<p>I'm set to attend Penn State University Park as a freshman this fall; I went to orientation a few weeks ago and everything. Academically the school is great, the campus is beautiful and I feel very comfortable there in terms of how it looks and how it is laid out. However, my main concern is the predominant social culture there. I'm not a partier and I could care less about football. I don't have the ravenous, foaming-at-the-mouth Penn State pride that seems to be typical there. I realize that Penn State is a very big school so there will be many people of all types and interests, but I'm worried that the party/football scene will be borderline unavoidable, and that so many kids will be into that stuff that it will be difficult for me to make any actual friends. I want to get involved in other ways and engage my mind.</p>
<p>So the question is: Is it relatively easy to avoid the party/football scene at Penn State and still have a good experience?</p>
<p>There are a lot of non rah-rah types in life and in college.
There are about 45,000 students at University Park.
I have to believe there are at least one or two of them with similar sympathies as you.
Have a good time.</p>
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<p>It will grow on you.
Then again, if you feel you won’t enjoy being at a very large state university like Penn State, why go there?</p>
<p>:confused:</p>
<p>I’m sure you’re right about it growing on me. My family’s not into sports and we don’t have a lot of rah-rah pride in anything, which is probably my problem. Penn State should give me something to be a little rah-rah about.</p>
<p>Honestly, your post sounds boarderline pompous. Among the 45,000 other “foaming at the mouth” students you <em>might</em> be able to find one or two people who are at college to “engage their mind”. </p>
<p>Lord.</p>
<p>I didn’t mean any offense to the students there, sorry JoBenny. I can totally see how I sound pompous. But I think you misinterpreted what I said a little, by “engage my mind” I just mean like I’m kind of a geeky person with mainly mental interests. So I’d rather find some activities that focus on that rather than going out to party, and hopefully find people who have the same preference.</p>
<p>Sports at big schools function like the common denominator – you don’t have the same classrooms, professors, dorms, or clubs in common, but regardless, everyone can go to a game (of any kind, not just football). Sports are also popular socializing venues because many of them are very cheap! or free! So keep an open mind, you might be able to enjoy fencing, or diving, or volleyball events. And regardless of the bad press, PSU UP remains a pretty demanding school academically. So there’s lots of studying, too. The alcohol scene has a loud and large presence but you won’t be the only non-partier. But brace yourself for the stupid stuff you’ll see. /smh</p>
<p>There are millions of ways to occupy your time at UP. For fall Saturdays, football takes up the town but that’s not all that goes on here. Museums, trips, theater, lectures, and every possible club ( JOIN THINGS) are available. My son doesn’t do sports either, and had a very happy freshman year. You will too.</p>
<p>Thanks for your input greenbutton. It’s funny you mention fencing because I did that for a couple years in high school and I plan on joining the fencing club when I get to Penn State!</p>
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<p>That’s what almost everyone says before attending PSU. Once you get there, you will get hooked.</p>
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<p>By the way, I forgot to add that “geeky” and “partier” are absolutely not mutually exclusive terms.</p>
<p>Some of the biggest partiers I knew at Penn State were PhD candidates in Bio Chem, Physics and Math Theory.</p>
<p>I agree that Penn State pride will grow on you. I went to Penn State ( a long time ago) and my daughter is a freshman as well. One of the things that I told her was that during my time there, I thought it was great how even though thte student body is large and diverse, over time everyone seems like family. Unlike high school, the geeks (as you call them), are no longer on the outside looking in. And please be open-minded to the football experience - it is unlike anything else. When I was there, and I think it is the same now (if not more ), football Saturdays brought together everybody.</p>
<p>I have to disagree with AAcheermom. My son went to one game his freshman year (Notre Dame, no less) and decided there were other ways he’d rather spend his Saturdays. He had no problem finding others who shared his feelings.</p>
<p>I went to Penn State (a long time ago!) and loved the school. However, I hated the football scene, never went to a game, and had no connection with students who were interested in it. The place is big enough to find a niche for all types of people with all types of interests. I found a lot of people with similar interests, and looked the other way when it came to the football scene.</p>
<p>There’s a lot of press about the sports scene, but Penn State is an amazing town surrounded by gorgeous mountains that you see every day as you walk to class. There are many arts events, concerts, political activities, and charity work. I say this based not just on my experience, but on those of many students I have known who have been there more recently. The place is far from perfect. But if you can try to tolerate the indulgence in sports for a while, you will find friends who have other interests and will hopefully find a place that is right for you.</p>
<p>Nicely said, maggiedog. :)</p>
<p>I don’t see why it even matters if you like football or not. I just looked at this fall’s schedule. Twelve games, seven at home. Seven Saturdays where you could attend the game if you want to, or do something else if you want to. Out of a whole school year. I had a great time at the football games, but they really were a very small part of my four years at Penn State. </p>
<p>The campus and town are gorgeous and very livable. The opportunities that come from being at a large school with many majors and clubs and activities are great. I learned about myself through the friends I made - I saw that I could be friends with many different types of people, because I had all those different characteristics within me. I don’t think my experience would have been as rich and rewarding at a small, homogenous school. </p>
<p>Sample everything. Don’t let pre-conceived notions narrow your experience. As time passes, you’ll see what works for you and what doesn’t. Both academically and socially.</p>
<p>“I could care less about football.” <em>shakes head</em></p>
<p>I knew what you were trying to say but you clearly didn’t realize what you actually said was the total opposite. </p>
<p>You’ll be fine. I don’t think it would be totally outlandish to assume most people there aren’t stereotypical cheerleaders and drunkards. It might also be safe to assume that if you like the school then school pride might just grow on you. Maybe that newly fostered pride might manifest itself in body paint or school gear or support at school sports games? Football maybe? Since most people aren’t there because they love love love football but actually because they love their school.</p>
<p>It sounds like you’re a little insecure about yourself because otherwise you wouldn’t be so caught up in a silly prejudice you have about your thousands of classmates.</p>
<p>Be yourself. Have fun. Not that hard.</p>
<p>In a word, YES, it is easy to avoid the party/football scene and still have a good experience. One of the best things about Penn State is that you can be whoever you are and you will find others with similar interests/lifestyles. You may have to put yourself out there a bit until you find your niche. And try not to be judgey about the football fans /partiers…you might be surprised at how academically viable many of them are. I agree that you should try to attend a game just so you know what it’s like. You may never want to go to another, but then you’ll make an informed decision, and it’s one of the best ways to get an infusion of that Penn State pride even if you don’t care about sports. Good luck, have a blast.</p>
<p>Even for someone who doesn’t like football, the white out is an incredible sight to see anyway.</p>