<p>So hows life for my fellow Penn Stater's up here at Univ. Park? I know I personally am studying for 2 midterms coming up this week ;).
Just hows everyone's PSU life been?</p>
<p>Im a freshman and my first year was the one of my best transitions that I can't describe it. I've met so many new people. I thought meeting new people was going to be hard, but I made friends very easily. Finding classes were easier than I thought. Food is good, sometimes repetive, but that's at every school. The courseload I had to get use to, but Im doing very well. I got a 3.34 last semester and I take 19 credits now, but it ok. Social and Academic life is great. If you do decide to come up here you will have the best time of your life. If you have any questions just ask me.</p>
<p>Is the courseload hard or easy?</p>
<p>How about social life; do you meet a lot of people in courses and dorms?</p>
<p>How hard is it to get a 3.5 GPA or does it depend on the instructor?</p>
<p>What's the highest GPA you know in freshman year?</p>
<p>Can you maintain a social and academic life or do you have to focus alot on academics?</p>
<p>I heard that you can do school work on the weekdays and then on the weekends you can work and hang out with friends.</p>
<p>Thanks a Lot for Replying, Will help on final decision to go to Penn State</p>
<p>a 3.5 isnt that hard as long as you work hard (and at 3.5 you still afford more xtra time than youd expect). The Social Life is great up here imo jus so many diff. things for diff. people to do (Im more of a go out & dance typea person.)
As for highest GPA....I know a few ppl (my roomate is one) who have a 4.0 and I personally have a 3.6 & we're all engineering students so it def. is possible. On the weekends I chill and do some work usually, but there are times when you gotta buckle down ;). The CourseLoad is so so Certainly not the hardest for me, but Im only a freshman right now ;).</p>
<p>Overall I know im having a great time :). How about the other current students on dis board?</p>
<p>Do you know any people in Discover House (it's a learning community for DUS freshmen)? If so, how do they like it?</p>
<p>I'm actually in Discover House. I can say that it was the best decision I made so far beside deciding to come here. We learn so much about picking majors and figuring out what we want to do with our lives. I know every person on our floor and it is like a small community. We all have our doors open and we all go out together, take classes together, and study together. I love everything about it, if your interested I would defintely put it down on your housing contract.</p>
<p>Most of my friends have at least 3.6 to 4.0 gpa. We have what I call hell weeks, we may not have a lot of homework everyday, but for one week, we would have 5 exams the same week. I feel the courseload is ok, it depends on your major and what classes you take. Its different if youre a pre-med major vs a sociology major. You can defintely handle social and academic life easily. If youre focused in your studies you'll be fine.</p>
<p>My daughter is a soph and was in the Discover House her first semester at school. She moved on to a sorority floor the second semester. She loved the Discover House and made many friends. She took 3 of the discover house classes, so was in class with all people from her floor. The kids all got very close. I would definitely reccommend it. Also for kids who declared a major. I know my d said alot of the kids in the program (her roommmate included) had declared majors.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info, Capitalq and Lowermorelandmom. Capitalq, did you also take the Discover House classes? What do you think of your professors, in general?</p>
<p>My d enjoyed all of the professors, escpecially the ones related to Discover House. She took the theater class, which was great and English 15. And she took the one credit freshman seminar, intro to the library with Mr Mack, who is wonderful. All the kids liked him. Hes on the facebook, and I know he met the kids in Discover house for dinner at the end of the semester. </p>
<p>My d gets all a's in most of her classes. This semester she may have a 4.0. The trick is to plan your classes wisely. She checks the professors on rateyourprofessor.com for feedback. If the teacher is bad she doesn't take the course. Now that shes a sophmore, she finds out through friends which teachers to avoid. Also you can pretty much get into any class you want. When you go to your FTCAP, you'll see, most of the classes you want will be full. But by checking elion frequently during the summer, there will be openings. Students are always dropping and adding. </p>
<p>I just checked out the Discover House page. Definitely take into to Psych with Andrew Peck. When my daughter was in Discover House that wasn't offered as a Discover House class. But she took it with Peck. Hes great.</p>
<p>Do you know if many students request Discover House? I wonder how likely it is that my son would get in. Also, we're going to an accepted students day this Monday. I wonder if they'd let us take a look at Discover House.
Thanks for the tips on choosing classes.</p>
<p>If you want a great class to take...take Soc 119 with Prof. Richards. I would say hes the coolest Professor Ive met as of yet ;).</p>
<p>This is a great topic... Does anyone else have anything to share?</p>
<p>What exactly is the discovery house and how do you get into it? Sounds very interesting. Penn State is my top choice for 2012.</p>
<p>yanksman25 -
Shouldn't you be worrying about that next year? LOL.</p>
<p>Yeah but I'm just wondering, I'd rather know all of this stuff before I apply to my schools, allows me to give better thought to which school I would like to send applications too. The more knowledge I have, the better.</p>