Forget the Ivies. Why not Penn State?

Parent Cafe
81

<p>This link is a list of outcomes for graduating PSU schreyers students. As you can see major employers and top grad schools are included. A student who wants to get threre can get there as is monydads point.
[Outcomes:</a> Schreyer Honors College](<a href=“http://shc.psu.edu/future/outcomes.cfm]Outcomes:”>http://shc.psu.edu/future/outcomes.cfm)</p>

<p>As for the age old argument of Ivy vs. whoever I tire of it. There is no one answer. Only the answer that works best for you and your situation.</p>

82

<p>^^^
I think they should take Lehman Brothers off the list :)</p>

<p>Agree with Sax - an individual decision- for some PSU may be a good choice - for others not. </p>

<p>At least in my mind, Trump is an unsavory character so no loss if “trump-like kids” are a concern. Not all rich kids are snobs though. Too much generalization. </p>

<p>Yes, this age-old argument has been beaten to death on CC. Bottom line, I think, if money is a concern, a quality state flagship (especially if it has a honors college) should be in the mix. But that’s me. Everyone has a different view here, and some may be willing to sacrifice retirement and other financial goals to pay for their kids “dream” school…even if it’s not Ivy level. Thankfully, for us the decision wasn’t that hard, since s didn’t get into his dream schools. And is doing just fine at PSU.</p>

83

<p>

</p>

<p>Having turned town PSU for a LAC not in the top 10, I couldn’t disagree more with this statement. I would not have attained any of the positions I have held since graduation if I had done the reverse. Attending college to me is opening your mind to new ideas and surrounding yourself with intelligent, accomplished peers that will inspire you to your fullest potential with things that you might not have known about about or considered initially. The SATs of lower Ivys, top 20 LACs are still 150-250 points (M+V) higher than the avg student at Penn St. Seeing the caliber of students over the years from my high school (in PA) that went to these former schools vs PSU, it was not even close. It’s one thing to seek out the environment at PSU, it’s another to try to claim that the intellectual experience is equivalent to schools like lower Ivys, Tufts, top 20 LACs.</p>

84

<p>

</p>

<p>I know plenty of them at schools like Indiana, Penn State, Michigan, etc.</p>

85

<p>I think gellino makes a very good point.</p>

<p>Take for example another recent, very sad story, from here on CC-
[Connecticut</a> College : News : College mourns Elizabeth Durante 10](<a href=“http://aspen.conncoll.edu/news/5137.cfm]Connecticut”>http://aspen.conncoll.edu/news/5137.cfm)</p>

<p>This girl attended an elite preparatory school, and then headed to Connecticut College-- one of those ‘non-top 10’ liberal arts colleges. It’s the kind of college, that, to be honest, I might have concerns about too-- not unlike Plainsman. It’s preppy, expensive, and more homogenous than we’d prefer. But to generalize too much is to do a HUGE disservice to the individual students. I don’t think there’s anyone on CC who wouldn’t be proud to have a child like that. We know of two other (very bright) students at the same college who can’t say enough good things about it. </p>

<p>We know at least a half-dozen kids who attend or have recently attended Penn State, and the main attraction for them seems to be school spirit and the party scene, not their classes. This seems to be reflected in a lot of other posts here as well. That said, in a school that size I’m sure there are tons of academic opportunities for kids looking for something else. You just have to find your niche.</p>

86

<p>Heaven forbid my kid hang out with these PSU lowlifes who donated $7.5 million dollars to cancer victims this year alone. Slackers. [Home</a> | THON.org - Conquering Childhood Cancer](<a href=“http://www.thon.org/]Home”>http://www.thon.org/)</p>

87

<p>Its hard to get into these debates without coming across as elitist or pretentious. The reality is there is a BIG difference between a place like Bain or BCG vs. Accenture consulting, just as there is a difference between Harvard Law and Indiana Law. At the end of the day, the Ivies feed into the first category and a place like Penn State feeds into the second. You cannot discount what difference this makes.</p>

88

<p>and for the record there have been/or are PSU grads at Harvard law and Harvard med. No, not the vast majority but it is possible.</p>

<p>It’s a big world folks and there are way too many smart,driven students than spots at the top colleges. </p>

<p>and again I ask you to read : [Outcomes:</a> Schreyer Honors College](<a href=“http://shc.psu.edu/future/outcomes.cfm]Outcomes:”>http://shc.psu.edu/future/outcomes.cfm)</p>

<p>ahhhhhhhh…the vortex of this thread has sucked me in in spite of my staying away for 80 posts. Gotta go…</p>

89

<p>My kids went to school with families that are “Trump” like in wealth and celebrity. Some of those their kids certainly are going to state u’s. One of Bush’s D’s went to UTexas.</p>

90

<p>I’ve known kids who transferred from big flagship school (with excellent grades) to smaller colleges, and will swear the change saved them. I know kids who transferred the other way around who said the same thing. So it really depends on the kid. My neighbor’s son is doing very well his second year at Hofstra after an abysmal year at UMich. He took off a year, worked, took a few courses over the summer at a local college and transferred to Hofstra. The environment is much better for him.</p>

91

<p>I really don’t understand why Penn State is even on the table for the OP. He has repeatedly said that he finds the people from PA and NJ to be bigots and generally distasteful. He also is totally opposed to a frat/sorority scene. </p>

<p>Plainsman- What did my post have to do with my son? I was simply (once again) challenging your stereotyping of everyone outside of the limited groups of people who appeal to you.</p>

