PASSHE Institutions Merging

[IUPNation]

Remote is a relative term but I think Shippensburg could fit into a lot of definitions of "remote." Not to mention to the south and the west you are getting into some serious Appalachia.

Shippensburg is a Control City on the sign for the Blue Mountain Exit off the Turnpike. It’s literally off 81 and near 30. It on the western end of the Harrisburg metro area. It’s not remote. Mansfield is remote.

[iupgroundhog]

Yeah...when I saw the comment of it being remote I kind of chuckled.

Anything below 80 and east of 81 isn't that remote...

Remote is a relative term but I think Shippensburg could fit into a lot of definitions of "remote." Not to mention to the south and the west you are getting into some serious Appalachia.

[IUPNation]

While Ship is a small college town, it really isn't that remote in that it is located on the edge of the fastest-growing county in Pa. I'd say maybe about 15 percent would be commuters. About 30 percent live in college-owned or operated housing, and the rest live off-campus in the Ship area. In my day, many years ago, a higher percentage of students probably lived on campus because they wouldn't have had cars. A lot of kids used to drive home or get rides home on weekends, and I'm sure that is still the case. In many cases I suspect that was so mom would do the laundry and supply some home cooking. Students living more than 35 miles from campus have been asked no to commute for their first couple of years. I'm not entirely sure what current guidelines are. While most students are still from area counties, we have a large contingent from the Philadelphia area and other parts of the state whom I'm sure do not commute.

If you live in Chambersburg, a few miles down Rt. 11, commuting would make sense, but I've known kids even from there who lived on campus. One of our granddaughters, who lived in my town about 35 minutes from Ship, lived in off-campus housing in Shippensburg for her last three years. There was an off-campus building boom a few years back when one president talked of big expansion at the school. Obviously, as is the case with most PASSHE schools, that didn't happen, so those who want off-campus housing usually find it.

Yeah...when I saw the comment of it being remote I kind of chuckled.

Anything below 80 and east of 81 isn't that remote...

[Ship69]

just curious - how many of the remaining 3900 do you think fit the other category of local kids commuting to school?

Edit: I know Ship is kind of remote and might have less commuter access than some other schools; but back in the day I remember kids from Carlisle/Mechanicsburg area doing it. I would assume a decent amount come from the Chambersburg side too.

While Ship is a small college town, it really isn't that remote in that it is located on the edge of the fastest-growing county in Pa. I'd say maybe about 15 percent would be commuters. About 30 percent live in college-owned or operated housing, and the rest live off-campus in the Ship area. In my day, many years ago, a higher percentage of students probably lived on campus because they wouldn't have had cars. A lot of kids used to drive home or get rides home on weekends, and I'm sure that is still the case. In many cases I suspect that was so mom would do the laundry and supply some home cooking. Students living more than 35 miles from campus have been asked no to commute for their first couple of years. I'm not entirely sure what current guidelines are. While most students are still from area counties, we have a large contingent from the Philadelphia area and other parts of the state whom I'm sure do not commute.

If you live in Chambersburg, a few miles down Rt. 11, commuting would make sense, but I've known kids even from there who lived on campus. One of our granddaughters, who lived in my town about 35 minutes from Ship, lived in off-campus housing in Shippensburg for her last three years. There was an off-campus building boom a few years back when one president talked of big expansion at the school. Obviously, as is the case with most PASSHE schools, that didn't happen, so those who want off-campus housing usually find it.

[BlueBlood]

I'll only speak for my alma mater, but I think Shippensburg usually has about 600-some athletes out of about 4,500 students, so that would certainly lead me to believe the great majority of students there are "regular" students.

just curious - how many of the remaining 3900 do you think fit the other category of local kids commuting to school?

Edit: I know Ship is kind of remote and might have less commuter access than some other schools; but back in the day I remember kids from Carlisle/Mechanicsburg area doing it. I would assume a decent amount come from the Chambersburg side too.

[Ship69]

G-MACer who lives in FL. I peruse this thread occasionally because I grew up in PA and am familiar with the schools. Reading the recent comments hits home with me and I've posted similar things on the G-MAC thread before. My kids recently went through the pick a college phase. It was very noticeable to me that kids are looking at "brand name" schools. Almost every friend of theirs fell into 3 categories - 1) a brand-name D1 school that folks will recognize the name of - sometimes a few or several states away; 2) a community college or live-at-home local college, the cost savings route; 3) a D2, D3 or NAIA school (and the caveat here is that literally all of these friends went there to play sports).

Obviously, the fact that I can't think of a single friend that went to a D2, D3 or NAIA schools as a "regular student" would seem to be a very bad sign for D2, D3 and NAIA schools. Yeah, it's just my observation, and it's not scientific. But I've discussed this with other dads (locally here, and friends in other states) - and they are seeing the same thing. Based on above comments, it seems like some of you are seeing it too.

I'll only speak for my alma mater, but I think Shippensburg usually has about 600-some athletes out of about 4,500 students, so that would certainly lead me to believe the great majority of students there are "regular" students.

