Pennsylvania State University

The study of graduate biology at Penn State was quite an experience. I will give the positives first. There were some very bright and dedicated professors, especially among the more highly regarded academics. However, the treatment of graduate students was a complete scandal. Teaching assistants were placed in a position where they were routinely cooperating with some highly innapropriate behavior. As an example, students would often tell teaching assistants to give them a better grade, or they would do everting in their power to get them in trouble. Because of the manner in which things were run, this was usually effective. If you did not cooperate with behavior along these line, you had a political problem. The teaching assistants were managed by a woman who worked every angle on the teaching assistants (Diane Burpee). She would even order the teaching assistants to tell the professors how great she was. If you didn't play her games, she would do everything possible to have you fired. It was a completely revolting job. I have never seen management as bad as that of the biology department teaching assistants. The graduate students constantly complained to each other about the place, but the lines of communication between them and the professsors were down. Also, though some top bioinformatics people are at Penn State, they are locked in bitter political and ideological disputes with top people at other universities. I have spent considerable time as a student in my life, and I never experienced anything like the Penn State biology department.

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000

The atmosphere at penn state is what drew me here first.
I grew up in a PSU home and it was my dads goal to see me get in. At first it was amazing! The party life, the friends I made and just the whole "WE ARE PENN STATE!"

It was awesome. But then reality kicked in my second semester. My teachers couldn't teach, I was learning from the books. I taught myself more then the teachers ever did. I had to rely on other students to help figure out difficult assignments, the advisers were horrible to me, and more and more I started to dislike it.

I was putting in so much effort and not getting any results. I didn't go to parties, I didn't hang out. I just studied and still struggled to hold a B average.

My program was horrible and I am transferring now. So are a bunch of other people in it as well.
I think the final straw for me was the JoePa firing. I'm sorry, but not many people at this school think for themselves. They all run into things because well "Its what everyone else is doing" Rioting? Hurting people? Knocking a truck over? That is not supporting JoePa that is being idiots. I'll miss the people I met but I don't think I'll miss much else

2nd Year Female -- Class 2014

University Resource Use/ spending: A-, Surrounding City: D+

Having many classes with 300+ students in them is very, very common. You WILL be treated as a number, not as a person. The campus makes poor use of existing facilities and seems to just keep building and building when it is not at all necessary. Tuition keeps going up and up and money seems to be no concern to the administration.

1st Year Male -- Class 2014

Extracurricular Activities: B, Individual Value: F