Out-of-State? Stay Far Away from PSU!

Colleges & Universities A-Z Penn State
141

<p>@JakeSill</p>

<p>One of my friends from high school did the 2+2 plan at Altoona. When he came up to UP he was my roommate for the semester of junior year that I wasn’t abroad. I don’t know much about the school itself (academics, social life, etc.) but I can offer 2 big pieces of advice based on the 2 times that I visited him at Altoona and based on the things that he told me about his time there.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>If you are tempted to join a frat at Altoona, try to talk to someone at main campus first to find out what kind of rep the main campus chapter has. My friend joined a top fraternity at Altoona and had to go through a VERY rough hazing process, and when he transferred to the main campus, he found that the UP chapter was one of the lesser-known, low/mid-tier fraternities. He loved being in that fraternity during his time at Altoona, so I can’t say whether he would have done things differently if he’d known, but I can tell you that he was very disappointed when he arrived at UP and discovered that he was no longer a member of one of the ‘cool’ frats.</p></li>
<li><p>Altoona is a depressed, seedy city, with a hard-drug problem. Decades ago, Altoona was a major railroad hub, and the railroads provided much of the local employment. Those jobs have been gone for years now and the city has been slowly decaying since they left. Be careful about what areas you walk through at night and try not to do so alone. Freshman year, my friend was severely assaulted while walking home from a party at his frat house. From what I understand, the major hazard in Altoona is that the bad areas and good areas are interspersed, so it’s not as easy as simply staying on the “good side of town”. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>My friend was definitely happy to get out of Altoona, and definitely had no love for the place, but overall I think that he ended-up being happy with his college experience. I think that joining a fraternity probably had a lot to do with that, because I would imagine that many of the problems I talked about as an OOS would be amplified at a campus where there is an even greater percentage of in-state students. By joining Greek life, he was able to become part of an in-group (greeks vs independents) as opposed to being part of the outgroup (In-state vs Out-of-State)</p>

<p>From the sound of your situation, PSU makes a lot of sense, so I’m not gonna tell you that it’s a bad decision. I’m also not telling you that you should necessarily get involved in Greek life, just making a suggestion based on my friend’s experience. Just go in with your eyes open.</p>

142

<p>@Notafemmefatale</p>

<p>No, I wasn’t in Shreyers</p>

143

<p>@iamsootay</p>

<p>The things you’re asking about have already been addressed in this thread. Just go back and read.</p>

144

<p>@wgordondan</p>

<p>Thanks for your post. You mentioned a few things that I meant to include in my original list and definitely will be addressed if I get around to continuing the list.</p>

<p>As far as the misdemeanor/felony issue, I addressed it at great length in my posts on page 6 of this thread. There are some things in those posts that you should definitely know about as a current PSU student, because most of it’s pretty outlandish. For example, my acquaintance who was charged with delivery in school zone for smoking-up his friends from his bag (something that literally EVERY smoker has done before). </p>

<p>Though felony charges should theoretically not be a problem for students who don’t deal drugs, I provided several firsthand examples of how this law is flagrantly and routinely misapplied with disastrous consequences for students.</p>

145

<p>@wgodrondan</p>

<p>BTW, good luck with your transfer. I hope you like your next college better than this one. </p>

<p>I can honestly say that I envy you. If I had wised-up sooner and got out of here while I still could, I wouldn’t be doing regret-fueled venting on College Confidential.</p>

146

<p>@psumb</p>

<p>Loved your last 2 posts. dead-on. </p>

<p>@the parents</p>

<p>As far as student opinion vs parent opinion goes, I’d say that it’s a no-brainer. Parents oftentimes don’t know how things are really going because students don’t want to worry their parents and/or don’t want to share certain details of their lives. My parents thought that I loved it here until the end of my sophomore year when my dad asked me if looking back from 2 years into my college experience, I’d have made the same choice of schools and I told him no. But even then, it wasn’t as though I told my parents that I wasn’t happy, they just thought that I’d realized that I might have been happier elsewhere. It wasn’t until I returned from Europe at the end of my junior year, having realized how happy I could be and how good my life could be outside of PSU, that I told my parents how I hated it here and didn’t know if I could go back.</p>

