<p>Rutgers-NB with half-tuition covered or Penn State-UP with none?</p>
<p>PSU definitely unless $$$$ is an issue.</p>
<p>These are different environments depending on what you want. Penn State is a huge school that is rural. It operates as a self contained city. I have been to Rutgers but not Penn State. Rutgers has the Amtrak station on one corner of the campus and it is very accessible to NYC which is next door. Of course, Boston, Phillie and DC are also on the line. The Rutgers campus is broken up into separate campuses where each has its own dining hall, dorms, classrooms, fitness centers and everything else. You live on one of the campuses and can take classes or use the facilities on any of them. The campuses are close together and connected by shuttle buses. This make the college smaller and more friendly but there are the buses.</p>
<p>PSU is basically one big college party central. It depends if that's the kind of environment you like. Every time I've been to penn state people just walk around campus drinking.. walking around aimlessly... most people that i've met just seem very ... I don't know, like they are only there to drink party and have a good time. I just never see much learning going on.... Although I'm sure there is some... somewhere :) </p>
<p>It just depends on what you want. PSU is also virtually in the middle of nowhere. The only thing around is... PSU. There are tons of shops and resteraunts and concerts on campus, but you're basically completely apart from any other town or city.</p>
<p>Penn State- not even a close call.</p>
<p>how is this not a close call? oy people are so ridic</p>
<p>the schools are basically equivalent academic-wise... i dunno why you would pay double</p>
<p>can anyone actually show how penn state is better than rutgers? a few spots higher on the US news doesn't mean anything</p>
<p>Supermtt37 hit the nail on the head. Both are the same academic wise and none can claim to be superior to the other in that regard. Since that is pretty much a 'draw', why would you want to pay double by going to Penn State?</p>
<p>Weigh your options!!</p>
<p>I live in NJ and will most likely attend PSU and I have been to Rutgers numerous times. </p>
<p>First off it depends on the program you want. I know PSU is MUCH better than Rutgers for business and don't jump on me if I'm wrong but I think its better for engineering as well.</p>
<p>I would say both locations are college towns, but PSU is the more ideal college town than Rutgers.</p>
<p>PSU is very rural and you are literally in the middle of nowhere. There is no train or much transportation except for a small airport. Rutgers is better if you like to get out of there once in a while. They have great train access.</p>
<p>What turned me off about RU is that its 95% instate so I would feel like I'm going to NJ high school. They are also making the entire school into arts and sciences next year.</p>
<p>If you like sports I say PSU just because of football. But RU does have big east basketball and an ok football team.</p>
<p>Overall I like PSU, but that's just me.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I live in NJ and will most likely attend PSU and I have been to Rutgers numerous times.</p>
<p>First off it depends on the program you want. I know PSU is MUCH better than Rutgers for business and don't jump on me if I'm wrong but I think its better for engineering as well.
[/quote]
Even if PSU were slightly better than Rutgers, its not a difference that would matter anyways. If it were MIT, Ivy, UC Berkeley, etc. VS Rutgers, then that difference is significant and the money spent at those colleges instead of Rutgers would be worthwhile. Rutgers is just like PSU in terms of social life. You are talking about a university with over 50,000 students at each of the large campuses. It's not secluded college where you will not find what you are looking for.</p>
<p>As for academics, just double major and minor and you can compete with those from MIT, Ivys or UCs.</p>
<p>thanks..............my stats: SAT: 2040 GPA: 3.67: majoring in either engineering or business or maybe something else (not sure)</p>
<p>They are equal academically probably, but go with Rutgers with the $$$.</p>
<p>Holiday, I was personally in the exact same situation. I had to choose over Rutgers-New Brunswick with half of my tuition paid, or Penn State with none. I chose Rutgers. It is close to home, much cheaper, and is just as good, if not better than Penn State. BTW, I chose engineering as my major. Engineering at Rutgers is very well respected. Business at Rutgers is quite bad.</p>
<p>thanks................so, if i want to major/minor in engineering and BUSINESS, would Penn State be a wiser choice?</p>
<p>Lots of people go home on the weekends at Rutgers. I've heard similar things about PSU though. I think Rutgers is the better choice because of the money. Is PSU's program really $18000 worth better than Rutgers'? No, it's not.</p>
<p>is u want to do business then i suggest PSU-smeal ...it's pretty good...like 18th i think for undergrad business.</p>
<p>yes, i got into Penn State-Smeal for business. so, would it be wiser choice for me to go to Penn State if i want to go into both Engineering and Business?</p>
<p>yes. Penn State is better for both business and engineering so long as you can financially afford it if you are not from pa.</p>
<p>The sad reality when you're in the league of Penn States and Rutgers is that its not about the school. It's about the individual. Both are hardly good enough to get noticed.</p>
<p>If you were from MIT, Harvard, etc., then yes, you get looked at as a whole, but not from no-name schools like Penn State or Rutgers.</p>
<p>Because at this level, its all about the individual, success comes from within and not from the school. If you want to stand out, you'll probably have to double major, get involved in extracirricular activities, and hold a job while you're in school. That'll give you a fighting chance.</p>