Penn St UP or UConn?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm having trouble deciding between these two. Looking to major in Journalism - preferably get involved with sports. </p>

<p>PSU seems to have the slightly better rep and connections from what I've heard, but I'm a huge college basketball fan, more than college football. The smaller student body at UConn also appeals to me. I'm reserved, but can be outgoing once I get into a firm comfort zone.</p>

<p>I've visited PSU and loved it - have yet to see Storrs yet.</p>

<p>I'm from NJ. Any thoughts?</p>

2

<p>Is the cost the same?</p>

3

<p>I haven’t received the financial aid packages yet, but all other net costs are about the same. I imagine I’ll get similar aid packages, and the merit credentials of both schools are nearly identical.</p>

<p>So yeah, it’s pretty much whatever school/program/environment I’m more enthused about.</p>

4

<p>I imagine I’ll get similar aid packages</p>

<p>Are you instate for either school?</p>

<p>What is your EFC?</p>

<p>you’re OOS for at least one school. Typically OOS students do not get much need-based aid from these publics.</p>

5

<p>No clue what my EFC is. My Dad took care of the whole FAFSA.</p>

<p>I’m OOS for both (NJ). Both schools have just under 30k OOS tuition. I know that UConn has a higher percentage of average financial aid assistance needed that’s met. Not sure on the exact figures off the top of my head though (around 70% for UConn?).</p>

<p>Until I get the aid reports sometime in mid to late March, all I’m asking is what advice anyone might have in selecting between these two schools with the info I gave, economics aside.</p>

6

<p>Anybody…?</p>

7

<p>One person wrote the U.Conn has a questionable neighborhood near it. I’ve never been there myself, but it might be worth checking out.</p>

<p>State College is a great town, but once you leave it, there is not much more than woods, farms and truck stops. If you like hunting, fishing, etc. that is fine. If you want some more urban attractions and internship opportunities, that is a negative.</p>

<p>I’m not convinced that either university is worth $80,000 more for a degree than Rutgers, if you are paying sticker price. Don’t count on any aid from Penn State unless you are a poor under-represented minority.</p>

8

<p>I did get into Rutgers New Brunswick too, rather quickly.</p>

<p>I don’t know. I’m looking for sort of an adventure in college. Rutgers is almost in my backyard. I feel like UP could be an amazing time with so many opportunities (then again, there are more undergrads to compete with), or the UConn Big East basketball games. But you’re right - the program may just not be worth the extra tens of thousands of dollars to get a Bachelor’s.</p>

<p>And thank you for the heads up on PSU. I really don’t know what I’m going to do. UP is a lot to turn down.</p>

9

<p>Penn State has a fantastic journalism/communications program, as well as one of the largest alumni networks in the nation, especially in the mid-atlantic/northeast, just something to think about. A lot of people from my high school go to Uni Park, and they all say that the town and campus are enough for them, with lots to do (though that might just be their personal tastes).</p>

10

<p>UCONN has a very nice campus, when you drive in, the barns are on your left, set on a hillside. It is easy to get around & there are old & contemporary buildings. The relatively new student union building has a lot of eating options. </p>

<p>I believe housing is guaranteed to you for six semesters. Many upper classmen live off campus at nearby apartment complexes. A couple of those apartment complexes do look a little “sketchy.” </p>

<p>I don’t know where someone would get the idea that it is located in a bad neighborhood!
I urge you to visit yourself and make up your own mind. </p>

<p>Great academics, nice people! Lots of transportation for students to attend football games in East Hartford & the basketball games which are sometimes played in downtown Hartford. Greek Life = no impact on social life.</p>

11

<p>*UConn has a higher percentage of average financial aid assistance needed that’s met. Not sure on the exact figures off the top of my head though (around 70% for UConn?).</p>

<p>*</p>

<p>OK…I hope you realize that is mostly based on instate students who have a low COA. Neither of those schools will give much financial aid for an OOS student. OOS Publics have to reserve their own aid to help their own instate students. </p>

<p>Your EFC will be rather meaningless for either school unless your EFC is so low that you qualify for federal grants. Even if that is so, you’d only get a small amount of money. </p>

<p>Before you go thru this exercise of figuring out which school is the “best,” please talk to your dad about how much he’ll spend on your education.</p>

<p>Penn State costs about $40k in tuition, room, board, books.</p>

<p>UConn costs are about $38k for tuition, room, board, books.</p>

<p>Since you are OOS, it is VERY likely that the only thing either school offers you is a $5,500 loan. That would mean your family would have to pay about $35,000 per year. If your dad is not able to do that, then neither school will be affordable.</p>

<p>You won’t get any merit from PSU unless you’re in Shreyers Honors, but that would only be about $5k per year. Do your stats qualify you for any merit at UConn?</p>

<p>Did you apply to any schools that you’re certain that your family can pay for?</p>

<p>However, if money is no object and your dad will pay as much as a school will cost, then you’ll be fine. However, that is not the case most of the time, so PLEASE talk to your dad.</p>

<p>Good luck! :)</p>

12

<p>I recommend visiting both schools and choosing the one that clicks for you. I have visited both schools, and they have a similar atmosphere. Both are big, rah-rah schools in rural settings. PSU is bigger but has a nicer college town setting and better national reputation. UConn has a beautiful campus with nice facilities and is closer to a city, but has very little to offer in the surrounding area. You can also compare course options and requirements for the major you are considering. There are both good choices, so I don’t think you can go wrong with either one. Good luck.</p>

