<p>
My bad. I’m sure lots of racially diverse high schools send “the majority of their students” to PSU UP. Probably accounts for the huge AA and Hispanic enrollment.</p>
<p>So MsPebble (3 posts) and mylohlily (25 posts) have not attended PSU but are here to back up the poster about his negative experiences as a PSU student…</p>
<p>I think if the poster had gotten out of his comfort zone of hanging out with drinking frat jocks and had become invoved with the actual learning process (joining clubs, research groups, volunteer groups, club sports, Thon) he could have found a totally different college experience. </p>
<p>1 in nine joined a frat/sorority. Go find some of the other 8 kids who are not hanging out trying to get into bars underage and moaning about the tight alcohol/drug enforcement at PSU. You will find them in research labs, clubs, doing study abroad, working internships, volunteering etc.</p>
<p>Sorry you were miserable. Lots of students do not choose to have your type of experience at PSU. People have the free will to decide how they are going to interact with their world. Good luck in your new job. Being proactive will help you the rest of your life.</p>
<p>mylohlily, Your experiences appear to be from one of the smaller towns in central PA, which are like rural towns in many parts of the country. The area around the university is not so small-minded. The faculty come from all over, as do most of the administrators. I’m not going to claim that the area is diverse, but I haven’t heard the sort of comments some here apparently have. One thing that I notice is that, in State College, the non-whites you see around are professionals, while the blue collar workers, groundskeepers and other low paying joobs are done by whites (often from the surrounding areas). I can imagine that there could be some resentment against the outsiders who come in, are often better educated, take the higher paying jobs, drive up the housing prices, etc.</p>
<p>Aglages, I admit, I was just antagonizing you. The school is not suburban but, yes, mostly white and middle class. I apologize.</p>
<p>1moremom: No problem. We live in PA and my children go to the same type of school.</p>
<p>I am not sure why you felt the need to inventory my posts nevertheless, I feel confident that I can speak on Central Pa with some authority. </p>
<p>I have lived in the suburbs of Harrisburg for all but 4 years of my life and I currently live right next to Hershey. Where I live now would certainly be described as “small town” however PSU Medical Center is less than 1 mile away, so we do have an influx of professionals, something of a rarity. That being said, our High school might have 10 African Americans, at best, out of 1200 students. We have more than a few trucks @ the school with Confederate Flags on them here, it is the culture. It is like “the land time forgot” when it comes to any cultural diversity. Additionally, as far the area around PSU, my parents have owned a cabin 20 miles fom PA since I was born so I am also familar with the area directly outside of "Happy Valley’. Those residents are even less inclined to welcome those who are “different” than themselves. I went to college on the Mainline in Philly so I am aware that not all of PA has this closeminded mentality. Once again, I am not sure why you feel the need to try and discredit what I, IH8T, or other posters have acknowledged and as well as that which has also been reported at PSU throughout the years.
PSU has many claims to fame, admittedly, however one of them is NOT diversity…</p>
<p>@SAX I believe that you missed his point, he did not care to hang out with the frats and the jocks. Initlally he looked to the party scene as a selling point but then became turned off by it.</p>
<p>I’d also like to speak up to support IH8PSUs post. If you search on the word “diversity” in this forum you will find several discussions which, either explicitly or implicitly, validate that there are issues with “diversity” at Penn State. </p>
<p>Also, from my personal experience, as a long time resident of the Philadelphia area who has relatives in Central PA, I do find Central PA (read: anywhere but Philly and Pittsburgh metro areas) to be predominantly white, Republican and conservative.</p>
<p>I have visited Penn State’s campus also Pitt and can report observing that Pitt was more diverse both in terms of the types of students and the feeling that it is a school more accepting of different types of people. Temple is even more diverse.</p>
<p>For prospective students who prefer to attend a diverse school, PSU may not be the best place. </p>
<p>I would love to hear from some non-white students at PSU about their feelings on campus diversity.</p>
<p>mylohlily, I’ve only seen what you posted in this thread. When you said central PA, I assumed you were from the area around Penn State as that is what this thread is discussing. I was not trying to discredit you, only to share my experience of living in State College, which to me seems relevant to the conversation. I agree with you that the area outside of State College is small town, rural. I doubt that many PSU students spend any time there, other than when they drive through on their way to/from campus. </p>
