<p>I am still waiting on UMich, and If I get in there, that is where I will be going- It has been my top choice as a college for as long as I can remember, and It's the top academic school on my list as well. But with that being said, my top two choices that I have right now are Penn State and Ohio State.
I'm from New Jersey, a very good HS, and don't know where to go.</p>
<p>Here are my options:
Pennsylvania State University
Financial aid of about 6-7K per year
Undecided Major (Eventually transfer to Smeal Business School)
About 4 hour car drive from home
A lot of kids from my school will be going here-probably somewhere around 8-10.</p>
<p>Ohio State University
Still waiting on financial aid
Fisher School of Business major
8-9 hour car ride or short plane ride away from home
I would be one of the only ones from my school to go here.</p>
<p>I am a huge sports fan, so these schools are both great for me in that aspect. I want to go to whichever school has a better academic aspect, while still maintaining that it is fun, with fun kids, fun sports and a good atmosphere. I like that Ohio State is like a campus near a major city, and I like that everyone says that despite University Park being in the middle of nowhere there is never a shortage of things to do. I want to enter either the sports or entertainment business following my college education, so I'd like to go to whichever school can best prepare me for that career path.
What do you guys think I should do if I don't get into Michigan?</p>
<p>A push for academics. Your choice.</p>
<p>When you have all the financial aid information, run your numbers through this calculator: [FinAid</a> | Calculators | Advanced Award Letter Comparison Tool](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid) It also lets you include some other factors that might be important for you.</p>
<p>What do you guys think are the main differences between the two schools aside from location (rural, psu vs. city, osu)</p>
<p>I honestly think there’s no difference, academically. I think both are pretty much academically similar. OSU is bigger, and definitely more urban like you said, the facilities are also better than PSU in my opinion.</p>
<p>Besides that, I don’t think there’s a lot of difference. I know PSU is more expensive, and that’s why I personally chose OSU.</p>
<p>I would vote OSU for you because it’s a new experience. Also, financial aid is out, but you have to activate your buckeye email address to see it.</p>
<p>“I am still waiting on UMich, and If I get in there, that is where I will be going”</p>
<p>Well, at least you have your priorities straight. :-)</p>
<p>"the facilities are also better than PSU in my opinion.</p>
<p>Besides that, I don’t think there’s a lot of difference. I know PSU is more expensive, and that’s why I personally chose OSU."</p>
<p>He nailed it!! In addition, both schools have roughly equal # of Undergrad student body with 38,479 for TOSU - Columbus and 38,630 for PSU - University Park; however, TOSU has 2x the Grad students compared to PSU.</p>
<p>Also, TOSU has more endowment and is currently on schedule for its $2.5 billion Fundraising Campaign, and the school has been listed three years in a row on USNWR as one of the academically ‘Up-and-Coming’ Colleges under the leadership of renown President Gordon Gee.</p>
<p>^^^^Not to mention the guy who truly runs the school, Jim Tressel. ;-)</p>
<p>@avenlea I just activated my OSU email/ID and my financial aid is still not available</p>
<p>Go here, <a href=“http://sfa.osu.edu/[/url]”>http://sfa.osu.edu/</a>, click ‘my status,’ and then login. Did you login on this link with your OSU email? </p>
<p>All decisions are out so you should be able to access it. When you login there, click “my awards” and it should give you all your aid.</p>
<p>I don’t even have a “my awards” option.</p>
<p>just double checked: it’s the same screen with my ID number or with my new OSU ID. I have this message under “view financial aid”, with no “my awards” button of any sort: </p>
<p>Select Aid Year to View</p>
<p>There is no financial aid information found.</p>
<p>Aid years listed indicate your access to eligibility information regarding your Financial Aid Application.</p>
<p>FEBRUARY15, 2011 IS THE NEW EARLIER PRIORITY FILING DATE: February 15, 2011 is the priority consideration date to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Application for Special Scholarships for the 2011-2012 academic year.</p>
<p>ESTIMATE IF NECESSARY: Estimate your tax information when you file your FAFSA if you or your parents will not have your taxes completed in time to file by February 15. We anticipate that many families will file later than usual this year because of the IRS delay of the Form 1040 Schedule A for 2010, but our priority consideration date will not be extended. </p>
<p>HOW TO FILE: Complete and submit the FAFSA online at [Home</a> - FAFSA on the Web-Federal Student Aid](<a href=“http://www.fafsa.ed.gov%5DHome”>http://www.fafsa.ed.gov) to assure the fastest processing and fewest errors. You can also obtain a PDF version of the FAFSA at [Federal</a> Student Aid - Information on Grants, Student Loans, Scholarships and Other Financial Aid](<a href=“http://www.federalstudentaid.ed.gov%5DFederal”>http://www.federalstudentaid.ed.gov).</p>
<p>Complete the Application for Special Scholarships online at [Scholarship</a> Programs - Student Financial Aid - The Ohio State University](<a href=“http://sfa.osu.edu/scholarships/index.asp]Scholarship”>http://sfa.osu.edu/scholarships/index.asp). You may also contact your college office or the financial aid administrator at your regional or extended campus for additional academic and special eligibility scholarships that may be available.</p>
<p>Even if you will graduate within the next two quarters, you may still want to complete the FAFSA to apply for aid if you plan to continue your education at Ohio State or elsewhere next year.</p>
<p>That is so weird! Did you submit your FAFSA and stuff? I would try calling them on Monday.
I do know that the COA at Ohio State is cheaper than Penn State. OSU is about 34K and Penn State is about 38K. Pennsylvania also has some serious budget cuts going on right now, while OSU is getting 100 million dollar donations!</p>
<p>My mom and dad hired a financial advisor for all of our college stuff, and not only did he submit the FAFSA and whatnot, but he resubmitted it when we asked him to confirm it went through.</p>
<p>Years ago, I chose OSU over PSU because I wanted to be in a city. I do not regret that since my friends and I often took advantage of activities off campus. If you are a sports fan, you would have more choices than your college team. There is a pro hockey team and the Cleveland Indians AAA affilliate Columbus Clippers. It’s fun to have the option of going to the zoo or science museum, browsing the artwork in the extensive gallery district (Short North), attending Shakespeare in the Park in German Village, etc.</p>