I forgot one key piece-- her optional essay was sort of basic, but it was about why she wanted to do that entrepreneurship major. So if she called to switch it would be more like she still wants that but would also be happy with DUS pathway? Like wouldn’t that be weird to say she suddenly doesn’t want business? Not sure if they care or know that these DUS people are using it to try and get into business…
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My daughter switched from Smeal to DUS in mid-November and in her email she said she wanted the best possible chance of getting into PSU and that’s why she wanted to switch. While requesting the switch, she also asked if she would still be considered EA. Two hours later they switched her to DUS, two days later she was accepted to UP for the fall. She has decent stats, 3.96UW, 4.52 W, 12 AP/DE classes, submitted 1390 SATs, OOS.
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Doesn’t she have to apply to get into smeal every yr after freshman yr? We were told they only accept a small # of in school transfers into smeal.
@kdal no. There are no direct admit business majors at Penn State. Every DUS and pre-major Smeal admit have the same pathway. Please read up thread for more information.
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At the info meeting at Smeal, they said the requirement for both Smeal and DUS students is to have certain GPA in the entry to major classes after their sophomore year. Those that have the GPA get into Smeal and those that don’t, don’t. So even if you’re accepted into Smeal, you will not be able to continue as a business major without the GPA. For finance it’s been 3.5. The other majors are lower. There are 8 entry to major classes, 4 that need to be take at PSU. Out of the other 4, my daughter can AP out of 3 of them…Calc, Stats, and Micro.
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MYOS1634
Is this the same for engineering?
Thank you kindly
Thanks for the detailed response @fallwasbrutal.
I really wonder that there isn’t much benefit between getting admitted as a Smeal major Vs DUS. Besides, the Smeal academic advisor (which may not be that big of a deal), I’m thinking it may be easier for Smeal majors to enroll in the pre-requisite classes before everyone else does, preference for office hours etc. There has to be something, otherwise what’s even the point for Smeal to be a competitive major, beyond just an ego-boost.
Thank you for this! He does actually have a portfolio that he submitted to 5 schools, and considered applying to Graphic Design at PS. But Penn State’s Portfolio process is very specific and more detailed than he anticipated, so decided to apply to a broader major. I will have him take a look at Landscape Design!
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Yes, I think in November it made more sense to switch, but one week before they finalize decisions it seems risky to me.
However the best thing to do is call and ask if she can switch to DUS. She could say she’s hesitating and leaning toward ETI and isn’t sure but wants to keep her options open.
She could also directly request
Yes, it’s the same for every major. You start on the pathway to your desired major but need to take all the foundational classes related to your major (so, for Engineering Calculus, Physics…) and pass them plus have a certain GPA.
In Engineering, the GPA tends to be 2.6.
is reconsideration rolling or done after EA
There isn’t. It’s just an ego boost or a reflection of the fact sometimes students don’t know better so most apply to Smeal.
Most start in DUS.
The only benefits are Smeal adviser and opportunity to apply for Sapphire (sort of Business Honors).
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My daughter isn’t particularly good at math and doesn’t enjoy it, so frankly not sure why she even selected this major lol (in any pathway!), but that’s a different thread.
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Daughter accepted tonight. TO Button disappeared sometime today and decision was in her portal at midnight. College of Arts and Architecture.
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Congrats!, do you by chance the time that TO button was removed
Students schedule by number of credits (athletes and schreyer go first before anyone else). So seniors about to graduate go first trickled down to freshmen. AP credits count in the scheduling records, so that can move some freshmen up earlier in the process. The 6 credits of summer also slightly help. The required ETM courses can be scheduled by “Smeal premajor” or “DUS premajor” equally.
As @MYOS1634 said, Smeal premajors have the advantage of a business adviser and the opportunity to apply to Sapphire.
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If my son doesn’t get engineering at UP, what would be a good reconsideration? Thanks for your help 
he has all the required math, physics, 4 years foreign lang, 6 AP’s, etc
By Engineering I suppose you mean College of Engineering.
Because these majors are tucked-away in another college that most students don’t know about, Engineering majors in Earth&Mineral Sciences and in Agriculture are less competitive (fewer applicants).
However if he has excellent grades and rigor don’t worry too much 
2 years ago my son requested reconsideration 12/10 from Smeal to DUS. He was accepted Fall Start at the end of January. It seems all of the reconsiderations went out then. It is really important to get the reconsideration in ASAP. He had friends that didn’t know they could do it or waited too long and their decision remained 2+2.
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