Penn State or VA Tech for business
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Anonymous
| The OP stated her daughter does not want Greek life so the above post is largely irrelevant. |
Anonymous
PP. Then just look at Greek life as an example of a type of extracurricular that could be researched ahead of time. There are many other clubs at these schools. And I'm sure there are many business-centric ones. OP can discuss with the daughter what alternatives to look into. These can be researched by web, e-mail, and Reddit. People sometimes need some backup plans in case everything doesn't turn out the way they hoped. I think the Reddit thread I posted from 3 years ago does a good job of making that clear without any connection to my long-ago experience. Also, OP should be thinking ahead to MBA school as it's quite common for BBAs to pick up that credential. In some cases, it still can be leveraged for a massive pay increase. Thinking ahead about post-college networking is not irrelevant, regardless of what extracurriculars one chooses to engage in. |
Anonymous
US News |
Anonymous
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Thank you all for your feedback. I do feel like it's still a toss up. Very similar profiles and rankings for school and college.
That said, she was invited to Penn State for a weekend visit with accommodations and transportation. It looks like it's held by a minority student association. We were pleasantly surprised to get the invite. She'll also be doing Hokie day visit next month. |
Anonymous
| The stigma...of you know... |
Anonymous
Sure, though her DD is not attending "overall" and even so, it's a coin toss. 2026 USNR national university rankings, Penn State University is ranked #59 overall while Virginia Tech is ranked #51 overall in the national universities list. U.S. News / Poets & Quants undergraduate business ranking (2025) Pennsylvania State University Smeal College of Business is ranked #23 among undergraduate business programs. Virginia Tech Pamplin College of Business appears lower in the rankings, around #40. |
Anonymous
| P E D O = stigma |
Anonymous
I think most people have moved beyond that. Only a couple of anonymous DCUM posters still care about it. |
Anonymous
| My daughter got into both for business but decided on going somewhere else (IU Kelley). Honestly, she wasn't crazy about PSU. It just feels huge. IU has more of that walkable, charming, college town feel and Virginia Tech feels closer to that. Both VA Tech and Penn State are big schools but VA Tech feels more like it would be easier to integrate yourself into a community there. That said, Smeal has a really great reputation nationally and is higher in rankings compared to VA Tech. At the end of the day though, you have to pick where she'll be happy. That's more important. |
Anonymous
It's a cult school...most people know that...admit it... |
Anonymous
LOL, I've said as much. The love for PSU by PSU students and alumni is cult like. And that explains the amazing alumni connection. Never seen a college that has so much love from their alumni. I guess there's something about the experience there that makes the alumni network one of the largest in the country. |
Anonymous
| My DD is a Sophomore at Pamplin. She has had a great experience. She has enjoyed all of her classes and professors and has secured an internship with an accounting firm this summer. She attained the internship through a contract in the Women in Business group, which she has really enjoyed. VT was super generous with AP credits so she is able to double major in accounting and finance. Advising has been decent. Job fairs very well attended with desirable companies. Beautiful campus full of nice, motivated kids. Penn State was too big and too cold for her liking. Both great schools. Visit both and see which environment she prefers. |
Anonymous
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Go with Penn State if you are torn.
VT is great, but has a region vibe to me. |
Anonymous
Totally disagree. VT is nationally known and attended by students from all over the country. |