<p>Which one is the best?
Which one is closest to University park?
I'm looking for one where the social life is diverse.</p>
<p>Altoona is closest to UP and they do have dorms. I believe it's about a 45-minute drive.</p>
<p>Bump ..my son plans on applying next year, Id be interested is some input for other campuses. UP will be a reach.</p>
<p>From everything I hear, Altoona is the best second option.
It's fairly close to UP so kids participate in football games and other activities.
Housing fills up quickly though so you need apply and put in your housing deposit early.</p>
<p>I did a couple sememsters at Wilkes Barre - beautiful area, easy access to a city, some great professors, some not. Really small campus, but poor housing conditions.</p>
<p>I also did a semester at Berks - the campus itself is in a nice area, however, it is close to Reading, which is very dangerous. Berks has housing a food service on campus, small, but much larger than Wilkes Barre. I had great professors while there.</p>
<p>A campus the size of Berks would be a great buffer/preparer for UP if you can't go directly to UP. A lot depends on what you want to study and what campus is strong in that area.</p>
<p>The local (State College) kids who want to get away from home but still attend Penn State often go to the Behrend College in Erie.</p>