Hellobee Boards

Depends on what he's studying. For what I do, I should have gone to a cheap state college and just rely on good grade & work experience!

ETA: I absolutely think anyone can make their own way no matter what school they go to. My SIL is a successful VP and she went to community college!

As an employer, it doesn't matter much to us. We've hired a few of our guys from the same school, but only because DH went to that school and knows the program. We've also hired others from many other schools though. We care much more about their actual abilities than what school they went to.

We do web design, so we've been hiring developers.

I think it depends on what he's majoring in. And also if he plans to go to graduate school. I really regret going to an expensive undergrad college because I ended up going to law school so employers look at where I went to law school and don't really care about undergrad.

I think it makes it easier to get your foot in the door in some companies, but it also has to do with alumni network and location of your future employment.

Maybe in certain industries, but honestly from what I see it doesn't make a difference.

It can. Networking is a big deal now and meeting the right people can help you to get hired in your desired field. But specific majors at certain schools have stronger programs than others. I would urge him to look at the program that he would like to do more closely at each institution and what the alumni of the program are doing now to determine which one would provide the most opportunity.

I completed my MBA in the town I wanted to live in. I was recruited by a company contacting our university office looking for resumes. I wouldn't have landed this job otherwise.

I think it makes little difference in many fields/to many employers; but some colleges offer a lot of opportunities that others don’t that could directly impact your future employment. A lot of getting your foot in the door is networking – can he build good business networks at both schools? Are there good opportunities for internships at both schools?

One other consideration is geography and your DSS’ plans for the future. Where does he want to live after graduation? It doesn’t make much sense to spend $$$$ and time and energy building networks and interning in a city you don’t actually intend to live in post-college.

More than $40k a year difference in cost is A LOT (and maybe not something an 18 year old truly appreciates; I know I didn’t at 18!!).

As long as you go to a “real”/legit school and not an online diploma mill, I don’t think that undergrad choice is a “make or break” for most employers/fields.

As someone who lives in the region, I don't think it matters at all. I would actually give an advantage to PS for the vast alumni network!

@ValentineMommy: I can see how being directly in the city helps if you want to end up in the city anyway.

@honeybear: ditto this. Penn State is ranked higher, is larger (so therefore larger post college network) and cheaper? Seems like the clear choice to me would be Penn State!

ETA: I did get a job through networking with someone who went to my university, so I think it can matter. But as I mentioned, penn state has a much larger network.

depends on the major.... I went to a state school- and while I got a great education, I think having the resources for networking from a private institution are very useful.

If he is in engineering I think Drexel might make more sense (if I am even remembering correctly) but otherwise I would go with Penn State. It has a huge alumni base and people have heard of it from all over whereas I think Drexel is mostly just known regionally. The bigger issue though is cost. I really really wish I had less in student loans. My husband and I make great money and still are paying a ton in loans. No one cares where we went to school and he even went to the top school in his field. For him the networking was probably worth it but for me it simply wasn't.

They've done some research, which I will try to find, that showed it made a lot more sense to go to a good, or even second-tier public school than a second-tier private school. Not that Drexel is subpar, but for most people, financially and for their future, the cheaper public college is the better choice.

I started off at an expensive, second-tier private school and ended up at a public university. I found that there were many more opportunities at my big public school!

It depends on his field. My husband is a mechanical engineer and it makes a big difference that he went to top schools for his undergrad and graduate degrees. My field in social work, and when I decide to get my masters degree it will not make as big a difference.

What's he going to school for? My husband and all his friends went to Drexel. They are all engineers. The Drexel coop program is very helpful in that field. If he is doing business I would do PSU.

@Mamaof2: I don't know much about actuarial science but it isn't what drexel is known for. It is an engineering school in my mind. I don't think there is much advantage going there. As someone who has six figure student debt I would weigh that heavily on my decision and hope to guide my child away from it!

Here's comparing the 2.
Drexel only had a 25% 4 yr graduation rate. Something worth looking into bc that could get even more expensive paying for extra years.
http://colleges.findthebest.com/compare/3617-3741/Drexel-University-DU-vs-Pennsylvania-State-University-PSU

@Maysprout: I dont know if that is a fair number since most of Drexel's engineering programs are 5 year do to co-ops.

@OpinionsLikeKittens: ah that makes sense but they still only have a 66% 6 yr grad rate. is there dual degrees or something that would make a large proportion in it for 7 rys or so?

@Mamaof2: DH is a finance guy in the city and when I asked he wasn't familiar with Drexel's actuarial program, if that says anything.