<p>aglages, Why are you always so cranky?</p>
<p>Though my first post I’m not new to the site. I just decided to register and post
because I’m shocked and appalled at the way some of the adults and parents on this
thread are treating the OP. Someone made the statement…“you eat the fish
and throw away the bones” …so everything the OP says may not apply to
you but listen to what he is saying as some things are valid. Also, those of you
that are mature adults and parents may want to give him some encouragement
instead of attacks to help him get through the next few months. Think of it as
“what if your student were in the same situation”</p>
<p>To Ih8PSU…most people walk in the same direction…in the same circle
for example (think the same)…and when you turn and walk in the opposite,
think out of the box…you will get some attacks. They all obviously love
PSU, want their kids to go there and are not willing to look at anything other
then I “heart heart” PSU. I read what you had to say, thought some of it was
informational and good to be aware of going to PSU. Some of the things you
have a problem with I would not (ie getting into clubs, etc.), but I think the whole
teaching…TA thing is a problem and should not be written off as “that’s just
the way it is” as some have done here. I’m also concerned about the entire diversity problem there. Lastly, I don’t like hearing about the clique thing either…so
for all reading this…you might want to look a little closer and make sure this or
any school is the right fit. I think that’s all the OP is trying to say.</p>
<p>Ih8PSU…hang in there and try to stick it out for the next few months and
at least you’ll be wiser for grad school or whatever you do from here on out.</p>
<p><<like any=“” state=“” college,=“” psu=“” can=“” be=“” a=“” great=“” school=“” for=“” those=“” that=“” take=“” advantage=“” of=“” it’s=“” strengths=“” and=“” all=“” it=“” has=“” to=“” offer.=“” but=“” is=“” not=“” shangra-la=“” isn’t=“” good=“” fit=“” everybody.=“”>></like></p>
<p>Exactly. PSU isn’t utopia. But it’s no different from any other school. Around here, there are tons of kids who ONLY want to go to UT or ONLY want to go to TX A&M. They won’t even consider other schools. But for my son, those 2 schools weren’t even considerations - they just weren’t what he wanted and he would not have been happy. But he is a very happy camper at PSU, wears his Blue Band sweatshirt proudly, can’t wait to have his single room next year, and always answers whenever he hears “We Are…!”</p>
<p>I should add-- My son knew exactly what he wanted to do after HS graduation. There is just a handful of programs in his area and we visited schools in Colorado, Illinois and PA. PSU is one of the best and had the strengths he was looking for. It was certainly not 13th grade for him.</p>
<p>MsPebble - Yes, many of the issues that IH8PSU raised are legitimate concerns and things that students should consider and think about. The problem is that he is so focused on blaming PSU for his miserable experience that he can’t even recognize the fact that the same issues exist at most large schools (especially big state-flagships).
These are issues MOST students have to deal with, especially when they go to an OOS school.</p>
<p>But - there are also lots of things that students can do to minimize the impact of these issues. Getting involved in activities/club/organizations are quick ways to meet people with common interests. Trying to get into an honors college (or at least into some honors classes) is one great way to ensure smaller class sizes and minimal TAs teaching them.</p>
<p>One of the challenges of college is learning how to adjust and adapt to a new environment. Some handle it well, others don’t. But whether the experiences are good or bad, students need to learn from them. My fear is that IH8PSU hasn’t learned anything other than to blame everything on Penn State.</p>
<p>Still doesn’t justify attacking him.</p>
<p>@ vp2247</p>
<p>I’ll try to answer all of your questions.</p>
<ol>
<li>“From your perspective, why did you find the frats to not be very good? What type of guys do the frats consist of generally? Can you elaborate on why the party scene was not so great?”</li>
</ol>
<p>Firstly, the frats do vary greatly. Some frats are mostly meatheads, others are rich snobby kids (I’m thinking mostly of SAE here) others are mostly laid-back potsmoking types, there are several Jewish fraternities such as AEPI, etc. It’s tough to give a model of what the ‘typical’ PSU frat guy is like since there is so much variety within the Greek system.</p>
