Torn with the Scandal

<p>When I started looking for colleges at the beginning of my High School career, Penn State was at the top of the list. Visiting the school this past summer, I honestly loved it. I was accepted and was so thrilled! Now with the recent scandal, I'm not sure if I should attend or not. My parents say I should still highly consider it, but my GC said I shouldn't even bother looking at it anymore. Part of me really would still love to go, but another part of me says to not even bother with the school. Please if you have any insights if I should still highly consider/go or not please post on here! Thanks in advance!</p>

<p>I think its ridiculous that your GC said that. This is not going to affect the academics in the school. Alumni donations & membership has INCREASED since the scandal. The only thing it may affect is the athletics. Everything else is going to be just as good. If you’re an athlete or if you want to work in sports, then yeah, maybe you should consider your other options. But if you want to do ANYTHING else, Penn State is an amazing school with amazing professors. If you get into Schreyers, that is even more incredible for your Penn State experience.</p>

<p>I’m with you, andybatts! PSU was my first choice for a while and I was also accepted, but when I found out, it was right in the middle of the scandal (mid-November) which really took away from what should have been a really awesome moment/feeling. I’m sure the academics will remain the same as before, but the school is getting such a bad rap right now, I’m not sure what to do. </p>

<p>I’m likely gonna end up going to either PSU or Pitt. I’m planning on visiting both schools again at least once and taking my time on my decision to make sure that I’m absolutely certain that I’m making the right choice.</p>

<p>I’m in the same situation as you but I still want to go. What is really making me and my family reconsider is the outrageous cost!</p>

<p>It’s a very tough time. I’m not sure if future employers will look negatively upon this, and if tuition will go up because the law suits.</p>

<p>I doubt if it will affect employers’ outlook at all. They are already the #1 school (WSJ article) for recruiters. Does that drop them down to #4? If so, so what?
Keep your heads up PSU grads. The only real factor on employers’ outlooks is your outlook. If you are down, that may show in an interview.</p>

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<p>Well said.</p>

<p>Very good points. I agree with what you’re saying. What my GC said really put me down, so that’s why I have doubts.</p>

<p>By the time you all graduate this will be old news, towards the back of the sports section if it comes up at all. Pres Erickson has said PSU has insurance to cover any potential settlements. With so much bad press right now, it seems unlikely he would make such a statement if it was not likely the case.</p>

<p>I’m not sure why your guidance counselor is so completely dismissive of Penn State, even given the scandal. Most people can separate the good guys from the bad guys and realize that shedding light on the whole mess can only benefit the university in the long run.<br>
My daughter is a sophomore and although she is disgusted with Sandusky and many others (including the idiots who “rioted”) she still loves Penn State and is glad she is there.</p>

<p>Thanks everyone again. I have no idea why my counselor is so dismissive. He even talked to a former graduate, who said to still consider the school. He said I shouldn’t consider PSU but Syracuse is fine… I don’t get it.</p>

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<p>Same for my son, also a sophomore.</p>

<p>slipjig and Grcxx3 - same with my daughter, who is also a sophomore. And now I have an incoming freshman next year who was just accepted - she/we couldn’t be happier!</p>

<p>I don’t think my counselor realizes how PSU is like one big family.</p>

<p>I think I’d wait and see what your choices are after you have all your decisions; if Penn State is still a contender then go back for another visit.</p>

<p>I think a lot of people have a gut reaction against Penn State right now because of the Sandusky scandal. My D won’t even consider going there now. I guess its really a personal decision for you as to whether the scandal has colored your feelings. I would not necessarily let others decide for you.</p>

<p>Yeah I’m waiting for a lot of other schools either way.</p>

<p>I just posted a thread on the main College Search/Selection forum asking if the scandal should affect whether or not to go to PSU. I figured posting it in the general forum would allow for a wider perspective on the issue, check it out if you want. It’s titled “Should PSU Scandal Affect Decision?”</p>

<p>Good idea. Thanks!</p>

<p>Bump any other thoughts?</p>

<p>I’m in the same boat andybatts, not that I’ve even heard back from PSU yet though. PSU was my top choice and i honestly fell in love with it and I was so happy to FINALLY find a school that had EVERYthing I wanted and wasn’t ridiculously far away. I literally would research it every day, watching videos and reading reviews and gaining more information. However, the scandal really unsettled me =( I still LOVE penn state, but I’m not sure if I can truly call it my top choice anymore. If I am rejected however, I will be devastated. My parents are very conservative so I don’t think they want me going there anymore, but in the end it’s my decision. Let’s hope for the best!</p>