<p>We just came back from visiting PSU one of the accepted student days. We're looking for advice from anyone on this site re:housing. The tour guides and some others said East Halls is the best place for freshman to live , but we also got some feedback from a friend who's a freshman there, that she LOVES living in the South Halls because of the convenience to most major buildings on campus, as well as to town. She said there are plenty of freshman in her dorms, just not as "roudy" as the east Dorms. Also, does anyone have advice on the Discover House "living learning housing" for students in the Division of Undergraduate Studies? Is this a good option? Please help us out if you can. Thanks</p>
<p>I agree with what your freshman friend told you. D is a current student and she was in Pollock (near South) and like the proximity to town. I heard a few stories about antics at East and I think it is to be expected with so many kids that have not been away from home before and get a little carried away. Son is starting next year and has requested West Halls. D said these are closest to most of the classroom buildings and the rooms are a little bigger with "atmosphere" (yeah, he might care about atmosphere!). I know a lot of the freshmen like East Halls, I just think there is more there to distract them.</p>
<p>My son also requested West Halls. Same reasons as described above...plus he is an IST major and they have a floor. He said he was too lazy to walk the extra way to classes and he likes the more laid back atmosphere...</p>
<p>what did your son mean by "atmosphere" of the dorm rooms?</p>
<p>S was in Pollock which is adjacent to South and also a short walk to town. The rooms are somewhat small and a little dark, but a few lamps brighten up the place. I was surprised on how generally quiet the place was. We visited on weekends a few times and the place was much quieter than I anticipated.</p>
<p>South is adjacent to and supposedly nicer than Pollock. Atherton and Simmons contain alot of the honors college students, McElwain is basically an all female dorm and has decent sized rooms. I don't know anything about the rest of the South dorms.</p>
<p>Since Pollock and South are so close together, the students have the advantage of having a lot of dining choices available between the two areas and McElwain is known for having one of the better dining commons. The following link lists the choices: Penn</a> State Food Services</p>
<p>Advice to student: If you choose to live in the party dorms you can never leave the party but if you choose a quieter dorm you can always go to the party and choose to leave it behind when you are partied out. East=Party.</p>
<p>sax-
I concur wholeheartedly. That was exactly the advice we gave S when he was choosing housing for this year.</p>
<p>I am a freshmen in South and I love it. I go to East occasionally to party but would hate living there.</p>
<p>sax, I also agree with your advice. I wonder why the First Year In Science and Engineering House is in East? Anybody have any experience with or comments on FISE House? Housing:</a> Undergraduates</p>
<p>Thanx for all the responses. Still looking for info re: Discover Housing Program (for DUS students) from anyone who has lived in it.</p>
<p>I know the cost is more for special living options. You might want to check into that first.</p>
<p>mrtagr: Thanks. i didn't know the cost is higher. I'll check that out.</p>
<p>My son did not want to do any special living options because he was put off by the requirements for participation and thought he would be too busy...but I wish he had tried it:
1. You are with a similar group of kids (same major interest)
2. The activities are relating to your major and may help you decide which path to take (especially for Discovery house & DUS)
3. I think you are guaranteed housing on campus as long as you stay in the option. I am not positive about this but if true it is a great deal - the annual housing angst is horrible...</p>
<p>What kind of chance do freshmen have of getting into some dorm other than East? Some students who might love Penn State might hate living in the party dorm.</p>
<p>Freshman have a great chance of not staying in east. They can even ask to stay in honors dorms as a number of kids in honors dorms are not in SHC.</p>
<p>Psat, I think the atmosphere my daughter was referring to was in the architecture of the buildings (she's an architecture major). I think West is the oldest dorm section and I believe we heard that they were styled after the Ivy league schools.</p>
<p>Sax, I totally agree. That's why we requested South for our son (we're hoping for Atherton or Simmons, but weren't given the option of requesting specific dorms).</p>
<p>I lived in Discover House last year as a freshman and it would say it was the best decision I ever made besides coming to Penn State. I lived in Pollock which was pretty much central to campus and to all of the buildings. I met all of my best friends on this floor and I pretty much talk to everyone who lived on my floor last year even though we all live over the campus and state college. My floor was one big family and it was an experience of a lifetime. D-House, as we call it was something that if your interested in you will never regret it. We always went to dinner together, went other places together, took classes together, and went to THON and football games. We were able to visit every college that Penn State offered and it really helped all of us figure out what major or majors we wanted to considered. The resources that this floor offered was amazing. I'm a sophomore and I can't speak enough of Discover House. If you have any questions let me know, I can tell you pretty much what you want to know about being a Penn State student.</p>
<p>Daughter who will be a senior this fall, was in Discover House her freshman year. She loved it. She made many friends, and yes it was like a big family. She had gotten together with a bunch of them at someones house during that Christrmas break, went to plays at school, football games etc... From what I remember the guys in the house actually dressed up as lumberjacks and cut down a Christmas tree for the floor. She took 3 Discover House classes, with only people from her floor. I think it was a great experience. I know she still keeps in contact with her Discover House friends. </p>
<p>My son who will be starting Northestern University this fall (Penn State has no pharmacy program) will request to live on a living community floor there, its a great experience.</p>
<p>lowermorelandmom, I have a son at Penn State and a daughter a junior in HS looking into Pharmacy and we just started thinking about Northeastern. Any advise for beginning our search into Pharmacy? I think its a difficult major and the selection of schools aren't there. Any advise would be appreciated.Is admissions difficult?</p>
<p>mrtgr: Univ of Sciences in Phila.has a 0-6 yr program (PharmD) relatively eay to get in and stay in.</p>