Hello, I am from Maryland. I plan on majoring in computer science. So far I have been admitted into Penn State University’s engineering program (main campus), Rutgers school of arts and sciences (main campus), and UMBC. UMBC seems like a really good option considering the instate tuition but I feel like it will not give me the full college experience that I am looking for. In evaluating which college I should go to in this forum, I would like to put tuition costs aside, I am fully aware of how much each school will cost. Out of all three schools, I believe Penn State is academically the best. I visited PSU and Rutgers and I am not a huge fan of Penn State’s campus, which is located in the middle of nowhere. Rutgers, although a little less prestigious academically, is located closely to two major cities, which definitely has its advantages. I am really confused on how I should base my decision.
Thanks,
Jacob.
If cost doesn’t matter than I would go with penn state.
Why do you feel that UMBC won’t offer you “the full college experience”? What exactly is it that you are looking for?
What are the cost differences? Can your family cover OOS costs without any loans? I know you want to be able to evaluate these places without considering costs, but that is impossible unless your family truly can pay the full costs at any of them without any pain whatsoever.
From your description, it sounds like right now you like Rutgers better than Penn State, but you feel that you should like Penn State better because you have the notion that Penn State is academically better than either Rutgers or UMBC. Where does that notion come from? Do you have hard evidence that either Penn State or Rutgers are stronger than UMBC for your specific major?
Are you still waiting on any other applications?
I’d go with UMBC. Not sure why you don’t think it wouldn’t offer a “full college experience”.
Academics are definitely my top priority but I will also cherish social life as well. From what I have heard UMBC’s campus is empty on weekends and college parties are scarce. This is also a small factor but school pride is important to me. I just don’t think UMBC can provide this feel for me. If you believe differently please tell me I’d love to hear more of your opinion. If UMBC could provide this feel for me, I would commit right now.
If I was evaluating this from a purely academic standpoint, UMBC would definitely be most reasonable.
My family has a plan to cover me if I do want to go out of state. It is not a huge worry. Although, cheaper tuition would be make it a lot more painless and would be nice, we would not be struggling by any means. From a pure ranking perspective, Penn State ranks better than Rutgers/ UMBC. I am not waiting on anymore schools.
Well, if you want a residential campus and social life, with stuff to do all weekends (if you choose not to care about grades, every evening - but you may well end up having to leave by the end of the semester as kids who part more than on weekend get kicked in the teeth by the end of September).
UMBC isn’t totally empty on weekends but it’s true that it’s mostly commuter/suitcase. Academically it’s excellent, perhaps as good as Penn State for undergraduates in STEM, but it’s not as residential. It does have 75% or so freshmen living on campus but many leave for the weekend.
Several years ago I asked my neighbor’s son who was at UMBC about the “suitcase” thing. His answer was that sure, a lot of the kids went home on the weekends, but the rest of them all ended up in his dorm having fun. I also think the “school pride” thing took a big leap there this March with the basketball team’s result. 
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/umbc-proved-again-that-in-sports-not-even-history-goes-undefeated/2018/03/17/84d69b1e-299b-11e8-b79d-f3d931db7f68_story.html?utm_term=.84d40ca4abb3
Thanks for the responses everyone. I will never put a party or ‘social life’ before my academics. Academics is my top priority. That being said, if people keep telling me UMBC’s social life is so dead, it becomes way less appealing to me. That’s where I start considering PSU/ Rutgers. My goal is to be successful where ever I go but I also want to feel like I am apart of a proud community as a whole, not just a commuter school where students show up to classes and leave. Also, I am extremely proud of UMBC’s victory. I think their basketball team’s win represents an ongoing culture in the school as a whole. Focused, determined, and never giving up no matter how hard the challenge is.
I am a Retriver alum. There has never been a social scene at UMBC. However, in my three years living on campus I did meet several lifelong friends. Personally I don’t feel I missed anything socially by going to UMBC. It’s all about fit. The fit was good for me.
Ended up committing to Rutgers.
How did you make that decision?
(Of the three, it’s re last I’d have chosen so I’m curious!)