<p>There are several fraternities that are considered to be “top-tier” and it is those fraternities that hold their mixers with the hottest sororities. Off the top of my head, here some of the “top-tier” frats and the assorted stereotypes.</p>
<p>Pi Kappa Phi - DRUGS! I would be surprised if any house on fraternity row is home to more drug use than Pi Kapp. Every Pi Kapp I’ve known has been a heavy potsmoker and, at the very least, an occasional coke user.</p>
<p>Sigma Alpha Epsilon - Rich, snobby kids. These guys are as close to being villains from 80’s college movies as it gets. Lots of kids from extremely wealthy suburban areas. Everyone I knew in this frat was from Upper St. Claire, one of the wealthiest suburbs of Pittsburgh</p>
<p>Beta - I’m not sure what the full name of this frat is since everyone just calls it “Beta”. I can’t stereotype this one very well because I haven’t known a ton of Betas. I do know that they hold mixers with some of the top sororities though and that they are one of the few frats to have year-long pledging as opposed to one semester.</p>
<p>Sigma Epsilon Mu - Mostly Jewish kids, but not exclusively. Basically a predominantly Jewish version of Pi Kapp, but with less extreme drug use.</p>
<p>One warning I would give to anyone considering PSU Greek life is that the hazing process at many of the “top-tier” fraternities is EXTREME. Here are a list of things that friends of mine were forced to do during the hazing process.</p>
<p>All of these stories were told to me firsthand by friends who were pledging:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Having to eat a stick of butter that has been completely covered with Skoal original flavor dipping tobacco. They called this “The chocolate bar”</p></li>
<li><p>Having to hold out your fist and have a massive mound of shaving cream placed on it to look like a large soft-serve ice-cream cone. Then that mound of shaving cream is covered in Skoal original flavor dipping tobacco and you have to eat the entire thing. They called this “The ice-cream cone”</p></li>
<li><p>Having to stand in ankle-deep ice water in a freezing basement in the middle of winter with the windows and doors open wearing only your underwear. This continues until all pledges correctly answer trivia about the fraternity.</p></li>
<li><p>One of my friends was forced to drink an entire 750ml bottle of 80-proof liquor in one hour. He was hospitalized afterward. In the hospital he blew a 0.32 breathalyzer.</p></li>
<li><p>All the pledges forced to sit for 48hrs in a small box outline by chalk. There is not enough room in this box for the pledges to lie down. They ahd to sit or stand. One-by-one they were taken out, hazed individually, then forced to return to the box. Death metal was blaring at them the entire time from speakers located only a foot or two away. At more than one point, fraternity brothers came in and peed on them as they sat there.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I could go on, but I’ll stop there for now.</p>
<p>Fraternity parties themselves are really all the same. Dark rooms packed with FAR more people than they should be able to accommodate, dancing to horrible music (When soulja boy came out my sophomore year, you heard “crank that” at least 3x per party). Regardless of outside temperatures, inside the party it will be 105degrees and humid. The music will be too loud to hold a conversation. The floor will be slick with spilled beer and what you will hope is not bodily fluids. Girls in heels will repeatedly fall on the slick floor, which can be funny unless you’re the person they spill their drink on as they’re going down. There will be at least one fight or attempted fight per party</p>
<p>@vp2247</p>
<ol>
<li>“What major were you in to provide such a harsh and unforgiving schedule of foreign TA’s?”</li>
</ol>
<p>I am an accounting major. Once I began taking courses within my major, the issue of TA’s with poor communication skills became much less problematic. However, during my first two years, when I was taking entrance to major courses, this was a big problem. </p>
<p>In my major I’ve run-into many more issues with uninterested or uncaring professors than I have with foreign TA’s. If you plan to major in accounting or in Business in general, let me know and I can get into details about being a business student.</p>
<p>BTW, I totally expected the reaction I’ve received from some posters and honestly could not care less what they think. I know this school and I know myself, and nothing that they say will change my feelings regarding either. I would be happy to provide you with further elaboration on any subject that you want.</p>
<p>@grcxx3</p>
