penn st. vs. gw.....holla back

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saga_boy

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Ok...this is my first post and I could use the expertise of you guys. I have been accepted to Penn St. and yesterday I got a call from GW saying they had a spot for me. I have until tomorrow at 12pm to make up my mind. I liked GW slightly better, but it'll cost me an about 12-15K extra per year, all of which will be debt. How do the schools compare, and is GW worth the extra money? Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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go to PSU. GW definately not worth 12-15K per year. Now someone who disagrees will post and say something obvious like "well, it depends on what you are looking for". PSU is a fine school, has vast resources, and has a good reputation among other medical schools.
 
You're not going to believe this, but I too just got off GW's waitlist and am now deciding between Penn State and GW! I am leaning towards Penn State for several reasons - laid-back students, beautiful facilities, lots of research, and great reputation. I was not impressed with GW's teaching facilities (lecture halls, labs) and with the hefty price tag.
 
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No decision there! Penn State all the way.
 
Wow, thanks a lot. I will likely attend Penn St. You guys share pretty much the same ideas I have about the two schools, I just needed some input from informed sources. Thanks for you help and all the best. (Good luck with your decision Bruno)
 
Congratulations on the multiple acceptances. I really enjoyed Penn State and will be there next year. Good luck with your decisions.
 
we all know on SDN that I am partial to penn state because for the simple reason I am on the waitlist and would like to get into med school. Honestly, my advice is to not listen to me or really anyone else on this forum (not to say the people on here are great, wonderful, caring people). I just want to say go with your gut. Four years is a long time. Really, a school a little bit more expensive might not really mean you have to pay more. GW has sometimes good financial aid. I liked GW over penn state, but I am on waitlist both places, so I guess I am in the minority here, but who knows. Everybody is different and has the opinion, but go with what you feel inside you when you visited the schools and enough said.
 
so bruno and sagaboy, what are you guys going to choose?
 
What up Dukee, I was granted an extension to make my decision until Monday at 12pm. I'll let you know.
 
Saga_boy, Congrats on your acceptances! :clap: All I have to say is to think about why you liked GW "slightly" better.
I'm on the waitlist at a few schools, PSU, Jeff, NYMC, interviewed at Pitt and in at MCP. Of these, my favorites were PSU and MCP because of the students. I felt like I would fit in very well. I felt this even though Pitt and Jeff are much more highly ranked, and the tuitions are comparable. Schools have different personalities, and you need to go where you'll be comfortable, make a lot of friends (they will be colleagues after all), and do well. Although I did like Jeff and it's a school ranked in the top fifty, I don't feel like I identify with most of the students there. Don't get me wrong, they were very nice and friendly, but that was the feeling I got. I also prefer a more suburban or small town location than urban.
So, think about why you feel the way you do. Good luck :)
 
what is psu? and why did you like it more?

I heard they have a beautiful campus is that true? and a 24 hr library?
 
what is the area/town around psu like? is it really rural? thanks.
 
The area around PSU is really scenic. The school is part of a very nice medical center in a town called Hershey. It's a pretty small town, about 1.5 hours from philly and the people seem pretty nice.
 
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what is psu?
PSU=Penn State University I guess I'm too lazy to type Penn State.
I heard they have a beautiful campus is that true? and a 24 hr library?
The campus is OK. I guess if beautiful means grass, then yes, it's beautiful. So was the campus at U of I (my undergrad) and at almost every other campus I've been too :wink: Please don't take that the wrong way. I'm not being cynical. The prettiest campus I've been to is Villanova's. The students matched the campus too. :p
Anyway, PSU does have a 24hr library, but I'm pretty sure the other schools did too. I think most schools try to make study as accessible as possible.
why did you like it more?
I liked PSU more mainly because of the students. I felt that I had more in common with them than at other schools. That's important to me, because I didn't consider that at all when I chose my undergrad. I didn't visit any other schools, didn't get the feel for any other environments. Now that I've taken classes at a few different places, I've found that schools have distinct personalities, and it's important to find one that fits.
what is the area/town around psu like?
Very rural. It's in the middle of PA. That's another plus for me. I have a dog, and living in downtown Philly to go to Jeff would be really hard on her. (No, I won't give her up. I've had her for 7 years, I've made a commitment and she's my responsibility) It reminds me of the U of I, which is in central IL. There are cows on both campuses. MOOOO
 
cows on the campus??? oh yeah!!!
:D
 
Hmmm....just a clarification or two.

