<p>Hey guys, I'm a current freshman here at University Park and I'd just like to be here as a resource to anyone who's thinking about applying here or considering accepting their offer to Penn State. It's relatively early in the application season but if you've got any questions let me know! I'm an undecided freshman (planning on going into Accounting) who lives in East halls. I'm from North Carolina as well and knew no one here. Feel free to ask anything about social life, academics, transitioning from high school, the area of state college, whatever!</p>
<p>Hi: Wondering about the school. Too big? What’s the party situation? Looking at the business school. Wondering if I have a shot. Out of state: GPA 3.3 SAT reading, 690; math, 630 and writing 600. ACT 29</p>
<p>Hi Helena - As you probably know, theres 40,000 undergrads at University Park. Its a lot. It really is. I personally wanted a big school feel and thats one of the big reasons I came here. But as cliche as this sounds, in about 3 weeks the school becomes small to an individual. I almost always see people I know from my floor, classes, other friends, etc when I’m out walking to and from classes and such. it just takes some effort to expand your friend base so that can happen. </p>
<p>As far as partying goes, we obviously have a reputation for that (as well as academics 
) I will give you my honest take on this - if you don’t like to drink or party, you’re kind of considered weird here. The frat/Sorority scene is huge here and if you’re not part of it you kind of feel like you’re missing out. Thats not to say theres not things to do for people who don’t like to drink and party, but thats the primary source of entertainment here. </p>
<p>As far as your chances, your GPA is low, for smeal especially. And your SAT score is slightly above the ~1850 average here. My suggestion would be to do what I did, and thats apply undecided. Its easier to get into the school that way, also you’re able to go into whatever major you want (minus architecture and nursing) as long as you meet the same entrance to major requirements as those who were directly admitted to Smeal. The only down side is you can’t declare a business major from undecided until the end of your Sophomore year. </p>
<p>Feel free to ask anything else!</p>
<p>Hello, I wonder if there are a number of clubs, organizations and activities to join? not those who just want to improve their resume and just fool around.</p>
<p>Hi yuffie - the answer to that is simply yes. If you ever go on an admissions tour here, one of their main selling points is the huge selections of clubs and organizations. There’s literally over 900 of them registered. I have a work study job in the finance office dealing with all 900+ of those organizations and I can assure you they’re all very active. Even if for some reason you can’t find a club/organization you like, people create new clubs on a daily basis so there’s most likely others around campus that would like to be a part of it. You can go to clubs.psu.edu and select university park and browse most of them</p>
<p>Hey Etuck! PSU sounds like an amazing school. How’s the food? Do you go off campus to eat? Do people travel to Philadelphia a lot? How’s the diversity? Also, I have a 3.58/4.62 (uwGPA/wGPA), 2050 SAT, and a ton of extracurriculars. Do you think I have a good shot of getting in?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Hi BlueDevil (Nice name, Go Duke) - Theres a lot of different options for food on campus, so this is kinda a broad question. Assuming you live in east halls as a freshman, the most convenient options to you are the East dining commons, The Big Onion (Pizza, cheesesteaks, fried chicken, fries), Fresh Express(subs, wraps,sandwiches), and Roxys(burgers, chicken sandwiches, wings and nachos on certain days). Penn State likes to tell you the most cost-efficient way of eating is to go to the dining commons (all you can eat) as much as possible. I don’t necessarily agree with that. The commons food is alright, but nothing spectacular. The cost is pretty high too, with dinner being ~4.25 a meal. With that same $4.25 I could go to fresh express and get a made to order wrap, fountain drink, cup of fruit, and cookie and probably still end up under $4. I myself frequent the Big O, it’s hard to beat $.80 slices of cheese pizza on your meal plan. (Pollock and West have the best places to eat, In my opinion)</p>
<p>I don’t really go off campus to eat, its just not really convenient on a daily basis. You should avoid spending money on food off campus since you’ve got meal points for that, which you’ve already pre-paid for. Most places downtown take lioncash, but you dont get a big discount on downtown eating places like you do on campus.</p>
<p>PSU isn’t really a commuter school, and since Philly is something like 3 hours away travel off campus on any given weekend doesn’t happen much. Now, theres PLENTY of people from the Philly area that go here, so if finding people from Philly is what you’re getting at, you shouldn’t have a problem.</p>
<p>Diversity wise, Its mainly white. I think the official number is ~75% white. But I will say this, when you walk around campus it doesn’t really feel that way, it really feels like a university, at the most literal sense of that word. There’s people from all over the world and country here. On my floor there’s folks from PA, NC(me), VA, NJ, NY, California and MD. But you have to realize the middle of central PA is predominantly white to begin with. But no one really cares what you are or where you’re from, we all go to Penn State.</p>
