Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Top Questions

Penn State provides you with the ultimate college experience. Whether you are interested in the Division 1 athletics, the vast number of music organizations, student leadership or service, there are others just like you working towards a common goal. The University does a great job making sure that each major has an incredible support network and there are so many ways to supplement your education in the classroom through volunteerism and leadership. Everyone has a ton of school pride and the most common complaint is that students don't want to go home or graduate.

The best thing about this school is that it has its own downtown area. It's awesome. I pass by it everyday. Although it isn't that big, coming from a big city, many other colleges don't have one. It's quaint and has pretty much everything you need from food stores, cafes, convenience stores, bars, clothing stores (many of which sell Penn State apparel), book stores, and a few other neat shops. Overall, I look how my school is physically. However, one thing I'd change is the Physics and Engineering departments. I have a lot of friends who are Engineering majors and they have to take many courses involving math, physics, chemistry, etc. I've heard them complain constantly about these two departments specifically. I'm a mathematics major myself. I have no real complaints about that department. I think my school is too large. It's great being surrounded by so many people, but it seems that it's harder to make friends because of it. I wouldn't want it to be a really small school but reduce the number of students by about 5,000-10,000. During peak lunch hours, there is absolutely nowhere to sit in the HUB, so you better get your food to go then unless you get lucky and grab a table as a group is leaving. People are often happy that I go there, for its "prestige". After the Sandusky scandal, I'm not sure if that's still the case. I spend most of my time in the HUB, because I work there and it's a great place to relax or catch up on some work, even read the NY times. I like to think of the University Park Campus as a big bubble. Everyone pretty much stays in the same area during the semester unless they need to go to Walmart on North Atherton or the one by the Nittany Mall. With our new president in office, I like that he communicates with his students more regularly as opposed to President Spanier's frequency of communication. Biggest controversy? Well, definitely the Sandusky scandal which made it to the international level of news. The riots initiated by SOME Penn State students made our school as a whole look even worse when they decided to flip a news van. Additionally, it led to the resignation of President Spanier and firing of the legendary Joe Paterno (who recently passed away, R.I.P. Joe). One could write a whole book on this but that's the bare minimum for that question. There was a tremendous amount of school pride but after the riot, the student body seems to be divided. No longer do we hear "We are... Penn State!" unless there's a tour group around. We still are a unified body however when it comes to raising money for pediatric cancer, this year we raised over $10,000,000 in THON! All of these events I will remember, the Sandusky scandal, the ousting of Spanier and Paterno, and more importantly the legacy left behind by Coach Paterno himself. Also, I will remember how we're able to collectively assemble into a proud, unified unit and raise money for sick children everywhere. A frequent student complaint is the price hike in tuition every year. More and more friends of mine cannot afford to go to college and are forced to transfer to a cheaper college. I am struggling myself with these constant price increases every year.

The thing I like the most about Penn State is certainly the undying efforts the community put into helping kids fight cancer. The campus, which is nestled in the small State College borough, is huge and really beautiful. However, because about 40,000 students attend the main campus, you have to bear with large classrooms and less individual attention. Education can definitely be strengthened with more doctoral level faculty. SOme classes are taught by graduate students, and I don't particularly like that. As far as any recent controversy goes, I don't think I need to throw anymore light on the recent scandal that Penn State has been thrust in. Even so, it is important to understand that although it reflected poorly on the university as a whole, it does not negate the efforts of the students, who raise millions of dollars each year to save kids from cancer. That boosts the pride of Penn State!

