Got Accepted into Rutgers and Penn State. Where to go?

[chimi42]

So i received my letters of admission into Rutgers New Brunswick and Penn State University Park today at the same time! (Although i knew about Rutgers already)

Each school accepted me into their Labor Relations and Human Resources Program. Now i have to choose which one to go to. I know both have very good reputations and they both cost around the same amount (since i am from New York and will have to suffer the Out of state tuition for each school).

I know in talking to certain friends they said that Penn State would look much better on a resume than Rutgers and of course i've heard exactly the opposite from other friends. (These are older friends who are in their 40s). I'm kind of torn, while i have family and a girlfriend in Jersey and i really like the program of Rutgers as a whole the Penn State program is also very tempting.

[teaganc]

If there isn't a definite rankings/prestige difference, go with where your family is (Rutgers). You'll qualify for in-state after the first year anyway, which will help.

[twocosmicfish]

You'll qualify for in-state after the first year anyway, which will help.

This is generally incorrect - most schools require that you have a non-educational reason for being in the state before they grant you residency. You need to have lived there for other reasons (work or parents usually) for a year or so before they will consider you "in-state." In some cases, this makes it worthwhile to defer admission for a year - move to the area and get a job so that the next year you qualify as in-state.

[teaganc]

This is generally incorrect - most schools require that you have a non-educational reason for being in the state before they grant you residency. You need to have lived there for other reasons (work or parents usually) for a year or so before they will consider you "in-state." In some cases, this makes it worthwhile to defer admission for a year - move to the area and get a job so that the next year you qualify as in-state.

Except for Rutgers, which was what I was referring to. Rutgers does allow you to qualify after a year of being full-time student.

[chimi42]

Wow is that true? I had no idea this was the case with Rutgers? If this is indeed the case it would save me a ton of money! This might just be the thing that pushes me to go to rutgers. I will double check however. Does anyone have any experience with either school that they would like to share?