Why not go to school in France and then do a study abroad year in the states? Give yourself a taste of it before jumping in head first? Also, State College is in the middle of nowhere, I feel like you would easily feel stranded. Yes Philadelphia has crime but if you would be able to experience so much more in the city, and be able to travel much more easily to other destinations, the Jersey Shore, NYC, and DC etc. There are a ton of schools in the Philly region and most of them have study abroad programs.