woogzmama, the temptation to attend Penn State instead of U Penn would be greater for in-state PA students. Even then, the smart thing would be to apply to both and see the actual difference in cost in April, then make a rational financial decision weighing the net costs of U Penn against the benefits of attending a great Ivy.
@woogzmama Even top students accepted to Penn State’s Schreyer Honors program rarely if ever receive a huge merit package. The standard merit scholarship for Schreyer is $4500, hardly a dent in the >$30000 COA (in-state). I understand your point in general, but Penn State isn’t the best example.
I think anyone who calls any school in the top 25 or so on either the U or LAC list a match for anybody is a complete idiot.