Hello, I got admitted to Texas A&M college station and penn state university park for computer engineering. I got slected for Engineering Honors in TAMU and Schreyer Honors College with a scholarship of $4500 per year. I am finding it difficult to choose.
Please help me.
what’s the cost for each? that would be a huge determining factor I’d think.If PSU costs 20k more I can’t imagine it would be the better choice. (i’m assuming your in-state at one of these)
What’s your parents’budget and what’s the net cost at each?
Net cost is (tuition, fees, room, board) - (scholarships, grants) =
If both are affordable, I’d go with Schreyer, because it’s one of the best honors colleges in the country.
@bodangles Can speak more about Schreyer.
@Iz57c4 I am international student.
@MYOS1634 My parents are ready to afford my education.
Since I am international student, there is only a difference of $3000 dollar between PSU and TAMU (PSU is more). But, since I got a scholarship of 4500 that won’t be a concern.
I am planning to write 5 AP’s so I can waive credits from them, one plus factor for TAMU is that I got 6 credits from my SAT Subjective.
And I have heard that an OOS, or an international could become a Texas resident(establishing domicile) if met certain requirements, so if that’s possible then TAMU would be a clear choice (not sure if this option is entirely possible for all intl students).
So, I am overall confused.
No, internationals cannot ever become residents for tuition purpose UNLESS they graduated from a Texas high school.
However you may be offered an oos tuition waiver at admission. In that case, costs would go down to full instate COA. If you were not offered such a waiver, you’ll be full pay all four years.
Look a each website for the way they treat advanced credit. Both are known to be pretty generous.
I wasn’t offered anything like that.
In that case, definitely Schreyer. It’s among the 10 best Honors Colleges in the country, and Honors Colleges are already special units for motivated, talented students, so it’s a real honor to get in.
(I think that only 20 international students are offered admission, and about half accept, although there are magnitudes more international students at Penn State. Getting into Schreyer is a really big deal).
There’s one of the international students who made it recently, his tumblr is AFrenchie36.
something i’m pretty sure of … you’ll love whichever school you choose. the people i know from each place are just plain CRAZY about their alma mater!
your best bet would be to try and connect with some students at each and learn as much as you can. since you’re intl you probably can’t visit. The area around PSU is much prettier and more interesting. TAMU’s surroundings are pretty blah. But both towns rate high for fun-factor. Football is huge at both too, but as an intl you probably don’t care 
TAMU doesn’t get the same amount of love us UT, but it is an outstanding school. Being close the northeast in the US, PSU gets more national attention, but you will have plenty of opportunities regardless which school you choose. You can use collegefactual to compare your major (and the schools in general). Both are ranked similarly in engineering. TAMU is higher in computer engineering (16 v 56). use these types of rankings as bits of info, don’t just take them as gospel.
As for honors, Shreyer does have a great rep. you can use publicuniversityhonors to learn more about honors colleges.
Do you want to live/work in Texas post-college? TAMU’s ring-wearing alumni network is very strong.
@MYOS1634 @Iz57c4 Thanks a lot for the input guys, both of them looks like a great option.
My only doubt is that does either of the universities provide Merit scholarships in Sophomore or Junior year based on your academic performances and other activities in college. Cause I feel that it would lessen my parents financial burden if a merit scholarship is provided based on the performances in college.
@TQfromtheU after Undergrad, I am planning to do my post grad in MIT or Stanford (if I get in).
I’ve gotten merit scholarships from Schreyer (the normal one everyone gets), the engineering department, and for being in my specific major and honors at the same time. Can’t count on getting those though. I didn’t know they would be awarded, and I’m not sure if everyone gets them.
@bodangles oh that’s great to hear. Can one get any merit scholarships in their sophomore?
I believe I’ve had the one from the engineering department since freshman year? I think. But any scholarships for computer engineering specifically wouldn’t be available until after you enter your major, so junior year.