<p>Penn State is not where I planned to go (it was originally my safety), but my mother is pressuring me to go there because it is much cheaper. I got into Barnard with 12k in grants per year, 3.5k in student loans, and a job. I’m also priority waitlisted at Carnegie Mellon’s MCS. Carnegie Mellon was my first choice, and Barnard was one of my top choices although not my first. I’m planning to major in math with a concentration in finance. </p>
<p>PSU is not where I envisioned myself. I wanted a small or medium sized school with a creative/artistic atmosphere and a city environment. I’m interested in art and music and could care less about sports. Is PSU honors really as academically proficient as Barnard and Carnegie Mellon?</p>
<p>My personal opinion is that the “academic proficiency” of a school or a program is dependent on the quality of students that they attract. I feel that you cannot go to an Honors Program or prestige school that has better academics. The SHC is a small school within a monstrous school. You will likely get the best of both worlds without the expense. Prestige is overrated. Recruiters want to see what you have accomplished. You will not impress the people that matter simply by going to a school. The question I would ask is “What specific opportunities are available at CMU or Barnard that makes my parents think it’s worth a lot of hard-earned extra money?” Computer Science or Robotics at CMU may be worth it. PSU has an excellent business school.</p>