I would classify Hershey as semi-rural but remember the state capital is only 12 miles away. Harrisburg is no Philly but its as urban as any other city its size.

The library is NOT open 24 hours. There is a computer lab in the library which is open 24 hours a day but you do not have access to the journals or books. Maybe its open 24/7 during exams but I think the closing time is 10 pm on weekdays and a little earlier on Friday and Saturday.
 
yeah, anyone get off the waitlist at penn state? Although, GW may be more expensive, there are many financial aid programs that are offered at GW and one of my friends actually got a research scholarship there to help pay for one year of tuition so it turned out pretty well. This thread has been tipped for penn state, but I would not discount GW. It has a great area and is known for its friendly students as well...
 
I am in at Penn State and waitlisted at GW. If I get into GW, I am going there. Although Penn State is nice and laid back, I would choose GW because I would rather live in a major city. I have been out of undergrad for 4 years, and really can't afford it socially to live in a rural area such as Hershey. I personally think GW has a stronger reputation in CA, which is where I would like to do a residency. That is my 2 cents. They are both great schools. Congratulations on your acceptances! For those waiting on Penn State, my spot will be open if I get off a waitlist.
 
I agree with MDhopeful. Match rates for GW are far better then penn state. I went to school on the east coast and am from CA, and it seems GW is known more than penn state for matches in CA. good luck with your decision. I am on the waitlist for both...
 
I loved GW, and I also choose it over penn state. It has a great hospital and my friends love it down there. They are non competitive and like to have a little fun. Count me in to that school.
 
I would definitely go to penn state, it is so much cheaper, and I have friends at GWU...george washington does NOT have any scholarships whatsoever....there is a huge price difference of at least 80K$ that is not something to lookd down upon....
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by dukee:
•yeah, anyone get off the waitlist at penn state? Although, GW may be more expensive, there are many financial aid programs that are offered at GW and one of my friends actually got a research scholarship there to help pay for one year of tuition so it turned out pretty well. This thread has been tipped for penn state, but I would not discount GW. It has a great area and is known for its friendly students as well...•••••the fact that you are waitlisted at penn state, isn't there a conflict of interest that you are trying to persuade the other two applicants on this thread to go to GWU? :rolleyes: it isn't because you want to go to penn state, now is it?
 
dude, I do not know what your problem is. He is on the waitlist for both schools if you read closer. Leave him alone. Why is it that you just started posting on this thread?
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by hey:
•dude, I do not know what your problem is. He is on the waitlist for both schools if you read closer. Leave him alone. Why is it that you just started posting on this thread?•••••oh my gosh <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" /> I just realized hey and dukee are the same person....ur isp numbers are the same...

ok ok, sorry, I didn't know that this was indeed what you were trying to do...I will leave you alone now :D
 
I am new to this forum, but I am surprised by the animosity towards people. If you read the start of this thread, he even admits he is partial to penn state and to not listen to him. But I do think GW is a better school in terms of match rates and there are some limited money available for scholarships such as research in your third year.
 
hmm, I work in a lab on a public computer. I am not dukee. there are a lot of people who use this. I do not have my own computer. I just found this forum after I was searching last week. But I do know someone in the lab from Duke, so this may be him.
 
GW is a better school, and come on DC. DC is the shisnit.
 
I recently withdrew from both GW and Penn State. I'm now headed to Rochester!!
 
saga_boy, what did you choose?
 
What up Fox Boogey Brown...It took some time but I've decided to go to Penn State. Best of luck to you.
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by saga_boy:
•...It took some time but I've decided to go to Penn State. Best of luck to you.•••••Congratulations. I will see you in August.
 
Good for you Saga_boy. I chose Penn state over GW as well. Its a great school .. don't let anyone tell you differently. see you in august!.
 
Hi all, i just started on sdn. i think its wonderful... the people who made the decision b/w penn state and GWU, do you mind explaining your resoning. I'm in at Penn State, but I just got the call from GW this morning... please help :confused:
 
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