<p>Yes, I do have a job lined-up for after graduation. I will be working for the company that I did an internship with last summer. Before you even ask, the answer is No. I did not get the internship through PSU.</p>
<p>Also, I do realize that many of the problems I listed would also be problems at other big state schools. I thought that I made that abundantly clear in the first response that I wrote to you, which contained the following quotations:</p>
<p>“No, I don’t think that that particular issue would be different at other large state schools, but I thought that it was something that some incoming freshmen might not expect and should be warned about.”</p>
<p>“Again, I know that this is an issue at many large universities…”</p>
<p>“I’m aware that many schools have professors who are just there for the research and not to really teach…”</p>
<p>I don’t know why you chose to ignore all of that and continue to assert that I believe all of these issues to be unique to PSU.</p>
<p>[Fraternities</a> and Sororities](<a href=“http://www.psu.edu/ouic/uport/pgreek.html]Fraternities”>http://www.psu.edu/ouic/uport/pgreek.html)
[Wikipedia</a>, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page]Wikipedia”>Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)</p>
<p>There are about 36,000 undergrads at PSU. 4000 are in frats and sororities. That would be 1 in 9 students. The other 8 are not. My son was not but some of his friends were.</p>
<p>25% of students are from out of state.</p>
<p>Son went to PSU for 4 years.He was in the science college He had 2 courses taught by TA’s. One TA was almost impossible to understand. He did have some lab discussion courses taught by TA’s but this was not the course…just the lab. </p>
<p>Like in many, many colleges different ethnic groups tend to stick together. They self segregate. This includes your Ivy’s.</p>
<p>He hung with many different kids. Lived with 5 guys off campus his last two years. Only one he knew from high school. Older students would have parties in their apartments and keep them in check.</p>
<p>The frats sponser Thon. The worlds largest philanthropic group. Raised $9 million dollars last year for cancer research. They are doing something right.</p>
<p>While my son was at PSU 1 kid was run down and horribly injured by a drunk driver and another boy left a frat party so drunk he fell down some stairs and died. I am thrilled that PSu and the surrounding bars are doing all that they can to stem underage drinking.</p>
<p>@2chillaxin</p>
<p>I thought that the title of this thread made it clear that no I am not looking for sympathy, looking to incite action against PSU or looking for anyone to agree with me. I just want future out-of state students to hear the things that I wish someone had told me before I came to school here.</p>
<p>@MsPebble</p>
<p>Thank you. I honestly just want to tell prospective OOS students the things that I wish someone had told me when I was making my college decision. I fully expected those who love PSU to attack me for what I’m saying, but I have been surprised at the fact that those attacks have come almost entirely from those who are not current PSU students themselves. Thank you for your understanding and supportive words.</p>
<p>I haven’t read all of IH8PSU posts but I am from Central Pa and I agree with his assesment on the dropping of racial comments without a second thought about being offensive. Additonally, my ex husband moved here from the Boston area and he would confirm how unfriendly people can be to those they do not know. He said the same thing when trying to meet new people, they told him they already had their friends. We moved to a small town 4 yrs ago because of the school district and I swear, people will walk right by you on the sidewalk and never even acknowledge your presence. It is a “circle the wagons” mentality. After several years , girls flat out told my daughter that they didn’t know how to approach a “new” student and they had no intention of being friendly to someone they didn’t know. After the 2008 Election, there was a student at my daughter’s HS who threatened to kill all the Blacks @ school (maybe 5 tops) and anyone who voted for Obama. Another fun fact, Teachers meet kids at church before elementary school and then walk them to school, PUBLIC SCHOOL mind you, and the kids who went to Bible study get to have a Pizza party for Lunch while those who didn’t go to Bible study don’t get to attend.Oh, and They bring the pizza in from the local pizza shop too as an added incentive. Strangest thing, everyone thinks that this is the best thing ever. Of course, they would never consider how it may make someone else feel who doesn’t go to Church or perhaps is even Jewish because to this community,those students do not exist. My daughter had a prerequisite when applying for college, get out of PA. That being said she did apply to PSU-UP as a back up and did get in but honestly, I had concerns similar to what IH8T is describing. Nothing against PSU, my parents have had season tickets for over 45 yrs on the 45 yd line, huge fans, been going up my whole life…however, I am not confident that it would be a campus open to diversity etc.</p>
