What are the these Northeast public universities like:

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Rutgers, University of Maryland, University of Pittsburgh, Penn State, University of Massachusetts, University of Delaware(kind of a state school, yes?)</p>

<p>I'd like to know how these universities compare both academically and socially? I've tried to do some research on each of them, but it all starts feeling homogenized after a certain point.</p>

<p>Also, are there any other state schools near New Jersey(Mid-atlantic-New England states) with good honor programs or resources that might be worth looking into? I understand that ultimately comes down to how the school fits for an individual, but I'd just like some ideas for schools that might be safer to be accepted to but still provide plenty of options and opportunities. Rutgers is good(save its campus system, which is just plain silly), but I'd like to see what else is in the area.</p>

<p>I appreciate any help and thank you!</p>

2

<p>Schreyer Honors College at Penn State is a really good honors program, its comporable to the ivies in terms of Graduate School Placement.</p>

3

<p>Of those schools, Penn State has the best reputation, especially if you are interested in engineering. In terms of honors programs I know Penn State and Maryland have them.</p>

4

<p>If you're looking in New England, I would certainly check out the University of Connecticut. UConn has great facilities and a fine honors program, but admission for non-residents is quite competitive.</p>

5

<p>First off, thank you!</p>

<p>I've heard of Penn State's program, but I'd like to know how Pitt's compares to it. I'd guess it's not nearly as good, but I'm not so sure. </p>

<p>Out of all the public schools I've researched I find that Pitt seems to have the best location(for me, not absolutely!), and I'd think it would lend itself to a less drinking based social scene and more opportunities. </p>

<p>How do Pitt and Penn compare?</p>

6

<p>should consider UVirginia. Only a couple of hours away from College Park, MD.</p>

7

<p>Our daughter just started as a freshman at Mayland. We're midwesterners, and Maryland was the only school among those you list which she considered. Still, FWIW, there are some things about UMD which make it different from the others you have named.</p>

<p>First, Maryland is as diverse a campus, racially, religiously, and socioeconomically, as any we have encountered to date. Double digits in percentages of African American, Asian American and Jewish students--as to the latter, the third largest undergraduate Jewish population (in absolute numbers) in the US (about 20% of the student body). You don't walk 200 feet at Maryland without seeing different types of people. Some people want that; some don't. My daughter did (as did we).</p>

<p>Second, in contrast to some of the schools you list (not Pitt or Rutgers, but the others), Maryland's location is close to urban areas (DC is 10 miles away, and very accessable by public transportation; Baltimore is 25 miles away). This has advantages (excitement, opportunities for internships, which was very important to my daughter, a journalism major, accessability, things to do away from campus, etc.) and disadvantages (crime tends to be a bigger concern). Again, my daughter wanted this.</p>

<p>I think the issue of party scene, particularly at large schools, tends to be overrated. Having attended a large public University with a strong national rep (University of Michigan), anybody who wants to find parties can, and anyone who wants to avoid them can still find lots to do.</p>

<p>Overall, you're right about fit. My daughter loved the journalism program, the location, the diversity and the strength of the student body (UMD does have an Honors Program and a Scholars Program). Others might feel differently.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

8

<p>U. of Delaware isn't just kind of a state school - it's . . . well . . . a state school! (Unless you're suggesting that you only consider Delaware to be kind of a state.)</p>

9

<p>I also got a chuckle out of that comment.
When we told our friends we were going to visit Delaware years ago (when we lived in Los Angeles) I actually had people in LA ask me what state Delaware was in. Poor Delaware - they get no respect!!</p>

10

<p>I've heard it said, by people at the school and elsewhere, that Pitt is a fantastic up-and-comer. In fact, there was a recent tv news interview of a member of the ad.com. and she said that even though she's a Pitt grad, she could never get in now!</p>

<p>Still, it's an urban campus, while PSU's is in a rural area (though I'd hesitate to call State College/U.P. "rural"). Maryland's campus is beautiful but there is a lot of crime. In the two times I have been there and stayed over on campus (for fencing tournament and academic tournament) with my kids, one hotel just off campus was raided for a prostitution ring while we were there (national chain). Another just off campus hotel was shut down for an anti-terriorism sweep and we had to move (local hotel). Crime is definitely an issue there and at Pitt.</p>

11

<p>Thank you very much everyone!</p>

<p>I'll have to look into Maryland, thanks Dadtimesthree!
However, I've heard that classes fill up very fast there and that students get relegated for whole semesters to classes that are completely worthless and do not help with any requirements(Basket weaving, I recall was a course that was somehow forced on a student.) Of course, that's anecdotal and probably more indicative of the student than the school, but is that a problem at Maryland in particular and state schools in general? Or are there ways to get good classes when your first choices fill up?</p>

<p>As for the Delaware comment, from what I understand, it's a land grant school, similar to Cornell's Labor Management and other schools, but is not a state run school. I'm not so certain what the differences are, but I didn't want to offend any Delaware students.</p>

12

<p>PAC - sorry I didn't finish my post. I was sure you had a reason to state the Delaware question that way, it just sounded funny. LOL
All of these are considered good schools by people in the Northeast, so it will come down to fit. I know people that are very happy at Udel, as well as Penn and Pitt.
I know what you mean about the guides starting to all blend together - that's why a visit helps so much.</p>

13

<p>check out UConn. its rep is definetely getting better and better, especially the honors program.</p>

14

<p>I'll elaborate on UPitt. It is an up and coming school with great programs in certain disciplines. For example, the philosophy dept. and polymer science dept. are probably the best in the country. I know these are obscure examples, but you get my point. A big plus to UPitt is its policy for guaranteed grad school admissions. If you have certain scores,GPA,etc. and do well in the interview, you will be admitted to the grad school and undergrad school at the same time. You will not have to worry about taking the LSATs or MCATs. And Pitt also offers generous aid. Penn State is probably better than Pitt in most departments, but Pitt offers other benefits like the ones I stated above. Good luck!</p>

15

<p>I looooooovvvveee me some Pitt, for some strange reason, and agree that it is totally underrated and rising in profile. If they offered my sport at the varsity level, I would be all over applying there. Pittsburgh is actually a major academic center, like a smaller version of Boston, with tons of students concentrated in a fairly small area. From my limited research on the Pitt honors program, it looked to be quite solid, if not as established as Schreyer.</p>

16

<p>Think about the U of New Hampshire, especially for the Biological Sciences (ecology and marine biology). About two hours from Boston.</p>

17

<p>I second the U of new Hampshire, solid school.</p>

18

<p>UMASS Amherst has a good honors program and has a big social scene.</p>