Which Penn State Campus to Choose?

The application requires TWO campus choices. If my kid is only interested in State College, PA, as she wants the “classic” school experience (ie: football, Greek life, a pretty campus, etc), what other campus should she apply to?

Altoona has over 4K students the last time I checked and would give her that tradition campus experience. Plus, it’s only 45 min from State College.

Most people would say Altoona, then either Erie or Harrisburg.
However there’s no obligation to write in any branch campus. If your stats are borderline for the major, check “summer session”.

That is no longer true – a second choice campus is mandatory…

Pick one of the residential ones. Erie has a highly regarded businees program and nursing too, I think. Beaver has new dorms, Altoona has a housing crunch but is closest to UP.

Yes, Erie’s business school is excellent, AACSB accredited like Smeal, and has very active business clubs. If you are thinking business, Erie would be my top back up campus…possibly even first if majoring in finance.

@greenbutton , they are now forcing everyone to pick a backup? Any idea how that might impact local UP students…kids of faculty and staff?

Like everyone else, they will have to fill in that spot or the application isnt finished. The days where UP was considered county residents’ branch campus are not exactly gone — they will still have a tiny advantage, I think — but it won’t be as easy as it once was.