<p>I've been accepted to both of these schools for Aerospace Engineering and I'm starting the process of making a decision. The campus I would be starting at if I go to Penn State is Abington. My mother lives near Philadelphia so housing isn't an issue there.
Can anyone tell me some pros and cons of these two options? Thanks!</p>
<p>What is your net price at each school?</p>
<p>Exactly the same tuition for the first two years, though Cal Poly has the added room and board cost.</p>
<p>You need to do the math for all four years.</p>
<p>Sit down with your mother, and run the figures here: <a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid;
<p>Also, if you are assuming that you will get in-state tuition at both, you need to check the rules very carefully.</p>
<p>PSU Abington looks like an expensive version of a community college. Is transfer to PSU University Park assured if you complete the needed course work for your major, and is such needed course work available at PSU Abington?</p>
<p>I am very familiar with PSU Abington and main campus. Rarely can a student complete the BA/BS in 4 years. Not necessarily bad since many take 5 years for engineering at other schools, just something you need to factor in to your cost decisions.</p>
<p>PSU Abington may look like an expensive CC, and for some students it can be, but it was very much established for a seamless transfer to main campus for students who 1. could not afford main or 2. did not graduate HS at a high enough ranking to get onto Main campus. Main campus is filled with kids grad in the top 10%.</p>
<p>For Penn State – the tuition and fee cost increases by approx $2,500/yr in state after your 2nd year in the Engineering College. By sure to factor this into costs. </p>
<p>There is no Aerospace program at Abington. Courses reqd for Aero in the 4th semester are often not offered at Abington. Here is the course list for an Aero major: <a href=“http://www.aero.psu.edu/ugradstud/Ugrad_Curr_Guide.pdf”>http://www.aero.psu.edu/ugradstud/Ugrad_Curr_Guide.pdf</a>. This means you may need summer courses on main campus. </p>
<p>I’d advise you contact Abington directly and ask how you could get in all the required classes in 4 semesters.</p>
<p>Are you a CA resident and can get CA tuition at Cal Poly Pomona?</p>
<p>IMHO, if I were in your shoes, I’d chose Cal Poly because I wouldn’t want to deal with the stress of getting into needed classes. I also prefer a residential school. Again, these are my preferences. You need to decide what is right for your preferences and finances.</p>
<p>Also, many REUs occur at Penn State. If you chose Cal Poly, you could always apply to do summer REUs at Penn State.</p>
<p>Can you afford the room and board at Cal Poly? I think it’d be the easiest solution for your degree and a better experience due to the residential college. However the cost of room&board should be factored in and you may want to live closer to your mother so those are factors we can’t judge.</p>
<p>I think the Aero major is one of the few majors where transfer is possible after 1 year or 3 semesters, due to the absence of specialty classes outside of University Park. This question would be better asked on the Penn State specialized forum.
<a href=“Cal Poly San Luis Obispo - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/cal-poly-san-luis-obispo/</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/penn-state-university-park/”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/penn-state-university-park/</a></p>
<p>Penn State Abington is similar to a California community college in that it’s designed for students who don’t have enough money or the grades right out of high school but want to transfer to the flagship. The 2+2 system is like a TAG. (If the student completes requirements and has a certain GPA, transfer is guaranteed). It is, however, much more expensive than a CA Community College; CA residents are very lucky.</p>
<p>Do you qualify for cal grants?</p>
<p>Who will pay for PSU? they give lousy aid. Even if you live with mom, you will have to come up with about 17k per year. </p>
<p>Note that Cal Poly is impacted, meaning that you should plan to stay 5 years because it’s difficult to get into the classes you need to take. But it’s hard to beat the location and the quality of the education. Simply don’t forget to factor 5, not 4 years, when calculating costs.</p>
<p>A motivated, prepared and committed student should have no trouble getting a BS in 4 years at most CSUs. </p>
<p>Cal Poly Pomona is one of a growing handful of CSUs that offer a 4 year graduation pledge.</p>
<p><a href=“https://www.csupomona.edu/~academic/programs/grad_pledge/”>https://www.csupomona.edu/~academic/programs/grad_pledge/</a></p>
<p>^Excellent NCalRent. Well then, OP’s dilemma remains the same…</p>
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<p>Did you factor in the fine print?</p>
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</p>
<p><a href=“https://www.csupomona.edu/~financial-aid/costs/costs-odd.shtml”>https://www.csupomona.edu/~financial-aid/costs/costs-odd.shtml</a></p>
<p>Just wanted to say thank you to everyone! This has been really helpful and given me a lot more direction for my research 
It’s starting to look like Cal Poly would be cheaper even with the housing, especially after I get residency! Assuming I can, that is. I have no idea if I qualify for Cal grants, I was completely lost as to where to apply 
But I’ll look into it for next year.
I’m leaning towards Cal Poly Pomona, my only hold outs are the facilities at Penn State and the fact that one of their teams worked with Google last year. Also I heard CPP is really only good for Civil engineering, but I’m not sure how true that is. </p>
<p>One thing to note, Cal Poly Pomona is switching to a semester system in 2017, which would be your 4th year, from the quarter system which most UC’s are on. </p>
<p>There are pros and cons to quarter vs. semester. I am a fan of the quarter system and the ability to take more classes. Just do your research and see if you are willing to do the switch in your last year or two. Not sure if it is warranted, but it is one of the reasons my son decided to forgo Cal Poly Pomona even though it was near the top of his choices. </p>
<p>Again, I have no experience or know of anyone who had a difficult time switching in the middle of their college tour from quarter to semester, he is just going to avoid the situation.</p>
<p>Good luck whereever you land!</p>
<p>" It’s starting to look like Cal Poly would be cheaper even with the housing, especially after I get residency! Assuming I can, that is."</p>
<p>Why do you think you will be eligible for residency in CA if your family is in PA?</p>
<p>Sort that out first before you take the notion of a CA public institution any further.</p>
<p>As @happymomof1 said, check with Cal Poly. From their web site:
You will not get CA residency while you are in school.</p>
<p>Does a parent live in CA? That’s the ONLY way you can get in-state tuition. Cal grants are for residents of CA. If you’re not a resident, you can’t have one.</p>
<p>So it wouldn’t have mattered even of I knew about the Cal grants this year. I’ve looked into the residency regs, and there’s a really good chance I can get it after my first year. Of course, this means my first year will be expensive.</p>