@RKmom thank you for taking the time to let me know what you found during your visit. I will definitely check in to that.
If anyone is interested, we just got back from Penn State for an accepted student’s visit. I asked my daughter to sum up her opinion right afterwards and she said, “I really liked it, but I think the size might overwhelm me”. It was snowing this morning and cold, but not freezing. Lots and lots of kids walking to and from class. I have not seen that many kids at any other school. it was hard to tell if the campus is pretty due to the snowy conditions. The dorms we saw were nice.
What was the most impressive was learning about the school she was accepted to: Communications. They did an outstanding job talking about the programs and opportunities. For internships and career goals, Penn State seems hard to beat.
My daughter liked the school a lot, and felt that she would have so many opportunites in her major, and she thought she would be happy socially, my husband loved the all that we learned about the alumin network etc., but thought it seemed really big, and I would prefer her to go someplace else, because I think she would be happier at a smaller school.
Overall- everyone we met was super nice (staff, students, families). It seems like a nice, normal group of kids who looked relaxed and down to earth. The decision is my daughter’s. She likes it a whole lot more than we expected.
@citymama9 It does seem really big at first glance. And Penn State is a very big school - but what ends up happening for freshmen that live on campus is that they get to know the people in their area and suddenly the school doesn’t feel so big anymore. At least, that was my daughter’s experience and I hear that a lot from others who go to Penn State.
My son came from a commonwealth campus and lived off campus and is definitely struggling with the logistical things of going to a big school after having been at a commonwealth. I think you either are a type of person to thrive in that environment with all of the options and services available, or you struggle with all of the overwhelming choices. My daughter was the former, my son is the latter, but he’s starting to figure it out.
Whatever your daughter chooses, it sounds as though you have done your homework. I wish her the best in her decision! (FYI - my son is in the school of communications too and they are amazing!)
@citymama9 - Wanted to share our experience as I recall having very similar feelings to you this time last year…
My daughter is a freshman there now and absolutely loves it. We live in PA, but my husband and I are not from here originally and we were not familiar with the school. PSU only came on to her radar during the fall of Senior year. We were there for something completely unrelated (a softball tournament in the area) and we were able to spend a few hours on campus. She was immediately taken with the school and began her application that night. Long story short, when weighing her options this time last year, she felt PSU would be the right place for her (great business school, tons of school spirit, high name recognition).
Her dad and I were not convinced - we are small LAC-oriented (I went to one and he currently is a professor at one). We feared it would be too big and that it might be too party/less academically focused. But as it was her decision and knowing that it is a well-respected university, we fully supported her choice. We will never know how it might have turned out at a smaller LAC, but her experiences so far have been very positive. She met a great roommate on FB, lives in a very old dorm with lots of other nice kids (good bonding!), generally likes her classes, has joined several clubs, thoroughly enjoyed football season, and is not bothered by the size. She herself cannot imagine being anywhere else. She went to a big public HS so is used to not having ‘her hand held.’ All in all, we feel she is thriving! Of course, every kid is different. And I do see on the PSU parent FB page (which is amazing BTW) that some freshmen are not faring as well (roommate difficulties, not meeting people) - yet when people mention that, 100 parents jump in with suggestions and offers to help in some way. It is a wonderful community!
The only thing I wished I had known a year ago was that so many sophomores move off campus - and that process starts in October. My daughter had it all under control, but it really threw us parents for a loop…
Best of luck as you support your daughter through this stressful time!
Other reasons why she selected PSU over some other big universities and smaller LACs include the enclosed/traditional campus which is very walkable (and a great way to get your steps in LOL), College Avenue with all its shops and eateries, the BJC and the various national shows that come to the venue (concerts, comedians) (not cheap for students but you can’t beat the convenience).
As I write this, it appears that I am focusing heavily on the non-academic part of college life. All of these PSU-extras assume that she would get the education that she needs to succeed at PSU and other places on her list. I have come to realize that many schools fit the bill on that dimension - beyond the academics, the next question is how do you want to spend your four years when you are out of the classroom? Where will you enjoy life and your quest for an education? Where will you thrive?
@jihpsu Thank you!! So glad to hear about the communications school. They said they got 50 million from Bellasario and the new building will be ready in 2020. The advisors we met were wonderful and the student panel had great internships. Very impressive. My D was interested in Advertising/PR, but after the presentation said she might also be interested in Journalism. Does you son like his major?
@carriebshopper Thank you so much. Very helpful! I’m surprised you said PSU was so walkable. I thought you had to take buses everywhere. It was so hard to tell since it was snowing and coldish.
@citymama9 My son is in telecommunications and does like his major - although he is considering going an extra year and switching to film, which makes me nervous for many reasons - but the experiences there and the preparation they do there can’t be beat in my opinion. Advertising/PR has a 3.2 GPA requirement for entry to major, so just be aware of that going in if she chooses that.
@jihpsu I hope your son finds the right program for himself. He probably can’t go wrong with either major. He probably would be very marketable if he double majored in both.
Is a 3.2 difficult to achieve at PSU? The advisors said that most kids do well enough to move on to the major.
@citymama9 - The buses are available but my daughter rarely uses them (just when the weather is really bad). She just has to leave enough time to walk to wherever she needs to go (more of a concern here than at a smaller campus). Need comfy shoes and a warm coat! Also, it is not unusual for her to be away from her dorm for 8+ hours if classes, plans for meals, and activities are spread out and it doesn’t seem worth it to head back. For example, she will study in one of the many campus coffee shops, library or HUB in between class/activities.
It was a little daunting at first - she and her friends used Google Maps to find their class buildings before the first day of class in the Fall (again, a little different than what students at a smaller campus need to do), but it all came together very quickly.
@carriebshopper Thank you. That’s very helpful info:)
Another COMM grad – the program is excellent, but I would also throw out that the opportunities are VERY competitive. They like to throw the Hollywood and Dc programs around, but only a very few students get in compared to all the ones who apply. If she is not an elbow thrower or assertive person, she will need to become one. BUT, again, lots of study abroad, lots of internship connections. And yes, PR has a gpa requirement.
@greenbutton Thanks! They mentioned Hollywood and DC. I kind of figured that things would be competitive with so many students wanting similar experiences.
Not sure anyone is still reading, but I’ll add my 2 cents…
1). The alumni network. It’s huge and strong. 2). It’s very safe place to live 3) Go anywhere in the world wearing penn state and you will run into another penn stater 4) they will say hi, or We Are. 5)great academics 6) beautiful campus 7) something for everyone 8) great career results. The alumni and the size of the school brings in recruiters
@wowed777 I’m still reading. Thank you so much.
Hi my son is admitted to Penn State for CS but he also has Cal Poly SLO, NCSU and UPitt. He prefers CalPoly SLO or
NCSU but I prefer Penn state due to In state.How do I convince him of Penn State or should I just let it go. Sorry if its wrong thread. What would you choose and why?
@ppxyz123 , Penn State has the stronger alumni network and an amazing overall student experience. There’s no reason to go out-of-state and spend more for less of an experience.
Costs would be another variable. I assume Penn State is much cheaper.
Perhaps research survival rate in the major - although apparently at UP for engineering, classes are so tough that 2/3 would be majors are weeded out. So you’d need worse stats than that. If that’s not his major or his major doesn’t weed, look at the sequence of courses - are the mandatory classes more interesting to him at psu?
I’d say if money isn’t an issue, let him make the choice.
I’d like to add that I’d also let it go , if financially feasible, because you let him apply to all of these other colleges in the first place. It’s not like PSU is even his 2nd or 3rd choice.