<p>Hello CC!</p>
<p>I'm seriously confused about which Penn States to apply to.
I've heard University Park is a "flagship", and so you shouldn't apply to any of the others.
What do you think?
I have these on my radar:
Altoona
Beaver
Harrisburg
Wilkes-Barre
Brandywine
Hazleton
Greater Allegheny
York</p>
<p>I want to major in Comp Science. SAT - 1970, ACT 29. </p>
<p>Is there any other info I can supply that would help?</p>
<p>Thanks a lot, everyone :)</p>
<p>Your SAT scores are competitive for UP: if your GPA is around 3.7 you don’t need to apply to the branch campuses (unless you really like them and would rather attend there than UP or if it’d save money you don’t have). Indeed, if you apply to University Park and you’re borderline, they’ll offer a 2+2 at a branch campus (you show you can do it at a branch campus and they’ll automatically admit you to the main campus after sophomore year. The UP student body is stronger though so if you like to be challenged, get in, and can afford it, it’ s probably a better choice.</p>
<p>Cool!
Would it make sense to apply to UP, and then two or three others, just to be safe?</p>
<p>Yes, you could. Just pick your favorite 2 branch campuses 
- you might want to inquire about how many students stay on campus during weekends, how many live on campus, etc.</p>
<p>Awesome! Thanks a lot for the help, MYOS!</p>
<p>Your other thread indicates that you family does not have high income, you are a non-resident, and that you need a lot of financial aid. The Pennsylvania publics do not give very good financial aid to Pennsylvania residents; you should expect even worse as a non-resident. Check their net price calculators.</p>
<p>If you are not in-state (not a resident of Pennsylvania) and you have financial need, then Penn State is NOT a good idea since your family would have to pay $50,000 a year!
Have you run the Net Price Calculators? That’s the first thing you should do.</p>
<p>I thought it was 45k per year, not including the FAFSA aid and scholarship you can get?</p>
<p>Ok yes it’s $45,000 OOS but that doesn’t change the situation. When you subtract the $5,500 loan you’re entitled to through FAFSA (and if you qualify for Pell grants, $5,000 in federal grants), your family would still have to come up with $35-40,000.
There’s also a $4,000 award for Shreyer Scholars but I don’t think you’d qualify (you’d need about 32ACT and Ivy-level stats).
So Penn State is unaffordable.</p>
<p>Oh, really? Alright, well that changes things. I may need to refocus on SUNYs, CSU and UCs then!</p>