counselor.
If everyone has to go through the same ETM process, what is the benefit of applying for a major in Smeal now?
Other than that? Not much. Which is why many recommend DUS as a starting point.
I know it has been mentioned here about other majors to choose when asking for reconsideration. I know my OOS student does not want to start in Harrisburg. Which majors may possibly have availability at UP, also willing to summer start. Eventually looking to study political science. Thanks
If theyve taken AP stats and AP Calc, perhaps AP CS (Principles and/or A) or their DE/IB equivalent, in addition to a solid background in the social sciences&Humanities : SODA
If high level in foreign language (AP or level 4, or higher, or 2 foreign languages and/or experience living abroad, especially if you highlighted it in the personal statement or can still do so)+ full array of humanities&social science honors&AP courses from HS: Global&International Studies.
If A in statistics and solid coursework in social sciences: Sociology.
+Summer session if able to attend.
Thank you
Iām filing the FAFSA right now. Both my parents have made their own FSA ID, do both parents need to be invited?
Only one needs to be invited if they filed married jointly tax filing
You should have one student ID and one parent ID number.
Do we think that for deferred students, decisions will all be dumped on Jan 31?
Or will they come out in dribs and drabs like EA?
Hate to tell my kid to keep checking portal, but finding out sooner than Jan 31 has some value.
Weāre in the same boat. Personally, I think it will be during that last week of January but my son will still periodically check. Maybe once a day or every other day until then. We are still not sure if being in deferred status is good sign or not. Not admitted but not not offered 2+2. Agree with you, getting any decision earlier the better is beneficial. We are sitting on an Ohio State main campus offer and will accept immediately if not admitted UP.
Deferral is good. It means you are in the race. They deferred because they ran out of time or because they wanted more time to look closer at your application. Hang in there. There have been people that were deferred last year that received decisions within a few weeks. It all depends on how fast they get through the applications. I know the waiting it hard.
Agree that a deferral feels like a better position than 2+2 offer. However, hearing everyone say DUS is already full, doesnāt leave much opportunity for a deferral to be able to ask for reconsideration for DUS if they are ultimately offered the 2+2. So, then getting the 2+2 last month seems to have the advantage since they got that decision a month or so before the deferral applicant.