<p>I think my son has narrowed down to these two schools. PSU and Clemson. He was also accepted into James Madison, Elon, UConn and UNCW. I was just wondering if people can give opinions. Thanks</p>
<p>Penn state is amazing. Extremely large alumni…largest career fair,pretty,fun,wonderful education. PENN STATE!</p>
<p>Clemson is consistently ranked among the top in the country for Happiest Students and Quality of Life. Everyone I’ve ever known who’s passed through there has come out bleeding orange. I really can’t say why - I find it pleasant enough to visit, but it engenders as much passion as any campus I know. It is culturally Southern however - it and PSU have some similarities in setting, curriculum and sports, but a northerner would notice the difference. Of course, central Pennsylvania is probably more similar culturally and politically to the South than to most of the northeast.</p>
<p>Elon, BTW, is doing a lot of things right these days. Its star has probably risen as dramatically over the last couple decades as any college in the country.</p>
<p>what major is your son considering? that could help in terms of giving any suggestions.</p>
<p>If there’s anything your son wants to know about Clemson, let me know! I’m currently an engineering major there and have enjoyed my experience so far! And as gadad says, there is “something in these hills” as we say that keeps people coming and loving this school.</p>
<p>Biology- research?? As much as a 17 year old boy can decide. He loves the large school feel. Wants to play club lax. Was offered D3 but did not like any of the schools. Loves the warm weather, outdoors. We are going to tour Clemson in the next few weeks. He feel in love with PSU campus and feel when we toured in fall. But he is keeping open mind about until he visits Clemson. Everyone we talk to who went to either school loved it!</p>
<p>Both schools are great schools…lots of spirit and good academics.</p>
<p>Are both schools affordable? You’re OOS for both, right? Can you pay full freight?</p>
<p>Re…Bio major…I would have my son nail this down a bit. This country has a lot of lowly paid people with bio degrees. It can be frustrating.</p>
<p>We live in Ct. OOS tuition is almost the same for his 3rd & 4th UNC & JMU as his last choice our in state UConn. The difference for Clemson/PSU is about $7-8000/year which are his top two. </p>
<p>I am not sure now a days what degree gets you a job. I know quite a few recent grads who still have no job with all different types of degrees! He really does not want to go to UConn. He applied because his Dad made him. </p>
<p>Maybe a good thread would be what degree gets you a good job out of school???</p>
<p>I’m not sure what you wrote above…</p>
<p>UConn In-state tuition and fees: $10,416 room/board/books…about $12k</p>
<p>Penn State OOS tuition/fees: $27k room/board/books…about $10k</p>
<p>Clemson OOS tuition/fees: $27k room/board/books…about $10k</p>
<p>(of course…room and board can vary by dorm selection and meal plan choice…and off-campus housing costs for other years)</p>
<p>But, as long as you’re ok with paying $38k - 40k per year, then you’re fine!!! :)</p>
<p>*I am not sure now a days what degree gets you a job. I know quite a few recent grads who still have no job with all different types of degrees!</p>
<p>Maybe a good thread would be what degree gets you a good job out of school??*</p>
<p>Well…that depends. Some degrees do lead to a job…especially if there are co-op or internship opportunities while in school. Engineering degrees lead to jobs…nursing degrees do…many business degrees do…</p>
<p>The problem is that there are a ton on bio majors out there. I don’t know if it’s because many start out as pre-med, and then don’t have the stats for med school or what. There’s just not a lot of jobs for bio majors.</p>
<p>Sorry if I was not clear UConn is not really an option. He wants to get out of the State.<br>
Uconn-$23,000</p>
<p>But the others are
Elon-$35,475
Clemson-$35,832
PSU-$36,000
JMU-$28,824
UNC-$27,729 </p>
<p>What I was trying to say was the price is around $7-8000 between his top four. No I am not sure how we are going to pull it off but I am not going to make him go to a college he did not even want to apply to.</p>
<p>Well, UNC gives financial aid if you qualify for aid. </p>
<p>Did your son apply anywhere that he will get merit aid?</p>
<p>*No I am not sure how we are going to pull it off but I am not going to make him go to a college he did not even want to apply to. *</p>
<p>How much are you comfortably able to afford? </p>
<p>It’s not a good idea to have him start at a school that you’ll later find out that you can’t afford…and then he’ll have to leave.</p>
<p>If your son’s academic stats would rank pretty highly among Clemson’s admitted students, I believe they hand out a good number of OOS tuition waivers; Pierre would know more about that. BTW, Pierre, if I recall correctly, is also from New England and seems to have acculturated very well to sweet tea and grits. :)</p>
<p>I suspect that the OP’s son’s stats are not high enough for an OOS tuition waiver at Clemson.</p>
<p>In another thread, the OP mentioned that his admission to PSU is dependent upon attending PSU’s summer program for students who aren’t directly admitted for fall. </p>
<p>*He was suppose to work for the summer so he can help pay for college. PSU is his first choice but I do not know if I will be able to afford the summer program and he is responsible for paying for 1/3 of college. *</p>
<p>BTW…I think that if you’re going to require your child to pay for 1/3 of his education, then picking a school where the 1/3 is going to be $12k is really waaay too much unless he already has substantial savings. How is a student supposed to come up with $12k per year after taxes?</p>
<p>*But the others are
Elon-$35,475
Clemson-$35,832
PSU-$36,000
JMU-$28,824
UNC-$27,729
*</p>