13

<p>I’m only a junior in high school, but my sister had the same dilemma two years ago. She’d be a legacy at both schools, but she chose PSU. I’ve visited her multiple times, and I’ll probably end up at PSU myself.
It’s amazing there. I find it hard to describe. The school is enormous, which I know you said you could live without, but at least personally, that’s exactly what I’m looking for. I think of it like training wheels for post-college life in a big city. You know so many people because of dorms, classes, etc. that you see randomly throughout, but everywhere you look you’ll see new faces. The football - if you don’t go into school loving it, you’ll leave loving it. It’s infectious. Basketball certainly can be too, but there is no such thing as a 110,000-person basketball stadium. PSU basketball isn’t bad, either. UConn’s women’s basketball is their best team anyway - not sure if you’re a bigger fan of men.
University Park is great. There’s one main strip (South Atherton) that separates the campus from the frats. Every third store or so is a student-related one (PSU clothes, books, grocery stores, etc.) but there are GREAT restaurants (go to the Deli over the Corner - less crowded, more delicious) and lots of reasonable boutique-y stores as well. A very short car drive leads to bigger stores - Walmart, Target, Dick’s, etc.
What I love about PSU are the campus-wide inside jokes. Somehow, each of the 40,000+ students understands the “State College Lambo” and McClana-man. It’s a tight-knight school.
True, past State College, there isn’t much, but you don’t need to go farther anyway.
I haven’t been to UConn (I’m going next Thursday - I’ll report back), but I’m pretty sure nothing will every measure up to PSU.
A few other things - PSU is the home of THON, the largest student-run philanthropy in the country (it’s a dance marathon) AND is a public Ivy. It’s a highly respected public school and everyone will find a place there, without a doubt. So go to UConn if you like it, but PSU is a guaranteed fit for everyone.</p>

14

<p>Money is not going to be an issue (i.e. not affordable). The only problem might be deciding whether the experience and/or internship opportunities at PSU/UConn are worth paying the extra 80 grand or so more in tuition to get a Bachelor’s there over Rutgers (again, I’m in NJ). I visited Rutgers last year and wasn’t overly enthused by the campus. I’d prefer to not simply be taking a consolation school because of the money value, so I hope I get some type of aid from these other OOS publics.</p>

<p>I still need to visit UConn to make a final decision. But if anyone else has any feedback, it’d be greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>Also, I know that they are both big schools, but can anyone tell me if you can feel the difference between 17k undergrads vs 38k? Is the UConn Storrs campus much smaller and maybe not as overwhelming?</p>

15

<p>I would go with Rutgers. I’m from NJ too, and frankly, the quality of the the students from my school who go to Rutgers is a bit higher than those who go to Penn State. I have a friend who is literally a genius and is going to Penn State, but probably 15 out of the top 20 in my school go to Rutgers, and they all love it there. Rutgers has a great football and basketball team, and has such a good reputation around the state. Just my two cents, though.</p>

16

<p>I’m dual-enrolled at UConn and I know the campus very well.
I’ve been accepted to UConn and Penn State UP also, and hands-down Penn State is better.
Penn State’s campus is 500x better and you’re right- the school has a lot of connections. UConn’s campus is rather boring- the above poster said there’s a lot of food choices. I wouldn’t agree. When I’m at campus, right after classes end, no one talks to each other. I’m in a lecture of 300 and no one really talks to each other.
When I visited Penn State, I had current students come up and talk to me. I absolutely loved how vibrant the campus is… “We are…Penn State!”
Penn State is ranked #47 of best colleges while UConn is only in the 60’s.
Don’t get me wrong, UConn is a pretty good school, just not as good as Penn State. ;)</p>

17

<p>I’m from nj too and just visited both of those schools this weekend. First off I got into rutgers also a while ago but wouldn’t consider it since I don’t want to stay instate. Personally when I visited Penn State it wasn’t a good fit at all for me I didn’t like anything about it except for Penn State football. It didn’t feel like a second home more like a big business and found the campus to be clean but unattractive. On the other hand I was quite pleased with my UConn visit, I liked that campus it was big but not to big with about 17000 students. The tour went well the people were very friendly and helpful and I felt like more of an individual than a number at Penn state which has almost 40000 students. It has helped that UConn offered me a half tuition merit scholarship lol. But my top choice is still University of Maryland College Park which is almost a perfect fit academically, cost wise, location wise, and socially. Both Penn State and UConn are in the middle of nowhere but at least UConn is near decent towns like Hartford and It’s right in-between Boston and new York. Penn state was one of my top choices but after my visit I have taken it out of consideration. Hopefully this helps.</p>

18

<p>Just went to UConn. I have to say, it’s nothing like PSU. It was a pretty cloudy day and there was still a lot of snow on the ground, but I didn’t see much. There seemed to be a lot of construction, which will certainly be good in the end, but it’s highly unattractive during the process. The football stadium is a 20-minute ride away, as well as the basketball court (although not all games are played there - some are on campus). The frats and sororities are in these weird condo-type homes, with two connected in each building. It’s bizzarre, and I can’t imagine it’s nice to live there - it’s a ways away from the academic buildings and I think parties would be weird. The dorms aren’t bad; however, the university doesn’t provide or rent out appliances like mini-fridges or microwaves (PSU provides both in every dorm room). I’m well aware how biased I am regarding Penn State, but it seemed clear to me that everything UConn does, PSU does better.</p>

19

<p>So im in the same situation, stuck between PSU and Uconn.
And I absoultely LOVED psu , but i just recieved, basically, a full schoalrship for uconn.
So i guess the choice is obvious … but I just want to be prepared when i go there, I dont like surprises lol.
What would all the pros and cons be, of uconn ?
I plan to bio major, and live in NY</p>