Well, Penn State is a large school. Some people do not feel comfortable at these big schools and can sometimes get overwhelmed by the number of students that attend here. It is easy to find a group of friends, but you should evaluate if you easily are overwhelmed and determine the importance of small classes. I was surprised at how much I liked the large classes, as I was always a class participator in class. The further you get in your major, the smaller the classes are which is always nice. In the past, whenever I told people I attended Penn State, the reaction was always a positive one. People always seemed to hold a high respect level for Penn State, which helped me build my sense of pride in my school. Now, with the recent events, its a little different and mixed reactions which I hope will change. This is the epitome of a college town, State College is smack dead in the middle of Pennsylvania, and the whole town is centered around Penn State. The town itself is very cute and small, filled with Penn State memorabilia stores and privately owned boutiques. Almost all students live in the downtown area or in what is called "west campus". This makes it nice for students because they do not need to travel very far to visit friends or reach the downtown area. I really liked how Penn State's campus was large, but condensed, it never takes more than 30 minutes to walk anywhere that you need to go, which isn't always the case with other large schools that I had visited. We have had a large controversy recently, what is said to be the largest controversy ever in collegiate sports. Penn State was always known for its integrity, and had a clean slate in terms of football and administration issues. However, this year it was brought to everyones attention that a former Penn State coach was molesting young boys under the noses of our administration and the late Joe Paterno (46 year Penn State coach, one of the most respected coaches in the world). The details of the investigation are still pending, but it has shed a very harsh light on our school. Although this is very embarrassing, it has not effected any of our educations and does not accurately reflect Penn State as an academic establishment. The students here have had a difficult time dealing with this issue, but we seem to be moving forward and continue to have a strong sense of pride in our school for all of the good things we do do. This brings me to THON, the worlds largest student run philanthropy. Penn State's student run no sit, no sleep dance marathon is one of the most incredible parts of our school. The Penn State student body spends all year fundraising for the four diamonds fund, a philanthropic fund who's primary focus is to provide all assistance needed to families of children with pediatric cancer. Last year we were able to raise $9.5 million. THON itself is a weekend in February where hundreds of student "dancers" (being a dancer is a very huge honor and fairly difficult to obtain) do not sit or sleep for 46 straight hours in our Bryce Jordan Center. The weekend consists of families, fun, games, student performances, etc. The final four hours of THON are probably the most memorable, there is family hour where families will come and tell their stories about their experience with the four diamonds fund (warning: lots of tears are shed) and also the final total reveal. We have done nothing but increase our total since I arrived at Penn State in 2008, and hopefully we continue to raise more money to help children with cancer.

I love Penn State!!! I wanted to come here for the pride, history, and traditions. Although there are a lot of students, we are all one big family. It may be difficult for someone coming from a small school to adjust here, but there is an organization for everyone and all you have to do is get involved!

It is a large school with big campus and a lot of students from different places even different countries. Football game is the most popular event on campus. When I was a freshman and sophomore year student, I spent a lot of time envolving with student clubs and activities, parties and everything related with that; on junior year and senior year, I spent more time on study because high level major courses are more chanllenge and I need to prepare myself for future career after graduation. Penn State students are very proud of this school, even if people walking around campus, they might shout " We are? Penn State. We are? Penn State. We are? Penn STATE. Thank you! You are welcome!" The passing semester, our previous football coach and president had been fired by the trustee board of PSU, most of the students are felt so sad about that. In addition, recently years, more and more students complaint about the increasing of tuition.

I love the pride my school has. Students and alumni alike are so passionate about all things having to deal with Penn State and it never fades. Because the school is so large, everyone can find a way to get involved and find a good fit for themselves. I also love the Penn State Dance MaraTHON, which exemplifies what a great group of people go to this school.

My initial reaction to PSU was that it was way too large and way too cold! I was dragged along on tours with my older brother, and I could not fathom why he would want to wander around a campus in which he would be one in over 40,000. Once he started his career as a Penn State student, I really saw the value in PSU. Any time I visited, I couldn't help but notice the pride, spirit and community that the student body displayed. It really gave this large campus a small, close nit family feel. Not only did the students display this to me, but also alumni showed an immense amount of dedication to their alma mater. With the largest dues paying alumni in the world, Penn State offers an expansive network of people to reach out to for help with internships or jobs. Once a Penn Stater always a Penn Stater holds true when you dive into conversation with an alum you may have just met but feel like you've known for years based on your PSU commonality. As far as academics go, this university offers over 160 majors and countless minors. I have enjoyed all of my classes and professors so far. I love that I have the opportunity to double major and minor, which can make me marketable to employers in the future. With over 900 clubs, the activities I have chosen to get involved with have been just as valuable as some of my classes to be honest. These extracurriculars have made the world of difference when it comes to meeting people and making friends at such a large university. Every day is a new experience meeting new people and no two days are ever the same. Remember: you can make a big school small but you can't make a small school big!

I absolutely love my school. I come from a very small hometown, so I was apprehensive about coming to a university with over 40, 000 students. But, within just weeks of being here, the state college area that had once seemed overwhelmingly huge, now seemed so much smaller and close-knit. After going to my first football game, the closeness of the PSU family was even more clear. School pride is so strong here, and especially in light of recent events (i.e. the child abuse scandal), such closeness has been crucial to holding us all together. WE ARE Penn State.

