Alright, I’ve narrowed down my choices to these schools. Can you guys please give me some pros and cons to each?? Thank you!
You have two schools listed. They are both fine universities. IMO unless finances are different, then size is the biggest factor – I believe Penn State is more than twice as big as UDel.
Penn State’s bigger. More of a party scene. If that’s what you’re into, that’s fine. They both have plenty of different majors and concentrations for you to dabble/be involved in. I see that you’re into communications. Both schools probably are good for that. The thing about UDel is that it’s smaller, closer to home (you say you live in NJ although I don’t know what Penn State campus you’re at) and less of a party scene.
I know lots of people flaunt the name Penn State but UDel is probably just as “prestigious” in that sense of the term. No matter what, they’re both public schools and you’re OOS. So the tuition is going to be in the upper 30’s-40’s. Compare the finances and the quality of the department. Have you toured the campus at all? What fits you best? Both schools are good. It just comes down to what is good for you.
Good luck!
My son was accepted to both of those schools last year. These were his top choices out of other acceptances. He chose PSU (IS). Most likely the #1 reason being he knew several of his friends that were going to PSU.
Both schools are well known. Traveling to UDel (OOS) is pleasant, whereas PSU main is um soooo boring! PSU has a slightly better rep in our neck of the woods. The companies hiring around us hire more PSU graduates.
I really thought both campus were great. I thought the size of UDel was perfect fit or my son, but he choice otherwise. Now, looking back he made the right choice. I think he would have fit in if he chose UDel, as well. He does not feel PSU feels as big as it did the first week. Once you know the campus, it’s easy to get around.
The price was roughly the same since he got merit aid from UDel.
@TheDidactic PSU would be at UP! I’ve been to PSU and love it and ill be going to UDel on the 26th. But you think saying you go to UDel sounds just as good as saying you go to PSU? I don’t know if this sounds dumb or not but I want the school to sound good I guess.
@PERplexD why do you think PSU main is boring if I may ask? And also what did you like about each campus, and didn’t like?
^^^^oh no, I don’t think main campus IS boring. The drive up to there is. Sorry about that.
I had preconceived perception of PSU campus before ever walking on it. All from from years and years of hear say. So glad I toured and found the opposite. It a big school, but very manageable.
I loved it. I like campus style universities. I like the main street with the various stores, restaurants and easy access to the outskirts around campus. Tons of activity going on.
I loved UDel’s campus because it felt like a campus setting, as well. Not too big of a school. Better sized dorm rooms than PSU.
@Tooth1010 - I understand what you are mean when you say “I go to Penn State” versus “I go to U Of Del”. When my D tells her friends her brother goes to Penn State main, they all automatically think he must be very smart. LOL! She said, she wants to attend college somewhere that people react the same.
Both schools are great, but I think PSU has a better rep…at least around here.
They’re both great schools, but Penn State has more of a national reputation than Delaware (aside from UDel’s chemical engineering department). Both universities get a ton of students from New York and New Jersey, both are well-regarded in the Northeast, and they both graduate plenty of very smart and capable students.
UDel was the first “big” school we visited with our son as it’s only about 45 minutes from where we live, and we all liked it fine, but as PA residents, my son’s counselor discouraged him from applying since he already had a full scholarship offer from Alabama (whose campus is much nicer IMHO) under the assumption that Delaware wouldn’t have offered enough merit money to make it cheaper than Penn State. Personally, I thought Penn State’s campus was much prettier than Delaware’s too, although I know others prefer the smaller scale of UDel.
@Tooth1010, are both schools going to cost the same amount for you? I’d visit both a second time, factor in cost and then go with your gut. You really can’t go wrong, assuming you can afford either school’s pricey out-of-state COA.
Have you completely ruled out Rutgers?
@Tooth1010 Oh ok well I wasn’t sure if you were going to the main University Park campus or going to a different campus. Penn State has like thousands of them lol.
I feel like Penn State is a big name all over Pennsylvania and UDel is a big name in Delaware, NJ, and PA. It just depends on where you want to go.
@LucieTheLakie yes, they would cost the same amount about. And yes, I have completely ruled out Rutgers because I do not want to stay in-state.
I’m going for communications, if that helps.
What’s the difference in cost for you between the two schools, @Tooth1010? Penn State’s career placement department is top of the line (although I’m not sure about Communications majors specifically), but I don’t know that I’d pay a whole lot more per year for Penn State over Delaware, the latter of which makes some nice merit offers to top applicants.
Some interesting factoids here on each school:
https://colleges.niche.com/penn-state/
https://colleges.niche.com/university-of-delaware/
You can use the tool to compare the two schools to each other as well. If the cost is the same, personally, I’d choose Penn State.
I can’t personally vouch for the truth of the statement, but I’ve always heard that Penn State’s alumni network is unparalleled.