I’m planning on majoring in Poly Sci or IR. I’ve visited both and I’m in love with both schools and I’m looking to make a decision soon. I’d also like to be involved with greek life and it seems like it is available at both schools. Does anyone have any insight into the programs at these two schools? Or why I should pick one over the other? Money wise, Penn State gave me the Provost Scholarship so tuition is roughly equal for both. Im OOS, Illinois. I also got accepted to Alabama, MSU, Syracuse, FSU and Baylor if that adds anything. Ranking wise PSU is higher and has the bigger alumni network, Pitt has the bigger endowment however.
If you can afford either school, it’s a personal choice. Do you like Pitt or PSU better? Visit and don’t go off of solely rankings or anything like that.
I like them both. So I’m looking for something other than campus feel, I heard than penn state’s poly sci program is quantitative inclined. Is pitt the same way?
Are you sure you liked both campuses? I feel like they’re so different that it must be rare for someone to fit at both equally. Penn State is in the middle of nowhere, in a sleepy little college town, but it has a beautiful campus that feels like a park. Pitt is in a big city with lots of exciting things right outside your door, but the campus is also very citified and (to me) felt like there was barely any green anything, anywhere.
Pitt is in walking distance from beautiful Schenley (or is it Frick?) park and Phipps Conservatory and there’s a small park next to the Carnegie Museums, which are in the middle of Pitt’s campus. If your questions are more about programs, maybe you can get the contact info for some Poli Sci majors or at least, talk to the chairs of those departments.
If both will cost the same why is Pitt’s endowment relevant?
@ErinsDad More opportunities, more speakers that the school is able to bring, maybe? Pitt will be 2k cheaper
@bodangles Ive always lived fairly closed to a city so I’m used to it in that way, however, I like penn state’s sense of community and school spirit. I think it’d be easier to intergrate better to the school if it has more of a campus. Then I go on and think what if I want to go the theatre or a museum one day? Will going to penn state deprive me of that. I can see the pros of going to either school
We do have an art museum on campus here (it’s pretty nice, I had Spanish class in it a couple weeks ago), but I agree that there are more off-campus activities in Pittsburgh than in State College. I guess you’ll have to decide what’s personally more important to you: a defined campus or entertainment opportunities. I had the same dilemma but liked PSU’s campus better, so that’s where I ended up. Penn State and Pitt were similar in cost for me, too. Good luck with your decision!!
ETA: You might find this thread helpful: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/penn-state-university-park/1750070-graduating-student-taking-questions-p1.html It’s a PSU senior answering questions about the university.