The best things about this school are The College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, the large amount of alumni willing to help out current students/hire them, and the numerous resources and opportunities available to undergraduates. I'd make lowering alcohol consumption a bigger priority since many kids get hurt through overdoing it. The school is very large and can be overwhelming but once you get into a club or small college, that community will be small so you can just stay within it. When I say I go to Penn State, they will mention football, Joepa, "We Are", or now the scandal. I spend most of my time in the main building for my college (Deike). Great college town, tons to do on and off campus on the weekends (not just drinking). School's new president seems really great and I am very optimistic about the changes he is making!I don't think I need to explain the biggest controversy on campus...There is an overwhelming amount of school pride! By students and alumni- probably most spirited college! Most frequent student complaint: tuition too high.

My favorite thing about this school is the sense of community you get when you step onto any of the campuses. They feel inviting and friendly. Whenever I attend a game the people around me are always happy and cheering together and of course very prideful. On the weekends taking the bus is one of my favorite things to do. These bus are not the average bus ride you're thinking of we sing in unison and shout out our school motto with smiles on our faces and our arms wrapped around each other. Its truly a once in a lifetime college experience like how colleges are portrayed on tv but its real. And if you ask any student they will say they are proud to be a student at our school.

The thing I like most about Penn State is that there is so much to be proud of. The amount of charity and student run philanthropy project is staggering. We are the number one school in the country among recruiters from leading companies, according to the Wall Street Journal. We are a leading research institution accredited by the National Science Foundation. We are over 94,000 students across campuses, with alumni in every state and 87 foreign countries. We are the creators of the number one student-run philanthropy in the world, raising over $78 million for the Four Diamonds Fund since THON's creation in 1977. This is an incredible university. For the Glory. WE ARE PENN STATE!

Penn State is a very large university with over 40,000 students. Being a huge school, Penn State offers many different academic and extracurricular programs. Penn State is diverse, but not as diverse as I feel it could be. There is definitely an obvious majority of white students, and personally, I would like to see Penn State branch out to include a broader range of races and ethnicities. I feel the minority groups on campus are the ones that keep campus alive. One of the best events hosted at Penn State this past year was PRIDE week hosted by the LGBTA Resource Center. I feel that the lesser known groups are the ones that keep Penn State interesting and they always have amazing events in which everyone can participate. The great thing about Penn State though is that almost every student can find an organization to which they can fit and belong because there are so many. Personally, I spend a lot of my own time outside of school working with the Blue & White Society and bridging connections between students and the Alumni Association. Penn State thrives off its ability to network with students. I think this is where a lot of the student pride comes from. Even though it is so large a school, many students feel that they are and will forever be a part of the Penn State community. As the saying goes, We Are Penn State. No matter where you are on campus, you can feel the vibe that is Penn State. It is a community of students and faculty fully committed to keeping the school alive and vibrant. Everyone takes pride in knowing that they go to a school filled with many opportunities both inside and outside the classroom, and I feel that is what makes Penn State unique.

I have yet to meet as many alumni from any other university that have as much school pride as those who graduate from Penn State. When you are accepted to Penn State, you immediately join a join one of the largest university families in the country. Penn State is a large university made up of many different types of students and faculty, but instead of creating a sense of division among the differing groups, Penn States joins them together. By the time each student graduates, they have acquired countless traditions unique to Penn State.

If I were to change anything it's the location, being in the middle of the state is really inconvenient if you want to get away from the school for awhile. In fact University Park pretty much breathes Penn State.

People take notice when you say you go to Penn State. Unless you're taking to someone who went Ivy, they will be impressed if you say you go to main campus. The size of PSU can seem a little scary at first, but once you get used to it and start to meet people, it gets much smaller. Anytime I'm walking on campus, I see at least one person I know. The surrounding town makes basically anything you really need in walking distance and anything that would be beyond walking distance has a bus.

THE College Town. State college is by far the coolest little city in the world. The city is absolutely geared toward the university with eateries, bars, little shops, and all kinds of stuff. Of all schools I've ever visited the downtown is within the shortest walking distance, has the most diverse store fronts, is the cleanest, and all the employees downtown are students, giving a very relaxed atmosphere. Football weekends are wild, with the entire city in pretty much another mode of life.

