Hi guys, I am pretty deep into the college selection process, now down to my final three schools (Penn State, Maryland and Nova). Although, I have pretty much ruled out Nova because I am looking for a large school to attend. I have visited both Penn State and Maryland and loved them both and was wondering if anybody who either attends one of the two schools or is simply very knowledgable about them could tell me about the student life, any similarities or differences they may know of, etc. Thanks!
Theyre both pretty similar schools. If urban life is important to you go UMD. It is a short ride away from DC. Penn State is a bubble in itself. Theyre both huge but UMD is quite a bit smaller. Both have a lot of school pride. Personally I might be a bit biased because I applied to UMD but not to Penn State. I just liked it alot better for whatever reason.
How are all of these working money-wise? You are looking at NOVA, so I take it you are a VA resident. Are you considering any other places in VA?
If you don’t have an estimate for the financial aspect yet, find the Net Price Calculator at each institution’s website and get your parents to help you run your family’s numbers through it.
lmao i think he means villanova
Could be! Here in the DC suburbs NOVA would be the go-to interpretation of that set of letters.
Both are very good.
What major did you apply for? Some schools are better for specific majors.
Which one is instate for you?
Did you apply to the honors college?
You may want to post your question on the UMD and Penn State forums
I applied for Finance for both schools, and I am from New Jersey, so both are out of state. I did not apply to the honors college to either schools as my stats are good but not great (4.1 GPA and 31 ACT)
OK
Major ?
Parents ’ optimal Budget?
I also like UMD. I loved the feel of the campus and the location. Size isn’t really much of a factor for me, but PSU is just TOO big. UMD is much more contained to me which is something I wanted, however, based on your dislike of nova, it might be the opposite for you.
Planning on majoring in Accounting or Finance and am fortunate enough to have college paid for by my parents. I got accepted into the Smeal School of Business at Penn State and am waiting on Maryland’s Smith School of Business (decisions are supposed to come out in the next week or two.)
Also, when I visited PSU they had a nice “collegetown” vibe with many restaurants, bars and shops very nearby to the campus. Does UMD have anything similar nearby or would I have to make the short trip over to D.C.?
If you don’t get into the b-school at UMD then I’d go to Penn State. If you do get into the b-school at UMD I’d try to revisit the two schools before making a decision. You will look at the schools a bit differently with an acceptance in hand and that extra visit really helped my S to determine with school would be the best fit for him.
Neither university practices “direct admits”.
Being admitted “for Smeal” or “for Smith” doesn’t guarantee anything except advisers and invites to Business school shindings. You’re only in once you’ve completed all your “entrance to major” classes and received good grades in them - calculus 1, statistics, intro to management, intro to accounting, etc. It’s not onerous but it keeps you on your toes because you need to be in the top 30% of your class (top 10-15% for finance).
Smith admission is competitive.
Smeal admission is guaranteed if you meet certain academic criteria, which are not easy (3.2 for most majors, 3.5 for finance - both general GPA and “entrance to major” classes).
You’re really lucky that costs are taken care of 
but it means one less criterion to use!
State College is a college town. It’s got everything for college students. You can access it if you just walk off campus. It’s there. Cities such as NYC, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and DC are about 4-5 hours away on Megabus. You’d probably go only once a month.
College Park isn’t nearly as nice (I especially don’t like the traffic on that highway on the side of campus) but once a week you can go to DC, which is a fantastic town.
Nova is in PA