92

<p>Folks we are specifically talking about Penn State and NOT Michigan, Virginia and Berkeley. Many of the scions of the richest Americans are NOT going to send their kids to their state university. It just won’t ordinarily happen. This was true of the Bushes, the Gores, the Trumps, Kennedys etc. </p>

<p>Also to imply that “trump like kids” are all *****es is just plainly bigoted. I met Donald Trump personally. Although I didn’t meet his kids, I found him to be very charming and charismatic.</p>

93

<p>Plainsman,</p>

<p>Don’t worry about MomofWildChild, as I have dealt with her nonsense before. You will get those soccer mom types on here that have ridiculous opinions with no factual basis whatsoever. You are correct, as the immaturity is infuriating.</p>

<p>JHS,</p>

<p>Comparing two students at two different schools in two different majors does not mean anything. I am not sure how you could judge that the girl at Penn State was not being pushed in the classroom. I am sure there are people that are very involved with greek life at Duke that are able to do well in their classes. I am biased, but your post shows as much of a negative bias as I have one that is positive. Looking at the experience of ONE penn state student is a ridiculously limited sample and is not enough to validate the comment when you said, “In short, Penn State was fine, a good experience overall, but this particular pair of kids was not a strong argument for Schreyer being in the mix with the Ivies or their equivalents.” I am sure that I could find some stoner that didn’t do well at Harvard to follow around. Would that mean that everyone at Harvard smoked pot, was unmotivated, and didn’t do well in their classes? No, of course not. It is just one person.</p>

<p>“(Of course, there was a reason one of them wound up at Duke, and the other at Penn State, in the first place.”</p>

<p>You need check that pretentiousness. The statistics for getting into Schreyer Honors College are better than those of getting into Duke. </p>

<p>Diontechristmas,</p>

<p>You openly have said that you hate Penn State.</p>

<p>“Why would anyone want to go to Penn State.”</p>

<p>From the amount of posts you make about Penn State University Park, it is obvious that you wish you could have gotten accepted. You have some serious jealousy issues to work out. It probably stems from your attending Temple.</p>

<p>Taxguy,</p>

<p>“Folks we are specifically talking about Penn State and NOT Michigan, Virginia and Berkeley. Many of the scions of the richest Americans are NOT going to send their kids to their state university. It just won’t ordinarily happen. This was true of the Bushes, the Gores, the Trumps, Kennedys etc.” </p>

<p>Actually, these families do often send their kids to their state university. One of the bush twins, Jenna, went to the University of Texas (their state university). There are plenty of examples of this, but this is the most recent.</p>

94

<p>jec- My, you certainly have a chip on your shoulder. I am about as far from a soccer-mom as someone could get, which tells me something about your judgment. I understand your defensiveness, though. Your other posts are all aimed at defending Penn State and insisting that it is a “Public Ivy” (which is the most stupid designation I have ever heard as applied to ANY school). I like big state universities and went to one myself, but your paranoia about Penn State somehow being de-valued by something we might say on this forum is getting old.</p>

<p>By the way, the Bush girl who went to UTexas was very far behind her sister in academic ability. She probably wouldn’t have gotten into UT without being a Bush, so that example doesn’t work too well.</p>

95

<p>I was agreeing with plainsman pointing out your immaturity. Your posts constantly lack substance and come off as though you believe yourself to be omniscient. People find clueless and factless rants to be frustrating. I haven’t had to read your other posts, as the posts we have exchanged have been very telling. You certainly need to do more research, as your rants on here are often laughable.</p>

96

<p>

</p>

<p>Wow, still going on with this? I would have gotten in, and if I didn’t like it here at TU, believe me, I could’ve transferred to University Park…</p>

97

<p>“I like big state universities and went to one myself,”</p>

<p>That’s interesting, as last time you said you were Ivy league.</p>

<p>My posts correct misperceptions and inaccuracies in people’s comment, such as the “Of course, there was a reason one of them wound up at Duke, and the other at Penn State, in the first place.” comment previously made. I’m not sure how someone that went to Penn State UP is not supposed to take offense to that kind of comment.</p>

<p>As for insisting it is a public ivy, I have never tried to “insist” anything. It is listed as one, so I don’t need to “insist” anything. I just point to the website.</p>

<p>“By the way, the Bush girl who went to UTexas was very far behind her sister in academic ability. She probably wouldn’t have gotten into UT without being a Bush, so that example doesn’t work too well.” </p>

<p>Wow, another opinion based “statement” from the word of MomofWildChild. There’s a surprise.</p>

98

<p>diontechristmas,</p>

<p>"Wow, still going on with this? I would have gotten in, and if I didn’t like it here at TU, believe me, I could’ve transferred to University Park… "</p>

<p>Wow diontechristmas, still going on about how you hate Penn State? It’s easy to say you could have gotten in somewhere. </p>

<p>Watch: Hey diontechristmas, I would have gotten into MIT and Harvard law. Believe me. </p>

<p>See how easy that was? It was kind of just like I said something that was completely an opinion, added a “believe me” like you did, and made it into a fact.</p>

<p>You are using too much of a momofwildchild argument style. You personally believing something doesn’t necessarily make it true.</p>

99

<p>I know the Bush girls. It’s a fact and a fairly well known one at that.<br>
I never said I was “Ivy League”. I did take summer courses at Penn, but my undergrad degree is from a public university. I have a kid at an Ivy,though. You should read more carefully.<br>
Go back to reading the rankings.</p>

100

<p>Will do. Rankings and statistics, those “fact” things, do seem to be the kryptonite for most of your arguments.</p>