(Accepted) TCNJ vs Penn State; Where should I go? (Wait listed American University and Gettysburg)

College Search & Selection
1

I am in between TCNJ and Penn State.
I live in New Jersey and got accepted into both colleges.
I got into TCNJ for Biology and Penn State for PreMed in the hoped of attending med school after undergraduate school.

TCNJ is yet to give me any financial aid or scholarship while Penn State had given me $16,215 a year in scholarships and grants and a $3,500 loan. With total aid of $19,715.00, I will have $52,517.00 left to pay each year. From research about TCNJ, with aid or scholarship, it will cost me $27,447 a year to attend. While money is a big factor it isn’t the main thing stopping me from going to Penn State.

TCNJ is about 1 hour from my house while Penn State is 4 hours, again this is not main factor because I do not know if I want to be close or far from home, but I do like the idea of being able to come home whenever I please if I do go to TCNJ.

My main concern is the size, TCNJ is a lot smaller than Penn State, I like this because the class sizes are smaller, it is a closer nit community, and it will be more face to face time with my teachers. I like being able to know or know of all of the kids in my graduating class and in a class with 50,000 total undergraduates at Penn State, I doubt I could do that.

My other main concern is the quality and advantages of the bio and premed programs at each school. While I have heard many good things about TCNJ for bio, Penn State’s premed is always listed as one of the top in the country.

I want to have good internship opportunities and would also LOVE to study abroad. I visited TCNJ for their open house and it was nice but nothing “clicked” for me. I am going to attend the accepted students day at both colleges next week and hopefully that will help me decide but I needed help.

Any opinions on people who have attended either of these colleges for these specific majors??

Also while I’m on this, I got wait listed to American University and Gettysburg College, anyone know of my chances of getting off the wait list for either of those? Because if I were to get in to either of them, they would automatically become my first choice.

2

focus your efforts on getting off of the wait list at Gettysburg or American. If you play your cards right, then you should get off the wait list. If I were you, though, right now I’d try to deposit at Penn State while waiting to hear back from the other two. TCNJ is good, but not on the level of either of the other schools. I’d advise you to leave New Jersey if you want/can.

3

Strikes against Penn State:

  • You want to “know everyone in your graduating class” and that’s not happening here
  • Expensive as all get out
  • Farther from home

Strike three, it’s out. :stuck_out_tongue: I don’t know why you’d consider it when you have another option that is cheaper and fits your preferences for a school better.

Note: I do think your math is suspect. OOS cost of attendance doesn’t even add up to $50k, so how could you have $50k left to pay after almost $20k in aid??

4

You’re right about all of those things but the quality and ranking of Penn State’s premed program makes me reconsider how important all of those cons are to me.

5

I would go to TCNJ. Penn State is a mid tier state school and TCNJ is much more selective than Penn State.

Also there is a history of preference at RWJ Medical if you are instate. You will lose that if you go out of state.

You also might not be aware that a new STEM facility will open at TCNJ in less than a year. $100 million facility.

I am from NJ and there is a tendency to elevate Penn State above NJ schools that isn’t factual.

I too would pick Gettsyburg, but absent of that go TCNJ. Let some other NJ family subsize the education of PA residents.

6

The total cost of attendance as stated on my financial aid award notification letter from penn state is $72,232 a year. Minus the $19,715 in aid, I will have $52,517 left to pay.

7

@OnTheBubble Mid-tier state school?? Penn State is one of the premier publics in the country, definitely the top in the northeast. TCNJ, while good in its own right, isn’t nearly on Penn State’s level of attraction. Don’t flatter yourself.

I’m from NJ as well, and many would much rather attend Penn State than Rutgers or TCNJ. While people are impartial to TCNJ, the perception of Rutgers tends to be very negative. TCNJ and Rutgers are the only two NJ publics that can even come close to Penn State’s academic quality.

8

Could you please check that that’s what it says? The calculator on their website says $47k and that’s where it’s been historically. A random jump of $25k doesn’t make sense.

9

Yes I know what the website says, but its correct for me. It is exactly what my letter from them says.

10

But…like…do you see that that number doesn’t make SENSE? They’re telling you two WILDLY DIFFERENT numbers. I would call them and ask before you assume that the letter is right. I find it extremely hard to believe that they would just be like, “You know, I think we’ll upcharge OOS students by $25,000 this year!” (Intern: But sir, what about the tuition calculator?) “Screw the tuition calculator.”

Both tuition/aid calculators on the website give a number around $48k for OOS cost of attendance. Something is seriously wrong with one of these sources of information.

11

So is TCNJ. On average much more accomplished students go to TCNJ. It is a pretty elite school as Northeastern publics go and better education for undergrads.

Also, @LBad96 , giving up preference to medical school, is something only a fool would do. It also looks like TCNJ will save at least $50k over 4 years.

Would you have been accepted to TCNJ? I read in the paper the average ACT was a 29 for the class of 2020.

