Engineering at Penn State & Off Campus Housing

Colleges & Universities Penn State
1

Hi everyone!
I was admitted to Penn State - University Park to College of Engineering (:
I’m gonna start my freshman year this coming Spring which is gonna be freeeeeezing!! I have few questions regarding academics and life at PSU & State College.
1- How hard is Engineering at PSU? Is it manageable? what about the workload?

2- I’m an International student, I will probably live off-campus, so any suggestions? (I’m exempt from living on campus)
3- State College is a small town, but I came from a major city, how did you adjust yourself to life there?
4- THE WEATHER! one guy told me that you will SURVIVE! what should I bring with me? (it does not snow at all in my city)
Thanks in advance and congrats to all applicants who have been admitted.

2
  1. PSU graduates hundreds of engineers every year, so it must not be impossible. :P You have to take advantage of the help available to you. Workload is kind of a lot, as with any engineering major anywhere.
  2. Are you sure you have to live off-campus? Is there even going to be a place for you?? People are already claiming spots for NEXT FALL -- housing chaos starts early here.
  3. Get involved in the events and groups there are, throw yourself into your schoolwork with a vengeance, you'll be so busy you probably won't even care how small it is.
  4. Bring a good coat and snow boots and other winter layers.
3

Thanks bodangles, but what do you mean by “You have to take advantage of the help available to you.” Can you specify more?

Also, I didn’t start looking for a place, but living on campus will not give the privacy I want. Don’t get me wrong, but I mean I want my own bed+bath. It’s so weird and funny at the time for me to look for snow boots.

4

Go to office hours, go to review sessions, get tutoring, watch helpful videos online, do extra problems…anything you have to do to ensure that you understand the material. People who throw up their hands and say “I don’t know what to do” – or worse, people who don’t try – won’t last long in an engineering program. There are lots of resources to help students with difficult material.

That’s nice, but…seriously…I would start investigating immediately. Spots are already filling up for next year – I don’t know if there’s some great apartment just sitting empty, ready for you. They might all be taken already. Beggars can’t be choosers, and whatnot.

5

One last question, will I be taken most of my classes in College of Engineering?(I’m talking about the first year)

6

http://www.engr.psu.edu/AcademicPlans/ ← Recommended Academic Plans. You will most likely be taking several math/science prereqs and a gen-ed or two. No major classes yet.