All joking aside and I've been very critical as well, but it think the tides are turning in a good way. There's great reason to be skeptical at we've been @SS focked at every turn, but I truly think we're heading in the right direction. After all, Barry is in charge now.
Enrollment statistics are easy to fix. Lower entrance standards, which would be a shame.
You are right, obviously. Unfortunately, that has already been done (rather dramatically) and still seats (most notably at commonwealth campuses) remain empty.
From Yesterday's "Town Hall Meeting":
Overall, at least with Neeli we are starting to address the deficits, or least acknowledge that all is NOT well. I used to tell my boys that the only education I would pay for was a PSU education. That isn’t the case anymore. I’d rather they not attend PSU due to financial reasons.
I had the same issues 29 years ago. And your advice is sound. Learn for yourself what you need to take. After my initial consult with my advisor, I never went back.
“Neeli gets it”! We Are. What she didn’t say is Barron and the cabal screwed this pooch up big time and she is here to inflict pain that was coming one way or another. His merry band of theives are in retirement enjoying consultation fees otherwise known as golden parachutes. No more lush buffets. Its happy meals at the drive thru. Enjoy your museum. Now get in the car, kids.
Nothing that a few extra assistant AD's can't solve. Relax people.
Yep. Bama definitely has a big Greek scene, but so does PSU. My son had no interest in joining a fraternity and there was plenty of other stuff for him to do there. The campus is nice, but PSU is WAY nicer. Tuscaloosa is also kind of a dump. Well, at least some of it is.
Big SEC schools are making a huge push up north and it’s a pretty easy sell, actually: A big university with a big football program, tons of options outside of athletics, a crap ton of scholarship money, and a winter that doesn’t come close to parking lot 80. What’s not to like?
There are schools rated significantly higher than PSU that cost $10,000+ less per year and offer similar college experiences (college town, strong school spirit, good social scene, good intercollegiate athletics, etc.) In many cases, one isn't choosing between Penn State and community colleges, but between Penn State and better schools that cost significantly less. I'm financially comfortable enough to have retired at 56, but if the car I want to buy is much more expensive at my favorite dealership than the identical car at another dealership, I'm not buying from my favorite dealership for sentimental reasons. As you said, it's a free country, and if people want to spend an extra $50K for sentimental reasons it their money. Personally, I'd rather spend or donate the $50K elsewhere.
Wow. Lots of great points in this thread and similar experiences.
When we called in classes from our land line after sorting through the one inch thick book only to find the class filled?
Which would be a strong argument as to why one should look at actual relevant data, rather than "rankings".
My advisor was so bad the only way I got in to classes that I needed was because I knew the registrar Mr Wager.
Fair points. The overall ranking have a lot of subjectivity as do the individual academic programs, albeit to a lesser degree. I would also think there are some regional biases that come into play, although I doubt those biases would adversely affect PSU. When looking at schools, we've focused on factors that are important to our son. Focusing just on his planned major, Penn State didn't distinguish itself over most of the schools on his list; it was similar. Given the significant cost difference (even if we could get in-state rates.) One would hope that it would stand out, but it doesn't. If we were looking at small schools that don't offer what PSU offers, one could argue we're not comparing similar schools, but that not the case.
This one brings about a huge laugh from me every time I see it (and I see it a lot on here). Classic!
Covid travel restrictions caused the numbers of international students to decline (especially Chinese students) over the past two years and this contributed to the decline in tuition income. Now that classes are back to in person teaching and it’s easier to travel internationally those students are returning to campuses across the USA, not just at PSU of course. Since they pay substantially more for their tuition, this will provide some positive financial impact.
I also live in Virginia and my daughter is a freshman this year. When looking at colleges she asked about going to PSU, mainly because she thought I would like her to go there. I told her if she wanted to go there she would have to come up with big scholarships or big loans because I an not going to consider paying what they want. (approx: $54,000 per year) She choose James Madison University. In a lot of ways it reminds me of PSU. In the mountains, small town in the middle of nowhere. She loves the place, I love the place and it is only (I say only) $20,000 a year. She can go nearly three years for the price of one at PSU. Both those figures are for tuition, room board and all the fees they add on.
Wasn't talking past. Was talking future based on rumblings I have heard from some intl students.
Thank for posting this, Big. I think deep down, most Alums still care what PSU is and becomes. As I see it, main issue is BOT doesn’t seem accountable to anyone. Who is it that says “ this isn’t ok and changes must be made”? Truly asking because I don’t know.
I think the reputation of PSU’s engineering and computer sciences curriculum remain very strong and attractive to foreign students from Asia, and the cost is generally not a factor for these students. It’s more a question of what level of foreign or out of state students does PSU want to admit in order to alleviate any shortfall in tuition revenue. Some state universities such as Delaware and West Virginia admit well over 50% from outside their own state.
My kids have a ways to go and of course what they want to major in plays a part, but I love JMU for the same reasons. One reason I have not brought them to any PSU football games yet is hoping that the longer I wait the less they may want to come
.Yeah, I don't remember the physical process at all, so it must not have been too eventful for me. Look at the book, find the classes you need, the classes you want, and the classes you'll be willing to deal with if class availability/times don't work out for the other classes, and then just register. I don't remember an advisor even being an option. Maybe it's all much more complicated nowadays.
Same. As a Maryland resident, I have told both my kids they can apply to PSU, but unless there is significant financial aid on the table, they won't be going there. Maryland is a good school and in-state tuition is much lower. I have said in other posts, with the cost of most school for out-of-state students, I am not sure why anyone would leave their state to go to an out-of-state school unless there was significant financial aid on the table.