<p>As far as chances, EC’s basically don’t matter. Your SAT paired with that GPA should be good for just about all the majors here. They do consider weighted GPA and mine was similar to yours with a lower SAT score, so I’d say you’re fine</p>
<p>About how long is the average wait for acceptance? I applied on september 1st and I know it’s going to take a while because I’m right on the edge of being accepted into university park vs. another campus, but I was just wondering how long I can expect to wait.</p>
<p>Hi Paige - I feel like there is no solid answer to this question as it likely differs from year to year. Last year however, I applied on the last week of October and got accepted on November 21st. So roughly a month, however they didn’t start sending out acceptances until after the priority deadline. Also there is some debate on here if borderline kids hear back later than sooner but my own research makes me think it’s no real difference and they get to you when they get to you. </p>
<p>So in short, you should hear back starting as early as November is most likely.</p>
<p>is it really true that if you don’t drink or party you are considered weird?</p>
<p>In my opinion yes. The vast majority of people do. There’s not much else to do here. But if you don’t go out on the weekends you feel kinda lonely because downtown/frat houses are where everything’s going on. Like I said, that’s not to say you will live a horrible life if you don’t, but most things to do on the weekend will relate to partying. All of the kids I’ve encountered here who are ‘straight edge’(don’t drink/smoke,etc) are pretty weird kids and are kinda socially awkward. If you’re very outgoing and don’t like to drink, then you’re probably in good shape. But most who don’t like to drink/party seem to fall in the socially awkward category. And there’s certainly exceptions to that as there are to everything, but this is a social campus, and a lot revolves around alcohol.</p>
<p>Hey!
So awhile ago (around September 28) I sent in my completed application the Main Campus. When do you think I will know the decision? I’m so excited and I know that I would go to Penn State if I got in! I hope I don’t have to wait much longer! Thanks!</p>
<p>im an international student so my tuition goes to OOS category. I wonder if I WILL cost that much as is predicted on the official website(about 45k)? If yes for the freshman year, will it be cheaper in years following(since i dont have to live in dorm nor have a meal plan)?</p>
<p>Ifree - last year people started hearing back right at the end of October I believe. But it could be different every year depending on a variety of factors. When your status changes to a message with “a decision will be posted in the coming days” on my penn state, you’ll know in 3 business days. I applied right around now last year, and heard back in 2.5 weeks </p>
<p>Yuffie - technically yes. Internationals get virtually no aid. So you’ll be paying close to that full sticker price (not really 45k that accounts for books and personal items) on your bursar account. To be quite honest living off campus is something pretty much everyone does, but isn’t really any cheaper. For a 1 bedroom apartment shared with someone else, your rent is going to be about $600-$700 a month downtown (cheaper the farther you go from campus) plus food costs. In comparison, the dorms cost ~550 a month. Your food costs are where you would make up money, but it’s difficult</p>
<p>Etuck24, I really appreciate your coming on here to share your experiences. </p>
<p>I don’t want to make too big a deal about your perception that kids who don’t drink or party appear, in general, to be ‘socially awkward,’ but I guess I’m somewhat surprised. I know a lot of born again Christians go to Penn State. (I believe the school has very active chapters of Inter Varsity and Campus Crusade.) Are those kids considered “pretty weird” or is it just that they’re not the teetotalers they were when I was in college a generation ago?</p>
<p>Penn State is a fantastic school (my sister and many close friends are alumni), but there’s always been a bit of a “cult mentality” there from my perspective. It’s not just the obsession with football either. Every school has a prevailing culture, but it bothers me as someone whose kid is seriously looking at the school that unconventional thinkers and people who don’t fall into line in terms of doing what everybody else does are considered to be on the fringe. So many descriptions of Penn State sound like a mega public high school on steroids, with the daunting social hierarchy that prevails in those kinds of settings.</p>
<p>Do you think home-schooled kids or those coming from independent schools find the atmosphere there intimidating?</p>
<p>I really do appreciate your frankness!</p>
<p>Lucie - I knew going towards the socially awkward route probably would raise an eyebrow. I should really rephrase. For the most part, people here will socially drink and party and have a good time - the percentage of real drunks and people who do nothing but party is quite small. One will quickly find that partying every night will drop your GPA like a rock. In my experiences though, those who outright reject the notion of partying/drinking just come across as kinda strange people – not necessarily because they reject it – but, you know how you can just tell a persons a little weird? Kinda like that. This is a pretty special place in regards to partying/academics. Few schools can hold an academic ranking like we have and still have a ‘party school’ reputation. On campus it presents a great mix if you ask me, theres always something to do, but again, a lot socially revolves around it.</p>
