Im an international student and I got accepted to both of these schools, and wait listed for Georgia Tech.
My initial plans were to go to Umich, but unfortunately I didnt get in. So I am considering the possibility of going to either Penn State or UBC for first-year Engineering and then if I feel like it will be good for me, transfer to another university like University of Michigan.
Ive heard a lot that Penn State has the largest alumni network in the U.S. and has lots of research and internship opportunities. I ve also thought about applying to Schreyer’s honor college as a freshman because that would probably add a lot to my transfer application, if I decide to do such thing.
On the other hand, UBC is a top Canadian University with considerable funding for research, but Im not sure it is as good as Penn Sate for engineering.
And if I get off the wait list from Gerogia Tech, since it is apparently really harder to get good grades there, I dont really know if it would be a good option to go if I want to transfer later.
Im thinking of taking aerospace or mechanical, but still unsure. I know that UBC doesnt offer aerospace, but in case I go there and decide I want to do aerospace, I would choose the transfer option. Im also interested in taking a minor in astrophysics, and from the rankings Ive looked, GaTech does not have that good of a science program.
So my question is, considering the possibility of a future transfer and not considering this possibility (essentially a college that would give me good opportunities either way), should I choose UBC or Penn State? And if I do get into Georgia Tech, should I go there despite my interest in taking a minor in astrophysics?
It would be awesome if someone studying in one of these three schools could give me an opinion, but I thank any response in advance!
First, don’t choose a school in terms of transfer; it’s even harder to transfer than to be admitted as a freshman. Choose your university as if you were to spend 4 years there.
Second, UBC is every bit as good as Penn State. In addition, if you’re international, Canada has excellent policies for internationals (work visas, quick pathway to permanent residency…)
If you weren’t admitted into Schreyer, you can choose to join Paterno Fellows and take Honors Classes; if you complete the requirements you could get into Schreyer, but it won’t work in time for any transfer.
The big differences between these two are that you have more gen eds at American universities than at Canadian universities; Penn State is in a college town (a town essentially built around college students’ needs and wants) whereas UBC is located in a thriving metropolis, Vancouver; Penn State is cold and snowy in the winter, but overall rather sunny even if cold, whereas Vancouver’s weather is very mild, but very overcast and gray, with lots of rain.
Deposit at one of the two.
If you get off the waitlist at Georgia Tech in May, post again to discuss your new choice. 
@MYOS1634
Thanks for the reply! I agree with you that I shouldnt choose in terms of transfer. I am actually thinking a lot about how accessible professors will be. And in my mind right now, a close connection with professors would be possible in either Penn State (when and if I get into Schreyer in the future) or in UBC Okanagan campus. UBC actually offered me engineering in Okanagan and Science in Vancouver, so I also need to decide about that too if I choose UBC. The plan in this case would be to transfer from Okanagan to Vancouver or from a physics major to Engineering. But again, UBC doesnt offer Aerospace, so a place that has this option might be better, I don`t know… What do you think about this?
I wouldn’t choose Okanagan as an international. It’s too isolated.
Between Okanagan and Penn State, I’d pick PSu without hesitation.
@MYOS1634
So I actually researched a lot trying to weight my options and I also agree that Okanagan will not be the best option. So Im really between UBC Vancouver (I would transfer from physics to engineering, admissions people told me that is viable) and PSU. Im really concerned about internship opportunities and how that would affect my competitiveness for a graduate program at a top university. Do you think PSU will really offer me much better opportunities than UBC will?
If I wanted to do an internship at, lets say, Boeing, would it be relatively easier at Penn State?
I think UBC Vancouver would be great, actually.
Both universities would be equivalent for a good graduate program, what would matter is the grades you got, whether you did research, internships recommendations, GRE/GMAT/LSAT…