<p>As the thread turns…hmmm. </p>
<p>You know, the original question was “Why Not Penn State”. </p>
<p>Because it makes sense for some folks. And that includes a very wide variety of types from party animals to geniuses. It’s a big school and for most it’s pretty easy to find a niche. Great honors college. Really good programs like engineering, science and business. It’s not perfect and not for everyone - but it can be pretty darn good for smart, motivated kids. </p>
<p>JEC’s posts can be strong - and some would say - biased. But the way I see it, he’s just full of pride for his school and reacting to some of pretentious comments on this board that seem to imply that PSU is vast wasteland for kids who are academically inclined (although I must admit I haven’t seen much evidence of that attitude in MOWC’s posts).</p>
<p>In any case, plenty of high achieving kids are thriving and HAPPY there in Happy Valley…not just "settling’ for a cheaper alternative, as some would like to believe. Don’t knock it unless you’ve tried it.</p>
<p>It’s no secret that some who spend far more than they probably needed to for a decent undergraduate education often end up feeling and showing some resentment towards those that spent a lot less and got an education of equal, or better, quality. </p>
<p>As such, some of the comments on this thread aren’t too surprising. </p>
<p>I mean if someone spent three times as much on their ‘private’ education it must be better… right? Sorry, but no… with higher education it’s very possible to spend far more and actually get less.</p>
<p>Finally, just on a technical point despite the name Penn State isn’t actually a ‘state’ school in the normal sense of the word. Pennsylvania has a state system of higher education with state owned and operated institutions, but Penn State is not one of them. Penn State is a private institution that receives a voluntary grant each year from the state, and the land it’s built on was part of the original ‘land grant college’ system of the 1800s. In short, it’s a land grant college like Cornell.</p>
<p>I have a son at a small LAC,far less known than Penn State. With some merit money, however, the cost is pretty close since Penn State is OOS for us. However, even if I lived in PA, I am so happy right now with how things are going with him, that I feel it is well worth the extra money. All of the things that make this college what it is are what appeals to my son. He was pretty burned out academically and was really not looking forward to more years of rigorous study. This was something that made us parents hesitant about wanting to stretch financially for college for him. But it’s working so far. Since I have seen many kids for whom college did not work, and know how it hurts when that happens, I am grateful. Perhaps he would have done just as well and been just as happy at Penn State, but I am grateful for what we have.</p>