@lucyvanpelt Thank you!
So I think Physics helps your admission chances but it’s not required. That said, your daughters GPA and rigor is good for admission to PSU and Eberly. Keep in mind PSU admissions is always surprising us but in general your daughter’s stats are good for admission. Good luck!
Thank you @jlhpsu. Fingers crossed.
@ashley41: typically, math through precalculus and Bio/Chem/Physics are expected for Eberly. That being said, Physics is not required, and thus will not result in an automatic “no”, especially since she has two other honors courses and strong rigor.
@MYOS1634: Thank you for the information. Would you suggest she change her major or contact admissions? Thanks!
No, just let the process go through. If she’s denied or sent to a branch campus, she should react immediately and request another major (Biological anthropology, Criminology, Data Analytics, Food Science, Immunology&Infectious Disease, Pharmacology…?)
What major in Eberly did she apply for exactly?
@MYOS1634: Biochemistry. She received a 90% in Honors Biochemistry last year. This class is described by her school as a college level weeder course. Do you feel they’ll view that favorably?
Thanks again.
It’ll be ok for admission, but the Biochem major requires 4 Physics courses so she’ll start with a huge disadvantage if she’s never taken it before.
What AP’s has she taken?
AP Calc and AP English would be most useful - these first 4 semesters are brutal.
https://pennstateoffice365-my.sharepoint.com/personal/dmb385_psu_edu/_layouts/15/onedrive.aspx?id=%2Fpersonal%2Fdmb385%5Fpsu%5Fedu%2FDocuments%2FWebsites%2FNew%202019%20Druple%20Website%2FUndergraduate%2FUndergraduate%20Academic%20Planning%2FBMB%20Biochemistry%20Option%2Fbmb%5Fbioch%5FRAP%5FUP%5F20180521%5FMostRecentVersion%5FJSK%2Epdf&parent=%2Fpersonal%2Fdmb385%5Fpsu%5Fedu%2FDocuments%2FWebsites%2FNew%202019%20Druple%20Website%2FUndergraduate%2FUndergraduate%20Academic%20Planning%2FBMB%20Biochemistry%20Option&originalPath=aHR0cHM6Ly9wZW5uc3RhdGVvZmZpY2UzNjUtbXkuc2hhcmVwb2ludC5jb20vOmI6L2cvcGVyc29uYWwvZG1iMzg1X3BzdV9lZHUvRVRlcDFiaVZfbnBJaUhpa0RMS0ZuOVFCeExsSjJWMlVpUnRQb2VmWnJGS0Vndz9ydGltZT0teDRvZ0xoNjJFZw
She has College Prep Calc, AP Stats, IB English & Dual Enrollment College English. Others: AP French & Psych, IB French and Dual Enrollment College US History.
Having trouble with the link you provided. I’ll have her check out the suggested academic plan on their website. Regardless, seems like she has some thinking to do.
Thanks again.
Quick question for the experts about the competitiveness among majors in the Engineering school at Penn State.
S21 is applying as a Comp Sci major, which is in the Engineering School. At some schools, CS is in the Arts & Sciences schools, but not at PSU.
Is acceptance to Comp Sci more or less competitive than, say, Mechanical, or Chemical, or Biochemical Engineering or do you think Comp Sci applicants are evaluated separately?
S19 stats fall solidly in the middle of PSU CDS. They’re not outstanding, but adequate. His EA app is submitted (10/20) and he said ‘yes’ to Summer start.
It might be best to apply DUS as well as Summer start. DUS is less competitive than CS and most other majors in the engineering college. He could call admissions and request a change to DUS.
Thank you for the advice @kidzncatz.
For S21, getting into his major is more important than getting into PSU, for now. He’d rather start right away in his major at a school that accepts him into his major. There is no guarantee that he ever gets into CS at PSU in the future if he is accepted into DUS.
He has just as much chance of getting into his major from DUS as from the CS pre-major. All new students at PSU (except for a very few majors) start in pre-major status (or DUS) and must meet the entrance to major requirements (usually achieved during sophomore year) in order to actually be in that major. There is no guarantee that a student starting in CS pre-major status will get into the CS major; any CS pre-major student or DUS student who meets the requirements will be admitted.
Thoughts on Summer Session? Not sure whether to check it off in my application. Hoping to apply later this wk!
Very helpful and interesting. Will research and maybe have him make the change. Thanks!
@STEM2017 yes to everything @kidzncatz said.
It doesn’t matter if he comes from Engineering pre-major or DUS. He can take the same classes and should take the same ones. (Entrance to Major or ETM)
And understand if admitted into College of Engineering, he isn’t “in” his major. He is pre-major Engineering. And still needs to meet the GPA requirements to get “in” his major. Same as if he is in DUS.
yes to summer. take the Engineering Design course if offered.
@kidzncatz @lucyvanpelt @jlhpsu
So I spoke with an admissions counselor this morning - a real counselor, not a student - very helpful person. He suggested that S21 leaving his major as CS is not a problem. He said that DUS has become as competitive as Business and Engineering recently. He also said (which has been stated here on CC many times) that if S21 is rejected, he can request a ‘reconsideration’ under a different major - he said there have been applicants who have requested MULTIPLE reconsiderations.
I’m thinking of recommending S21 leaves his major as CS (Engineering).
One other question for you learned folks. What about a major in the College of Information Sciences and Technology? He is interested in coding and its applications. The College of Info Sci and Tech seems more focused on Cyber Security, Risk, and Data Science so it might not be perfect, but maybe this is a good avenue for him. He wouldn’t get a BS in Comp Sci, but I have to think a BS in Cyber Security, IT Risk, or Data Science can be pretty valuable these days. Anyone have any thoughts?
Absolutely check off summer. Good to have options and the consensus is that summer start is very much a great experience for those enrolled.
Anyone have an inkling as to when the first release of Early Action decisions will occur?
Maybe based on historical data…because you know this year compares to all others hahahahaha loving 2020.
@MYOS1634: My daughter spoke with her guidance counselor who suggested she contact admissions, but beyond that offered no insight. Do you feel it would be prudent for to request a change of major within Eberly, say to Biotechnology, which only requires two Physics courses? We’re struggling on how to proceed. Thank you and @jlhpsu, @lucyvanpelt for your insights. You are a wealth of helpful information!