<p>@pamom59, If you look at a political map you will see that State College proper is a blue dot in a sea of red. </p>
<p>You (both) might also note, I wrote in my last post “I’m not going to claim that the area is diverse” and see no point in debating that issue.</p>
<p>onemoremom- I get your point that State College may be an exception to the Pennsyltucky stereotype given that it is populated by many educated professors, etc. but that doesn’t change the fact that a large percentage of PSU students are not from State College proper but from those other small town areas of PA. Also, students at PSU may in some way self-select because those looking for a more diverse campus would look elsewhere. Thus, the sea of mostly white, Christian, middle class students who are mainly just fine with the level of diversity because for them there is no problem with fitting in.</p>
<p>Here is one of the other threads discussing diversity</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/penn-state-university-park/1047861-diversity-penn-state.html?highlight=diversity[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/penn-state-university-park/1047861-diversity-penn-state.html?highlight=diversity</a></p>
<p>I agree that we have a significant percentage from small town PA. But with 36% from OOS (primarily NY, NJ, MD and NOVA) and a fair number from Pittsburgh and Philly, I would not say that those from the rural areas dictate the climate on campus and still must disagree with the OP’s assertion that–</p>
<p>"3. Xenophobia, homophobia and racism run rampant here. "</p>
<p>Again, I never argued that PSU is diverse.</p>
<p>As to his whining that–</p>
<p>“2. . . . All of the downtown bars are INCREDIBLY strict when it comes to IDs, so don’t expect to be able to get into any bars until your Junior or Senior year.”</p>
<p>and</p>
<p>"4. You know those “Drug Free Zones” around K-12 schools that make it so there are extremely heavy penalties even for simple possession? Well, some ingenious lawmaker in PA decided that those zones shouldn’t just be for K-12 schools, but for colleges and universities as well. So if you get caught on campus with a joint, you may be looking at felony charges. "</p>
<p>I can’t really understand why you would like to speak up to support that.</p>
<p>As far as “1. In-state students will come to school with approximately 70% of their high school social group . . .” I’m sorry that was his experience, but we have just as much anecdotal evidence (more, actually) that others haven’t had his problems.</p>
<p>As others have said, his complaints about classes are pretty much par for the course at big state universities and shouldn’t have come as a surprise if he had done a little research.</p>
<p>You know, I am not blind to the problems at Penn State. My older son went to a private school and I would have preferred a private school for my PSU kid. (He went to a small private elementary and then chose a small (<150 kids), alternative high school.) But there were just a handful of schools offering his program, mostly big state schools. Penn State was his best option and he has thrived there. Apparently, the OP has not been as successful and, while he is welcome to vent, I don’t really see that his warning to “Stay Far Away from PSU!” and follow-up vitriol offer much in the way of constructive criticism or helpful advice (unless one is concerned about access to bars as a freshman).</p>
<p>@sbrtth</p>
<p>I’m not sure what you want to know specifically about being an accounting major, but I’d be happy to give a brief overview. Let me know if you want me to elaborate further on any subject.</p>
<p>Your first 2 years will be spent taking entrance-to-major courses. Prior to entering your major Sophomore year, you will only be able to take the one accounting course (Acctg 211). Some of the other courses you will take during those 2 years are Calculus, English, and 1 introductory course from each of the following disciplines: Economics (macro and micro), management, finance and business law. There might be a couple more I’m leaving out, but the basic idea is to give you some basic knowledge of all business disciplines. All of the entrance-to-major courses except for English will meet in one of the +300-person lecture halls such as those in Forum or Sparks.</p>
<p>If Gus Colangelo still teaches management and business law, I recommend that you try to take those classes with him. He’s keeps class interesting, provides good examples, and is a nice guy.</p>
<p>One unfortunate side-effect of this program is that you are only able to take 1 course in the subject that you intend to major in before you have to declare a major. This means that you don’t have the opportunity to realize that your major isn’t for you until you are already a junior. I had several friends within my major who didn’t realize until midway through junior year that they hated accounting. By that point, you will likely be far behind in whatever major you decide to switch to. Two of my friends decided to switch majors midway through their junior years and both of them had to do summer semesters and take a couple 18 credit semesters to get caught-up in their new majors and graduate in 4yrs.