[IUPNation]

Looks like all of these are either big-time schools or southern schools. I like PASSHE but if a student is looking for a big-time experience or warm weather, there's not much it can do.

A girl I went to HS with and who is a Pee Sack alum is in Florida touring schools with her daughter. Her other daughter already goes to Central Florida.

You couldn’t pay me to go to a southern school. Do they even have indoor plumbing? :-)

[BlueBlood]

G-MACer who lives in FL. I peruse this thread occasionally because I grew up in PA and am familiar with the schools. Reading the recent comments hits home with me and I've posted similar things on the G-MAC thread before. My kids recently went through the pick a college phase. It was very noticeable to me that kids are looking at "brand name" schools. Almost every friend of theirs fell into 3 categories - 1) a brand-name D1 school that folks will recognize the name of - sometimes a few or several states away; 2) a community college or live-at-home local college, the cost savings route; 3) a D2, D3 or NAIA school (and the caveat here is that literally all of these friends went there to play sports).

Obviously, the fact that I can't think of a single friend that went to a D2, D3 or NAIA schools as a "regular student" would seem to be a very bad sign for D2, D3 and NAIA schools. Yeah, it's just my observation, and it's not scientific. But I've discussed this with other dads (locally here, and friends in other states) - and they are seeing the same thing. Based on above comments, it seems like some of you are seeing it too.

[EastStroud13]

Of my coworkers whose college aged kids not attending the Harvard of Butler County, PA, here is where they're going:

WVU
Tampa
Florida International
Central Florida
South Florida
Alabama
Georgia Southern

This school would be tuition free, all other PASSHE schools half tuition. But yes, pay out of state tuition elsewhere.

Looks like all of these are either big-time schools or southern schools. I like PASSHE but if a student is looking for a big-time experience or warm weather, there's not much it can do.

[Fightingscot82]

Of my coworkers whose college aged kids not attending the Harvard of Butler County, PA, here is where they're going:

WVU
Tampa
Florida International
Central Florida
South Florida
Alabama
Georgia Southern

This school would be tuition free, all other PASSHE schools half tuition. But yes, pay out of state tuition elsewhere.

[IUPNation]

Not to me. I could care less about the NFL.

Each his own.

Nothing is like winning a title in Philadelphia…

This is what it's like being a Philadelphia sports fans when we win that rare title....no SEC foosball fan will ever feel like this.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Yet the Stillers or the Iggles winning a Super Bowl beats all of that….

Not to me. I could care less about the NFL.

Each his own.

[IUPNation]

I've been to games at both Auburn and Alabama. Both are great.

Alabama is fantastic -- once you are parked. It is a total nightmare. I have a client that is a 30-year season ticket holder and the best parking lot pass he can get is more than a mile from Bryant-Denny Stadium. The stadium is literally in the middle of the city. So, you have 100,000 inside, and another who knows how many outside without tickets -- all trying to park. People who live in the vicinity (with alley spots, for example) make crazy money selling those spots 7 times a year. Some of them are like $1k+ per game - and people buy the whole home schedule up front.

Alabama's campus is beautiful. I kind of like the overall experience better at Auburn (just my personal opinion).

I've also been to Knoxville for a Florida Gators visit ... which was just utter insanity. The first time you hear 110,000 people sing Rocky Top in person is pretty surreal.

Yet the Stillers or the Iggles winning a Super Bowl beats all of that….

[IUPbigINDIANS]

She said Auburn is like State College. It’s all rural and Deliverance like outside of Auburn (like it is going to State College) but once you are in town it’s more liberal like State College proper.

I've been to games at both Auburn and Alabama. Both are great.

Alabama is fantastic -- once you are parked. It is a total nightmare. I have a client that is a 30-year season ticket holder and the best parking lot pass he can get is more than a mile from Bryant-Denny Stadium. The stadium is literally in the middle of the city. So, you have 100,000 inside, and another who knows how many outside without tickets -- all trying to park. People who live in the vicinity (with alley spots, for example) make crazy money selling those spots 7 times a year. Some of them are like $1k+ per game - and people buy the whole home schedule up front.

Alabama's campus is beautiful. I kind of like the overall experience better at Auburn (just my personal opinion).

I've also been to Knoxville for a Florida Gators visit ... which was just utter insanity. The first time you hear 110,000 people sing Rocky Top in person is pretty surreal.

[IUPNation]

Auburn is so remote, too. But, once you're on campus, it's like its own world.

They have the Pitt / Penn State (little brother) syndrome toward Tuscaloosa but it's much, much worse. Conversely, Alabama looks down at Auburn much the same way PSU does to Pitt.

College football-wise, my opinion, nothing comes close to being on those campuses on an SEC Saturday. Pure insanity. If you can ever attend an Iron Bowl, do it without hesitation. Incredible.

She said Auburn is like State College. It’s all rural and Deliverance like outside of Auburn (like it is going to State College) but once you are in town it’s more liberal like State College proper.