<p>I have Drexel in there as well. But the main topic here is the undergraduate business program. How do these two schools compare? I have already been accepted to both and already visited both and Babson is a lot farther away, but I can make the trip if I really feel like it is worth the much more expensive tuition and better education.</p>
<p>What are your opinions about Babson and Penn State? I would rather get opinions on Babson since I have heard a lot about Penn State and Drexel already.</p>
<p>Why should I go to Penn State? Why should I go to Babson?</p>
<p>Did you also post in the respective college forums? More likely to get strong opinions there
I don’t know much about B-schools, but if an MBA is on your radar, you may want to consider the overall debt you would incur. Seems like the schools you are considering are wildly different! Babson is a very small business-oriented school, while Drexel and Penn State are much bigger universities. What are you looking for? what factors matter to you?</p>
<p>Truly, I believe that I will be OK with both locations.</p>
<p>Location isn’t a problem. What I’m more concerned with is how each will help me prepare for the job force. </p>
<p>Even though Penn State is a much bigger campus, as you start getting into the 3rd and 4th years, the class sizes shrink and eventually become much more specialized - according to one of my friends, the class size is small compared with the lecture halls - mostly for general education courses.</p>
<p>I tried posting in the Babson and PSU forums. Babson forums are kind of a dead man’s land (no one’s there), and PSU I’m kind of getting opinions from the PSU viewpoint (which is generally good) but no comments about Babson College.</p>
<p>I was recommended to put my concerns in this forum section :/</p>
<p>Overall debt is a concern. Babson I believe costs about 10k more. I’m trying to figure out if the cost is worth it. That’s what I’m trying to find out. I’m also trying to find out if it’s worth traveling to Massachusetts for my education - I live in PA and PSU is more convenient. But I’m willing to travel to MA if the education is of a much higher quality.</p>
<p>Yes, sometimes the smaller colleges have less activity in their CC forums
10k per year? If so, then $40k might not be worth it. I can’t offer advice since I don’t know anything about business schools. Have you talked with anyone at Babson about your questions? Can they put you in contact with current students or a professor? Facebook?</p>
<p>I have been in contact with current students as well as the Dean of undergraduate admissions. </p>
<p>It’s hard not to see a bias in their way of thinking since they are current students (or work there) and I’m trying to get an outside view. Currently, PSU would be the cheaper one. Babson would cost around 35k / year (after financial aid) with no loans.</p>
<p>A coworker friend of mine went to Babson for an MBA and received an offer with a consulting firm near graduation. We apparently couldn’t match that offer (I work for a big software engineering company) and he left. He basically travels around the country (and sometimes to other countries) for a week at a time to do his work at various companies. My feeling is that Babson has a very good MBA program. I don’t know how well this reflects on their undergraduate business programs. There may be some advantage in the relative proximity to a major business center for internships.</p>
<p>Is it worth it to go to MA? Babson isn’t in Boston; it’s not that far from Boston but you’d have to work a little to get there. If you want to go to Babson to be in Boston, then you may be a little disappointed.</p>
<p>If money is an issue, I’d go with a state school. State schools typically have a ton of resources and opportunities - you just have to make sure that you take advantage of them.</p>
<p>Differences are the following from what I know:</p>
<p>Big comprehensive state university with strengths in business and many other areas vs small private college centered exclusively on business. </p>
<p>Babson undergrads seem to be under a much greater workload/pressures from academics and required entrepreneurial projects. Then again, that may just be a younger cousin and several acquaintances who went to Babson and other friends/acquaintances who went to Penn State. </p>
<p>Seems to me at Babson you’d have a lot more opportunities during the school year for internships and part-time work related to a business career – there’s more going on in Wellesley and Boston than in State College…</p>
<p>Sounds like there might be a slight edge to the academics etc. at Babson but whether it is worth 35K times 4 plus additional travel expenses only the OP can decide. It sounds like a lot of debt to me! And if an MBA is planned…???</p>
<p>Thanks cobrat. I have chosen PSU…decided that really the 35k / year isn’t worth it. But the ROI of Babson is one of the best…I believe rank #11 on Businessweek and honestly my parents weren’t trustworthy of Babson - unfortunately I have heard of it but my parents question its education. I have had many friends and family go to PSU and said it was wonderful so I was already kind of 75% PSU 25% Babson. I felt that Babson IMO had superior academics and education but the sticker price for me just shied me away. </p>
<p>Cobrat, your opinion, you have had friends/relatives that have went to both schools. From their experiences, which one would have been better? I only ask out of curiosity since I have already committed to PSU.</p>
<p>Yes I plan to get an MBA. Another thing is that my sibling is also planning to attend graduate school next year as well…so tuition did make me choose PSU because of this burden.</p>
<p>I was also curious on how people perceived Babson’s degree - like people at Wharton they rate their degree like “no need for an MBA” - is this the same for Babson?</p>
<p>How about PSU’s degree? More info on me: I might either major in Finance / Marketing or do a 180-degree spin and major in something in IT / computer-based. Is the Smeal undergraduate program better than Babson’s program? </p>
<p>Really depends on the individual, what type of undergrad business education they wanted, and type of college experience desired. Those who went to PSU enjoyed their time there, those who went to Babson felt likewise. Can’t really say which one is “better” from their accounts…though Babson does have a reputation for subjecting their undergrads to more onerous academic workloads not only from classes…but also mandated entrepreneurial/business exercises. </p>
<p>In short…take the best that PSU has to offer and enjoy your time there.</p>
<p>There has been one particular thread in the Babson section that makes me curious - the Babson vs Ivy thread. Your opinion, how does Babson compare to the Ivies?</p>
<p>I don’t know if you have any experience in this but my parents would like to know.</p>
<p>Penn state because the business school is ranked #22 in the country and the school is ranked #1 in the country for job recruiting after college. stats like that are impressive, you get a great education and its the best place to go if you’re looking for a job.</p>