Full disclosure: I’m not sure to what extent other schools structure their entrance-to-major programs similarly. I’m only speaking from my own experiences here at PSU.</p>
<p>Once you get into your major, the classes will get much smaller. In many of my accounting courses, the class averages for exams and assignments were in the 60’s and low-70’s, which can be very upsetting for students accustomed to earning A’s and B’s. However, these classes are always seriously curved and most people get alright grades in the end. </p>
<p>I do take issue with the fact that the accounting professors consistently give assignments and exams where the class average is less than 70. When the average score is that low, that suggests that either the professor is grading the assignments in an unreasonably strict manner, that the assignments are unreasonably difficult, or that the professor is not adequately teaching the material. </p>
<p>I’m now realizing how long an outline of the entire accounting major experience would be, so do you have any specific questions that you’d like answered?</p>
<p>Finally this is a productive conversation, thank you.</p>
<p>I’d also like to chime in regarding Accounting 211 (the first accounting class you are able to take). This is not only a “weed out” class for the Accounting Program, but also the Business School in general. It is designed to be one of the most challenging courses in Smeal, relative to semester standing. I will say this much though, I have never in my life been so excited to get a C on an exam as when I did so (and apparently that one wasn’t “curved”) on my accounting 211 final…</p>
<p>Also, I believe Gus Colangelo is still there, and he does make class really enjoyable. I remember one time he actually shot me with a squirt gun during an in class assignment, apparently to simulate the consequences of poor decision making, lol.</p>
<p>@ 1moremom (and anyone else who would try to justify the marijuana policies at PSU)</p>
<p>If you see nothing wrong with a policy that treats possession of drugs on a college campus the same as possession of drugs at a middle school, there is something wrong with YOU.</p>
<p>If you see nothing wrong with a policy that slaps felony charges on an 18yr old kid who gets caught engaging in an activity that almost 50% of the entire U.S. population aged 12 and older have engaged in, then there is something wrong with YOU.</p>
<p>If you want to justify your stance with “it’s illegal. If you just get a slap on the wrist, you won’t learn.”, then would you also propose that we institute felony charges for underage drinking? If not, try to justify your stance.</p>
<p>Seriously, try to justify a policy under which underage drinking gets you a simple fine, and smoking weed gets you felony charge. Then sit back and realize how silly that is. </p>
<p>Every year alcohol abuse kills and maims students at PSU. Whether it’s drunk kids falling
from balconies, drunk pedestrians stumbling into traffic, drunk drivers hitting pedestrians, drunk people assaulting one-another and in the sad case of Joe Dado, drunk kids falling into stairwells. Do you have any idea how many Daily Collegian articles I’ve read about incidents like that during my time at PSU? Yet I have NEVER read a single story about all the harm that marijuana use has caused in the PSU community. </p>
<p>Do you realize the extent to which a felony charge can ruin a person’s life?</p>
<p>You can’t vote.
You can’t run for office. (This would have ruled-out our last 3 presidents, who all admitted to past marijuana use)
You can’t own a firearm.
You have to declare that conviction on job applications, severely damaging future prospects for gainful employment.</p>
<p>I agree that marijuana should be decriminalized. I would much rather see a student smoke a joint or two and mellow out than drink red bull and vodka and get in a fight on Calder Way or get behind the wheel of a car. But Penn State doesn’t make the laws, so I’m not sure of the relevance here. (I also support [Amethyst</a> Initiative » Statement](<a href=“www.amethystinitiative.org is Expired or Suspended.”>www.amethystinitiative.org is Expired or Suspended.).)</p>
<p>I understand that the decision to include Universities in the “drug-free zone” designation was a decision that was made by PA state officials and not by the University. The fact remains however that this is an issue unique to PA schools and that therefore it is an issue at PSU, but not at other similar schools like OSU, UConn, UMass, etc.</p>
<p>This is something that incoming students should be warned about, because they sure as heck don’t tell you about it on the campus tours and most students are very surprised to learn about it. Better that they read about it now than find out about it when they are getting put in handcuffs.</p>
<p>Also, prospective students who prefer to mellow out with a few friends and smoke a joint as opposed to getting belligerently drunk and starting fights on Calder Way should know that maybe the scene here at PSU is not for them.</p>
<p>It does seem a bit ridiculous that a simple possession of of marijuana charge becomes a felony simply because it occurs on a college campus, or a location immediately surrounding it. Any idea when they enacted that, because I don’t remember it being an issue when I was there (from 2002-2007)?</p>
<p>But, from what you are saying, the problem extends to all PA universities, not just Penn State University Park. </p>
<p>That being said, most college students aren’t really aware of the ramifications of any illegal activity they might be involved in. One of my former roommates neglected to appear at a court date, which got him a bench warrant. He ended up getting pulled over for speeding, and then arrested for the warrant, and because a Judge wasn’t able to appear, he spent 48 hours in jail…waiting for a judge.</p>
<p>Had he just shown up and paid the fine in the first place…?</p>
<p>@warrior</p>
