<p>Very proud of D. She got accepted to both Pitt and Penn State and she is an "out of stater". I was just wondering if anyone with knowledge of both schools could offer up some opinions just to give us some more ammo toward making what we consider a very tough but enviable decision.</p>
<p>Penn State is known for its supporting alumni that create its renown reputation. My father is a Pitt grad while my sister is attending Penn State. In my dad's business, he said he'll hire a Penn State grad over a Pitt grad because they are better prepared. Good luck with your decision!</p>
<p>Congrats! Penn State is much like its peer schools: UIllinois, UMichigan, UWisconsin, IU, UIowa, etc...more rah, rah college experience.</p>
<p>Both are overall equal in terms of academics. It just depends on what your daughter wants to major in / what she wants out of her college experience.</p>
<p>I think it depends on the kid. My son hated Penn State (much too rah-rah for him) but liked Pitt. I preferred Pitt by a mile. For one thing I can really see the advantage of an urban school. It's just a more "well rounded" experience. Also I really liked the engineering department at Pitt. Much less of a grad student focus - much smaller feeling, more intimate.</p>
<p>There have been other threads on this topic.
You can do a search and get lots of opinions.</p>
<p>Good luck I know happy people at both schools.</p>
<p>The biggest difference between the 2 imo is their environment.</p>
<p>PSU is isolated but huge and lots of fun. It's hard to beat the enthusiasm, if that's your thing, during a home football weekend.</p>
<p>Pitt is quite urban. It's busy with considerable street traffic going through the campus. Personally I think Pittsburgh is a great city...small enough to be manageable but big enough to have all the amenities of a larger city.</p>
<p>I'm not sure of Pitt's costs but assume they are comparable to PSU. For oos PSU is relatively expensive (above $30,000).</p>
<p>"PSU is isolated but huge and lots of fun. It's hard to beat the enthusiasm, if that's your thing, during a home football weekend."</p>
<p>My son, who is not a "rah rah" kid at all- rather shy and bookish, absolutely loves PSU. He even learned a little about football his freshman year.
It really is big enough to have room for all kinds.
2331clk is right; it is very isolated but State College has everything you might need, except an urban atmosphere.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info. everyone.</p>
<p>PSU probably has a slight edge in academic rep (tho, Pitt alums would contest that).</p>
<p>But the biggest difference is local.</p>
<p>PSU has a very nice campus in the middle of nowhere (central PA) surrounded by rolling "mountains" (hence "Happy Valley"), however, there is much to do in State College and there definitely is quite an active social life. </p>
<p>Pitt is located in the more residential part of Pittsburgh (Oakland) about a 15 min. drive from downtown (Pittsburgh is a pretty nice mid-size city).</p>
<p>Otoh, Pitt doesn't really have a real campus (more like buildings strewn across varying blocks) and the night-life probably isn't as varied (or enthusiastic) so close to campus. But cultural interests - such as museums, symphony, botanical gardens, etc. are close by.</p>
<p>I disagree about Pitt's campus. Obviously, Penn State will have more of a "campus-like" feel, but, it isn't difficult to tell where the university ends and the city begins. There are some nice green quads. I'd say it's "feel" is intermediate between a suburban campus like Rochester, and a truly urban campus like Boston University.</p>
<p>Well, I'm hardly the only person to describe Pitt's campus like that.</p>
<p>Beyond the area surrounding the Cathedral of Learning and possibly the area near where the old Pitt Stadium used to be - Pitt doesn't really have a "traditional" campus setting.</p>
<p>Over on the other side of Carnegie Library/Museum - CMU has more of a "campus setting".</p>
<p>Yeah, PSU's reputation is better, but I'd say overall, their academic quality is about the same (although, of course, PSU trumps Pitt in some academic areas and vice versa).</p>
<p>Hey there, everyone. I recently graduated from Pitt after spending two years at Penn State. I can say that, for me, Pitt was much more preferable. Academically, both schools were-- for all intents and purposes-- the same. I have had awesome and horrible professors at both schools. And the student organizations are quite similar. The difference truly is the environment. Does you son/daughter want to be in the country or the city? I left Penn State because I could not stand to be in the middle of nowhere any longer. Penn State is most definately <em>NOT</em> a city. Everything there is to do is related to the school, except for the bars. Pittsburgh has much more variety. There are clubs, museums, movies, restaurants, shopping a nearby amusement park... anything you normally find in a city. In terms of alumni relations, I recently started a well-paying job in New York that I found through Pitt's alumni network. Maybe Penn State has better name recognition, but one's ability to get a job has more to do with how you take advantage of your opportunities, and I believe Pitt offers many more opportunities. And Pitt's presitge is growing by the day, while Penn State continually tops the "Biggest Party School" lists. Hope that helps. Any other questions, just let me know.</p>
<p>Penn State has a considerably larger amount of undergrads than Pitt. Many other colleges in the Pittsburgh area. Although Pitt may not be as "rah rah spirited" as Penn State, there is a large feeling of school spirit for its urban setting. Pitt has nicer/more creative dorms IMO (Sutherland etc). Only qualm may be the "off campus" football stadium, which is actually handled pretty well because the school provides free busing. They have their similarities and differences but prestige-wise they aren't too far from eachother. It really will just come down to what she wants in a school.</p>
<p>I saw this old thread and was interested in reviving it. Anyone out there now debating Pitt vs. Psu?</p>
<p>Pat 2323, does Pitt have a journalism program that could compare to PSU, and if so could you send me more info in a private message or just in a link as a reply. Also, would Pitt be helpful in sports journalism like a specialized program at PSU. Thanks.</p>
<p>just trying to keep it visible. Pat2323 i'm really curious about my questions above! Thanks.</p>
<p>Ryno26, Pitt's journalism program is part of the English Writing major. You can take the journalism track of the English Writing major, which includes several sports journalism classes. All writing classes are capped at 22 students. There are many opportunities to get hands-on journalism training as well, such a the Pitt News- one of the most widely-read college newspapers in the country. There are also TONS of interships and ways to get involved throughout the city of Pittsburgh. Here's some links to help you out:</p>
<p>Al Primo Journalism Center
<a href="http://www.english.pitt.edu/resources/jlab.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.english.pitt.edu/resources/jlab.html</a></p>
<p>Writing courses
<a href="http://www.english.pitt.edu/undergraduate/writing/Writing%20Progr_Reqs_Revised%201_07.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.english.pitt.edu/undergraduate/writing/Writing%20Progr_Reqs_Revised%201_07.pdf</a></p>
<p>English Writing Major
<a href="http://www.english.pitt.edu/undergraduate/writing/writing.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.english.pitt.edu/undergraduate/writing/writing.html</a></p>
<p>Hope that helps! And let me know if you have any more questions. I really think Pitt is a great school, and the opportunities that you'll have for work and for fun in the city far outweigh those you will have at any other school.</p>
<p>Thanks Pat2323. Correct me if i'm wrong, but did you attend PSU for 2 years? If so, what is your opinion/knowledge of PSU's JSchool and sports journalism center. I have seen info on it but do you have anything extra not featured on their site? Also which school would prepare me best for sports journalism, PSU or Pitt. Thanks again.</p>