I’m currently undecided between Rutgers University NB (in state ) or Penn State University Park(out of state):
Rutgers University: $14,313 vs a Penn State tuition of roughly: $39,000 (through a scholarship)
I’ll be majoring in Economics
Some questions I would like answered:
Which school has the better academic reputation ? And the better known “name” ? That would help me get a good job especially in the New York City area …
which school’s economics department is considered to be better ?
Which school has a better internship program ?
Is the extra 25k annually worth it for Penn State over Rutgers ?
I know the next step of my life after undergrad will be Law School (in which I aspire to go to Columbia Law) will the name of my undergrad school have any significance on my chances of getting accepted into a top 20 law school like Columbia law ? Will a Rutgers or Penn State student have less of a chance over a Princeton student ? (Let’s say with the same stats)
For law school, you need high GPA and LSAT: http://lawschoolnumbers.com . Better to save money for the cost of expensive law school.
Rutgers economics has typical levels of math (calculus required for intermediate economics courses). Penn State is math-light (no calculus required for intermediate economics courses unless you take the “honors” versions).
Law schools won’t care if you went to Penn State or Rutgers. Someone from Princeton, all other things being equal, might have a slight edge. Law firms (or other legal employers) won’t care if you went to Penn State or Rutgers undergrad - they’ll be more concerned wtih your law school and how well you did there. Save your money and go in-state.
Let’s just say money isn’t a issue , I want to make sure I go to the school that will give me a higher “prestige” on future job applications - and thank you for everyone that has replied.
What’s your budget?
We really can’t pretend money is no issue, unless your parents told you they have a 40K budget.
Did you get honors at Rutgers? Schreyer at Penn State?
Did you get into Economics or are you hoping for the Business school ?
(In that case, for PSU, you’d need to request a change to Smeal or DUS at PSU since you can’t go from Economics to Smeal. You can do Economics + Business certificate but you can only be admitted to the major in Smeal if you were Smeal pre-admit or DUS. DUS is actually the easiest to get so if switching to Smeal isn’t possible, switching to DUS is easy. And there’s no difference, you take the exact same classes.)
Law schools won’t care.
Your experience would be different depending on whether you got Honors College at one of them.
Rutgers has easy access to NYC. Penn State has great career fairs and alumi network. They’re both good and there’s no reason for your parents to go into debt for Penn State. If your parents have the money and have agreed they’ll spend 40K on your college each year, then pick whichever you prefer.
@MYOS1634 My parents are able to afford both prices , of course the Rutgers tuition would be better but Penn State is still affordable for them it’s not a problem. And I want to major in Economics with no intention of going to the business school - I want to maintain a high GPA to get into a good law school and I don’t want to risk that with going to a business school. I did not get honors in either of the schools but I’ll be looking to transferring into the honors programsin the near future if I have to.
I want a school that will open up more doors and that will offer really good internships and connections in the near future.
OK, in that case , I’d go with Penn State but I would indicate you’re a Paterno Scholar Aspirant (you get to show your mettle in honors economics and honors first year seminar, and if you get high grades you’re admitted to Schreyer ; you have access to excellent housing for ‘aspirants’.)
and I’d couple economics with either philosophy or a quantitative minor.
Overall, the campus is better, and the 'Paterno scholar aspirant ’ system is great for students who were close to honors and didn’t make the cut, but are still motivated to try.
@MYOS1634 Do you know if Rutgers offers the same concept too for Aspirants of their honors program or is that mostly a Penn state concept ? And I was thinking about minorimg in either philosophy ot international relations
I’d choose Rutgers. Cheaper. (As your parents to invest the excess for you so that you have a nest egg when you graduate.) Access to NYC = internships, paralegal jobs in the City, and a chance to begin the wooing process at NYC schools. Get top grades wherever you decide to go and whatever you decide to major in, and ace the LSAT. That plus a background that is convincing about the kind of law you may want to practice, will improve your chances. LSAT scores should be in the 98th or 99th percentile. It’s a matter of practice. Keep practicing until you get there. Internships that relate to law or that relate to the type of law you want to eventually practice is helpful.
I remember someone told me a long time ago that Penn State was great because of the number of alumni and how this can help you when you are job hunting. Don’t know if this is still true. I don’t know much about Penn State but I do know that kids from NJ want to go out of state. My two kids did not apply to any NJ schools.
@Dustyfeathers I’m considering Rutgers over Penn State now , I like both schools but the more money I can save for Law School the better - do law schools care about what undergrad school you went to or would you say no ? And I’m getting a early 4 year start on my LSAT practice to make sure I get a good score ! Thanks for the advice though I appreciate it !
@mom2collegekids well unlike the ACT I’m getting a four year early start to studying for the LSAT so I’ll do a lot better than my ACT score - which is irrelevant to the LSAT .
Typically, ACT scores reflect what LSAT scores are likely to be.
Unless you took the ACT only once after a night of partying, focus on something else than Law School at this point (since Law School is only worth it if you get into a Top 14 or top 20 school. There’s a glut of law school graduates so that 70% are either unemployed or underemployed.)
I’d still say Penn State though AS LONG AS your family truly has the money and won’t borrow for you.
That being said, Rutgers is better for Philosophy !
Rutgers allows students to apply to the Honors College if they have a certain GPA, but they’re not allowed to declare themselves “aspirants”, which at Penn State allows students to take Honors classes with the Schreyer students and live in the superb Honors Dorms,and thus “show their mettle”.
Are you currently DUS or do you have a declared major?
