I’m trying to decide if I should go to to Syracuse or Penn State. I got into Penn State DUS for summer 2015 and Syracuse School of Arts and Sciences for fall 2015. I can’t decide which one I want to go to. I love the environment at both schools but think that Penn State is a little bit too big for me. I want to major in public relations and am worried about being able to transfer into Newhouse (Syracuse’s communications school) but worst comes to worst I could transfer into Whitman (Syracuse’s business school) and be a marketing major. Penn State’s communications school isn’t too hard to get into as a transfer. I’m not crazy about having to go to Penn State over the summer. I wanted to make spending money for college over the summer and I honestly don’t feel ready to go in late June. Every week I change my mind on where I want to go. If anyone has any insight it would be greatly appreciated.
bump
Is there a cost difference between Penn State and Syracuse?
Couldn’t you find a part-time job near Penn State?
@happymomof1 The cost difference isn’t huge when you factor in the price of summer. My parents have saved a lot for college and told me not to worry about price. I could find a job but would be worried about transitioning into college classes while also working.
If you were awarded workstudy money, you’d be looking for a job the second you got to campus, wouldn’t you? So think of it that way. If you need a part time job, you certainly ought to be able to find one even in the summer. In some communities, it actually is a bit easier to find student type work in the summer because so many students have gone away. The trick is to pin down a job where you aren’t working so much that it makes it hard for you to complete your academic work, but still lets you make enough money to cover the expenses that you need that job to cover.
I do understand that you are a bit squeamish about giving up your summer break. But if you want Penn State, this is your chance. You could conceivably plan now to take spring semester off if you are feeling burnt out by then.
It’ll be easier to get into Communications at Newhouse than at Penn State. Newhouse is more prestigious, but it’s the riskier choice.
Compare direct costs by subtracting grants/scholarships to room/board+tuition. What’s your result at each?
As for summer session: you’ll be able to work for about 10 hours, either on campus or at State College (less competition, with 10,000 on campus instead of 45,000.) Less than what you wanted, but still enough for pocket money.
It sounds like you want Syracuse more, so you have to weight the risks.