Pennsylvania State University

The program was amazing. I got terrific training. State College is rotted from the inside out. Unbelievable racism. Every weekend night expect to here drunk morons screaming things like "faggot", "I'm gonna fuck that bitch". Read the police report each monday and hear about all the property that was destroyed over the weekend, the "altercations" that led to assault, and the arrests for public drunkeness. There are some amazing and terrific students here for sure, but that is not what you see on a Friday or Saturday night when you are trying to have a social life. What gets me the most is that they are proud of it. They brag about drinking and partying all the time. There are even editorials in the school newspaper on how "you can drink on a Monday or Tuesday night and not feel like an alcoholic." They see downtown state college as their binge drinking playground where they are free to stumble, piss and puke in the streets, scream at the top of their lungs, and destroy property. So you can either stay home all the time to avoid it or go out and try and ignore it. Nice life huh?

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000

At first glance Penn State is wonderful. You go on the tour which basically highlights the places to eat in the HUB, and you are taken away by the beauty of the campus. That's all it has going for it. The nightlife is good if you drink. Frat partys are not as prevalent since the hiring of a new IFC director. Apartment partys are every weekend, but they get old fast. Drinking is the norm and if you don't then there really isn't anything to do in town. There are many bars, only if you are 21, but other than that state college has about three main streets, college, beaver, atherton. If your used to a city or living in a town that has more than 3 major streets or where people know what a turnpike is don't come here.

The engineering department is more concerned about research and getting into publications. The president of the university in press statements always insists that this is a student oriented university, but that is not the case. People say that once you get past the intro courses the classes become smaller. In the engineering department small classes are about 150-180, at least in chemical engineering, where even in the 200 level classes they still have TA teaching the class. Advising is terrible. Most of them just read off the engineering website. You are basically and student number.

Fraternity life is huge and frat kids don't associate with kids who don't choose greek life, or "independents" as they call them.

Overall I am looking into transferring. The quality of education is terrible. If you are one who wants student and professor relationships don't come here. Yes you'll hear that the profs have office hours and that's when you can get to know them. But my one professor has one hour a week for about 180 students.So if you don't want to know your professors, be a student number and have drink as the only thing to do on the weekend come to Penn State.

2nd Year Male -- Class 2011

Perceived Campus Safety: A+, Faculty Accessibility: F