<p>I’m not saying that the sons or daughters of any of the parents posting here are unhappy at college and are keeping it from them. I’m just saying that up until the end of my junior year, my parents could have written the same things that you’re writing. And that says a lot about the reliability of parents as a source of information when it comes to their son’s/daughter’s college experience.No matter how open the lines of communication are in your household, there are things that any 18-24 year old will want to keep his/her parents in the dark about.</p>

<p>Prospective students hear all the positives of Penn State from campus tours, official mailers, and college fairs. Of course they also hear from happy students who are eager to talk about how much they love college and from alumni who love to reminisce about and romanticize their college years. But how often do prospective students get to hear from the students like me, who don’t like the school? </p>

<p>Picking a college to attend determines where and how the next 4 years of a young person’s life will be spent. Therefore it seems to make sense to want to provide those making that choice with the most complete possible set of information.</p>

147

<p>@slipjig</p>

<p><<op, you=“” have=“” made=“” a=“” lot=“” of=“” generalizations.=“”>></op,></p>

<p>Yes, I have. I’ve made generalizations based on my years of experiences as a Penn State student. If, though my countless interactions with Students, faculty and locals, I have noticed that a high percentage of them display certain traits or behave in a certain manner, then I feel qualified to say things like “a sizable percentage of PSU students…” or “most professors…”. </p>

<p><<first, your=“” assertion=“” that=“” everyone=“” hangs=“” out=“” with=“” their=“” high=“” school=“” friends.=“” my=“” in-state=“” daughter=“” no=“” friends=“”>></first,></p>

<p>Person A: Most Dutch people are tall.
Person B: My Dutch cousin is short, therefore your assertion is invalid.</p>

<p>See how silly that kind of argument is? Pointing out an exception to the rule only works if the person you are arguing with is trying to assert that a trait or behavior is true to ALL members of a group. I never said that ALL in-state students stick to their high school social group, I only said that MOST do so. From what I have seen during my time here, that is an overwhelmingly true statement. In fact, another current PSU student, wgordondan, voiced agreement with me on this point in his post (it was at the top of his list in case you want to go back and look)</p>

<p><<…You could avoid the bars until you are 21 and the whole issue disappears…>></p>

<p>All I’m saying is that the State College bars are seriously off-limits until you are really 21. I’m sure that this probably isn’t as common in small towns in Central PA, but people from the NYC area (and I’m sure other city environments) are accustomed to being able to buy alcohol and get into bars with a fake ID. Highschool kids drink in bars with surprising frequency and they expect that they’ll be able to do the same anywhere. They also think that the worst case scenario is that they’ll be denied entry and their fake ID will be confiscated (because that’s how it is most places). As I mentioned in a previous post, I met a ton of guys freshman year who got arrested during the first week of the semester trying to buy alcohol or get into a bar. </p>

<p><<felony charges=“” for=“” drugs=“” in=“” pa?=“” not=“” penn=“” state’s=“” fault.=“” don’t=“” smoke=“” a=“” joint=“” on=“” campus=“” and=“” avoid=“” having=“” that=“” problem.=“”>></felony></p>

<p>Oh, OK. So we’ll just pretend that college kids don’t smoke pot? Good plan.</p>

<p>I’m going to re-use an analogy here:</p>

<p>Let’s say that the police in a certain the area have a policy of giving-out $10,000 fines for going 10miles over the speed limit. I know that speeding is illegal, and I understand that nobody has the right to speed, but that does not justify imposing severe, life-altering consequences for going 45 in a 35. Especially considering the percentage of drivers that occasionally exceed the speed limit by that amount. If you were about to be driving through such an area, wouldn’t you want someone to warn you ahead of time about the local speed-enforcement policy? And if you recognized that you are a heavy-footed driver, who is at a higher risk of incurring one of these excessive fines, wouldn’t you consider taking an alternate route that does not take you through the area?</p>

<p><<and frat=“” parties=“” everywhere=“” are=“” repulsive,=“” it’s=“” their=“” nature.=“”>></and></p>

<p>I’ve been to good frat parties at schools that I’ve visited. They were nothing like the ones at PSU. But yeah, generally speaking, I’d agree with you.</p>