<p>As for the “born-again-christian” thing - I haven’t really noticed that at all here, so I can’t really comment on it. Religion is respected here though I can say that. There are lots of people from all different backgrounds that go here and and everything is respected and tolerated. </p>
<p>And this is my stance on the culture thing. I love this school to death, and if its a ‘cult’ then I’m happily a member of it. However, I do not believe that we are really any different than most other large public state schools. You only really notice it more because we’re the 10th largest university in the country in terms of enrollment, and there’s a whole lot of students, and a whole lot of alumni. “that unconventional thinkers and people who don’t fall into line in terms of doing what everybody else does are considered to be on the fringe” I don’t really know what that means, but if it means partying/drinking, its like that at most public U’s. Quite honestly, on all the campuses I’ve been on, ‘fitting in’ is kinda what you do. </p>
<p>The reason it sounds like a ‘mega public high school on steroids’ is because thats primarily where the student body came from. We all like sports because, well, the vast majority of us played sports in high school. A big reason Penn Staters like to think of themselves as a big family is because everyone has a lot to relate to with each other, and I loved that. I passed up going to UNC to come here because of the family feel and how much people love the school, and they aren’t afraid to let you know. </p>
<p>Home schooled students shouldn’t feel any different as long as they’re outgoing. Thats kind of the key here - you have to be outgoing on a campus like this or you won’t survive. If you’re not sure about ‘how outgoing’ you are, it could be the ultimate sink or swim test, but if you’re pretty shy and reserved, you might struggle here. I liked to think of myself as a shy-ish person in high school outside my group of friends, and I kinda went the ‘sink or swim’ route - and I think I’m doing alright, its only halfway through the first semester so I can’t really give a definitive answer but I’d like to think I’m swimming :P</p>
<p>Etuck, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences. It all makes a lot of sense. </p>
<p>I guess the important question for the kid who isn’t among “the vast majority of us (who) played sports in high school” is, can they find “their people” at PSU and be happy or do they end up always feeling like misfits? </p>
<p>The other question would be, for kids like you who do feel part of the overwhelming majority, do you have any interest in getting to know kids who aren’t at Penn State for the play hard, party hard reputation? </p>
<p>A lot of people don’t drink and don’t care about high-profile sports, but they’re really not “weird” in any other sense. It may be wishful thinking on my part, but I suspect there’s a sizable minority of students going to Penn State because it’s the best education they can afford. Who knows? You might actually enjoy their company if you give them a chance!</p>
<p>Best of luck to you and thanks again for taking the time to answer questions.</p>
<p>Of course, everyone can find their clique. The tricky thing is just actively going and finding that group of people. Its difficult to do if you’re reserved, and will likely feel overwhelmed, but thats kind of the experience. </p>
<p>Everyone here form what I can tell is very open to meeting new people, and its very easy to meet new people too, but you’ve got to make the effort. Theres no reason someone who doesn’t like to go out to parties can’t make friends, they’ve just got to be outgoing. It kind of starts on your floor, and you make friends with your floor then branch out to clubs and other things. For example, on our floor we have like 15 guys (co-ed, and 15 girls) and of those 15 guys about 9 of us are all really friendly with each other and get along great, the other 6 are all nice people when they’re engaged, but always go back to their room and don’t seem to really want to be included in whats going on. They probably have their own friends outside of the hall, but we dont know, they don’t really speak to the rest of us much. </p>
<p>So its not to say people are judged right away and then disposed of if they’re not ‘cool’ - it just starts from day 1. Its pretty much the last time in your life you get a clean slate. But even the folks who go out frequently are very concerned about their grades - it’s just as much an academic campus as it is a fun one. But again the key is just to be outgoing.</p>
<p>Hi! I applied to University Park as a business undecided major for fall of 2014. I have searched EVERYWHERE and cannot seem to find the requirements for the Smeal College of Business. Would you happen to know what freshman must have to be admitted to the business school at main campus?</p>
<p>Hi anna - There really aren’t ‘requirements’ to be admitted to as a freshman to smeal. You’re not even a declared major in smeal until the end of your sophomore year, because you take your entrance to major classes during your freshman and sophomore year. Whatever guidelines the university tells you to be admitted to the university, are the ‘requirements’ that you need. </p>
<p>For example, the ETM classes I have to take before Junior year for Accounting are:
English 15/30
Math 110/140 (calculus)
SCM 200/ Stat 200 (statistics)
Marketing 301
Management 301
Finance 301
Accounting 211
Economics 102</p>