Penn State University Park Nursing vs. IUP Nursing

College Search & Selection
1

Hi, deadlines to make a decision for college is coming up in about five days, and I am still extremely indecisive on which college I want to attend. I have been accepted to both Penn State University Park nursing and IUP nursing.

I committed to IUP with a friend, put my deposit in, chose a dorm room, and even attended orientation and scheduled my classes. However, after attending orientation, I didn’t like it as much as I thought. There really isn’t much to do in the town of Indiana, and I was told that a lot of the students go home on the weekends so it is a ghost town. I live 3 hours away from Indiana, so I wouldn’t be traveling home every weekend. In addition, the nursing building and simulation labs seem a little old and outdated. The dorms, however, are exceptional and seem like little apartments. In addition, you are allowed to keep your car on campus freshman year. Clinical sites are over an hour away, and the college itself has such a high acceptance rate, it seems like just about anyone could be accepted, which is a con for me. The tuition is cheaper, though.

PSU nursing is very competitive, and I feel as if it is such an achievement to get accepted into. This year, they only accepted roughly 160 applicants out of 1,400. I love the student life at Penn State University, and feel as if I’d fit in more here. The nursing building and simulation labs are very nice. I can really see myself attending PSU, except the price is outrageous. I did not receive much financial aid, and would have to pay roughly $35,000 a year. The money is the main reason I haven’t committed yet. Freshmen dorms are really small and old, and you cannot keep a car here your first year. I would love the opportunity to spend one clinical year in Hershey, but from what I have heard, the other clinical sites are rural and include prisons. I live roughly 2 hours 15 minutes from PSU.

Both nursing programs rank high. I’m having a difficult time making a decision here. Any advice?
Thanks

2

I would pick IUP in this case. IUP actually has a wonderful, reputable nursing program. Their first time pass rate on NCLEX is often higher than PSU. For nursing, I was told hiring managers just want to know if you’ve passed your exam. I’m not sure how you would pay off $100k+ loans on a nurses salary. Not worth the risk and I love PSU.

3

It doesn’t sound like you can afford Penn State - how would you cover the $35,000 a year?

You don’t really need a car on campus your first year in State College; most of what you’re going to want to do is going to be on or near campus, and SC has a great bus system that’ll take you away when you want to get away. And having clinicals in rural sites at at prisons is a good thing…nurses work with all kinds of patients!

But the biggest barrier is that money.

4

One other thought: PSU has a very low acceptance rate for nursing, so you must have had a very strong application. If you can get into PSU Nursing, you may want to see if you can transfer into IUP’s Honors College. Cook Honors at IUP is amazing and provides a lot extra enrichment and would enhance your resume. (I mention this in case you are worried about losing recognition behind the PSU name.) IUP’s Cook Honors College even has a special fund that students can tap into for financial assistance if you want to do a special internship over the summer or travel abroad. As an honors student, you would be eligible for a partial scholarship, small discussion-based classes, priority housing and course registration. It’s a really nice option if you can get in.