<p><<so you=“” were=“” a=“” 4-year=“” varsity=“” athlete?=“” so=“” was=“” my=“” daughter,=“” son=“” will=“” be,=“” too.=“” daughter=“” two-sport=“” captain=“” and=“” vice-president=“” of=“” her=“” class=“” for=“” three=“” years.=“” what?=“” had=“” reputation=“” as=“” heavy=“” partier?=“” that’s=“” good=“” thing?=“” penn=“” state=“” is=“” not=“” the=“” party=“” school=“” hoped=“” it=“” would=“” be?=“”>></so></p>

<p>You seem to have not understood why I included those pieces of information. I thought that when people read this post, that they would immediately assume that I’m shy, nerdy, or just generally a loser. I was just trying to explain that I’ve always been active and functioned very well socially outside of Penn State.</p>

<p>In high school I was a 4-year varsity athlete, captain of the hockey team senior year, president of my class junior year, and vice-president of the student body my senior year. And if there was a party, I was probably there. During my semester abroad I connected with a great group of friends who I have kept in very close touch with and consider to be some of my closest friends. When I’ve visited my friends at their schools I’ve never had any problem fitting right-in with their friends. All I’m trying to say is that I feel that if I can have these problems at PSU, anyone can. </p>

<p><<you said=“” “quite=”" frankly=“” i=“” feel=“” that=“” am=“” better=“” than=“” this=“” place=“” and=“” have=“” no=“” problem=“” admitting=“” that.“=”" alrighty.=“”>></you></p>

<p>That’s the attitude I’ve adopted at this point. At this point the only reason that I’m at school is so that I can get out of here for good.</p>

<p><<it seems=“” that=“” you=“” are=“” unhappy=“” with=“” penn=“” state,=“” pennsylvanians=“” and=“” pennsylvania=“” maybe=“” alabama.=“” oh,=“” law=“” enforcement.=“” i=“” think=“” the=“” only=“” way=“” to=“” fix=“” is=“” live=“” somewhere=“” else.=“”>></it></p>

<p>Trust me, the second I finish my last final I’m out of here and I have no intention of ever being in Pennsylvania again unless for the sole purpose of driving across it to reach other, better states.</p>

148

<p>I just came across this thread…how entertaining. I daresay that <<the second=“” i=“” finish=“” my=“” last=“” final=“” i’m=“” out=“” of=“” here=“” and=“” have=“” no=“” intention=“” ever=“” being=“” in=“” pennsylvania=“” again=“”>>, you won’t be missed much. I’ve always found it entertaining to read the posts by people who have such a chip on their shoulder that they feel it “necessary” to warn the masses. I’m also of the mind that I wonder if you would have had issues with whatever school you had attended. Of course, I’m one of the “parents” whose opinions should be completely disregarded…? </the></p>

<p>Then again, I have worked with lots of people who continue the kind of thinking displayed here…that somehow the world owes them something and everyone around them is “against” them. This kind of “victim” mentality makes for an unhappy life. I hope that you can see this some time in your future.</p>

<p>I have no ties whatsoever to Penn State, but I’ve been a CCer long enough to know that this kind of rant should be considered for what it is, and not as an indication of what life is like at Penn State for most students.</p>

149

<p>

Hopefully no one is paying you for your internet personality analysis. Seems as though it would be money poorly spent.

I think it is wonderful that without any ties to PSU that you have chosen to read an 11 page thread from one actual student’s perspective of the school and know whether it is factual. Your skills and insight are amazing!</p>

150

<p>IH8PSU…</p>

<p>I agree with the fact that someone pointing out that a single person does not fit your generalizations does not make them false. It is still possible for, as you said “MOST” of the people to act that way.</p>

<p>However, what is highly improbable, is that you managed, even in 4 years, to meet 20,001 people (the smallest possible majority of 40,000 students) and interact with them long enough to figure out if they are “racist”, only hang out with high school friends, or any other behavior. While it may be the case for the people you met during those 4 years (although I doubt that you kept a record of it), speaking for the masses isn’t really a good idea unless you can provide real facts.</p>

