Pennsylvania State University

Pennstate is the #1 most amazing place on this planet!! i just graduated, but would give anything to do it all over again. From the creamery to the eisenhower auditorium, to dowtown, everything is amazing. there's something to fit everyones needs. there's a large amount of clubs/organizations, and the town has cool shopping, dining, theater, arts, etc. Yes, drinking is a huge part and we're proud to be a community of students that congregates in town on the wknds! but that's not all there is to do! i didn't drink half my time there and I always had things to do and people to hang out with. once i was 21 i did go out to the bars, and thats a lot of fun too!!! so many to choose from.

to the people who are bashing pennstate for not being "racially diverse", get over yourselves! there's never going to be the "perfect" place for everyone when it comes to that. for me, i was totally happy with it. then again, thats not a factor that i consciously seek out, but its fine the way it is. the very meaning of the word "minority" means there is LESS. but in no way does pennstate purposely not accept people of diverse backgrounds. if you didn't like pennstate, then you probably have serious social issues, because it is the best place to go to school. i wish i could've spent more than 4 years there!!!! if you got accepted, don't think, just GO!!!

4th Year Female -- Class 2009

Campus Aesthetics: A+, Collaboration/Competitive: C

Penn State is THE best school in the country. Hands down. Honestly it is a great school where you can get an amazing education. The faculty I have come into contact with have been extremely knowledgeable and surprisingly helpful. Many will go out of their way to help you, just ask! Yes there is 50,000 kids here, yes you can easily feel like a number. It's up to you to change that. There are SO many clubs to get involved with from club sports to THON (everbody get involved in thon it was my most amazing experience at penn state). Greek life is awesome, but not for everyone. I love state college, it is super clean and safe and there really is a lot to do there. Yes we are a party school, but there is other stuff to do. I hate people that judge the students based on the party school rep. Honestly I'm a Biology and Neuroscience major and I go out wed-sat. and have a 3.6, it's all about balance. Penn state is just such a special place between football weekends and state pattys day. Honestly like JoePa says, "Come to Penn State!" You WILL NOT regret it!! : )

1st Year Female -- Class 2013

Education Quality: A+, Faculty Accessibility: C-

I've just read some of the negative comments posted about Penn State. A majority of them related to the parties and drinking scene found here. I will be honest with you. I think drinking is stupid and unnecessary. In fact, I highly fear drunk people. I do not drink at all and avoid the parties and I have never had a dull weekend here. There is so much to do! Late Night at the hub is always great. My friends and I are always downtown grabbing calzones or some warm cookies. Sometimes I'm busy with club activities. Concerts come in ALL the time, as well as broadway plays, all at discounted prices. The drinking seen just seems so large here because we are such a large university. You will find the same type of behavior anywhere you go, even more so at many Ivy Leagues (as told to me by friends who attend them. It just seems so excessive due to the amount of students we have. Personally, I feel like if you are partying you are kind of wasting your time here. There is so much you are missing out on if you spend your weekends wasted.

As for being looked down on for not drinking. That has NEVER happened to me. I'm sure people may think that, but they have never said it to my face. Everyone is really chill. If you respect their decision to drink, they will respect your decision not to. It's that simple. Sometimes they don't get it and you just have to smile and nod. It's really easy not to get sucked up in the drinking social aspect here. There are also A LOT more people here that don't drink than you'd think.My main feel is that you will get out of Penn State what you want to get out of it. This is true for almost anything in life so you better get started now. If all you want to see is drunk people, then you will see that. If you get invloved in the right clubs, surround yourself with people who feel the same as you, and respect everyone's decisions, you will have a great time =]

1st Year Female -- Class 2013

Individual Value: A+, Useful Schoolwork: B