<p>Oh and one last thing, the Central PA crowd will always tell you that there “is something wrong with you”, its the most used play in their game book…</p>
<p>@ mylohlily</p>
<p>I couldn’t agree more with your post. I’ve also spoken to numerous well-traveled adults who have made similar assessments. </p>
<p>Case in point, I have a family friend whose life goal is to visit all 50 states (not just driving through them , but actually visiting) and the way that he described PA was:</p>
<p>"Pennsylvania is a lot like the deep south, but without the southern hospitality.</p>
<p>@ IH8PSU,</p>
<p>I’m going to be attending University Park in the fall for Accounting. Can you elaborate a little more about being a business major?</p>
<p>Bingo, that is exactly what it is like. We call it “Pennyslytucky”… The funny thing is, like I said, I grew up here so I would have never known that other areas were different. If I didn’t marry someone from outside the area, I may have never fully appreciated how closeminded and insular it was. Nonetheless, most from here will never acknowledge it…I just chalk it up to the fact that people are not beating down the doors to move here. If it was Boston or CA or a place where many people choose to move to, the feeling would be more welcoming of outsiders. Instead, people usually leave here or just stay, not so many new transplants, unless they have to for a job.</p>
<p>No, thank you IH8PSU!..for being honest and brave enough to write your real
experience at PSU. Your college experience, though not so good, has given you
wisdom beyond your years. I got it from your very first post and understood that
not everyone may have the same experience you did,
but what if???..At least they know what goes on and they can go in “eyes
wide open” …in case they find themselves in a similar situation. </p>
<p>@molohlilly (sorry if I misspelled your ID) verified your “central PA” experience at PSU,
so you know it’s not you as some as unsuccessfully tried to imply. </p>
<p>Again…as a senior you have very little time left there so hang in there and
know you will be moving on to bigger and better things.</p>
<p>IH8PSU…</p>
<p>As a recent graduate (class of 2007), and a Smeal Alumn, I can agree that there are things we all wish someone had told us before we went there. This is why they say “hind sight is 20/20”. It is the process of learning these lessons that actually helps us grow up, because lets face it, coming in as a freshman, MOST of us don’t know anything about how the real world works.</p>
<p>As far as the diversity issue…news flash, this is CENTRAL PA…its a STATE school, and that state isn’t the most diverse place on earth. That being said, you’re experience will be as diverse as you make it. I’m OOS (from CT) and I had roommates from PA, New Jersey, Kansas, Georgia, Colorado, Oregon, California, Minnesota, and New York. I also had close friends from other countries…Germany, Sweden, Russia, Israel, the UK, Thailand, Hong Kong, Brazil and others. Some of these people were Black, Hispanic, and Asian. Some practices Islam, some were Jewish, others Buddhist. I met all of those people at Penn State U-Park, and no, I didn’t get to go abroad.</p>
<p>The point is, the place is as diverse as you want to make it.</p>
<p>Also, I haven’t heard you say anything about how you handled the situations when you heard racial slurs spoken in public…the only thing I have heard is how disgusted you were by it.</p>
<p>So really, who are you helping by simply complaining about how bad the experience was? You haven’t offered any other solutions to those problems other than “Don’t Go to Penn State”…try offering some real solutions to those problems if you want to help those people who might be thinking of attending Penn State, because, as you state earlier, they could encounter these problems elsewhere…right?</p>
<p>Also, as far as having TA’s that don’t speak english very well…</p>
<p>This is something all of use inevitably have to deal with at some point in life. Is it better to learn to deal with this situation now, or when your paycheck depends on being able to communicate with said people?</p>
<p>College is about growing up…</p>