How good is Penn. State?

It depends on your criteria for "good". If you want to use the US News 2007 university ranking Penn State comes in at number 47. What is he studying and at what level? Here is a link to to the University and the associated ranking inforrmation.

http://www.psu.edu/

http://www.psu.edu/ur/rankings/

Reply 2

OP

He'll be studying undergratuate geology. He'll spend one year there.

Reply 3

sweet_fluffy_nuke

Talya

My boyfriend goes to a UK Uni at the moment (Southampton) but he's doing really well and his tutor suggest he spend his 3rd year at Penn State.

It is mediocre but is much better than Southampton.
He would be an idiot to not go.

Reply 4

OP

acolyte

It is mediocre but is much better than Southampton.
He would be an idiot to not go.

I know

But he said he doesn't want to, I told him I'd visit every month but he's still reluctant. What should I say to get him to go!?

I told him it will look amazing on his CV but I can't think of much else.

Reply 5

sweet_fluffy_nuke

Talya

I know

But he said he doesn't want to, I told him I'd visit every month but he's still reluctant. What should I say to get him to go!?

Tell him about all the hot girls there.
Here are some pictures to get him interested
http://www.archives.upenn.edu/memorabilia/postcards/collegegirls.html :wink:

Reply 6

Most rankings for US universities are based upon graduate (postgraduate) courses. The postgraduate geology program at Penn State (the University Park campus) is ranked 3rd by Newsweek. Although that does not apply directly to the undergraduate program that level of teaching at the postgraduate level will undoubtedly trickle down. Taking published rankings (or as the UK refers to them, "league tables") for what they are, I believe a tier equivilency in the UK would probably fall somewhere in the range of Sheffield or Leicester. I would quibble with Acolyte regarding Penn State being mediocre. Considering there are nearly 4500 colleges and universities in the US coming in at number 47 (irregardless of what one thinks of the ranking system) is fairly respectable.

Reply 7

Oldmannow

18

one of the best according to this:

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2006/0609.national.html

Reply 8

Tomber

It can hardly be described as mediocre, it's a public ivy isn't it, or not far off?

Reply 9

Tomber

It can hardly be described as mediocre, it's a public ivy isn't it, or not far off?

I think you're confusing Penn State with the University of Pennsylvania. In fact, U of P is actually a private college in spite of the name that is usually synonymous with public universities. I know, weird.

Reply 10

OP

blujazfan

I think you're confusing Penn State with the University of Pennsylvania. In fact, U of P is actually a private college in spite of the name that is usually synonymous with public universities. I know, weird.

In abrp's post is the university that's 3rd Penn State or U of P? Looks like Penn State but I don't know how you guys name your unis :p:

Reply 11

Talya

In abrp's post is the university that's 3rd Penn State or U of P? Looks like Penn State but I don't know how you guys name your unis :p:

Geoscience postgraduate course at Penn State is ranked 3rd. Don't feel bad, we don't understand our system either.

Reply 12

Tomber

blujazfan

I think you're confusing Penn State with the University of Pennsylvania. In fact, U of P is actually a private college in spite of the name that is usually synonymous with public universities. I know, weird.

Oh no, I know U.Penn is private, but I thought Penn State ia a public Ivy, like the University of Virginia or the University of Michigan, It might not be in that league though, not too sure how things work over there. :redface:

Reply 13

Bismarck

Tomber

Oh no, I know U.Penn is private, but I thought Penn State ia a public Ivy, like the University of Virginia or the University of Michigan, It might not be in that league though, not too sure how things work over there. :redface:

Where is no such thing as public Ivies. Penn State is pretty good as far as public universities go, but UPenn is way out of its league.

Reply 14

OP

Will it cost my bf a lot to go to Penn State then?

Reply 15

shady lane

acolyte

Tell him about all the hot girls there.
Here are some pictures to get him interested
http://www.archives.upenn.edu/memorabilia/postcards/collegegirls.html :wink:

You've put a link to a UPenn website...Penn State =/= UPenn.

You have it in the UK as well--Nottingham =/= Nottingham Trent.

Reply 16

Oldmannow

18

Bismarck

Where is no such thing as public Ivies.

not officially atleast, but i think there is a certain extent of
grouping the best Publics and using the word "Ivy" to make
them more attractive.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Ivies

Reply 17

shady lane

Penn State is OK. OP can you really afford to visit Pennsylvania every month?! Including travel time to Heathrow/Gatwick and then to College Station in PA...

Reply 18

Bismarck