151

<p>I have to admit, I was a little amused when I read that IH8PSU had written-</p>

<p>“One of my friends from high school did the 2+2 plan at Altoona. When he came up to UP he was my roommate . . .”</p>

<p>after all of the whinging about people hanging out with their high school friends. :wink: (I’m sure he was just doing the guy a favor.)</p>

152

<p>Yet, you went all 4 years without transferring?</p>

<p>Hmm, can’t be that bad</p>

153

<p>Geez! After reading “IH8PSU”'s post about the town of Altoona, I’m not so sure I want my D to go there. However, it is only one persons opinion. We did visit PSU Altoona and explored the town a little. I’ve seen better, but it didn’t seem really bad either.</p>

154

<p>I am an OOS student from NY that is going to attend Atloona in the Fall, and to be honest he has worried me a bit as well. I have yet to visit, although I didnt think that the area would be THAT bad. Now I just feel like the place is extremely empty old and that Ill just be unhappy there…I feel like its worth it though. Penn State is such an amazing school, I have no idea why this person hates it to the fullest degree…the school doesnt decide what you expierence, you do. Im sure that there is a waaayyy greater amount of people that love the place than there is who hate it.</p>

155

<p>haaay12:</p>

<p>Maybe at this point you’re pretty much committed to going where you’re going… but still, why would you sign up to spend two years of your life in a place you haven’t even visited? Especially given that it’s not like you’re on the west coast or anything. You should visit Altoona!</p>

<p>My personal axe to grind would be cautioning prospective branch campus students. Yes, the advantage of a branch campus vs. another (non-PSU) school is that you’re essentially guaranteed to get into UP after 2 years and get a PSU degree that doesn’t list the campus on it. In that respect, it’s a pretty good deal. But the downside is spending two years in a marginal location, on a marginal campus, with subpar opportunities. If you’re planning on the 2+2 you should visit both the branch campus you are planning to attend and UP, and carefully evaluate your non-PSU options as well.</p>

156

<p>OP, although you seem to have had some dissatisfactions with Penn State prior to studying abroad, it seems your study abroad experience was the watershed event for you. </p>

<p>In your earlier posts, you stated that you readily made great friends while studying abroad, and you’ve since visited these friends at their schools. IIRC, most of them attend LACs or schools that are quite different than PSU.</p>

<p>Other than what you’ve already mentioned, were there any other aspects of your study abroad experience led to your changed view of PSU? I’m also curious as to what type of program it was, e.g., type of sponsorship, how many participants, what you studied, etc.</p>

157

<p>My D is still trying to decide between PSU Altoona for 2 years/Main Campus for 2 years and UMASS-Amherst for all 4 years. She told me that if she was admitted to PSU UP as a freshman, she would definitely go there because she likes the bigger school environment. It’s a tough choice. She’s going in w/undecided major.</p>

158

<p>PSUProspect:</p>

<p>Did you’re daughter apply to DUS (Division of Undergraduate Studies) at PSU UP?</p>

<p>If not, I would suggest calling admissions and asking if they can reconsider her application as applying to DUS, if it isn’t too late to do so. Many students that have originally been admitted to a branch campus first, have eventually gotten in to U-Park by doing this, as opposed to apply to a specific college within the University.</p>

<p>If she really wants to go to U-Park, I dont’ think it could hurt to try.</p>

159

<p>I can attest to the statement made by warrior1183.</p>

<p>A good friend of mine applied to a satellite campus as his main choice and got in. His stats were above average so this was no surprise. He visited UP a few weeks later and fell in love. He contacted admissions and asked if he could be re-evaluated for admittance to UP and he was accepted a few days later. He didn’t have to do the 2+2 because he was good enough to get into university park, he just didn’t apply.</p>

<p>So yes it is possible but its also kind of late. This scenario might not work out the same for your D.</p>

160

<p>I know a lot of Penn State alums. Recent ones. Most of them love the school. They don’t consider it a perfect place, but danged close to it. Penn state is suffering no dearth of applicants, and many high schools get many Penn State kids coming back and talking about their experiences. Don’t hear a peep about any roaring tide of unhappiness there. My state schools get a lot more complaints than Penn State does.</p>