<p>OSU
-honors program(their honors program isn't as good as schreyer, but there are benefits and the honors designation is a plus)
-tuition lower than that of PSU</p>
<p>PSU
-ranked higher for engineering
-better campus(?)
-Shreyer honors college is very prestigious, but i don't have the credentials to get in.
- tuition ranks up there with elite private universities for an international student.</p>
<p>Stony brook
- affordable since i count as instate(money is a huge factor)
-least favorite of the three</p>
<p>In your opinion, which situation seems the most promissing? i am currently a freshman and will probably try to transfer again to a private school(nyu/rice) before my junior year. Academic reputation is highly important to me, so it is kind of frustrating these schools are mostly known as football/party schools (except stony brook, of course). So, based on the campus, academics, and resources, what do you think will provide the best education for a computer science major?</p>
<p>If you're planning yet another transfer, I think it's wise to stay where you are, do well and then transfer junior year. If you do really well, you can also try for entry into Schreyer for junior year. Not sure that you'll find much difference in the overall environment at PSU and OSU. If you're really strapped for money though, go to SB. I went to SUNY Albany for money reasons and did just fine as did many of my friends. Good luck!</p>
<p>I agree that it doesn't make sense to transfer to OSU. Also, I wonder if a "lateral" transfer to a school like OSU might have a negative affect on your applications to Rice/NYU. (The adcom may wonder if you are simply a malcontent.) </p>
<p>that sounds reasonable toneranger. Two reasons why I can't stay at psu:
1. 30K a year--i come from a low income family and as an int'l student, do not receive any aid.
2. I don't see any prospect here. I don't think I will be able to raise my gpa quickly enough and participate in enough activities to be competitive for schreyer.</p>
<p>At OSU, i would bein the honors program and get a fresh start, which I need.</p>
<p>So, as you can see, it's pretty much between osu and SB. Now, osu is obviously better than stony brook, but how does it stand againt psu academically wise [for comp science]?</p>
<p>frasi - i guess it depends on how much lower the tuition is. I'm not an expert - but I see Ohio State and PSU as being pretty much comparable. The honors designation might give you a small boost. I think, though, that jumping around might hurt your chances at a transfer. Especially since OSU and PSU are so similar. Don't knock SB - there's certainly not a HUGE difference in prestige between SB and PSU or OSU. You many want to think about saving money for the private and doing SB for a year - at least you would have a good explanation (big $) for why you moved in your second year - might be important for the transfer application. Bottom line though - go with what you can afford. I know you don't think PSU is worth 30k - I'm not sure you'll think OSU is worth the extra dollars over SB once you get there. All the best...</p>
<p>The only plus I can see at OSU is that you are in Honors, you seem to be very unhappy at PSU because you are around "regular" students so hopefully the honors kids at OSU will be more to your liking.
Honestly, I do not think the OSU facilities or academics will be any better.
The only worry is can you get housing at this late stage of the game? If you do not get into Honors Housing I think it will be a waste of your efforts and you should stay at Penn State.
Did you get a scholarship at OSU? Their cost is similar to PSU and even higher for internationals...</p>
<p>I am glad you guys understand my situation. I definitely have to vistit OSU before making a decision--probably towards the end of may. And no OSU won't be much cheaper; i am guessing around 23k.</p>
<p>I am starting to think it would be better to stick around at psu and build my gpa to transfer to a school I would be comfortable at, perhaps not nyu or rice, but maybe something like the university of pittsburg or fordham in NY. Yet, the tuition is just so high and I got off to a slow start. does this seem more reasonable to you guys?</p>
<p>That seems like a good thing because you really have only been at PSU for not even one term, you should give it a bit of a better shot. And if you say you cannot raise your GPA for Schreyer then you probably will not be able to get into NYU either.</p>
<p>Fordham does not offer engineering, why would you consider that?
And Pitt is on the same level as PSU and OSU.
If it is really money and you really want to do computer science/engineering have you considered UB? I may be wrong but I thought they were considered one of the better engineering SUNYs.</p>
<p>Did you get a room at PSU for next year? Or are you looking at finding an apartment? If you want to stay you should start looking soon. Do you have someone you would want to live with?</p>
<p>U pitt isnt more selective.....and their comp sci certainly isnt any better. If you cant crack the GPA up enough to come close to schreyer after your sophmore year, then you shouldnt even be thinking about schools like Rice or alot of the higher privates. Also if you do good enough you should be looking for outside scholarships.</p>
<p>well PSU's Engineering overall has a better reputation and Comp Sci is in the engr. dept so Id say PSU prolly has a slight edge. It really isnt worth transfering if you plan on transf. jun. year.</p>
<p>frasi-
I have been reading your posts for a while and it seems that you do not like PSU because of the social environment. Correct me if I am wrong, but you seem that you would be happier in an 'honors' environment. Have you ever considered contacting the Housing Assignment Office to see if you might be assigned housing in either Simmons or Atherton next year? Although you would not be in the Honors College, you would be living with honors students (since Simmons and Atherton DO house non-honors students) which might be more to your liking. You might also consider talking to an advisor or counselor who might be able to talk to the Housing Assignment Office on your behalf. You might be much happier at PSU if you are living in an environment with students who have the same interests, goals and aspirations as you do. Good Luck and keep us updated.</p>
<p>karp, what an elegant idea that is. Indeed, being in an honors environment is much to my liking. Perhaps I would be in a room with someone from schereyer who values academic intellect and silence. This would be fantastic. One of the main reasons why I am not currently performing to my fullest potential is that my roomate keeps the television on throughout the day and night, and because my hall is so noisy. Having someone who was striving for a 4.0 gpa and who dedicated a large portion of the day to studying as roomate would be immaculate. This getting away from the party mentality would certainly be enough for me to stay here at psu for another semester/year.</p>
<p>In fact, I had already thought about that. A month ago, we were supposed to fill out a contract for next year's housing. We were asked if we had hall preferences, and guess what my two top choices were...</p>
<p>However, my experience with the housing system here is that they will put you wherever there is an open space, completely ignoring your preferences and roomate matchability.</p>
<p>Do you think I should call and say something along the lines of "I will only be staying at psu if I get housing in those halls?" If so, whom do you think I should contact and when?</p>
<p>Lastly, what is your connection to psu again? You have a son going to schreyer, correct?</p>