Penn State is all about school pride. I spend most of my time outside in the nice weather. I love walking to class and there are so many little places to relax or study on campus. The library is great when you really need to focus or the HUB lawn when you feel like laying out in your bikkini. Anytime I tell people I go to Penn State I get a really positive response. I have been really successful in finding internships and jobs. I'm a B average student but motivated and I think that Penn State has helped me learn HOW to get a job and the social skills I need to interact in the business world. The bus system is great if you don't like walking a lot. The winters are cold but the spring and fall are great. I don't think I know anyone personally who regrets comming to PSU. Great place! Thats why we call it "happy valley". Definitely not the "city" life but 35,000 students sometimes make it seem that way. Not hard to find your way around either. Everyone is really friendly

Penn state is fun, but don't get involved in the greek system if you don't feel like you belong there. You won't find that many friends and you'll only hang out with sorority girls who mostly only like guys who dress in expensive clothes and are rich. I have met some of my best friends through my fraternity but for the most part I don't feel like I belong there. Its not that bad though.

PSU is a big party school. If you're not into that, its still a great school, but it may be hard to find your niche. Freshmen generally go to frats on the weekends but as you get to know more people you grow out of that. South Halls are the best to live in. Best location by far. Our buses run til 2 am so if you're out later than that you've gotta walk home or call a cab. We have sooo much pride and football is amazing. I can't wait to go back (being summer now), its the best time of my life.

I spend alot of my time in the Student offfice, just hanging out with my friends and do work both for class and different clubs and organizations. We are big when you get here, but you soon see how small it is and how each of us fit in somewhere. I am either in my room, gym, field, class, or offices. We are most known for..THON! It is the highlight of our Spring semester.

The size of PSU is just right. Its possible to find your way around after about three weeks but after being here for a year now (I transferred from Wagner College on Staten Island) I still find things downtown that I haven't seen before. I do enjoy PSU's football months but honestly when PSU is football free it couldn't be any better. The atmosphere is so relaxed. During football months downtown is crowded and it's IMPOSSIBLE to find a place to park. One thing I love about PSU is that because it is so big there are so many clubs and organizations to get involved in. The size and amount of clubs also keeps the club sizes themselves smaller than usual so it is easy to make friends. What they say about Happy Valley is TRUE. Everyone here is so nice and the administration goes out of their way to help you if you have a good attitude.

The school is big but theres ways to break that down. There's a club for everything imaginable, from disc golf to model railroading to fly fishing, to even something more mainstream like baseball. The thing about it being big is if you can find your niche or group of friends, the size can only help you. Penn State is recognizable on the national scale, and thats great for networking and future job prospects. One problem I think a lot of people have is the school's in the middle of the mountains, 2 hours from the nearest big city. If you're a city kid this may affect you but really I didn't think it was a big deal, there's still plenty to do and ton's of culture like you'd find in a city anyway.

School is large but that is nice because there are always new people. You get to know people in your dorm and in some classes. Dining commons food is normally complained about, but I think it is better than what would be at some other schools. Decent variety of food choices on campus. Despite some questionable food days, PSU has a good food situation.

Obviously, Penn State's a big school. If that's not what you're looking for, then don't come here. However, if you want a lot of opportunities: socially, academically, and professionally, then PSU is a great place to be. There are lots of people at Penn State, so you can pretty much find your niche anywhere. Frats and Sororities are pretty big, too, if that's your thing. On the whole, there is something to do virtually every night you're up there. One thing that's great about having a large school is that it has a huge alumni base. This is good for interviews, because chances are good that you'll be being interviewed by a PSU grad, thus, you already have some common ground. Most of facilities are in great condition; specifically, the Business Building is virtually state-of-the-art.

Penn State has everything anyone could want. It's huge, but still intimate. Anybody with any interest can find their niche here. I will take with me the pride that everyone feels for Penn State. We have the largest alumni association, so that says a lot. My grandmother, uncles, great uncles, dad, brother and cousins are and will be alumni along with me, so it creates a great sense of pride and unity in my own family. My friends here are my family and I know I'll be seeing them as long as I come back for football games, tailgating and other events. I hope I can send my kids here someday. The biggest life-changing experience happened to me at Penn State. I studied abroad for a semester during my Junior year. It was a great experience. I learned about myself, my home and so much about people, culture and life. Penn State encourages students to study abroad, and rightfully so.

