I am a high school senior and got accepted by Penn State Erie(Aerospace Engineering) and Virginia Tech (General Engineering).
If I can get 3.0 GPA at Virginia Tech in the first year, I will be able to get in the aerospace engineering major.
I think both schools have advantages and disadvantages, so I’m so confused to make a decision.
Penn State Erie
Advantages:
Aerospace major is guaranteed.
No re-application needed to transfer to University Park (Main Campus) at beginning of my 3rd Year.
Better “name” of Penn State
Disadvantages :
I have to spend the first two years at a small branch campus.
Fewer opportunities to get involved in extracurricular activities and clubs in the first two years.
Fewer chances to meet new people and make a network in the first two years.
Limited chances to enjoy my university life.
Virginia Tech
Advantages:
Same campus (main campus) for four years.
Better learning experiences for engineering students. (I guess)
More traditional style university.
More chances to get involved in clubs and activities in the first two years.
Better food and room.
Disadvantages :
Virginia Tech’s “name” is weaker than Penn State.
The aerospace major is not guaranteed.
More cost.
Consider the following:
I wish to work in the aerospace industry in the US after college or graduate school.
I am an Asian American from the West Coast (CA).
I wish to be able to work in anywhere in the country. (The reason why university’s name is important.)
Out of state for these two universities.
Have good GPA in high school.
Please give me your advice to make a decision.
If you were me, which school would you go?
If you have attended one of these schools, please give me your opinion.
Unless you have some special circumstance I’ve never heard of, this is not true. Engineering is usually an enrollment-controlled major at Penn State: https://advising.psu.edu/entrance-major-requirements-college-engineering-2017 Aerospace requires a 3.00 (unless that changes in the upcoming year) and a C or better in the courses listed on that page. You apply at the end of your sophomore year.
PSU University Park has GPA minimums to enter the major. Aerospace engineering was 3.0. You may want to see if you really are guaranteed the major or if you will have to meet that GPA minimum to transfer from Erie to University Park.
However, it seems odd that you would want to choose the Pennsylvania equivalent of starting at a community college and transferring to a university when you could do the same thing at much lower cost by staying in California. 4 UCs and 5 CSUs have aerospace engineering, and many more have mechanical engineering (check for aerospace electives within the departments).
On my offer of admission letter, they say:
“At the end of your second year, you can choose to transition to University Park to complete your studies without reapplying for admission.”
Is it conditional?
Note that I got accepted as an aerospace engineering student at Erie.
Transferring to UP does not require you to reapply, correct. You have to work with your advisor to complete transfer requirements.
But that says nothing about the major. You are pre-engineering (“ENGR” is what it’s officially listed as) until you enter your major sophomore year. It is not guaranteed.
Once again, why not stay in California to attend a UC or CSU if you are admitted to any in a suitable major? Or start at a California community college and then transfer to a UC or CSU? As a California resident, that should be much less expensive than doing the same thing in another state’s equivalent.
PSU branch campuses like Erie are the equivalent to community colleges in California for the purpose of preparing to transfer to the four year universities. So you would be just paying more for what is essentially the same thing in another state.
Virginia Tech (#16 undergrad engineering ranking ) and Penn State (#18) seem to be considered peers as far as engineering goes. Rankings are somewhat subjective but these are both seen as very good programs. I wouldn’t worry that you think Virginia Tech’s “name is weaker than Penn State.” Both Virginia Tech and Penn State are well regarded and well recruited. What about one of the CSU’s ? As has been noted, that should be lower cost for you.
I know that they are peer schools as far as engineering goes like you said.
But the overall ranking ( VT(74#) and Penn State (#50) ) is very different, do I need to care about it?
Which one is safer to me?
No, you don’t need to care about overall rankings either. You are overthinking that aspect of things. Do think about things like cost, fit,location. Did you apply to any of the CSU’s?
The reason is just I want to go out of California to experience new things.
If you were to choose from these two choices, Penn State Erie or VT, which one would you choose to go?
(You don’t have to think about the cost. it costs almost the same for each.)
I just wanna know how people think of this selection.
I am originally from Pennsylvania. I can’t see coming from out of state to go to a branch campus of Penn State. I think Virginia Tech would give you a full college experience from the beginning. But, the choice is yours. Who will be paying for your OOS tuition? Are there loans involved?
I got some financial aid and scholarships from both schools.
Also some loans are involved. (not so much)
and I and my parents will pay the rest.
In terms of the things I will experience at college, VT sounds nice to me.
How is being at a PSU branch campus like? I cannot image how things are there.
In my opinion, I will be able to recieve the benefit of small classes and small community.
That’s the only thing I am attracted.
It’s really hard to meke a decion…
CA CC commuter: $8k approx
CA CC living at school: $18k approx
CSU: $28k approx
CA CC commuter 2 years + CSU 2 years = $72k
CA CC living at school 2 years + CSU 2 years = $92k
CSU 4 years total = $112k
UC: $34k approx
CA CC commuter 2 years + UC 2 years = $84k
CA CC living at school 2 years + UC 2 years = $104k
UC 4 years total = $136k
Are all of the above affordable to you and your parents without any loans beyond the federal direct loans ($5,500 first year, increasing slightly later years)?
The PSU 2+2 plan looks like the most expensive for an experience similar to that of starting at a CA CC and then transferring to a CSU or UC. That is probably not what you want.
VT would give you more of the “college experience” that you seem to want, but would be more expensive than any possible California option.
Hmmm, looking at http://behrend.psu.edu/school-of-engineering/academic-programs/mechanical-engineering , it looks like PSU Erie does have more of its own BA/BS programs than many other PSU branch campuses. Perhaps the guarantee into the ME major refers to if you stay there, rather than transfer to PSU University Park. It would be cheaper to stay there than transfer, or about $144k + travel total for four years. Still not much of a deal compared to your CSU and UC options, and it would not have the name prestige you are looking for.