A pool semester is defined as the specific semester by which a
student is expected to have completed all entrance-to-major requirements to enable formal entry into a major
in the semester immediately following. Prior to entering a major, a student would have a common year
designation. The common year designation (pre-major) for College of Engineering students in the
baccalaureate program, regardless of location, is ENGR.
Upon entry to the University, each student is automatically assigned a pool. All who are
admitted to the baccalaureate program in the College of Engineering as entering first-semester (freshmen)
students are assigned the spring semester of their second year as their pool for entrance to a major.
For example, students admitted in summer 2004, fall 2004, or spring 2005 were assigned to the spring 2005
pool. The process of admission to a major is done during the pool semester, although students have until
the end of that semester to complete any entrance-to-major courses. The cumulative GPA that each student
has at the beginning of the pool semester is used to determine eligibility for and entrance to a major
that is under enrollment control. If, as a result of inadequate academic performance during the pool
semester students become ineligible for a major, any offer of admission to a major will be rescinded.
For example, if a student's cumulative GPA drops below 2.0 (or 3.0 for the engineering science major) or
the grade in an entrance-to-major course is less than "C" the student will be removed from the major to which
he or she received a conditional offer of admission.
Transfer students (admitted to the university with advanced standing) who are admitted to
the common year designation ENGR, will be assigned to a pool by the Assistant Dean. Admission with advanced
standing, or as a transfer student, means that the student has earned at least 18 credits at other institutions
after graduating from high school. Any credits earned before graduating from high school, for example, advanced
placement credits, are not considered in the count for advanced standing admission. Students admitted to the
College of Engineering in ENGR status as a result of a change from another college, re-enrollment, or
admission from non-degree or provisional status will also be assigned to a pool by the Assistant Dean. All
such pool assignments by the Assistant Dean will be based the student's previous course work and/or transfer
credits to ensure that the student has an opportunity to qualify for a major by the end of his or her pool
semester. The pool semester is always a spring semester.
The architectural engineering major is not available to anyone who was admitted to Penn
State as a transfer student (with advanced standing). Students admitted to ENGR status with advanced standing
will be evaluated for admission to aerospace engineering, bioengineering, computer engineering, computer
science, or mechanical engineering using their cumulative GPA based on at least two semesters of appropriate
course work at Penn State.
Any need to repeat pre-requisite courses or entrance-to-major courses because of inadequate
grades or late drops will not be considered when determining the opportunity to qualify for a major. Students
who do not qualify for a major by the end of their pool semester will need to find a major in another college.