The best and worst part of this campus is the size. Penn State is huge, therefore it offers a wide variety of activities and courses and many opportunities to meet new people. The problem with this is that it can be difficult to get to know your professors, and you need to know them if you ever want a recommendation for anything. Furthermore, most of the classes are taught by graduate students and lecturers, not full-fledged professors. This makes it even more difficult to get a decent recommendation for future endeavors. Most graduate schools, law schools, and medical schools only want recommendations from tenured professors.

It's a very big campus and, if you don't create a place for yourself, it's easy to get lost in the sea of students, here. Most of my friends from home laughed at me, because PSU's reputation is obviously for partying, not academics. I only came here for financial reasons, and never would have chosen it. It's kind of sad how stories containing the illegal actions of our football team populate the local papers; even so, an obsession with football flows through the veins of most students. There's certainly a lot of school pride - the level of solidarity is comforting to some, and nauseating to others. The stereotype of Penn Staters being very interested in partying and getting wild is definitely true; while most students attend class and do well enough, I would not say that intellectualism abounds. You're more likely to find trashy sorority girls wandering the sidewalks than motivated students with their nose in a book.

The first thing people ask me when I tell the I go to Penn State is if I go to the University Park campus or a branch campus. What does it matter? There's this stigma that if you go to a branch campus you're not as smart as someone who goes to University Park. That's not true. Branch campuses have many smart kids too, as well as honors programs. Just because you go to a branch campus doesn't mean you're less intelligent than a student at University Park.

This school is just the right size. At Penn State, you have the option to meet any people you want to in a variety of social settings. Some of these are organized by the university, and some are organized by others, but they truly offer a range of life experiences. At Penn State you are constantly challenged to make decisions about the type of person you want to be, about the lifestyle you want to live and how you want to make an impact. Many people say that Penn State is too large for them. Friends and acquaintances have told me that they wouldn't want to come here because it's too big and they wouldn't want to get lost in the fray. The truth is, you just need to get plugged in and that won't even be an option. Once you make close friends here, however you choose to do so, you can hardly walk to class without recognizing a familiar face. As the years go by you begin to have classes with the same people and to become good friends. You also tighten bonds with those you met in the beginning. For me, a student organization provided better friends than I've ever had before. They have helped me to adapt and adjust to school as time has gone on. They are one of the most important parts of my experience here.

I love going to school here. It is definitely called Happy Valley for a reason and there is no other place like it. Whenever I come back after a break I am always filled with happiness and I feel safe here. It may be a little too large for some people, but I enjoy this aspect of it, since there is always the opportunity to meet new people. Being a member of greek life makes it seem a lot smaller. There are also plenty of other ways to get involved, such as THON, which is a huge deal here. There is so much school pride here. Attending a football game is an incredible experience and PSU fans are considered some of the best in the country.

Penn State is an extremely large school and the University Park campus is in the top ten for total enrollment. Although the size of the campus can be overwhelming at first, it doesn't take long before you know the campus like the back of your hand and see acquaintances everywhere you walk. The campus itself is beautiful and the scenery around Penn State is spectacular. State College is a perfect town with just the right amount of restaurants to satisfy any craving you have. If you're not into parties on weekends, then there's always alternatives from movies to skiing (in the winter - which lasts a VERY long time). Also, crime is almost non-existent here giving some credibility to the nickname "Happy Valley."

Overall, I feel that Penn State does a good job offering lots of possible academic paths. However, the quality of the various tracts can be debatable. Many of the Gen Eds or lower courses are taught more by the TAs than the professors, which is troubling due to a weaker background in the subject. Furthermore, few professors or TAs have had any kind of formal training in teaching. While knowing your subject is an important aspect of teaching, it is only a fraction of the whole picture. Another problem I worry about is the business-like nature of the college and the way in which students are (quite literally) simplified down to a number. It is, at times, difficult to object to an unjustified decision or grade. I endured one particular instance of this that was, quite literally, life changing. While pre-service teaching (much like student teaching), a claim was brought against me that I had done a number of things that were intolerable (such as wearing biking shorts to teach in - false, trying to start an afterschool program - true but I went through the appropriate avenues, dress code violations - possible though the office staff said they had no written guide to provide me when I'd asked prior to my ejection). I was told to sign a contract, while in a visibly distressed state, requiring that i never speak to anyone from that school district again. I was not allowed to apologize, inquire or anything else. Furthermore, my supervisor, who is supposed to bring up concerns and help mediate the student and the school district, never told me anything about the problems. She claimed the school asked her not to report to me, that they would "handle it themselves". I was never told anything by the school either. My academic advisor (who is in charge of the major itself) found the situation ridiculous, as well, since she, too, by protocol, should have been informed. In any event, to make this very long story shorter, every appeal I made was met with an "I'll talk to Mrs. X" to find out the details, which provided me no opportunity to explain my side of the situation. I was refused any possible solutions even though I only had one week left of the program before completion when I was ejected. Aside from this situation, however, I have found the major I was previously in to be very beneficial and full of more experience than your typical education program. I was very thankful of this. Onto a totally different topic, I spend my time mostly at class or at home. I have lived off-campus and out of state college for the second half of my college experience. I had random roommates for the first two years. I can't complain about any of my situations and found that the entire area around here is lovely in its own, different way - much like people.

