<p>My son is deciding between UD and Penn State. Any pros or cons you can offer to help him make the decision.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Difference in $$ for an undecided student…I would imagine?</p>
<p>Penn state main campus or a branch? Setting $$ aside, it is the difference between a mega university and a mid size school. Totally different feel. Anecdotally, students from my daughter’s hs made much faster adjustments at ud. Seemed like the kids that went to Penn state main campus kind of hung together, even with kids with whom they were not close in hs. Heard that they were intimidated by the sheer size. Field of study could be a decider. Each school has some programs that are really strong. Weather is a little milder at UD.</p>
<p>He was accepted at Penn State’s main campus…University Park. Cost should be about the same for Penn and UD. He is undecided on a major, so its hard to evaluate the programs.</p>
<p>^^huge v medium campus…guess re-visits are in order; can’t go wrong with either one…</p>
<p>FWIW, Penn State alumni base is huge in NY/NJ if he thinks he may land there…</p>
<p>My son was in the same situation last year at this time. We decided to do the accepted student visit to both PSU and UD. After both visits, one should feel like the right fit for you. Good luck with your decision.</p>
<p>I’ve narrowed down my decision to UD and Penn State. Any info on their Hospitality/Hotel Management schools/programs?</p>
<p>We went to the admitted student program at Penn a few weeks ago and my son loved it. We went to UD’s Open House last year, and will be going to their admitted student program next Monday. So far, he likes both equally.</p>
<p>Thenutmeg-- my friend is in the HRIM program here at UD and she loves it. Supposedly our program’s really good and there are lots of opportunities for HRIM majors. There is a hotel on campus and the HRIM majors can intern there. Additionally there is a (fancy!) restaurant that they can work at (like cooking and everything hospitality related). My friend will be going to switzerland in the fall for an exchange program with the hotel program and it sounds like it’s gonna be awesome. Lots of opportunities for HRIM majors here!</p>
<p>Ped1593 – I’ve heard so much about the UD HRIM program! It sounds really great, and nothing so far has even come close to it. The program boasts a 100% hiring rate after college. None of the colleges I have been to really talked about it like UD did. The Courtyard on campus, I hear, is great. I would love a type of job like that.</p>
<p>Guess I need more info from Penn State then.</p>
<p>I’d add that in addition to the Marriot Hotel right on campus, where Hotel Managment majors work, there are a lot of Winter Session and Summer session programs overseas as well.</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, my daughter attend a concert at UD last year about this time. I drove her and a friend to delaware, dropped them off, went out to dinner and came back t
And set in the parking lot until the concert was over. She came out totally jazzed and could not say enough about how impressed she was with the students. Even though it was a rap hip hop concert she could not believe how decently everyone acted. A couple of weeks later, half way through the day for accepted students at William & Mary, she told me she made up her mind…and it was UD. Other than a bad experience with sorority rush, our family has been extremely impressed with D’s experience at UD on virtually every measure. Again this is anecdotal, but parents, students, alums, and parents of alums tend to be positive in the extreme about UD. That must mean something. I live in PA and I can’t say I hear the same universal enthusiasm from the Penn State community…football fever notwithstanding.</p>
<p>mgbregman - Take him up to PSU for an accepted student day, that helped my D make her decision. She has two cousins who are PSU alum, and many friends who are already at U Park, so we’ve gotten their (biased) viewpoints, but the accepted student day really solidified it for her. She’s in DUS at Penn State and was concerned what UDel and JMU (her other top choices) would ‘do with/for her’ as an undecided. We were impressed at the level of advising she would get and what they are offering as far as a ‘program’ for undecided students. UDel was up there on her list, but unfortunately because their acceptance comes so late, you almost don’t have the luxury of going to accepted student days for all, comparing, then making a decision because of housing and deadlines if you want your first choices. My D wanted a big school, yet competitive academically - it was a tough decision. I would recommend if you haven’t attended the accepted day, go to one - it may help.</p>
<p>Last year my son was accepted at Penn State UP before Christmas so he had a lot of time to get excited about going there. Once he found he was accepted at UD he was very unsure since UD had always been his top choice with PSU at a close second. After the accepted students visit he choose Penn State because they Wowed him while UD seemed to talk and show what he had heard and seen at prior visits. They are both excellent choices and I’m sure he could be happy at both. My son absolutely loves Penn State and is happy with his decision. It’s a hard decision for an 18 year to make but they have to feel it in their gut and know what seems right</p>
<p>We went to the Accepted Student program at Penn State, and my son felt the same way. Up until then, UD was #1, PSU #2. Right now, I think he is leaning PSU.</p>
<p>For the mom who has a son is Penn State right now…You said that your son loves it there. Is he a big sports player? My son isn’t a “jock” and was wondering if he would still fit in. He is a great spectator (especially football), but likes to play sports for the fun of it, rather than the competition. What does your son love best about the school? Any words of advice?</p>
<p>Mgbregman: My son is a huge sports fan but there’s so much more than that at Penn State. I can’t think of anything he doesn’t like. He has been playing intramural sports - volleyball and basketball just for fun. Lots of concerts at the Bryce Jordan Center. He was worried about knowing too many people from his high school and thought it would be a “continuation” of high school but he made so many friends right from the start and sees hometown friends on occasion. State College is such a fun, nice little town and he always finds something to do. The campus is very large but after the first week, he said once you know your way around it doesn’t seem nearly as large. </p>
<p>Once again, good luck to your son and keep us posted what he decides</p>
<p>To mgbregman: Absolutely, non-jocks can have a great time at Penn State. One of the beauties of such a large student body is that you can find others with whom you relate/feel similar, if you just look for them. There is a spirit at Penn State that cannot be matched by any other school and it’s hard to explain until you spend time there. Sports are available on all levels from great spectating to IMs to club. Other activities and entertainment abound. My D was accepted at some very prestigious schools (Hopkins, Carnegie Mellon) but chose Penn State and has never regretted it. That being said, my other D will be attending UD and I think she will love it. If possible, spend a day on each campus while students are there and see which gives your son the better vibe. Best of luck in the decision. Both are great schools, so no bad choice really.</p>