<p>My son has been admitted as an international freshman in both Penn State and Purude Engineering Colleges and he is in a dilemma. What do u suggest it should be better for him to choose?
PS He comes from Europe (Greece).</p>
<p>What type of engineering? Or undecided?</p>
<p>I will say that Purdue is ranked higher in Engineering than Penn State, but there is obviously more to choosing a college than that.</p>
<p>I haven’t looked at ranking but I believe PSU is ranked higher than Purdue in just about everything but engineering, so it would be a more well rounded school if he decides to switch majors.</p>
<p>Actually he is interested in aeronautical/airspace engineering but he is not 100% sure. That’s why he has decided not to go to Embry Riddle that he has also been accepted. By the way, what university do u think is better connected to the market?</p>
<p>As per US News and World Reports: Penn States ranks 47 and Purdue 56. Academically Penn State is also superior. Student satisfaction, Purdue 85.5% and Penn State 93.2%.
Selectivity: Purdue 73% are selected to attend with a GPA of 3.5, Penn State 52% are selected to attend with a GPA of 3.6 with a higher ACT/SAT scores.</p>
<p>Cost: Purdue wins it is cheaper it is $26,622 with $8822 room and board, Penn State - $27,114 and room and board is $9,030.</p>
<p>I hope this helps with your decision.</p>
<p>Thank you!!</p>
<p>Not to muddy the waters, but in engineering USNWR ranks Purdue 8th and PSU 17th; they are also more highly ranked if you look specifically at aero. But simply looking at the rankings is not a good way to pick a school. </p>
<p>If you want to know more about connections to industry you might try posting in the engineering forum ([Engineering</a> Majors - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/engineering-majors/]Engineering”>Engineering Majors - College Confidential Forums)), though people will tend to be supportive of their own schools. PSU does have a particularly strong connection to the rotorcraft industry and I know that the grads are getting jobs. There are always a few PSU aero students doing coops (spending the semester working in industry); I’m not sure how those opportunities might be affect by your son’s international status. Someone on the engineering forum might also be ablre to address that. I recommend posting there.</p>
<p>It’s tough. 1 Moremom is right. Purdue is well known for engineering (internationally) but Penn State’s overall reputation and east-coast location makes it more appealing in several ways. There are several interesting threads about “great majors or schools” within otherwise “average institutions”. Do you opt for the school with the better reputation or the one with a better program in your major? I had never heard of Kelley School of Business or the Farmer School of Business until my son started researching schools (Even though my SISTER and her HUSBAND are Farmer grads!). They are both highly ranked, and getting an automatic “admit” as a freshman is a huge feat! But, in general, I see the east-coast kids opt for a more prestigious regional university over a less competitive school with a “better program” That said, I know JACK about Purdue or Engineering…but I have the trivial knowledge somewhere in my brain that Purdue has an excellent reputation (for engineering) It’s a wonderful thing to have these tough decisions greekdad!!!</p>