TCNJ is ranked #2 in the Northeast in Undergrad Teaching Quality granting up to a masters, “regional schools”, ahead of Villanova.

12

The Penn State Tuition and College Cost Calculator provides a $44,572 2015-2016 COA figure (excluding personal expenses) for an OOS Eberly student majoring in pre-med. I recommend you contact Penn State and clarify.

Both schools are excellent and you can’t go wrong. If costs are similar, choose the school that has the environment you’re more comfortable with. They are very different.

Penn State is an excellent, large, public state school with many reputable and highly ranked departments. You would not be subsidizing anyone and will receive an excellent education for your money. Did you apply and get admitted to their Honors College?

13

Of course OOS students subsidize instate students. What would Penn State instate tuition be without the 40% of students paying 45% more?

14

Penn. residents are in addition paying tax dollars that go to the school, although for Penn. St. the percentage is small.

In the case of the OP, an annual $16K scholarship (if accurate) places the OP in line with in state tuition, thus, the state of Penn. and its residents are subsidizing the OP, not the other way around.

Whether you or I like it or not, many top state universities have increased their OOS student population, which provides a disadvantage for in state students who are being squeezed out (can’t say those students are being subsidized). As long as OOS students and their families are willing and financially able to attend, based on their decisions, it will continue. For top public state universities such as Penn State, the OOS student is paying for an education that they see as providing value.

However, we digress into a different discussion than the OP’s purpose.

15

fact is TCNJ is a great school and more competitive admission than penn. More importantly , you need to go where you think you will excel the most. I have to say, a smaller school with more one on one attention is the likely place where you can be a big fish in a smaller pond. Down side is TCNJ is very demanding academically and there is nowhere to hide, but if you want med school— based on academics and costs (as med school will bleed you dry of $)
and personal attention --TCNJ wins. If you want more fun and football go penn state but those are some expensive football games.

16

I’d save the money and go to TCNJ. It sounds like you prefer the size as well and I would think that it would be just as strong as Penn State for pre-med coursework.

You can send a short letter of continued interest to the schools where you are on the waitilist.

17

If OP’s letter is wrong and they actually got almost $20k in aid subtracted from an OOS COA of $48k, Penn State (NOT PENN!!) could actually be comparable in price. I don’t think we can really give any more recommendations until that claim of a COA over $70,000 is cleared up.

18

Just because Admissions is more difficult doesn’t mean a school is better. It’s dependent on the field that the student wants to study among other factors. Yes, I’m sure some students attend Penn State for the parties and football games. There are also many serious students who attend Penn State, work hard and receive a terrific education, not to mention receiving the benefit of a fiercely loyal alumni network that can be relied upon during a job search.

For pre-med, I would agree that the OP should go to the least expensive option and save money for medical school.

19

This is my first ever post here, but this is from the Wikipedia on TCNJ:

TCNJ has earned national recognition as a leading academic institution. According to U.S. News & World Report’s latest annual rankings, TCNJ found a place near the top of the list in Regional Universities category for the northern region of the country.[14] The current edition ranked TCNJ as the #1 public institution in the Northeastern United States in the “Best Regional Universities” category.[15][16] In terms of regional universities for the North, for both public and private institutions, TCNJ ranked 3rd[17] in the current ranking.[14][18] Forbes ranks TCNJ the best NJ public college.[19][20] Kiplinger’s ranks TCNJ #1 Best Value Public College in New Jersey that combines outstanding education with economic value.[21][22] Fiske Guide to Colleges ranks TCNJ the best public institution in New Jersey, with high academic excellence, talented student body, generous financial aid awards, beautiful campus setting, and excellent quality of life.[23] TCNJ currently is ranked as one of the “Most Competitive” institutions in the nation by Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges.[24] TCNJ has also earned recognition by the Princeton Review for having a world-class library, an excellent quality of life and highly selective medical program; ranking it one of the country’s best institutions for undergraduate education.[25][26][27] According to Bloomberg Businessweek Survey of Best Undergraduate Business Schools, TCNJ School of Business is currently #1 in NJ, and top 50s nationwide.[28][29]

And maybe more important;ly:

Prestigious graduate schools routinely welcome TCNJ alumni into their ranks.[34] Sixty-four percent of TCNJ students who apply to medical school are accepted.

I am sure either will be great and wish you luck.

20

If Penn State gave you a scholarship, the COA should be similar at both, unless TCNJ also gives you money. In which case, TCNJ would be more economically feasible, and lets you save for med school. For med school, is state residency predicated on state of residency of parent or the student at time of med school application? Not familiar with med school admissions - so that’s something worthwhile to check out.

OP should realize that Penn State is a nationally recognized public university with world class research. Their undergrad program can offer so many different courses and majors - a variety that is simply not available at TCNJ.
Academically, they are classified in different categories altogether.

But personal preference and personal fit , as well as affordability issues are something you have to decide for yourself.