The academics are great. The school is the right size. People usually seem moderately impressed I'm at this school and think I'm smart. I wish the mainstream could have fun without alcohol. College town. I usually go to class, work out (pool is overcrowded), socialize with friends, do the extracurriculars, do any homework, play video games. Lots of school pride. PSU jocks (most of the school) are generally homophobic or closeted.

The best thing about PSU is the variety of people, activities, majors and classes. There are so many different things to do with your spare time, and so many different ways to get involved. I'd probably change the fact that most of the people here do tend to fit the "drunk football fan" stereo type. But it's not everyone, so it's not that big of a deal. Penn State is VERY large, but that's one of the reasons I love it here. I came to Penn State in part because I knew it was big. The bigness is great. People I talk to tend to think it's a good school. Everyone knows where it is. I ALWAYS get asked if I go to football games. I really only go to campus to go to classes and meetings. If I have time in between classes, I do homework in the stacks because it's quiet, or in the hub if I want to be sociable. The Reserve Reading Room in the Library is a great place to nap, and there are computer labs in almost every building so it's easy to check my email (or facebook, haha) from pretty much anywhere. College Town. For sure. It's called STATE COLLEGE for Christ's sake! I'm not honestly a fan of the admin. Professors come in all shapes and sizes, so that's nice. But I don't like a lot of the decisions the higher-ups make. They seem only concerned about money and not the welfare of students. A big recent controversy was over the fact that a lot of Penn State clothes, etc. is made in sweat shops and whether or not the admin should do something about it. However Pop vs. Soda and Sheetz vs. Wawa is more prominent. There is a ton of school spirit. Everyone wears PSU clothes. Most people go to sporting events. And there's Thon. Pretty much, everyone is proud of Penn State because they have reason to be. WE ARE..... PSU has a lot of little quirky, unusal things that most places don't. But they're not really apparent. Like, we're an aborium, and have lots of different kinds of trees all over campus. I'm not going to lie, I'll always remember my first football game. So cliche. But I'll also always remember what it felt like to realize I had found my group of friends that I'd know for the rest of my college career, and probably my life among the thousands of people here. The most frequent student complaint seems to be about having to walk far for classes. But most people avoid the freshman fifteen that way, so it's not so bad.

The big big campus and the greenry. The Engineering building. It is very large. They seem impressed. IST building my department. It is a college town. PSU administration is very good and understand. The PSU Islam facisim weeek. Yes there is a lot of school pride. Its a very old university and you can see amish people. The PSU Vs MSU game. The tution is too high

Penn State is in the middle of nowhere. Literally located in the very center of Pennsylvania (in Centre county) completely surrounded by mountains. We have a tiny little town attached to it, which is quaint. But the college is HUGE. Being in the middle of nowhere means you're basically trapped there most of the school year, and that limits who comes in and out. But boy, do we sure know how to throw parties. It's small town mentality with a big town population (when you include all the students of course).

The best thing is the extra curricular and academic opportunities that are offered to the students. I would change the weather. This school is the perfect size. People get excited when I tell them I go to PSU. There is a very large amount of school spirit. I will always remember the football games.

The campus is really pretty but one thing I would change would be the atmosphere, where drinking is such a major part of the school and its student life. people always react well when I tell them I go to PSU, they say "yeh, thats a good school". There definitely is a lot of school pride, and that is one thing I admire and love about PSU. I will always remember the experience of THON and having a THON family to take care of and interact with. The most complaints would be teh fact that tuition is so high and honestly, it doesnt seem like we benefit from the money. Being on main campus, we do not have the same normal benefits other branch campuses have. Such as free printing, etc.

