My son started in engineering and only a month into his first semester, he changed his major to DUS and he is now in Smeal as a junior. I don’t know if students can switch majors before the first semester begins. I suggest looking closely at the course requirements for his accepted major AND Smeal. Try to have him stick with Gen Ed’s or any classes that are required for both majors so he is not taking any classes that aren’t useful. That way, he can switch to DUS sometime during the fall semester and then start the Smeal entrance to major classes in the spring. He should get himself switched before scheduling for spring semester.
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I was just recently admitted to a branch campus for DUS instead of UP unfortunately, but i’m going to ask for reconsideration for a different major. I’m looking to go into buisness and join smeal eventually. But what would be the best major to switch to so i can get into main to begin with? Should I ado andmissions, or would that look bad? All thoughts would be appreciated.
I’m learning about Smeal myself, but from what I’ve known so far, Smeal pre-major and DUS are the only two pathways for Smeal major entrance:-
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internship. Every student is encouraged to attend the career fair/s independent of their major, but there are some major-only specific ones, so they typically wouldn’t apply until junior year. While there are some kids who obtain internships prior to junior year, freshmen are rare and sophomores not common. No difference.
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access to Smeal academic resources. Not sure what resources you are referring to? Advisors? Smeal advisors have drop-in advising hours that a DUS student could attend, but frankly, DUS advisors are qualified to guide for entering a Smeal major.
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study abroad? Attend the study abroad fair and list it as in the plan from the first advising meeting. Why? For Smeal majors, they are not allowed to take business classes outside of Penn State (I’ve been told has to do with accreditation). So they need to plan and leave enough gen eds to have for study abroad. My D was ahead with ETM due to AP classes so was in her major in Smeal sophomore fall so studied abroad sophomore spring. (Sorry for the massive run-on sentence, but you get it).
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there is no such thing as premajor classes in DUS vs. Smeal. They are all the same. For example, Math 110 (calc) is taught by the math department. Econ 102 (micro) through Econ. I can point you to the field in lionpath where it says pre-major DUS or pre-major Smeal for the Mktg, Mgmt, Acctg, and Fin ETM (entrance to major).
Don’t overthink it. We aren’t trying to gotcha. We have experience.
The differences?
- Smeal advisors vs. DUS advisor (see above)
- Ability to apply for Sapphire Leadership
- ego.
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Thank you for the detailed response. Much appreciated.
Not overthinking, just trying not to assume anything, and seeking guidance from experts such as yourself.
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Smeal, DUS, etc aren’t like (say) Peterhouse/Clare/King’s.
Most colleges are the administrative units for the various departments and related subjects. They organize schedules and offices for faculty, have a secretary, assign classrooms, etc.
DUS is the administrative unit in charge of 1st&2nd year students; it’s sought after because you can pivot to any major from DUS.
Then students have dorms clustered as Halls - it may change depending on the year but oftentimes it’d be something like South for the Honors students, East for many first years, North for 1st year Living Learning Communities (LLCs = students interested in the same subjects or activities who can live together and thus have ready-made buddies/study group partners on campus). The cafeteria is in the middle of your Hall (East Halls = all the dorms in the East quad area + cafeteria + whatever the dorms offer).
Students interested in Economics, Smeal, or in DUS and unsure, would take a similar load in the Fall, typically: English 15 or 30 H, (Math 110+ Econ 104) or (SCM 200+Econ 102)* , World language 002 or 003.
English class would be managed by the English Dept, Math by the Math dept, etc.
*Math 110 and Econ 102 are weed out so you should take them different semesters - even if strictly speaking nobody will bar you from trying to bungee jump and play the clarinet at the same time if you so choose, aka take both the same semester.
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Right now your best odds are to request Economics, Agribusiness, Labor&Human Resources… Then if admitted for Summer take one of the weedout classes then to have a lighter load in the Fall, make sure you have As and Bs only both Summer and Fall and switch to DUS when scheduling for Spring. (No point in switching if your grades don’t give you a shot at Smeal so you really need to dedicate time through office hours, review sessions… To be in the top half of your class ie., A/B).
That’s assuming you took precalculus(H) or Calculus with A or B, and have at least 3 years (preferably 4) in a foreign language.
