<p>So I'm going in as undecided and I'm kinda nervous about the transition from high school to college. My high school has 700 students while Penn state has 40,000! I don't want to feel overwhelmed and I'm nervous about those huge classes. If I need tutoring will it be available? And is the transition easy? I don't really party and I'm an average teenager </p>
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<p>I think that’s pretty sensible…and it is a big adjustment. On the other hand, there are lots of constructive ways to make friends and feel like you belong. DUS has lots of programs for undecided students — go to all of them! The Writing Center and the tutoring center have group tutoring and individual tutoring sessions you can get into online, or go to the offices and make an appointment. So do that before you feel overwhelmed! Join a club – the involvement fair is early in the semester, so you can pick a few, try them out, and discard what doesn’t work. Unlike high school, you can’t just rely on seeing your friends. You have to get used to texting/calling and arranging to eat together, or shop together, or go to a HUB movie together, etc…You have to get used to asking for help, because there’s nobody to hold your hand (not at any other school, either). Read the handouts. Listen to your RA. </p>
<p>Are you doing LEAP? And if you aren’t, what dorm did you request? If you are worried about feeling overwhelmed by the numbers, East is not my first choice – Pollock or South or North (if you can afford it) might feel smaller. You can do this! PSU does have a lot of drinking, but it isn’t everyone. You won’t be a freak of nature if you are studying, or hanging out, or doing service work.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info! I’ll make sure to participate in all the DUS events and as long as tutoring is available I should be fine. My teachers was telling me that I’m on my own in college, so I gotta make sure I don’t slack off.I didn’t send in my deposit yet because I’m still thinking if this is a good idea. I was told I’m going to have a lot of fun here and that my degree will take me places in life I’m just kinda nervous about the huge population. Are the students friendly? How big are the classes? </p>
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<p>Where else were you accepted ? Were you accepted to any other smaller schools ?</p>
<p>I am not a student yet but will be this fall. I have visited countless times and the students are extremely nice and always very helpful. Freshman classes can be very big but as you get more specialized in your major class sizes will be much smaller. So it all depends on the class. Everyone who attends Penn State says they love it and wouldn’t change their decision. Hope that helps.</p>
<p>Are you going to be in University Park. if so what college? I will be there come fall. I can’t wait!</p>
<p>I was a very shy high school student and going to PSU was the best thing for me. It doesn’t matter how big the school is. If you like the kids on your dorm floor, in your activities, etc, those are the kids you hang out with. As time goes by you meet more and more people - those in your major, at a job, through an activity, friends of friends, etc. After a while, it didn’t even seem like a big place. It seemed like home.</p>
<p>how is the academics in your opinoin @sansserif? Do you like the college town feel compared to other schools who are just located in a city?</p>
<p>@psufang I got accepted into Albright college and Juniata College which are both small liberal arts schools</p>
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<p>@DylanK that’s good to know, a lot of ppl told me its an amazing school! And do u think those huge classes are difficult because of the size? @EChoudhu I’m going to UPark and I’m coming in as undecided, I do want to which into the information technology and sciences school though. Greaaat we might run into eachother! Lol</p>
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<p>@SansSerif We can deff relate, I didn’t think about it like that but thanks for the info. Once I get comfortable, I start to become more social, I hope I get a great roommate. I was watching videos of people who have 4 people in there dorm will this happen to me? </p>
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<p>First, I’m a parent so my Penn State experience isn’t recent. But it’s always been a big school, it’s always had the huge freshman classes, and it’s always been a place where you can get help - but you’re the one who has to take the initiative to get it.</p>
<p>Ech - I was in the school of communications and I think I was well prepared for the working world. It’s a “work hard, play hard” kind of place, which suited me. I learned a lot, took interesting classes, and also had a very good time. I chose Penn State over GW and Syracuse. I was really tempted by GW, because I loved the idea of living in DC. But I’m so glad I ended up in a great college town instead. I loved the combination of open green spaces, but also a lively town with a great student night life.</p>
<p>Thatguy - I don’t know what the chance is you’ll end up in a quad or temp housing. I will say that the people I knew in temp housing gave a lot of great parties. Lol I do think the one disadvantage is that they really couldn’t study in their room - too much going on. But if you get your housing deposit in early, that’s less likely to happen. And you’ll probably be off campus by your second or third year anyway. There are a lot of student apts near campus, and you can choose the atmosphere that works for you.</p>
<p>@Sansserif oh ok hopefully I don’t get that housing. I’m not going to make my decision until I get my financial aid report back which will be the end of march. So how is the financial aid here? Is it easy to pay off loans back? And is it worth all the money? </p>
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<p>Honestly, PSU has pretty crappy financial aid. I think there are new merit awards this year, but you would already know if you had gotten one of those. </p>
<p>Is it worth it? That depends. Are you in state or out of state - how much will your loans be? What will your major be - something that Penn State is known for, and something that will pay enough to pay off your loans? What are your other options, and what is the difference in cost? If you’re in engineering, it may be worth it. English - not so much. And I say that as a liberal arts person who writes for a living.</p>
<p>I love Penn State but I’d never say it’s worth putting yourself in seriously deep debt. No college is.</p>
<p>And one more thing about temp housing - it is indeed temporary. It’s usually half your freshman year or less. They place you into a regular double as they open up.</p>
<p>I’m in state, I’m going in as undecided but I want to switch to Information Technology and yeah I heard they don’t give out a lot if state aid.If there package isn’t good then I prob wont attend. </p>
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<ol>
<li><p>No school is worth a pile of debt. None of 'em. If you are truly undecided, then money is a good tie-breaker.</p></li>
<li><p>Juniata? Woah, that would be hard to choose. It is a very very good school.</p></li>
<li><p>If you so unsure about PSU that you haven’t put down a deposit, and are having trouble imagining yourself there, maybe that is your inner radar telling you something! It’s okay to not want to go there, even if “everyone” says it’s wonderful and you will be happy. You are the best judge of that. </p></li>
<li><p>See #2. And I bet they were good with financial aid! I am not an alum, but I do know many people who are happy grads from Juniata. It’s small, but still has very strong connections with industry and internships, and is extremely strong in the sciences.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Are you eligible for any merit based scholarships ? I suppose that could drive down the cost you know since you don’t get much need based aid from penn state</p>
<p>@greenbutton, yeah your right, and that’s the most important thing, I don’t want to be in too much debt. But Juniata is a great school? Thanks I actually like that school a lot and it does have a lot of opportunities for me. Juniata from what I was told is very generous, I’m just waiting for my aid report.
I’m so worried about Penn state because I’m not used to that party environment and idk if I’m going to be comfortable around it but I’ll adjust if I go I guess. I know its a great school and I feel like if I don’t go imma miss out on a great opportunity</p>
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<p>@xtremepower I wont know till I get my aid report back </p>
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