<p>Am trying to decide between Smeal and DePauw/Beloit for an eventual career in business. The key issue is the "prestige" of a big school business program against the built in alumni/professorial network at the smaller schools. Any thoughts from either existing students or alumni would certainly be welcome. I'm OOS and my Pennsylvania contacts are negligible. Thanks.</p>
<p>PSU has a huge alumni network. it's one of the nation's best</p>
<p>something like 1 out of every 115 college graduates graduated from Penn State. I have heard stories and I know people who got their job b/c they were a Penn State alumni.</p>
<p>Depauw and PSU are about as different as night and day. Go where you feel comfortable. My son (at PSU) LOVED big schools - thought he would be bored by a small liberal arts college by the second year.
Do you want big classes? Do you mind crowds? Are you OK with doing the work to make a big place small?
I wouldn't make a choice based on the strength of the alumni network. Granted, the PSU alumni network helps if you plan to stay in this region...but I know there are some prominent alums from Depauw as well.
Cost and geographic location should also be considered.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your rapid and intelligent replies. Thought PSU would be another big, indifferent diploma factory.</p>