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Got it, thanks a lot @MYOS1634.
So, net-net, there isn’t really any difference in the student experience whether they are a Smeal pre-major or DUS. That’s all I wanted to be doubly sure.
D25 is considering PSU Smeal as her top choice, even though has direct business admits from a few other equivalent colleges - and a few more expected next month. So, trying to be really sure. Thanks again.
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@lucy_van_pelt I’d love your advice on one more topic.
For any Smeal/DUS pre-major, who fails to qualify the ETM requirements (hypothetically) what are their possible options then?
There’s no trap - no cap on the number of students, no interview, etc. All students who took the courses and have the grades go on to Smeal as juniors.
It does require dedication and no partying during the week 
- Not all premajors are successful and many switch and switch as they discover some subjects aren’t their cup of tea or that “I’ll study for my test at 11pm, after I relax a bit with my friends who are going out and don’t have a test” isn’t a valid study strategy
Student experience varies according to the dorms: LLCs are social but around a common interest/major, East are infamous as the party dorms for freshmen, there are quiet floors (ie., no partying from 10pm to 8am during the week), some dorms have art or music studios, Schreyer (South Halls) has a quiet study room, a common room with a piano, and “Global” which is application-only (organizes discussions, films, meeting with international visitors, etc.)
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Thanks for the response. I’m willing to work very hard in order to eventually get into smeal, but out of those agribusiness, economics, etc, which would you recommend for me the most to get me into main campus through reconsideration and to also help me with my goal of getting into dus and then smeal.
3.45 unw
majority honors classes
difficult private school
TO
summer session
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Good luck @Jamesmcc0
You sound so much like my D25.
She’s equally committed to work really hard in college. I wish you the very best for securing a spot at UP DUS/Smeal, and I know that you’d fly no matter where you land this fall!
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OK Penn State is giving me a headache lol… DD was admitted 2 & 2 (Harrisburg) which she 100% is not doing. She isn’t even sure she wants UP. Are you now saying DUS is hard to get into at UP? When did they become so hard? I know it’s a great school but my son got right into Smeal last year… admittedly better stats. What is Smeal looking for? I will do the reconsider for my DD but if DUS is hard, then any other ideas? She hasn’t taken Econ so that won’t make sense would it? She wanted Entrepreneurship-- thanks!
IST? They have one major that has a lot of business classes.
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DS Is a DUS Sophomore right now. We just went through this. He will meet the minimum GPA requirements for Smeal. His backup was IST. There is one major in the program that has a business focus.
Also, I would look at the Entrance to Major (ETM) classes and figure out what you don’t have to take at PSU…Statistics, Calc etc. These are hard classes at PSU and can impact your GPA. My son did them at a local CC and transferred them in. Grade doesn’t transfer, but they were easy As at CC and he got PSU credit.
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DUS is less difficult than Smeal but more difficult than some majors in HHD, Comm, CLA, AG… It all depends on your child’s strengths. DUS is the “pivot to anything” major.
If she truly doesn’t know and PSU UP isn’t her first choice, she can try being reconsidered for DUS. If she’s not super invested in the outcome unless she has PSU/UP and perhaps even then, it seems low risk to try.
The major below would expect someone to be interested in the intersection of tech and business - and have courses/ECs that prove it.
https://bulletins.psu.edu/undergraduate/colleges/information-sciences-technology/enterprise-technology-integration-bs/
CLA has Organizational Leadership. Frankly, it looks a bit academically lightweight but… I suppose you could pivot to DUS after a semester.
https://bulletins.psu.edu/undergraduate/colleges/liberal-arts/organizational-leadership-bs/
Thanks! Will think it all over… appreciate the help.
Congrats! My daughter also is psych Summer UP start. We are OOS (both parents originally from PA though).
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Hi there…congrats! Do you mind sharing their stats? We are still waiting. And are you in state or OOS? Thank you!
My daughter got 2+2 Smeal, but only wants UP. She had tried the Reconsideration Request link multiple times, but after selecting campus and major it doesn’t offer a submit button. It’s just sitting there. Has anyone had luck requesting reconsideration?