Penn State vs TCNJ - Biomedical Engineering/Pre-Med - Help me decide

College Search & Lists
1

Hi - DS got admitted to both Penn State Main Campus (UP) and TCNJ with intended major of Biomedical Engineering and on pre-med track. Penn State has Entrance to majors for all Engineering degrees (where you need a certain GPA ). TCNJ is Direct Admit to the major requested. We are in state for Penn State (3.5 hours drive) and out of state for TCNJ (1 hr drive). TCNJ has given him Honors and the max out of state student award - so the cost at both places is comparable and either one is okay for us.

Can you please let me know which one would be good for the Engineering degree and pre-med track and the overall undergrad experience.

2

Both are perfectly fine for engineering degrees, and for pre-med. What he thinks of the setting is what matters for undergrad experience.

Does he need to maintain a specific GPA to renew the scholarship every year at TCNJ?

Which place would he like to be at if he drops the engineering major?

3

@happymomof1 - GPA to renew the out of state scholarship at TCNJ is 2.3 for the first year and 2 for the remaining years which should be okay to maintain I think.

He knows Penn State is more well known and TCNJ is Regional. Where would job opportunities be better? And what about graduate school/med school acceptances.

4

Ask the career centers at each place about job placement. For specifics about grad school acceptances, contact the major department and ask where their recent grads have ended up. But please do remember that Dr. Famous may be at Never-Heard-Of-It-Before-U. For grad school, the specific advisor and her/his research will be what matters. Reported med school admissions are harder to interpret, so take that question to the pre-med & med school forum. Someone there is likely to be familiar with one or the other of these institutions.

Many students drop out of engineering and change to a different major. Many students change their minds about pre-med. Your son should look at the strength and availability of other potential fields of study and career directions.

5

This is one where I think the type of experience he wants would make the difference. Both are great schools, but TCNJ will be smaller classes, close working relationships with profs, no big sports, rah rah culture at Penn State. Smaller classes would probably help with recommendations that would be needed if moving to grad school.

6

I would pick a national universities but Penn State is overwhelming. Plus the cult following of its alumni is insane. Son goes there for engineering but he is in the earth minerals college.

Both my kids I advices on a national brand especially for grad school and jobs. Regional schools are great if he stays in NJ after graduation