<p>My son did not get into University Park and got into Altoona. His other acceptances are Rutgers, U Delaware, Fordham, and American, all fine schools. However, against my advice, he seems intent on going to Altoona and transferring to Univ Park. We spoke to a few Univ Park professors and they said the teaching staff at both schools are similar since many Univ Park professors rotate between campuses and many "top name professors" are currently teaching at Altoona. It seems the class sizes at Altoona are much smaller, its much easier to meet with professors and there is more interaction with advisors and guidance counselers at Altoona. Also, when you graduate from Penn State Univ Park you get the same diploma no matter which campus you start at and no employers seem to inquire at what campus you started at as a freshman. Of course Univ Park is where all the action is and the center of the Penn State universe, but am I missing something here? Are there any disadvantageous in terms of education, careers, social life, etc. by starting at the smaller campuses?</p>
<p>I personally don't think any other PSU campus is poorer in quality than UP at all. You're right in saying that a PSU degree is the same wherever you go, and your son will probably transfer to UP after sophomore year anyway, so I don't think there's a disadvantage at all.</p>
<p>Altoona is one of the bigger branch campuses, so I don't think there would be a problem at all - still a lot going on socially i'm sure. And yea, you get the same diploma no matter where you start so it really won't be a disadvantage there either.</p>
<p>He's actually at an advantage.Small school .Small class sizes.Very interactive,intimate setting.Can establish great relationships with people before transferring to UP. He's not missing out on ANYTHING.Except 300 student class limits.</p>
<p>"""He's not missing out on ANYTHING.Except 300 student class limits."""""</p>
<p>Well,, except all the options of University Park. No saying Altoona is that much worse of a school,, but there is a reason only so many people get into University Park first year.</p>
<p>If he would go to any of those other schools would that hinder his chances of transfering to PSU later? Is going to Altoona going to help his tranfer chances to PSU? UDel, RUtgers, Fordham, and American are fine schools and if he wanted to he could transfer to PSU or another great school from one of those. But there are people who choose to go to sister schools and to community colleges just to transfer to the flagship university so i don't know if there is a disadvantage.</p>
<p>Altona is a branch campus so he is basically guarnteed to go to University Park after 2 years.</p>
<p>yes.he's guaranteed transfer to UP after the first two years(depending on which major he's pursuing).If he takes architectural engineering/astrophysics he has to transfer after a year. If he takes chemical engr. or bioengineering, he as to transfer in the third semester.Trust me cheapseats, let your son go to Altoona.</p>
<p>And joeysweets- what "options" are you talking about?</p>
<p>yes.he's guaranteed transfer to UP after the first two years(depending on which major he's pursuing).If he takes architectural engineering/astrophysics he has to transfer after a year. If he takes chemical engr. or bioengineering, he as to transfer in the third semester.Trust me cheapseats, let your son go to Altoona.</p>
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Well,, except all the options of University Park. No saying Altoona is that much worse of a school,, but there is a reason only so many people get into University Park first year.
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<p>what "options" are you talking about? Those at the branch campuses take the exact same courses as those at UP.Its not any easier at the branch campuses.I have friends who are at the branch campuses and are majoring in engineering </p>
<p>And yes, theres a reason that only so many people are accepted to UP.If you apply really early and have mediocre SATS and gpas,you can get in. I know a TONNE of people who got 1120's and 3.4 g.p.a's and they got in just because they applied really early.And i know at least 5 people(ppl i went to high school with) who got 1200's+ and 3.5 G.P.A's and they got rejected coz they applied late.</p>
<p>"options" meaning Atmosphere. </p>
<p>didn't mean to sound too critical,, since the degree you get is the same and where you start out really doesn't effect how successful you will be with you PSU degree........It's just,,Personally I'd rather be at Main Campus.</p>
<p>Rutgers or Delaware seem like a better option than a branch campus.</p>
<p>my acceptance letter says i have been accepted at pennstate-university park but my major is software engineering which is offerd only by pennstate erie-the behrend college...wts goin on guys??</p>
<p>wt is my graduation certificate gonna say erie or UP??</p>
<p>Ruchitd were you accepted into the School of Engineering? because I put down my intended major as CS and my letter just said that I got into the college of engineering.</p>
<p>Computer Science and Computer Engineering are both majors in the College of Engineering, and are both at University Park.</p>
<p>hey i got accepted at the skool of eng and eng technology--watever tht is....gosh i'm soo confused.!!
pennstaters helppp!!....i wanna go only to UP...
one more thing...can i change my major to CS once i get der? bcoz sumone said the frshman yr is only foundations??
HELPP!!</p>
<p>What campus does your paperwork say you were accepted to and what specific school?</p>
<p>I graduated in early 1980s from PSU. I started at UP and after my sophmore year I came home for a year (my father died in the summer and I wanted to stay home) to take course at Penn State Abington -- called Ogontz at the time. I was a liberal arts major so there were many courses that I could take at Ogontz. I finished my required language credits, took a few anthropolgy, etc., etc. I then returned to main campus to complete my Bachelor's. Many years later I attended Penn State Great Valley to earn an MS in Information Science.</p>
<p>Academically I found that I was more successful at Penn State Abington (Ogontz). Why? The classes were smaller and taught by long term professors rather than graduate students. I lived at home, hence not much to do. That said I absolutely loved Penn State -- University Park. It is an overwhelmingly wonderful place to be. I use the word overwhelming because I was overwhelmed as a freshman. In a good way mostly that is --- so many new people. I was a somewhat shy high school student and really found myself and my voice at Penn State. It was a chance to get away from the sufficating small enviornment at high school. I think that some students who were "all that" -- "the legends in their own mind types" -- can find themselves lost at PSU. </p>
<p>The key to success at PSU is to work hard, find balance and focus. It is a large school and no one is going to make sure that you wake up, go to school or do your homework. If you don't do your work you will fail. So...in that sense if you are a focused, mature and self-motivated student you will succeed at Penn State main campus or anywhere. In fact there are studies out there Dale/Krueger that compare future potential earnings and find that they are essentially the same and that the individual students abilities matter the most...in other words very strong students will be more successful anywhere and poorer performing students won't.</p>
<p>It's a great school!</p>