@jlhpsu I think when it comes to selecting a school, we don’t just look at the education provided. As all the other campuses are under the PSU system, the education given can’t be that off. But how about the students around you that are at the other campuses. Do you think it is more possible that the students work harder at UP or satellite campuses. I am not saying there are no good students and hard working students at the satellite campuses, but there are definitely less of those students at the satellite campuses than those at UP. The difficulty of getting into UP is harder. I also think that being surrounded by mostly a group of student whom are hardworking is important. Maybe 8/10 of the UP students are hardworking and in the top of their class during high school. But only 5/10 of the satellite students have those stats. I would obviously prefer UP student group.
I know people are going to say that it is up to you who you hangout and study with. BUT wouldn’t it be better to be in a better environment filled with a more positive student body?
I also thank you for your comments. I am in no way saying that the satellite campuses are terrible. They have great aspects that I agree in.
@Byrdie12 Your anecdotal evidence not withstanding, it just isn’t true. The VAST majority of applicants that get accepted to UP put a second campus selection. I am a parent admissions ambassador for PSU. The second choice campuses are exactly that…second choice, and only selected if the student could not get into UP campus because of their stats.
A lot of large state schools ask if you are willing to consider a branch campus in case you aren’t admitted to main campus. Penn State obviously does it and Ohio State does it too (though OSU is a little different… there are only like 5 branch campuses compared to PSU’s 19 (?) ) There’s nothing wrong with starting at a branch campus. My father went to PSU and one of his best friends went to a branch campus first because he didn’t think he could handle going to such a large school straight out of school. PSU told my father when he applied that he had two options; go to a branch campus first or start during the summer (he was an average if not slightly below average student). He chose to start early.