<p>You seem to only be including direct costs. What about books and personal expenses? Books are about $1k per year. College kids need an additional $2k or so for these expenses. typically kids use the earnings from their part-time jobs for this, but if your son will have to pay for 1/3 of his direct college costs, he won’t have any money for personal expenses. </p>
<p>I really don’t see how a young kid is supposed to come up with $12k per year plus personal expenses (and possibly books).</p>
<p>Penn State is a large school but it’s huge. Clemson is big enough to feel like a big school but small enough that you have all the opportunities that a small school can give you. Definitely come for a visit and if you don’t like it, well that’s definitely not the place for you.</p>
<p>And gadad that is correct 
hahaha</p>
<p>Pierre I think when we go down for a tour he will have more of idea which school works for him. I think 4 of his Ap class will give him credit at Clemson which is a big bonus!</p>
<p>oos mom, You asked us in your post to give feedback/opinions on your son’s top choices and it seems the discussion has kind of digressed into dialogue about expensive those OOS schools are. Personally I don’t want to stick my nose in to other people’s financial business, but your statements about 1. Dad making him apply to in state UCONN and 2. not knowing how you are going to swing the OOS schools were both eye-openers for me.</p>
<p>Maybe Dad knows what your family REALLY can afford and although your son wants to get out of state, it would put a $ burden on you all. The reason I am writing this is your scenario happened with our son a few years back. He was accepted to several of his OOS choices, one of which was his top, and basically he applied because I (mom) didn’t want him to be disappointed. His dad knew better and kept quiet until we sat down with him to show him the $ comparisons. We were hoping for merit aid to make OOS work. Realizing that he is just one of thousands of really, really sharp kids, getting that merit money would be a crap shoot. In looking at those numbers in black and white on paper, he knew he didn’t want to take on huge loans and his dad (and I) knew we couldn’t. So, he went onto apply and visited his in state school, a really great school like UCONN, and has thrived. Neither he nor we are going to be in a lot of debt and he knows that if he chooses he can go onto grad school somewhere OOS later. Best decision his dad ever led him to do.</p>
<p>You can ask any of us parents on this board, those tuition/R and B bills come at you like a Mack truck. To me it seems that as soon as you have budgeted for first semester, second semester’s is due…Think August and then December… Then there is most likely the cost of a new computer, spending money, lab fees, etc., etc. </p>
<p>Anyway, in the end, it is your family’s call. Just passing on our experiences in hopes that it will help in some way. Good luck to you all as you proceed through your decision.</p>
<p>*but your statements about 1. Dad making him apply to in state UCONN and 2. not knowing how you are going to swing the OOS schools were both eye-openers for me.</p>
<p>Maybe Dad knows what your family REALLY can afford and although your son wants to get out of state, it would put a $ burden on you all. .*</p>
<p>Yes, when people make statements that are “red flags” then it does cause for concern. </p>
<p>Does the H have a valid concern that going OOS will not be affordable? </p>
<p>Every year, we have parents/kids posting that during their frosh year, the family realizes that they can’t afford to continue at their school. Yes, those payments come at you quickly…that’s why I’m concerned that the son is expected to pay 1/3 of the costs. He’d have to have his “share” by July/August and then again a few months later. That just may not be possible unless he has some huge money source. If the answer is co-signing big loans for him, then you’re really not doing him any favors in the long run.</p>
<p>As moms, we want our kids to be happy, and when they say, “I won’t be happy if I have to go to XXXX school” (in this case, UConn), we moms might be tempted to agree with the demand.</p>
<p>However, your son isn’t looking at schools that are very different from UConn. It’s not like he’s looking at small LACs because a large school would be a bad fit for him…he’s looking at other big state schools. </p>
<p>So, really, it looks like his demand is just that the school have a different address…at a huge cost to the family. </p>
<p>When kids say such things as, “I won’t be happy if…”…a parent needs to really look at what the child is saying. If he’s just saying that to get his way, then that’s not a reason to honor his demands.</p>
<p>I am in this same boat. I am living in Pennsylvania. I’ve pretty much narrowed it down to Clemson and PSU. They are around the same price for me with the gracious scholarships I have been awarded. Can anyone else give me some insight/personal opinions on these great schools?</p>
<p>What’s your major? Have you visited either schools? What are you looking for in a college? Both schools are fantastic colleges and we obviously need more information to help you with that decision.</p>
<p>By the way, I’m a senior civil engineering major at Clemson so if you have any questions about Clemson let me know! I personally think Clemson is amazing haha</p>
<p>I am majoring in Biology with a Pre-Med track but I may be switching to Biomedical Engineering in case I decide against Medical School or do not get accepted. Furthermore, my mom went to Clemson and loved it. I grew up with Tiger Paws all around the house. I visited both schools and loved them. I was also accepted to the University of Pittsburgh and the University of South Carolina but I am leaning towards PSU and Clemson, obviously. I want the college town feel and I LOVE college football. I want a renowned program I can carry with me through life. I am just so confused where to go. Psu would definitely be more convenient and more globally known, and it is also ranked above Clemson, but Clemson seems like it would just be an awesome experience.</p>