<p>Hi there! I'm a potential incoming freshman to one of these two colleges and I really dont know which one to pick. I want to do computer engineering major with a minor in computer science. I believe PSU has honors benefits, superior engineering, and is cheaper. But its UVA... how do you turn down a "public ivy"! Its a school that looks amazing on resumes and can definitely support a future professional career. The looks of the school arent that important to me its ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE! What kind of people go to each school and will I be able to fit in there?
Thankss in advance! Go LIO-Waho-NS</p>
<p>“I believe PSU has honors benefits, superior engineering, and is cheaper.”</p>
<p>Are you in-state for PSU? If so, how do your parents feel about spending the extra money just so you can attend UVA? Sit down with them and run the numbers: [FinAid</a> | Calculators | Award Letter Comparison Tool](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Award Letter Requirements - Finaid)</p>
<p>Truly, in the long run UVA is not going to get you anywhere that you can’t get from PSU.</p>
<p>If you plan to land in the mid-Atlantic states, I might stick with Penn State. That said, I think UVA is awesome and I would choose it. It just doesn’t seem as huge as PSU.</p>
<p>PSU is a public ivy as well. Both schools will get you far, especially Schreyer. Aside from academics, the schools are quite different. PSU has better football. UVA has a prettier campus. PSU has a better town. UVA has a better Greek system. If it’s a question of academics, it’s a tough choice, but there are a lot of other factors that should help make your decision.</p>
<p>Penn State is very popular. It’s geographically dispersed …but let’s face it, w/ 94,000 enrolled students this past year? </p>
<p>UVA, for better or otherwise, is in an entire different league from PSU. The latter wins in football, but not even close in hoops, academics, and prestige. </p>
<p>PSU has a reputation in engineering, but it merits close scrutiny in terms of qualitative issues. A friend claimed there were 300 in his EE senior sem class. He’d transferred from GA Tech due to personal, geographic reasons. Said it was a “joke” relative to what he’d gotten for 3 years @ Tech. I’ve same who graduated from VA materials …said it was superb. Even did a senior thesis that has been published.</p>
<p>The Schreyer Honors College dorm is like a dungeon, altho well located. The $$ is pathetic for the students they get. The great bennie is being able to register ahead of others.</p>
<p>But overall … PSU and UVA are worlds apart in virtually every regard.</p>
<p>I compared class sizes for psu and uva for entire computer engineering curriculum at both schools. UVA class sizes were very very large! I was so surprised to see that a big school like PSU had smaller classes. Some classes at UVA were 65-95 in junior and sr year PSU was more like 40-50 sometimes 20-30. In addition Vtech had smaller class sizes than both of these schools. I’m not sure about the quality of professors or programs but I’m sure Shreyers classes were high quality and even smaller than the regular classes. What am I missing? I’m hearing so much about prestige of UVA but is it really worth the OOS cost for engineering?</p>
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What kind of terrible advice is this? UVA’s reputation in the mid-Atlantic is much, much stronger than PSU’s. These are not peer schools.</p>
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Are you sure it is true in engineering? What kind of facilities do they have for computer engineering?</p>
<p>People from Virginia may be in a better position to answer this – Which school is better for engineering, VTech or UVa?</p>
<p>“I’m hearing so much about prestige of UVA but is it really worth the OOS cost for engineering?”</p>
<p>Absolutely not. UVA might be more prestigious, but it is not an engineering powerhouse. If you are instate for PSU, go there.</p>
<p>“These are not peer schools.”</p>
<p>I agree. PSU is much better in engineering.</p>
<p>Originally from Pennsylvania. Engineer husband is CMU grad. Engineer sons (one UVa grad, one now at VT-both great schools and we are instate in Va). For someone instate in Pennsylvania, I would imagine schools like Penn State or Pitt would be better choices than Virginia schools unless money is no object. UVa 's aid is primarily need based so don’t count on aid unless you are low income. Penn State and Pitt are both great. Oh well, just noticed this is an old thread and wonder where the OP ended up going?</p>