Making friends

<p>Hello,
So I'm not a huge partier or drinker. I know that Penn State is one of the biggest party schools in the nation, but is it possible for me to find friends that are not huge partiers also? I don't mind the party scene, I'm just not interested, and I do plan on joining clubs and attending events.</p>

<p>I’m a sophomore and I feel the same way you do! It’s very easy to avoid the party scene and still have fun and make friends. The HUB always has lots of cool activities and they show movies on weekends (which usually just came out of the theater). Definitely join lots of clubs and maybe try intramural sports. People at Penn State always say, “There is a club/activity for everyone.” I never thought this could be true, but it totally is. My personal favorite, go see the women’s volleyball team play. Great student section and I always have a blast (and we win about 95% of the time!).</p>

<p>Great reply to a great question. There is TONS to do at Penn State. Yes, there is a lot of partying going on, but if you aren’t into that, you’ll have company. There are theaters, HUB Late Night, intramurals, clubs for everything you could possibly think of. There are sporting events of all possible kinds, most of them are free. Volleyball is awesome! There are free concerts, lectures, world-famous people doing presentations. There are study groups, writing centers, tutoring centers for when you want to study with help. There’s a huge fitness center and classes there. There are restaurants of all types, a great public library, a super bus system to get everywhere. </p>

<p>If you want to stay away from the party scene, make your friends in activities and major-related organizations. Nittany Nation and the Paternoville groups are good if you like sports. There’s also concert band, which is non-audition but you get class credit for being in it plus you meet lots of other people. And do the LEAP program as a freshman if you can!</p>

<p>I’m an incoming freshmen, and I just wanted to say that I know how you feel. </p>

<p>I’m not a huge partier, drinker, or the “party all day n’ night” type of guy, but I don’t hate the scene; it’s just something I wouldn’t participate in if I had other options available to me. When I visited State College for my orientation, I didn’t feel out of place at all - which made me so happy! haha. I don’t think it’s that hard to avoid the party scene, as well. I mean, there are so many people that attend psu, you’ll maybe see some partiers occasionally, but for the most part people here seem to do loads of other things like sports (not just football), nerdy book clubs, harry potter clubs, international events, glee club, etc. There are TONS, literally. I, myself, am thinking of getting some people together to make a film analysis club. You can also join The Daily Collegian and meet cool people through there. The two answers above me stated it well. Do something that’s related to your major, that way you can meet people who have the same interests as you.</p>