Hi everyone! I am an international asian high school student ( born in LA), and applied to mechanical engineering. I have to make my school choices soon. I am currently waitlisted for UIUC, but was accepted to Penn State UP… After doing some research, I found out that Penn State’s rankings tend to fluctuate more, remaining mostly within the top 50 in the US, but UIUC stably remains as top 45. I currently like State College more than Champaign, but that might change. Can anyone tell me about the prestige, academics and overall image of the two schools as of 2015?
Any information on campus life, dorm quality will be appreciated greatly too 
Accept Penn State. If you get off the waitlist at UIUC, that would be the time to worry about whether you’d prefer four years in Illinois to 4 years in Pennsylvania. “top 50” vs “top 45” of some 4,000 colleges and universities in the country? Do the math. There is no significant difference in the quality of education you would receive at these two places.
First, you MUST deposit somewhere by May 1st. If Penn State is the university where you were accepted, you must deposit there (provided you can afford to go). IF you get off the UIUC wait list in May or June, you’re allowed to inform them that you withdraw enrollment, then you deposit at UIUC.
In terms of academic quality, mechanical engineering has a pretty similar level. Both colleges are in college towns. I’d give a nudge to Penn State for being 4-5 hours from major American cities (NYC, Philadelphia, Baltimore, DC) so it’s easier to drive there for Spring Break. Both have nice campuses and snow most of the winter.
Can be an upside or downside: there will be fewer Asian students at Penn State.
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/01/07/u-illinois-growth-number-chinese-students-has-been-dramatic
Dorms: DEPOSIT ASAP because at Penn State dorm choice is on a first-come, first-served basis. Try to avoid East Halls, they’re poorly sound proofed, noisy, and not conducive to studying, plus far away from pretty much anywhere else and their cafeteria food is known for being the worst. I think that West and North are good but not sure you have a shot this late in the year and as a freshman. At this point your odds of being tripled are very high so deposit ASAP.
Neither school has a notable prestige or reputational difference over the other. Both are great schools that are widely known
Thank you for the replies. I have recently sent a “desperation” email to UIUC’s admissions officer, and hopefully they will reply me before May 1st. As for fewer asians at pennstate, it’s definitely a plus! Ive been around asians all my life and am looking for change. 
However, does pennstate’s reputation lean more towards the party school category? Or is it a solid academic school?
And dayum, that article about UIUC being chinese-dominated is quite interesting. I think it might affect my choices! BTW Im from Thailand 
Penn State’s reputation is solid. It’s ranked #1 in the country by employers!
However, remember that you want to go to the US to STUDY on a STUDENT visa. If your goal is to work in the US, you will not qualify for a student visa.
MYOS1634, I have a US passport, so I think working in the us is fine for me.
You aren’t a true international student. You are a US citizen who has been educated abroad. There is a huge difference!
Really, you can pick the place that is cheapest for you, or that looks easier to get to from where you are living now, or for whatever other random reason. These universities are essentially equivalent.
UIUC is about two and a half hours from Chicago by car or by train (multiple trains each day). Check here: http://www.amtrak.com/home
Penn State isn’t on a rail line, and is four to five hours by car from Philadelphia/Washington, DC/New York City, or you can take Megabus: http://us.megabus.com/
Weather is basically equally good/bad in both locations. UIUC is in a very flat part of Illinois, Penn State is in a valley in the mountains of central PA.
You’re on the waitlist for UIUC right now so your best option is depositing at Penn State. If you don’t get off the waitlist for UIUC, Penn State is an amazing school to attend. If you do get off the waitlist, congrats and you might want to seriously SERIOUSLY think about going there. UIUC is a great school for engineering.
Thanks so much for the reply guys! I will deposit at Penn State as of now, but hopefully I will hear good news from UIUC too!
People don’t get off the waitlist before May 1st - the waitlist fills the gaps after expected enrollment spots don’t materialize as planned. The WL serves as enrollment management.
Penn State assigns housing on a first-come/first served basis, so you need to deposit TODAY and choose a LLC (living learning community - I think they’re called SOL -) For your second choice, choose healthy living/quiet floor since if you don’t you’re likely to be stuck in East Halls and it’s poorly insulated, very noisy, and students party any day of the week even when you’re trying to do homework or sleep. If stuck in East Halls, your best bet is to choose the “House” for Paterno Fellows aspirants - those are students who were close to getting into Schreyer and want to get into the honors college, they will enroll in honors& leadership classes. (You have to declare for the program first)
http://www.hfs.psu.edu/housing/housing/special-living-options.cfm
http://www.la.psu.edu/current-students/undergraduate-students/paterno-fellows
Thanks MYOS1634 for your recommendations! I do want to study hard at college, but I don’t wish to miss any opportunity to have fun and meet new people too. I’ve heard most freshman students live in the east halls? If so, I think if others can handle it, I can too!
Well, yes, most freshmen live in East Halls, because others wouldn’t want to. Anyone who’s got a choice tries to live elsewhere (many freshmen get into Pollock, plus of course the LLCs in West, North, and Schreyer/Simmons+Atherton).
Would East hall be the best choice or making friends though? 
*for
No. Freshmen are able to make friends everywhere. And if you don’t live in East, but have one or two friends who do live there, you can go there to socialize, and return home to a quieter residence to get your studying done.
Thank you loads for the replies! >:D<