<p>Ok, so these two are my best options unless I get off the waitlist somewhere (which I doubt will happen). I want to decide soon so I be done with this. My biggest problem with PSU is that I grew up around there, took/take classes there, and nearly EVERYONE from my school goes there. On the other hand, I know it in and out, know the social life, the campus, and other helpful things. I just feel that this doesn't allow for growth. I want intellectual growth as well, and some PSU classes are on the same level as middle school classes.</p>
<p>Also, I don't drink but I do know how to avoid it (or live with it) and still have fun at PSU. I hear that BC is also a drinking school, but there are no frats (which, as much as I find them silly, at least can make it fun) and no one goes into Boston. I hear that BC students are WASP-y (if you put a 'C' in place of the 'P', of course), snobby, and preppy, which is nothing like me. Anyway, either school that I go to, I will probably try to transfer out the next year. Oh, and BC is giving me better financial aid unless PSU steps it up.</p>
<p>PSU is a really large school and since you grew up in the area, it would be nice to go away and try something different. I was going to go with PSU, myself. But I had the same problem, where my whole school is practically going there. </p>
<p>Boston on the other hand is a better choice academically and there’s a great social scene in Boston…I’m sure u’ll find people to fit in with.</p>
<p>You could always transfer, but keep in mind that a lot of the time after people have been already in college for a year, they don’t want to leave. After a year you could get used the the environment and stay.</p>
<p>Exactly, but I’ve lived here forever [which has its drawbacks as well, clearly] and would be fine with it. I just want to leave but not if BC wouldn’t be fun.</p>
<p>Princeton? They don’t take transfers. UPENN? They accept 10 percent of their applicants and the reality is that they will still be looking at your high school transcript along with your first year college grades. If they didn’t want you now, they are unlikely to want you next year. That and the reality is that your year of graduation (and next year’s class) are a huge pool of applicants. The likelihood of accepting rates dropping next year is probable. Bottom line is go where you think you want to be for four years. </p>
<p>BC will be more challenging (thus also harder to get top marks). But you’ve done Happy Valley, done your share of The Diner so I’d heavily lean toward getting a very different experience on the outskirts of a major and great city. My son went elsewhere because he wasn’t into the preppy stuff in high school and sure didn’t want to go somewhere where they multiply. Having said that he was quite impressed with BC’s facilities and the level of the talent they draw.</p>
<p>I don’t see myself transferring to Princeton or any place of such caliber, but probably to a place where I was waitlisted - so it probably wouldn’t be that much of a problem to get in - or possibly Cornell. Regardless, my high school grades, while not terrible, are clearly what killed my chances some places. I don’t want to go to PSU because out of my class of 650, about 500 (if not more) are staying here to go to PSU. I don’t like the small town atmosphere or the lack of challenging work, either. The classes I’ve taken at PSU have been less challenging than my high school classes. Plus, the people here are horrible, for the most part; in that respect, Boston College doesn’t seem much better. I know that I’d be happy at PSU but I still know it would bother me that I didn’t go somewhere better…and on the off chance I get off the waitlist somewhere it wouldn’t matter.</p>
<p>well–I will agree that BC is a party school, esp. on football days. My D went there and transfered out after one semester. However, I think that if she had had a decent roomate and a different dorm, she might have stayed. Her dorm (sorry do not remember the name but could find out if you want) was very isolated and on the edge of campus with only about 20 students in each townhouse. Her roomate was drunk and naked with a new guy most every night.
That said, two of her HS friends went there, also, and did fine. One is in law school now. D attended in 2002.
It sounds like you should go to BC and maybe (?? if not too weird to you?) apply for a sbustance free dorm. This does not mean that the students don’t ever drink but that it will not be in the dorm (most of the time at least).
Boston is amazing and kids do go into the city and it is a wonderful place to experience. The dorm food is also considered way above average. One thing my D just mentioned recently that she liked about BC was that you can eat alone and do things by yourself and no one thinks anything about it. She found at Middlebury --much smaller-- that others thought it odd if she went to eat alone or do an activity alone. Just thought I would share that and good luck. Let us know what you decide!</p>
<p>These ‘people are horrible’, ‘classes like I took in middle school’ comments make it crystal clear that you and Happy Valley need to part company. </p>
<p>W.C. Fields once said something like ‘I would never join a club that would have me as a member.’ I think you suffer from that complex. I looked at some of your other posts and saw some schools on your wait list. In 2006, Georgetown took 25 off their wait list, Emory did the same. Georgetown’s wait list numbered 1820. Georgetown also accepts less than 10 percent of their transfer applicants. Good luck with that. </p>
<p>You talk about pushing yourself academically. Certainly you have very good SAT scores but nothing that sets you apart. Same with your G.P.A. although if you are going to State College Region High School, their rep will help make that look better. What were your AP level courses and exam grades?</p>