<p>I was recently admitted into both Rutgers and Penn State for Labor Relations and Human Resources. I was wondering what the general consensus is about these two schools. I should note that i was admitted to Rutgers New Brunswick and University Park for Penn State. </p>
<p>In talking to people in the know everyone seems split as to what school would be best. I would have to pay out of state tuition since i am a new yorker but the difference between schools is really negligible. </p>
<p>I have yet to visit the schools but i hear the Penn State campus is beautiful and the Rutgers is nothing to brag about. Also there is the fact that Rutgers is less than 2 hours away from home while Penn State is nearly 6 for me. </p>
<p>Basically i'm just trying to find out if anyone has had any experience with either school. Also if one school maybe has a better reputation than the other? So far i'm leaning towards Penn State but Rutgers has many things going for it as well.</p>
<p>I also should mention that for some reason Rutgers admitted me into the program conditionally. I need to have a B or better in my first 12 credits at the school. While i know i can do this it’s just annoying that they would do this and i’m not sure if i wanna be worrying EVEN more about my grades my first semester of grad school on top of adjusting to living in a new city.</p>
<p>Well, because NJ is such a small state, for grad school there will be a bunch of commuters and even those that are on campus will bail on the weekends. So, if that will be you as well, perhaps no big deal. Penn State is a much longer haul so grad students stay on campus on the weekends. That and it is a great college town with a lot going on so people want to be there.</p>
<p>Where are grad student commuters going to go on weekends? I’d hope by that point in their lives they wouldn’t be doing laundry at their parents’ house.</p>
<p>I have a friend in undergrad at the NB campus at Rutgers. It’s located in a sketchy part of town, but part of the university grounds are very beautiful…the rest is in an semi-sketchy urban area. you can take a $10 commuter train to downtown Manhattan that takes about an hour and is open late nights on weekends. Actually, the last train might be at 1AM on Fridays and Saturdays. After that, you have to wait till 5Am, but Penn Station is as good a place as any to pass out.</p>
<p>Overall, Penn State is known as a better school. I’m not really sure about the particular programs to which you are applying, but I think it’s safe to wager that Penn State’s programs are better known in virtually all fields.</p>
<p>Really, one of your last concerns for graduate school should be location (it should be fit of the program) but honestly State College is a nicer area. I live in New York and I go through New Brunswick regularly on my way down and back from McGuire AFB, and it’s not a cute place to live. Rutgers itself is a pretty campus…New Brunswick is a boring city.</p>
<p>As for commuters vs. on-campus, most graduate students are commuters in some sense of the word. It’s not like undergrad where you’ll be playing Frisbee and gathering for dorm parties on the weekends. Most weekends I’m in New Jersey with my fiance (I go to school in New York), and if I’m not and I go out with my grad student friends, it’s definitely not on campus. We live all over New York.</p>
<p>Juliet, thanks for clearing that up. The major reason i’m worried about the distance is because my mom is a widow and i’m her only child so i’d like to be able to make it home for holidays and what not. But you are right, if the program itself is a better fit i should be able to make all the other things work out.</p>
<p>Another thing to note about Rutgers-NB is that it isn’t solely in New Brunswick. Their are other campuses located in Piscataway, which is a typical suburban-style town. So, you may be spending most of your studying time there. </p>
<p>The actual city of New Brunswick is small and not very nice. Their isn’t a-lot of urban decay, but their is a solid amount of poverty and I have known a few people who have had trouble at night (car jackings, 1 guy i know got mugged). But, the 10 blocks or so around the campus are generally made up of University students, so that area is ok. </p>
<p>In terms of nightlife, NB is nothing special. Their are about 10-15 bars and nice restaurants downtown and some nearby towns have some places to go. But, many times we would take the train to NYC for the weekend (its about an hour train ride).</p>
<p>what are the ranking comparison of your program like of those two school?</p>
<p>I agree with Juillet, dont worry about the campus/location too much, I assume you only going there for a master’s? which is 1-2 years? it’s a blink of eye when you look back at your graduation. Where you go AFTER the program is what matters, I would imagine NJ area has much more job opportunities than PSU.</p>
<p>PSU is part of Big Ten (big public school, lot of sports/party), I believe Rutgers used to be brother school with Columbia, it was founded in 1766 (PSU 1855).</p>
<p>To me, if Rutgers give you conditionally admission whereas PSU gave you full admission, if means Rutger’s program is more competitive and selective, and cares more about academic performance. Myself is in BigTen, I really am not too happy about the focus on sports around the campus, I hate it on football weekends there is beer cans all over the places and people going crazy on the street, ---- it’s just me thou.</p>
<p>what about Rutgers Newark? if you don’t dorm, where/how do students look for apartments? and i’m assuming that they don’t live in newark, given the area’s “sketchiness”</p>