Penn State University Park

Parents Forum
1

<p>Well Penn State is one of my favorite schools. I currently consider myself a "match" admission wise, so I'm trying to find a school just like Penn State that would qualify as a "safety."</p>

<p>I really like the big sports school atmosphere, which is why I also have Florida State and University of Arizona on my list. However I'm looking for one more similar to PSU in a similar location (college town, cold weather and snow).</p>

<p>I liked Indiana University, but it's solely a basketball school, and I want more of a football scene. IU's stadium only fills up about 50%, and I definitely want more spirit than that. I started looking at University of Iowa and University of Oregon, but I'm not really sure. Oregon seems to "hippie" for me...and the state of Iowa doesn't sound too appealing. </p>

<p>So if you have any suggestions that would be great. And although finances are an issue, I have a financial safety so I'm not considering cost as a factor.</p>

<p>Thanks...</p>

2

<p>University of Ohio or Ohio State?</p>

<p>Similar vibes overall to Penn State (especially University of Ohio), but I'm not big into sports, so I can't help you there. They are both pretty jockish, anyway.</p>

3

<p>West Virginia would be a safety. Lots of Pennsylvania students that don't get into PSU consider WVU as an alternative. I don't think the academics are easier but the admissions is. It's football team has a huge following and was ranked #5 pre-season the last I heard. Morgantown is a college town, snowy, isolated. It's about an hour from Pittsburgh. It has a very large oos population for a state school.</p>

4

<p>tough admissions but great footballatmosphere/cold weather-U ofMichigan
easier admissions,excellent football atmosphere but warm weather-University of South Carolina</p>

5

<p>Columbus OH isn't the same kind of college town that State College PA is, but I agree that OSU is pretty close to Penn State.</p>

<p>Others to look at, depending on your interests: University of Colorado, Washington State, Kansas University, University of Wyoming, University of Utah, and some smaller schools that are plenty cold in the winter and take their football seriously (but no 80,000+ stadiums) -- Lehigh, Bucknell, Colgate.</p>

6

<p>JHS: How can Colgage, Bucknell and Lehigh be safeties for someone who is a match for PSU? Wouldn't they be reaches? Same with UMichigan.</p>

<p>I think kathiep has the right idea about WVU. University of Delaware is another possibility--although that may be closer to a match.</p>

<p>Another idea--University of Vermont.</p>

7

<p>University of Maryland - College Park</p>

8

<p>Look at Michigan State. Easier to get into, small town, cold weather. Football team is overshadowed by Michigan but is big. Basketball is bigger but not to the extent of Indiana.</p>

<p>Ohio State is a great comparision. Their admission rates have gone up considerably in the last couple of years. It's not Michigan hard to get into but harder than IU.</p>

9

<p>I'll second WVU, from a Marylander's perspective.</p>

<p>Same as Kathiep said about Pennsylvania--loads of kids who don't make it into University of Maryland go there. Son's HS class of 400 routinely sends 10-20 there. Not too close, not too far, lots of kids from the Mid-Atlantic.</p>

10

<p>Maybe check out the U of Pittsburgh.</p>

<p>Oakland is kinda a college town within the city of Pittsburgh.</p>

11

<p>Don't discount the University of Iowa. Iowa City is a very cool place.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the information. I've already looked into WVU and I didn't like it as much as I thought I would. However, right now my top choices are Iowa and Mich. State.</p>

<p>So thanks again and keep the comment coming....they are really helpful.</p>

13

<p>SoCal, I don't know anything about college football, but I just wanted to commend you for being so realistic and taking the time to research "safe bet" schools. You are very smart to say, "I like Penn State. What other schools out there may have some of the same characteristics?"</p>

<p>Good luck to you! I bet you'll do great, and I hope lots of other seniors think the way you do.</p>

14

<p>I'll second MSU. I recently visited the campus, and it is huge and beautiful. I think if you like trees, cold, football, and reputable academics, you'd like it there.You may also want to consider Oregon State. It is colder than Arizona, and has a strong football following.</p>

15

<p>As an OOS student you probably have a decent chance at Wisconsin if you are a match at PSU. You can have three great sports (football, bball and hockey) and a better college town for the same price or less.</p>

16

<p>Yah Wisconsin is a nice school, but it is more competitive than Penn State, and I'm looking for a safety. I think I like the University of Iowa. Does anyone have information on this school?</p>

17

<p>Check out Indiana.</p>

18

<p>I've been to Iowa a few times and it has everything you could want in a college town. The fans are pretty rabid too. Good social scene, nice campus. Easier to get into than PSU so a good safety.</p>

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<p>We visited Iowa, and my daughter will apply. A safety for her, but one she would be very happy to attend -- I think it is near the top of her list. It's a very social place, with a great town that runs right up to the campus with restaurants, bars, shops, everything you want. The town is very much a liberal oasis in the cornfields, very welcoming and laid back. </p>

<p>The campus has an historical area known as the Pentacrest, pretty pedestrian boulevards, and a gorgeous renovated student union right on the river. A brand new fitness center is scheduled to open fall 2009. The dorms are reputed to be pretty nice, as dorms go. It has top ranked programs all over the place. The hospital and medical center are top notch, so there are a slew of highly ranked health science programs. It's famous for the Iowa Writers' Workshop, so there are a lot of literary events and a classic independent bookstore, Prairie Lights. </p>

<p>The students are incredibly friendly. Greek life is there, but attracts fewer students than at Illinois and Michigan.</p>

<p>It's smaller (about 18,000 vs. 30,000) than Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin (and cheaper for OOS!), less competitive, but offers many of the same Big Ten traditions and good times. More than 30% of the kids are from out of state, though truth be told, a lot of those are from the Chicago area. Very loyal alumni all over the Midwest, many of whom go back for football games.</p>

<p>And Chicago is only 3 hours away on a nice straight interstate.</p>

<p>Iowa has a very easy and very transparent admissions system. You calculate your points based on ACT, GPA, etc. and you know if you are in. If your number is not borderline, you can fill out a streamlined application with no essay.</p>

<p>I have heard similar good things about the University of Kansas.</p>

20

<p>Check out Michigan State. </p>

<p>There is so much schools spirit there. Football games are incredible. Basketball is also great and the spirit runs through the entire college experience. The hockey games are really fun to watch too. All in nice stadiums and arenas which I probably even nicer since I was there. I'm sure the other big ten schools will also provide this for you too but my personal experience is at MSU. I loved every minute. Have many friends years later.</p>

<p>Big campus with a small campus feel due to very friendly students and some great small dorms (after freshmen year).</p>

<p>Lots of OOS. I'm from Long Island but I fit in well with the Michigan kids.</p>

<p>East Lansing- incredible college town. Lots of great shops, restaurants, etc, all close by. Very nice suburban area. Frat/sorority houses that look like that on "Legally Blond". Can live off campus without the need for a car. Lots of houses students rent together just off the main street. Airport in Lansing (nearby by car.) River running through campus- really pretty setting.</p>

<p>My own son (ready to start his freshman year at another school) applied here without hesitation. You get a top quality education. Some (I didn't have many at all) huge classes (which were fine) and many, many small ones. Although accepted (and given unbelievable perks) I didn't push MSU with him as he is asthmatic and I feared him walking on a huge campus in the cold to get to class. Some classes are pretty far from the dorms depending on where you live, but it never mattered. We rarely took the campus bus, just put on a jacket and walked... Even saw the same students crossing paths each day. </p>

<p>I think you have great schools mentioned on this blog. Check out some of them on the cc blog for each school and ask your questions.</p>

<p>Good luck!!!</p>