Is there a tab for financial aid?
I’m a little confused. Somehow I was denied a reconsideration to the fall term to Penn State, but was accepted into the fall for Biology at UPitt and the University of Delaware. Can someone explain to me this situation?
When did you apply and for what major? ^
@bodangles I applied before November 30th and for the division of undergraduate studies
Well, admissions at PSU appear to have been very competitive this year. Note the number of people in this thread alone who asked to be reconsidered for main, on top of the people admitted to main initially…there just aren’t many, if any, spots left.
If you initially applied for DUS fall and got summer, then asked to be reconsidered for fall without changing anything about your app, I’m not surprised they didn’t change your decision. If you initially applied to a more competitive major and changed to DUS, then they’re just full and that’s unlucky but understandable.
what is the approximate intake of freshmen for engineering at university park
Does anybody know how you choose your classes and when that will be available? For example, I don’t want any 8am classes unless I don’t have any other option. I know it is a first come first serve system, but does anyone know any other details about this?
@freakyboul123 In looking at your other threads you were originally accepted to UP summer DUS with a 3.4 GPA and a 29 ACT. That’s very typical for a summer admit. You then asked to be reconsidered to fall DUS with no other changes to your application. That’s why you were denied. You were probably considered for fall to begin with and accepted for summer. Asking for reconsideration to Fall with no other change to your major or stats usually doesn’t yield a change in your application. Especially if you are smack in the middle of what is typically a summer admit anyway. Basically, the answer is easy. You weren’t accepted for fall because your stats were slightly below fall admits. As far as the other schools, apparently, their admission criteria was not as strong as Penn State’s this year. My D was accepted to summer two years ago with the exact same stats as you. 3.5 GPA and 29 ACT. It’s a typical summer admit stat. Pitt can be easier to get into for some majors than PSU. PSU is a higher ranked university in most majors and overall. I don’t know much about UDel.
I’d take your summer admit and go with it. Most students LOVE summer at UP. I know mine did!
@jetfire64 You choose classes at New Student Orientation. To get your orientation date, you have to accept your offer, pay whatever deposits they want you to pay, and take the ALEKS math placement test. They will then send you a date to come to campus for NSO.
- At least for UP. Not familiar with branches.
Which would be better Ohio state, Penn state for mechanical engineering? I am an international student. Opportunities for summer internship etc. Looking at more practical oriented learning.
I am an international student
@mech123 : both are good.
I’d give Penn state a nod because it’s closer to the eastern seaboard’s centers of population (Philadelphia, New York City, Baltimore, DC) and has a stronger alumni network.
However bothered very good and mechanical engineering will be challenging at both.
@mech123 They are both great schools. Choose the one that costs you less.
I am a parent whose son was accepted into PS University Park for Engineering. My family realizes it’s a wonderful school that offers many opportunities. My son loves all it offers, but he is an out of state student and will be paying a premium price to attend. Don’t know yet if he’ll get any merit money, but he will definitely not get financial aid. My anxiety is the cost. My family can fund 2-3 years out of pocket and would need loans to cover the rest. I guess I’m looking for reassurce that to cover that kind of money in loans would be worth the investment. I want my son to be happy and excited, which he is. I just want to feel better about this kind of financial hit.
If the amount of loans is more than the student can take on their own federally ($27k, and that’s split up into four years, not all at once) then no it’s not worth it.
- Assuming that the student has cheaper options.
At this point, PS is the best option for every aspect except financially. My son has great credentials (1400 SAT and 4.6 weighted), but we live in Florida and he was accepted to UM, UCF and FSU. UF is a crap shoot for anyone and he did not get in, which, according to him, he did not care for anyway. We have a pre-paid college plan that takes care of tuition and a year of dorms for Florida state schools. That said, UF is the pre-eminent Engineering school in Florida. The others pale in comparison. My son wants to eventually work out of state and wants to attend a program that will be recognized in whatever state he looks to work in. Other schools he was accepted to, which are also known nationally, would present the same financial issue. To me, if you’re going to bust your butt with a difficult major, do it at a place that will pay off (as long as you succeed in the program). I do not want him going to a school that a recruiter will have to give hard thought to.
Anywhere ABET-accredited will give students the skills they need to be engineers.
@BirdieB UCF engineering grads are getting the same jobs as PSU engineering grads. It may be slightly more difficult in the immediate vicinity of PSU, but elsewhere in the country its a fairly level playing field. You should seriously consider saving the money and send him to UCF.
Things to consider for everyone, as financial aid info will start coming out very soon:
what if a spouse were to lose a job, or become ill? what if your student changes majors, becomes unwell, has a bad semester, or otherwise now needs 5 years to finish? have you factored in annual tuition/fee increases (maybe 3 or 4%). what can your student expect as a reasonable(not imaginary!) starting salary. My grads were in liberal arts and are barely above the poverty line, but can make ends meet because they had no loans. Their roommates were in STEM fields, started with generous salaries but are in the same boat because of loans they needed.
Happiness is relative. Engineering is a promising field where a hard worker and great student should be fine wherever they go. Penn State is an excellent, demanding, weed-out program with excellent employability, but it isn’t cheap–we’ll keep our fingers crossed that they come through with some aid to make your choice easier.
I’d go with FSU. It doesn’t have the growing pains that UCF experiences (with many classes taught purely online or “blended”, lecture halls with 700 students and then some in the aisles and on the steps…) and for engineering it is quite prestigious throughout the South.
Penn State is great but if you can only afford 2 years it’s kind of pointless. Can you use the prepaid/529 funds for PSU? If your child takes on the 5.5K federal loans each year, is it affordable? If not, then PSU isn’t the best choice.
Of course merit aid (only merit aid for OOS applicants) could be forthcoming and change the parameters.