@MYOS1634 is correct … there is no “direct admit” to a business major like some other schools. Everyone is considered “pre-major” until the conditions are met.
Requirements to be “in” their major:
required classes…
=> four gen ed type classes (Econ, English, Stat, and Calc)
=> four “business entry” classes (Marketing, Management, Finance, Accounting)
apply within credit window. Usually sophomore fall or spring.
maintain required GPA. Anywhere from 3.2 to 3.5. Finance may actually be higher now - it used to be a 3.5.
Once those conditions are met, you are in the major. They don’t take the top 50% once those conditions are met, or only 200, or any additional criteria. Google “entrance to major Penn State” + major and you will see what we have explained.
@BHammer1895 congrats to your son! Smeal is competitive!
Thank you so much for your detailed explanation regarding acceptance to the Finance Major. By son has received 5’s in Macro and Micro, but has only taken Calc Honors ( received and A), and is currently in AP Stats. I’ll share your insights about the math requirements and the “weed-out” reputation of these courses with him. If he’s fortunate enough to be admitted to Penn State, I want him to approach it with eyes wide open and ready to stay focused.
I just got the “We have received and are processing your application. Please check back tomorrow to view your application status and next steps.” message.
He can take the credits for Micro and not for Macro (macro isn’t weed out AFAIK so with some advanced knowledge he should be able to do well), and for math taking calculus in HS will definitely help - there are 2 choices, 110 which is calc for business, or 140 which is general calc (both count for finance, no difference; 110 has a second, lighter class of applied calc called 111 which can be good for finance majors and 140 has a very hard, weed out calc 2 follow up called 141). Then he takes FL2 (if he had 2 years in HS, very hard) or FL3 l, English 15 or 30, and the Business Seminar for freshmen (a 1 credit class that introduces the majors and college techniques - it’s an easy A as long as the students do what they’re told to do, probably the only such grade in their career, designed to provide a little cushion for freshmen who need to adjust, even though they tend to knock it because it’s easy…)
WOW! Thanks for the info. SO, if he had 3 years of Spanish in HS, he will need to take Spanish 2 and then Spanish 3, for a total of 8 credits? Also, He received a 4 in AP Lang, and will most likely receive a 4 or 5 in AP Lit. Will this mean that he would get credit for the corresponding language courses?
Yes, if he completed Spanish 3 in HS, he’d need to take Spanish 2&3.
A 4* in AP Lang = invitation to register for English 30 (less busy work, more interesting discussions)
A 4 or 5, in AP Lit gives credit for English 101 and counts for the Humanities&Art requirement. He can then choose to take an art class, a history or another literature course, for a total of 6 fixed credits + 6 others (in any Gen Ed field) which can include one higher class in Spanish such as Business Spanish. Then a social science other than Economics (Sociology, Gender Studies, Psychology, Political Science…) There are LOTS of choices.
So earlier today my test optional button went away and my portal said “We have received and are processing your application. Please check back tomorrow to view your application status and next steps.” Now, it’s back to saying “Your application is currently under review. We have received everything required to complete your application. Once a decision is made, it will be posted here.” and the test optional button is back. Does anyone know why this might have happened?
@lucy_van_pelt@MYOS1634 Thanks both for your responses. The acceptance letter he just sent me (I don’t have, or want, access to his portals) says “I am please to offer you admission to the Smeal College of Business Administration (Pre-Major) for fall 2025 at Penn State UP”. I understand his initial confusion but based on what you both said, the letter makes more sense with the context you provided.
What if your original application is for DUS and summer option is selected; is it still possible to ask for reconsideration to a specific major if you get rejected or 2+2?
I asked this the other day and someone mentioned they are still open this week. When I went back to last year’s EA thread there were definitely acceptances sent out during Thanksgiving week.
Thank you! Last question - Lionpath was saying “not authorized” but now it is saying “invalid username and password”. Does that mean decline? Anyone else seeing that?
