Please help me to decide college!?

Question

I got admitted in Penn state school of engineering (UP) and clarkson university. My parents are living in boder of PA in NJ and I am out of state in Penn State. They can shift to PA. But in Clarkson I got scholarship and I will have to pay only around $4000 after fees and dome per year. Now I have accepted both college and I want to know which one will be better and worth for the money. Please help me decide

Answer 1

Well now that rankings are in question I'd suggest looking closer at both colleges.

What's the student-teacher ratio at both. Class size gives you some idea of how much attention you will get from your professors, assistants.

Are there any professors at Penn State versus Clarkson which are doing research in an area that interests you?

Would you feel more comfortable in smaller or larger college environment - larger you're just a number.

Are the classes/lectures (with labs/seminars) geared more towards general education, books or do you get more hands-on engineering experience with career skills that you can use to get a job at the end? Talk to some undergrads in your major at both colleges - ask them what they think about their current experience (be sure to ask someone not affiliated with university so answers will be more honest). See if you can sit in on class or lecture of either.

Alumni - see if there are alumni informational interviews at each colleges/university's career center - these are informal meetings with alumni where they tell you about their experience what they do now.

Name recognition for jobs and graduate work is important. I have not heard of Clarkson but have heard of Penn State - I'm in California. So name recognition is another factor to consider. But also if scholarship then that is plus on Clarkson side that you don't get at Penn State. Also scholarship will look good on your resume if its academic or sports (you balanced academics with sports). You decide which is better.

Regrets - will you regret going to one and not the other?

Friends or career? Are you choosing based on where your friends are going or are you choosing based on where you'll get a better education, experience, pick up skills, and land a good job after?

Costs - work on the side, I did. Check out federal loans - I'm still paying off loans but federal are at lower interest rates. I would not give too much weight to cost. It's what you get out of it in the end. I would lean towards Penn State but it's your life and ultimately your decision.

Hope this helps. Good luck. Study hard don't slack. But have fun and enjoy the journey!

Answer 2

I would very very seriously consider Clarkson.
which is not what the others are saying.

Look at both schools but...
do they have the courses you like?
you can also visit the school .. do you like the profs?
does the school have a supportive attitude towards students.

Now Penn State probably will look slightly better .. but as someone who has hired others .. we really did not look too closely at the degree. Now there are other places that look closer at what school you came from.

but college is SO expensive AND actually learning the material is very important.

It looked like Clarkson might be a place better for undergrad to actually learn the material.

Penn State, a standard big school has the problem of being big.

Big schools one often gets lost in the croud, and these big schools often have "weed out" courses. and many of the undergrad courses are huge and taught by graduate students.

clarkson .. taking a quick peek at their web site looks smaller and that you would actually have professors , not students, teaching you.

good luck
good choises

Answer 3

Clarkson is a well known and well respected University and is especially known for its engineering college. I have personally known several Clarkson graduates and while Penn State is known for football I feel Clarkson is the best school in the Northeast for engineering.

Answer 4

I would go with Penn State because it's tough to get into an Engineering School anywhere, so it would look most impressive. But if you'd rather go to Clarkson, then by all means do that. It only matters where you think you will be happy.

Answer 5

What school do you feel more comfortable in? What program do you like more? Which school offers classes that interest you? Which school has a better career planning center? If both are competitive in these regards then I would go to the one that offers the scholarship. When you graduate from college you will appreciate not having to pay too much in student loans. Just go to the school where you think you will have the best expericence socially and academically. Good Luck!

Answer 6

Where you go for undergrad is not so important anymore. It really matters where you go for grad now, because now its gettin competitive and more ppl fresh into the work place have MBAs, or some kind of masters. If Clarkson is giving in a scholarship, id say take it because you want the least amount of loan possible because in the future you will have more expenses to cover.

Answer 7

I would go with Penn State. If you are going to be an engineer i will have plenty of money to pay off school and if you graduate from penn state, you will probably be able to persuade employers to pay you more.

Answer 8

Penn State is worth the upgrade

Answer 9

5 years after graduating your degree will not mean as much unless you like sports stuff etc.

What matters is what you do with your degree after you graduate.

So, how easy/hard will things be during and right after you graduate - because that is primarily what you are deciding.



To some what is important is the experience during school.


I would visit both schools again, talk to some professors.

and look at some intangibles - like do you like the campus, people etc. What atmosphere will help you become a good student.

Answer 10

Unorthodox answer coming but this is what I did.
I grew up in Connecticut. I heard of the University of Puerto Rico, and the fact that 80% of its graduates are directly hired by NASA. On top of this, it's only $45 a credit!!!

www.uprm.edu

I know, you'll say you don't know spanish but don't worry...
all the professors know english and are sympathetic about it.

I know it sounds crazy....
but living in Pennsylvania or the Carribbean....
I prefer the sun. And the cheap price.
On top of this it is a first rate engineering school.