Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Top Questions

The most frustrating thing about my school is that winter is a bit overwhelming if you are not used to cold weather. The college does a great job in clearing snow, keeping grass green etc and very clean. But the weather at times can be overwhelming when it comes to temperature. It is in a beautiful setting, however, attending school atop a mountain can be frustrating after driving for a few hours on the mountain,. However, yet nothing harsh about Penn State just be prepared for the population and weather.

The campus is so big that the sheer distance sometimes dictates your class schedule... there's no way you can get from one side of campus to the other within the 15 minutes between classes, and the campus shuttles aren't always reliable.

Nothing I love my school. I am part of the Worl Campus, which is the on line program. I wouldn't be able to attend school with out it. It is high quality education.

some classes are in another building, so you walk (or run ) like the wind, especialy when it's a mile away and you have 20 minutes to get there.

What is most frustrating is getting in way over your head, deep into the semester and not being able togain back the ground you lost. If you know the class is just not working drop it. I have only heard two of my advisors tell me that. Listen to your instinct and go into a major you love not what will make the most money.

Many students choose to drink a lot on the weekends. This is frustrating because I find it difficult to find a group of friends to hang out with that don't intend to get drunk. I get along with a lot of people in my classes and clubs, but I cannot extend the friendship to nights out because they attend frequent parties. I feel uncomfortable at drunken parties.

The most frustrating thing about Penn State is the fact that, regardless of economic up/downturn, tuition continues to hike by some absurd percentage annually. The rise in tuition costs is completely unexplained, and Penn State continues to take more. It's already the most expensive state school in all history, but that doesn't seem to act as a deterrent. So, especially in terms of financial treatment of students, it's very frustrating to have to wonder at times whether this school is acting first as an educational institution or as a business.

the amount of time it takes to walk across campus to classes.

The most frustrating aspect of Penn State is that there are so many available opportunities and clubs that it's difficult to limit yourself! I signed up for so many organizations and while I've managed to stick with some of them, others had to be sacrificed in order to better devote myself to the clubs of greater personal value. College is a new experience in time management and it's taught me a lot about how much I can handle.

The most frustrating thing might be the weather since it's pretty bipolar but, so long as you are equipped with the right clothing (coats, scarve, boots, umbrellas, etc.), you should have nothing to complain about.

It's too research oriented.

The most frustrating thing about my school would have to be that there aren't that many minority groups in the school. It is difficult to make friends with several white students, I feel that they never seen a Hispanic or Black person before. But other than that there really isn't that much I can complain about. I feel that I can gain a lot from this school and I am grateful for it.

The most frustrating thing about my school, Penn State University, is that the tuition increased this year, and they denied me much financial aid. For the two years previous, they have helped me fund my education a great deal. However, as of this year, I am a financial wreck and have no idea how I will pay for it. I find that, well, somewhat frustrating.

This school is very large and thus the classes are really big. The majority of classes are held in large lecture halls. There is less individualized attention from professors and you don't really intereact with the professors much. They don't get to know you. Also in the beginning it can be hard to make friends and adjust to college life.

The most frustrating thing is about Penn State is probably the amount of people and the amount of things to do here. There are always very big crowds so if you want to do anything you have to get there early and there are just so many possible things to do here. There is always something to do here and sometimes the many options makes making a decision very difficult. The long lines and crowd can be very frustrating.

I would say the most frustrating thing about my school is the walking distance. I attend a large university with 40,000 students. The campus is condensed, but it is still alot of walking especially since the buses are crowded. Another frustrating thing is how difficult some classes are. It is a lot harder compared to high school, but it is worth the work.

For me, the most frustrating thing here has been the struggle to get the classes I want. I am completing the basic degree requirements, and so are tens of thousands of others. Scheduling online is great but also, as the University says, takes patience and vigilance in order to get thes schedule I really want. Drop/add period is crazy! The availabilities are refreshed every 15 minutes and they are gone like that.

The workload. I feel that for such a big campus we receive more work than usual. Coming from a smaller campus, I'm used to having just enough work. If you go one day without studying a subject it's very easy to get behind.

The most frustrating thing about Penn State is how big it can seem. The first couple of weeks i got lost a lot. As the year went on the campus got a little smaller, but when i have to walk completely across campus in 27 degree winter weather it seems to be just as big as the first day of college.

Finding my classes is the most frustrating thing about Penn State. Some classrooms are really hard to find. They are in the basement tucked away in a little corner. Also, Penn State is a huge campus and there is only fifteen minuetes between classes. When you have to go from one end of campus to the next, it takes more than fifteen minutes to get there and the buses only come every fifteen minutes. Some of the professors don't allow you to be late.

