Penn State - University Park

Visit Report by fencersmother (Member since June 23 2007 with 1223 posts) Visit Date - May 2007

4 of 5 people found this visit report helpful
Visit to Penn State - University Park in May 2007 by fencersmother (Parent of Student, HS Class of 2008)
Visit Activities:
Admissions Interview: No - Had a mixup in scheduling - our fault. Have been in touch with appropriate athletic coaches though. Information Session: No - Again, our fault, but we came prepared (and had been there unofficially before), so that was ok too. Campus Tour: Yes - Huge campus, quintessentially the BIG TEN experience - and I mean B I G Classroom Visit: Yes - In school of engineering. Looks just like a classroom for 250 math focused kids.
Penn State - University Park Campus:
Friendliness/Courtesy of Students: 3 - Good - The kids must have been "finals hazed" because most of them were busy staring at the ground as they walked around. Some of them couldn't even tell us where major buildings are. Friendliness/Courtesy of Staff: 4 - Very Good - Campus officials were great, and certainly the athletic coaches were fantastic. The coach even escorted us to church! Appearance of Campus: 4 - Very Good - What's not to love? Beautiful mountains & scenery. Some of the 1960's era buildings are definitely a bit on the bland side - like at any large/Big 10 school. Building/Facilities Maintenance/Cleanliness: 3 - Good - Way better maintained than Ohio St, maybe not as well as Northwestern, which while Big 10, certainly isn't in the same ballpark. Dormitories: 2 - Fair - Freshman dorms definitely need a good overhaul. Very impersonal, despite the college supplied mini frig and microwave. If you don't loft the beds, you and your roommate can't dress at the Security/Safety: 3 - Good - Campus police in sight. As long as the student doesn't do stupid things, such as out at night alone, I was impressed by the safety factor. Better than uPenn, Pitt, and Northwestern.
Off-Campus:
Area Immediately Around Campus: 4 - Very Good - If you have a car, the world is your oyster in Happy Valley. Without a car, your options are slightly fewer, but still, anything you want to buy is within walking distance. City/Town/Community: 3 - Good - Churches, stores, businesses, restaurants (lots of chains), pizza pizza pizza beer beer beer. A real college town.
Campus Visit Notes for Penn State - University Park:
Visit Description: Children are considering Div 1 fencing there and compared to Ivies, the fencing is light years better but the facilities are about the same. Schreyer's Honors College (for SATs 1350+ and 3.75 GPA Honors program) gets you some extra money and apparently those students are taken from an "Ivy likely" pool. The SHC kids live in their own dorm and generally "hang" together, even if they are div 1 athletes. Food was good in freshman cafe. Take a map with you and keep it in your backpack for the first year. It's a huge place. Most freshman classes that aren't Honors are huge. Big premed programs. If you are bored at Penn State, it's because you want to be. Literally hundreds of activities from archeological digs and animal husbandry to zither-instruction. Athletes in big programs are the only people on campus with a "name." Who cares who's first in the class in Chemistry? Joe Paterno has God-status. Hotel/Lodging Recommendations or Comments: We stayed at Comfort Inn & Suites and had a room big enough for 5 (but 7 of us stayed in it!). $79/night, includes breakfast. Nittany Inn very pricey and very fancy. We walked on their sidewalk Dining/Restaurant Recommendations or Comments: Lots to choose from, with most of the chains located driving distance from campus. We ate at Applebees - same old... Lots of beer and pizza Other Comments (Transportation, local attractions, parking, etc.): Parking was free for us in Univ. owned lots on the weekend, but otherwise, there is limited visitor parking. Bring a car only if you really need it - say for a job, or quick commute.
4 of 5 people found this visit report helpful