The best thing about PSU is the people. I wouldn't change a thing. Size is just right. People always compliment the school when i tell them I go here. Most of my time on campus is in class. great college town. Administration is efficiet and organized. Controversy on campus....don't know. Tons of school pride. Nothing unusual, I'd say it's just like any other large instituiton. I will always remember football games. Football tickets selling out is a big complaint.

Penn State has a strong football tradition. Most people are from the NE US and are white. There is little diversity among students but the university does try to promote diversity. Another huge function is THON, which is run by the inter- fraternity council. A lot of Greeks and nongreeks participate and millions of dollars have been raised for childhood cancer research. I enjoy the size of Penn State, I wanted to go to a large university and Penn State fit right into that category.

i love going to psu, i couldn't imagine being anywhere else. i love the size of it. when i tell people i go to psu, they seem impressed. and sometimes jealous! on campus i spend most of my time in classrooms or at the hub. i love the college town atmosphere. i had a friend visit once and she said she felt like she was in a movie. i think that the administration does a good job. its hard to run a school this large. the biggest recent controversy on campus was probably all of the protests with the anti-sweatshop group. there is a ridiculous amount of school pride, and i love that about this school.

Its a little city in the middle of PA, so definitely "college town". Everythings great about PSU: the classes, teachers, students, environment...etc I always get a great reaction when I tell someone I attended PSU.

I like that psu is a really big school. Some of my friends who go to smaller schools think that they would feel lost if they went here but the truth is that psu has a small town feel even though it's so large. I run into people I know all the time, and I like not knowing everybody. It's fun meeting new people and making new friends.

Penn State is a Land Grant school (aka, "Big 10"). It's large, classes are large, students are mostly expected to navigate their educations and daily lives on their own. The town is an isolated, "college town", and after graduating and leaving I find truely was a "Happy Valley" Bubble. The advantages are that everywhere I've gone, even if people don't recognize "Penn State" (like out here on the west coast), they sure as hell recognize Joe Paterno, and that's pretty cool. I've never met anyone who doesn't root for Jo Pa. Also, of course, there's a very wide range of classes and activities, a huge slew of athletic facilities, incredible football fever, a beautiful campus, and a national reputation. Disadvantages, in my opinion, are the relative lack of diversity among students (lots of pretty well-off white middle class kids who all seem to fit in one of 6 different personality types), a general "I'm here only to get my degree" academic sentiment, general lack of personal attention/time from professors and counselors, a town that revolves around getting drunk, and a little bit of police overkill (lots of ticketing and focusing on drunken college students and "drug busts" for pot).

The best thing about Penn State is a toss up between the people and the football. Football Saturday is the best representation of the Penn State spirit. Lots of friends talking about the good times, meeting new people, eating drinking, having a great time with you love the most in world. People are so passionate about football. The team, the energy, Joe Pa, all inspire Penn State to excellence. My school is just right. i have a great group of friends, but there are 44.000 people on campus. it can be overwhelming only if it you let it. state college definitely cateers to the students. Without Penn State, State College won't exist. School pride is everywhere, it's rediculous. I think that's the thing penn state's known for, definitely our spirit.

the size of the school is just right. there is a lot of school pride. it is a college town.

Penn State is just right. I spend most of my time at the library. It is a college town.

Someone visiting PSU from a city school once said "This isn't a real place...this isn't the real world", and I think that's fairly accurate. It's essentially a miniature city in the middle of rural Pennsylvania tailored entirely to 40,000 college students. The large majority of "downtown" is made up of apartment complexes, bars, and restaurants, though you can find pretty much anything you need. Despite the size of the student body, the campus is small enough that you can walk anywhere you need to be in 10-15 minutes. During the day the HUB will be packed with students grabbing a bite to eat, having group meetings, or killing time in between classes. On a nice day you can find tons of people throwing the football or Frisbee around on the HUB or Old Main lawn, or grabbing a drink outside at the cafe. On a Friday or Saturday night the students leaving parties downtown will line up for $1 slices of Canyon pizza. The football games are something everyone on campus loves, even if you're not the biggest football fan. The tailgating always starts first thing in the morning and there will be tailgaters around the stadium as far as the eye can see. Nothing compares to a night game at Beaver Stadium. PSU students have an inordinate amount of school pride, and alum are constantly going back and visiting.

The atmosphere, the students, the professors, the buildings and the HUB. Just right. They are impressed. HUB, computer labs and the Pattee. College town. There is a lot of school pride. One frequent complain is tuition is too high, another is book cost.