The worst thing bout attending the Pennsylvania State University is trying to register for classes every semester. Since the main campus houses several thousand students, its harder for freshmen to be able to enlist in the classes that they desire to take due to the registration process being based on the number of credits one takes. As a freshman, registering for classes was an arduous task, for either I was not able to take all of the classes that I needed for my major, or my class times were spread very far apart.

The classes are enormous!! All of my classes have at least 150 students or more. It does not allow much student-professor communication during course time.

In a public school as large as Penn State, it is inevitable to have as many students as there are, which initiates frustration at some points. Class sizes are enormous, frequently making it difficult to have a discussion in class or have a close relationship with the professor. With the large amount of students comes many buildings and classrooms, making walking distances very far.

The classes sizes, especially during the first year of school, are extremely large. However, this school offers so many choices when it comes to majors and ways to get involved. Before coming to Penn State I had no idea what I wanted to do or what I wanted to major in, and I am so glad I chose a big school with some many different types of majors. Also, I got involved with the biggest college-run philanthropy, THON, a dance marathon raising money for kids with cancer. My advice: try new experiences and get involved early.

The most frustrating thing at my school is having so many extra curricular options and not knowing which ones to choose and which ones not to choose, which really isn't a bad problem.

The only thing I can think of that is a little frustrating at my school is that I can not understand some of my teachers because they have strong accents. The school is trying to bring an even greater sense of diversity here, and therefore highering professors and teachers with different ethnicities. It is a great idea, and they are very knowledgable of the information, yet should sometimes spend more time learning and practicing English before teaching.

The most frustrating thing here at Penn State University Park is the amount of people. I always wanted to go to a big school, and in particular Penn State, but almost every class is full and they have even started to create supplemental housing in dorm rooms using old study lounges. I was an unfortunate victim in this overcrowding and over enrollment problem. Six people inhabiting one room was unbareable, with respect to privacy, quiet time, study time, and personal comfort. When you can't live comfortably, you cannot complete much of anything efficiently.

It's large and if a person allows it, he or she can become just a number. I like to have my professors know me by name, but in order for that to happen, I have to make the effort.

Expensive tuition.

They don't give us study days before finals. They don't close when it snows....EVER! Other than that, this school is fantastic and I would recommend it even for those who think a big school isn't for them.

It is rapidly become more and more like a private school. As tuition rises, students like myself are left less enjoying college life and more working to be able to finish.

Tution

Class sizes are sometimes annoyingly large

Everyone parties, so it's hard to find people to hang out with who don't party and don't study all weekend.

It can get frustrating when scheduling classes. It's done by seniority and since there are thousands of kids, it can get kind of tricky when putting your schedule since a lot of classes will get filled up very easily.

The most frustrating thing is the workload. Often we have weeks where we will have a couple of exams and a considerable amount of homework in all our other classes. On top of that there are things that have to be done with clubs and other organizations or sports.

The thing that is most fustrating about Pennsylvania State University is the tuition. It is considered an Ivy-League public school and offers its tuition at such levels. This year may be my last at Penn State because of its high tuition.

Classes are a little too big and school could be more racially/ethnically diverse.

Although there is not much to be frustrated about at Penn State, I would say that academics is not every student's main priority. I'm not saying that academics are always the main focus of my own life, but that at times it seems that some students are flying through college doing the absolute bare minimum. I find my major to be a difficult one, and when friends in other majors can easily pass classes while partying every night and sleeping all day, it can be discouraging.

It's very expensive and not much financial aid is given out through the school. On campus housing is very limited and not guaranteed if you are not a freshman. The housing is very expensive and the freshman dorms are extremely small compared to other campuses.

Not understanding something and not knowing where to find answers.

The most frustating this about Penn State is probably not being able to stay here forever! That, and it's quite an expensive state school.

So large! So many people. There are so many people here, you would expect diversity, but most students are caucasian from Pittsburgh or Philadelphia and all look and act the same.

Although the campus is generally lively on the weekend, it seems as though housing shuts down a lot of the food options. It's not easy to find food on campus on the weekends, and practically nothing it open before 11 AM where I live.

Lack of scholarships and grants for students who aren't minority or extremely poor.

Paying for everything outside of tuition

The school is surrounded by nothingness, and beause of this nothing is available -- if you need medication in the middle of the night, you'll have to wait because there are no pharmacies open after midnight close to campus. If you need to buy a coat, you'll have to take a 15 minute bus ride off campus -- and even then, all you're getting is a Wal-Mart. The most frustrating thing is that it is just campus, plopped down in the middle of fields and fields of grass. It's rather difficult to easily access anyting.

Sometimes it can be hard to get into frat parties, especially with the same amount of guys as girls.

Everybody drinks all the time

Its too big its hard to stay in touch with a lot of people you meet. Winter time here sucks because its too cold.