<p>Go to Penn.</p>
<p>Its name on your resume open lot of doors for you. I seen it.</p>
<p>Penn for sure.</p>
<p>The housing issue makes this a tough one. I’m split 50/50 on what to tell you because at schools like Penn and Duke, transferring in as late as junior year will make it really hard to make friends as everyone has found their social niches. There might be more social opportunities available at OSU, which is one of the nation’s largest public institutions.</p>
<p>On the other hand, Penn is an Ivy and a terrific one at that. If you want to work in finance, a Penn Economics degree is exponentially better than an Econ degree at OSU. The same applies with graduate school admissions. However, if you plan to go into public service or law school, it wouldn’t matter if you attended OSU or Penn.</p>
<p>You have a tough decision in front of you.</p>
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<p>This is what people who are paying for a school like Penn have to believe to justify the expenditure to themselves. The fact is that they can’t prove what they claim is “obvious”. </p>
<p>Graduating from a state flagship university will open many doors when applying for business related employment, especially in that state and nearby states, because the person doing the hiring is likely an alum of a flagship university as well, and will feel more comfortable with applicants who have educational backgrounds similar to his or her own.</p>
<p>It is also worth noting that since so many people in the business field now have masters degrees, you will likely be a distinct disadvantage if you don’t eventually get one as well. With the money you save by finishing your undergraduate education in OH you can afford to pay for a decent masters degree program.</p>
<p>If you’re planning on going to graduate school just stay at OSU and save up your money. Undergrad won’t really matter if you’re going to grad school and as long as you do well at OSU you can get into the same grad schools you could as going to Penn.</p>
<p>If you’re finding a job right out of college, Penn is the way to go. Penn will set you up with better contacts and give you better name recognition anywhere in the United States, where OSU’s appeal is limited.</p>
<p>Are you serious? Just do good in Penn as an undergrad then go to Wharton!</p>
<p>Debt lasts a long time, prestige does not. 10 years from now you will be kicking yourself if you go to Penn. In Econ you will need a grad degree. That is where the debt should come from. Also, OSU has a pretty decent Econ department.</p>
<p>I really doubt the OP will have huge regrets wherever he decides to go Susan. What if he gets a job right out of college or gets a scholarship to a good graduate program at some point down the line? I bet he won’t regret going to Penn then.</p>
<p>Too many people assume that a degree from Penn (Oh, Penn State?) guarantees a well-paying and personally satisfying job.</p>
<p>And, a full ride at one’s stage flagship with honors program benefits: compared to Penn at significant cost, no housing, strange people, strange environment…</p>
<p>“Go to Penn?” Easier said than done.</p>
<p>kwu, I couldn’t have put it better myself.
And I actually found out my deadline is midnight (the office closed at 3, but they’ll still count emails they receive after they close). Honestly, I know how many friends of mine might be disappointed (since only 2 people in the last 10 years have gone to ivies from my high school), but I’m favoring OSU at this point. Graduating magna cum laude, with honors, and with research distinction at Ohio State would probably get me just as far as a diploma from Penn with no frills, right?</p>
<p>ringoffire, so going to Penn guarantees him a scholarship to a good grad program? Don’t think so. Job right out of college with B.S. in Econ is not likely to pay well regardless of where you go, unless you are the top of your class and want to be hired by McKinsey or Bain. I’ve been hiring people for 20 years. I only glance at the school. I’ve had employees from Ivy League working alongside flagship graduates. Quite frankly, I’ve seen little difference in employee quality. Some highly educated intelligent people make crappy employees. I know there’s enough debate already on the Ivy League Magic Wand granting graduates prosperity, instant jobs and success. That’s a lesson I think a lot of grads will learn on their own rather than debate it more here.</p>
<p>And if the OP is stellar student, he would have a better chance of getting into good grad program by standing out at OSU. If he is the cream of the crop at Penn, then it would worthwhile attending provided he attended grad school. But being a top student there is going to be much more difficult.</p>
<p>The place may have changed a lot since my mom went to med school there, but at that time living off-campus near Penn was scary. She got mugged (no actual violence, just the threat) twice and that was considered very lucky.</p>
<p>Yeah, I’ve heard that the off-campus vicinity is pretty dangerous too. But that doesn’t really bother me. I’m more concerned with the price of Penn vs. OSU and the lack of community and friendships that I could face if I begin my schooling there off-campus.</p>
<p>“Graduating magna cum laude, with honors, and with research distinction at Ohio State would probably get me just as far as a diploma from Penn with no frills, right?”</p>
<p>Probably further! And reread post 31.</p>
<p>So, what are you going to do schrute?</p>
<p>I’m leaning toward OSU. The deadline is actually at 11:59 tonight, so I’ll let you guys know when my decision is final.
But, I must say, you guys have all been extremely helpful thus far.
Part of me, though, still wishes one school would be an obvious choice so this decision wouldn’t be so hard. hahaha</p>
<p>Do you have any specific future plans, such as graduate school, career, etc… Any specific region/ state you prefer to reside in the future, or looking at specific graduate schools…</p>
<p>Ideally, I’d like to get a Ph.D. and become a professor. And, I know it’s weird, but I hate the city and would much prefer to work in a suburban or rural area.</p>
<p>Whatever choice you make will be the right decision and a learning experience for you regardless. You could pursue your dream of being a professor through either school for undergrad and aim high for your grad studies. Best of luck.</p>
<p>Go to tOSU. You hate the city, you want to go to grad school which requires money (something you won’t have if you go to Penn) and it’ll be easier to get good grades at OSU.</p>