Could someone tell me what this campus is like? I’ve recently been accepted to this university, and I don’t know if I should attend! I’m just wondering how it’s like academically, socially, aesthetically, etc. I’m planning on going as a CS major. I also hope it’s not too much of a party school, or something like that. Just some general information would be appreciated, thanks! 
Academics are good, not great.
The social scene is quite active.
It’s a bit of a party school, but nowhere as much as Penn State.
Where are you from (PA or oos) ? What are your other choices ?
I’m OOS, international. I got accepted to a few other schools in NC and VA.
What other schools?
Can you list the schools? And state your major?
Which ones are within budget foebyour parents?
We can only evaluate comparatively.
I got in as an undecided to PSU, but i’m planning on majoring in CS or Engineering once I go there. The other schools I got accepted to were East Carolina University, Roanoke College, and West Virginia University, all as CS and WVU as an Engineering major. I’m still waiting to hear from two other schools, James Madison University & UNC Charlotte.
What about costs ?
The campus is pretty and the classes will he smaller than on main campus, a bit slower paced. The advantage is that after two years you’re guaranteed to go to up and that degree is worth more than other universities on your list… But… The popular wisdom is that it’s not worth paying psu for oos branch campus. You’re in directly at wvu engineering. How do those two costs compare ?
Roanoke is interesting because it’ll be more personalized and flexible than a large university. How deep is their cs curriculum and what about their career services ?
For now, out of all schools I got in to, I prefer Roanoke, since they can shape me up for career opportunities really well, probably better than the other schools. The only thing is costs; it’s the most expensive school that I got into. I got a small scholarship from them, but i’m also planning on sending in a Financial Aid application. If I get good aid, I will go there definitely. But for now, it’s still pretty expensive. They have a good cs program, probably not the best, but still pretty good. For now, I just have to wait and see what will happen with finances.
I don’t really know anything about WVU, since I just panic applied and got in. I know that it almost has the same cost as PSU, probably around $30K. Since I haven’t gotten aid from them, and PSU does not give aid, I would pay the same price, no matter where I go. PSU is, however, a more widely known school with better academics from what I’ve heard, so I think out of those two, I would choose PSU. But as I mentioned, I prefer going to a school that has good job opportunities, and that would probably be Roanoke.
Where do you see yourself working ?
In terms of alumni network and professional opportunities psu beats Roanoke hands down. However Roanoke will be more personalized.
Well, as I mentioned, i’m probably going to major in computer science or engineering… so any good job that I could get in those majors would probably be where I see myself working. I don’t really know, specifically.
I mean, would you prefer the south or the East Coast (including VA ?)
Definitely east coast.
Can you go visit?
I think you should visit PSU (Altoona AND University Park), WVU, and Roanoke.
I never visited, but I know what they look like. I have friends/family who go there, and they’ve showed me equally good things and also told me enough information to convince me to go to one of both. It’s a tough decision!
Once you go to the main PSU campus the last two years, it’s going to be over $40k. Can you afford that?
What are your test scores and GPA?
I don’t think test scores or GPA matter to me, because i’m OOS. I would have to pay full price, nonetheless. I’ve already spoken to admissions, and they said that I’d have to pay full price to go there. I can afford Altoona, but I honestly have no idea about main campus.
Yes, for Penn State.
I was wondering if you had stats where you might get merit from other schools.
I can afford every other school.
I earned merit from Roanoke, just hoping for a bit more financial aid. Otherwise, I can afford every other school, so that isn’t really a problem.
Visiting, yourself (not looking at pictures and talking with a cousin), is very important. You learn a lot from sitting on a class, talking with students and professors, reading the paper and realizing what the students care about, etc.
Can colleges can you afford to visit?