Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Top Questions

I wish I would have know how diverse college is socially. I go back and forth between classes ranging from twenty-five people to five hunded fifty people. Everyone is unique in their own ways and I know as I'm sitting at my ant-like desk in a world-like room, that I'm just as diverse as all the other students. It truely impresses me to see how other students and I adapt to the diversity of the college as a whole. I never knew the human race could adapt to something strange so easily.

I wih I would have known how little diversity there was at the school. It was a big culture shock going from a place like California where the people around you are used to different cultures and traditions to a school where some students see having one or two non whites in the class as being diverse.

Campus is big, but it isn't that big. I was so nervous my first week of classes, but after two days, I already knew my way around campus. Don't freak out, because all the other freshmen are in the same boat as you. Just carry a map in your backpack, plan to get there early incase you get lost, and you will be fine.

Better time management needed. Ways to save myself money.

Before I actually attended my very first semester of college, I wish I had known that my interests as a young adolescent were in fact the very makings of what my career path and goal would turn out to be! As a young boy, I had interests in math, efficiency, and understanding how things worked, both technically and socially. It turns out that a path towards a career in Environmental Psychology has all of that! So I am attending PSU as an Applied Psychology major. I was so indecisive as a Freshman.

I wish I knew more about the cost of Penn State and the activities available to get involved with. Currently, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed about my finical situation so I wish I would have tried harder in high school to win scholarships. I would have also liked to know more about some of the clubs and events at Penn State so I could have been more involved from the start and have an easier transition from high school to being away from home at college.

I wish I was told to be more out going and get more involved in campus life and activities.

Penn State is huge with an enormous amount of people and just as many things to get involved with. Don't wait to start getting involved and meeting new people. Your time at college will be tremendously better if you stop caring whether or not you look cool and just put yourself out there. Try new things and talk to everyone.

I wish i had known that it would be difficult to travel home on random weekends without a car, and that taking the bus really adds up.

I wish I had known more about the classes, exams, and grading. Coming in as a Freshmen I was thrown into hard sciences, like Biology and Chemistry. I didn't know what to expect on the exams and feel as if I could have done better and had a higher GPA if I was more familiar and comfortable with the grading criteria.

Drinking is a popular social activity among all ethnic groups, majors, etc. here- it is not limited to a particular type of student. Classes are large, particularly intro classes in the sciences, but that's not necessarily a bad thing- you just need to take the intiative to go to class, and you'll get as much out of class as you put into it. Don't underestimate the difficulty of classes just because it is a state university.

I wish they told you about the availability of different courses at the branch campuses. Because I transferred to a branch campus and then to University Park, I had to wait and take all my science courses at University Park, which has put me 2 semesters behind and brought my GPA down.

1) Don't procrastinate 2) Manage time better 3) Work and save money

i wish i knew exactly what i wanted to do. my academic advisor wasn't very helpful when i was picking my classes and when i was doubful of my future career.

I was very well-informed about Penn State before I became a part -time studet there, so there is not anything that I wish I would have known before attending PSU.

Where everything was.

How 'clicky' the students were. They do not take kindly to tranfer undergrad students, and it becomes very hard to make friends and have a positive social life. The professors are very into their research, so don't expect to get help if you don't understand something. I was stood-up by a tutor assigned through the university's tutoring program three times and finally gave up on finding a tutor.

This school is amazing, in nearly every aspect. Academics are obviously important yet social interactions and networking are major parts of the package. The Pennsylvania State offers a wide variety of classes and majors, all with highly ranked programs, thus making it an amazing place to further your education. The only problem I have is that I miss the atmosphere of a large city. Growing up around Philadelphia I have always been able to admire the skyline, thus inspiring me to strive for excellence.

I wish I knew how to study. High school was a breeze compared to Penn State. Also, I wish I knew about how many scholarships I could have applied for.

Before coming to Penn State University I wish I could have experienced more in real life that "the world does not wait on you." Penn state is a beautiful, well recognized University, hence my decision in attending the school, but with all the beauty comes a large price. With 46, 000 students at my campus, the everyday schedule is very fast paced. I wish that before coming to Penn State, that I could have been put into this "fast paced" lifestyle and given some time to learn how to fully operate in this type of environment before becoming a student.

That I belong in a smaller school.

Before coming to Penn State I wish I were taught more about how to get invlved with the campus clubs and greek life right away. I also would have liked to know more about the town. As an out-of-state student I was unaware of the downtown area and the restaurants around.

Pre-Requisites for my major and classes that I could have taken that would have better prepared me for the major.

How to organize everything. once you start college you have to learn how to be a college student compared to high school, and it's completely different.

How hard it is to maintain a gpa above a 3.0.

Too know how to get rid of test anxiety.

I wish I had known that, out of all the students that go to Penn State, that there are so many that fit with you, and it's not hard to get along with everyone. It also would've relieved me to know and realize that it isn't hard to find the 'right people' that you get along with, understand, and hang out with. Nor is it as hard to talk to professors and get help- I learned the long way that professors and other students in our classes are very willing to help and to study with you.

I always wanted to attend Penn State University. Since I was a young child I dreamnt of cheering in Beaver Stadium. I even named my dog Nittany after the university's mascot. When I was accepted I jumped at the offer to attend. I loved my first year, unfortunately it placed a heavy burden on my father financially. Since my parents are divorced he was responsible for paying my tuition. Sadly, his unemployment could not cover tuition and his chemo bills. If I would have known my dad would be diagnosed with cancer I would have attended a cheaper school.

better study tactics

I wish that I would have known the amount of different student organizations and the various ways to get involved. I also wish I would have known more about the business school in general and some facts about internships, majors, and full time jobs.

I wish I knew it was going to be so expenisive to live my life. There are many things that I need to pay for and cannot because I simple do not have the money. However, sometimes I can find a way to work out my monetary issues.

There is not much financial aid available.

I wish I would have known about all the added expenses in addition to tuition, housing, food etc. These would include items like gym fees and dues for clubs.

that the food was to expensive and bad

how important greek life is in order to make friends.

Talk to your advisor!

I wish I had known more about the equipment used in the film industry so that I could have a better idea of what equipment is best to use; they are teaching me that, though.

I wish I would have known how much college would cost with all of the different expenses involved.

How much reading is necessary. In HS teachers taught more. Now I need to learn a lot more from the books so Iwish i was a better reader before I came.

The best way to study and my way around campus.

I wish I knew all the majors available. And I wish I knew who to talk to.

I wish I would have know that taking summer classes before my freshman year would help me graduate earlier.

The campus layout better.

I wish I had known not to procastinate as I did after all these years. I should have attended Penn State long ago!

I honestly wish that I had furthered my study skills before coming here. It would have helped me greatly.

I wish I had been a bigger Penn State fan. And that I liked football. I wish I'd known I didn't need all of that crap that I brought with me the first time I moved here.

I wish that I knew that you could be any major you wanted to do to get into medical school, and not be strictly biology like I am, I wish I could of explored my options better.

I wish I had known what I was getting into. I wasn't prepared to take on 4 more years of intense learning.

I wish I had known how much fun penn state happens to be, especially so I could prepare myself not to easily disctracted from my academics. Nonetheless, there are many social distractions, but I feel the adjustment does not take that long if you're serious about it.

How much it all costs compared to how little financial aid i receive