<p>I tried to find information as to when the drug-free school zones were extended to cover college campuses, but since I was unable to do so, I would assume that they have always been included in that designation. </p>
<p>It did occur to me however that things might be slightly better in this regard than they were prior to 2010. In the 2009 local elections, Stacy Parks Miller defeated incumbent Michael Madiera to become the new District Attorney for Centre County. Madiera was a zealous defender of the drug-free zone designation, and Parks Miller had stated during the election that she did not approve of the policy. The policy remains in place, but it is possible that Parks Miller is not as overzealous in its application as her predecessor.</p>
<p>Madiera had a reputation for always seeking the harshest possible penalties for students in order to force plea deals. He argued that consistently imposing mandatory minimum sentences sped-up the courts by forcing students to plead to lesser charges as opposed to pleading “not guilty” and risking 2 or more years in state prison if convicted. </p>
<p>I did find some interesting quotes about the policy on the websites of some local attorneys that indicate that the policy is still an issue, such as this one from Fleming Law Offices:</p>
<p>“A common issue we deal with when defending clients in State College is the mandatory sentence requirements for drug possession and distribution withing a school zone. Because of the proximity of the downtown area of State College to State College High School, Penn State University and many other school properties it is almost impossible to not be located in a school zone in State College.”</p>
<p>I probably should have mentioned previously that the drug-free zone covers not only the campus itself, but also most of downtown state college. So in the eyes of the law, smoking a joint in the privacy of your downtown apartment is no different from smoking a joint on the playground of your local middle school. </p>
<p>I also found a nice article from the publication Voices of Central Pennsylvania by Zac Taylor titled: “Use of Drug Snitches Stretches the Law’s Intent”. The article is about the way in which the local police and district attorney have in the past used these laws to force students to snitch on one another. In many cases these the students arrested as a result of these students-turned-informants are not even drug dealers.</p>
<p>I also thought that I would share 2 personal experiences with the manner in which the local authorities use these laws unjustly against students:</p>
<p>Story 1: My sophomore year a “friend” (I use that term very loosely for reasons that will soon become obvious) got arrested for possession with intent to distribute in a school zone. He was only in possession of 2 grams of marijuana, which he had just purchased on campus and was bringing back to his off-campus apartment. He got pulled over on the way back and a subsequent search of his vehicle and person uncovered the 2 grams. Unfortunately, the 2grams were in two separate 1gram bags because it was to be shared evenly between him and his roommate. The fact that the weed was bagged into separate 1gram quantities allowed the local authorities to charge him with intent to distribute rather than simple possession. I knew that he had been arrested because a friend of mine drove past him while he was sitting on the curb in handcuffs, but he didn’t know that I was aware. </p>
<p>With a 2 year mandatory minimum sentence hanging over his head, my “friend” got desperate. The person who he bought weed from usually was one of his best friends from high school, so he wanted to give someone else up to the police, but he didn’t know any other drug dealers. Not knowing that I was aware of his predicament, he sent me text messages asking me if I could hook him up with some adderrall (which I have a prescription for, but have NEVER sold). I later found out that he had sent other friends text messages asking “Hey, do you have like a gram of weed I can buy off of you, or even just a joint’s worth?” and “Hey, if I gave you some money, would you be able to get me xanax?” None of those friends were drug dealers either. </p>
<p>Story 2: My neighbor junior year had previously been arrested for distribution of a controlled substance in a school zone. The way he was arrested was that one of his friends had been arrested and was working as a snitch to get out from under the felony charge. The snitch called him up to come hang-out and asked him “If you know anybody to get weed from, could you pick-up a bag for me on your way over and I’ll pay you back when you get here?”. Seeing nothing wrong with this, my neighbor stopped at a dealer’s place and grabbed a $20 bag on the way over. When he got there, the snitch was hanging out with his “friend from class” (actually an undercover cop). My neighbor took out the bag and gave it to his friend, who reimbursed him the $20 he had paid. Even though he was just doing a favor for a friend, received no remuneration, and had never dealt drugs in his life, he was charged with distribution in a school zone. Luckily for him, his mother happened to be one of the finest criminal defense lawyers in the Greater NY area and she was able to successfully argue entrapment.</p>
<p>IH8PSU,</p>
<p>Thank you for your posting. My son is still waiting to hear from some colleges, but he has been accepted to PSU and it is probably #1 on his list right now. I find it very helpful to hear both pros and cons regarding the school.</p>
<p>One of the things that you posted that really concerns me is that you did not want to tell your parents that you were not happy at PSU. I can absolutely see my son doing the same thing. Is there something your parents could have said or done that could have helped this situation? </p>
<p>We are in a state right now where marijuana has been de-crimalized so it is very important and useful information for my son to know that it is a felony at Penn State. </p>
<p>Now that you are a senior and looking back is there anything you can suggest to incoming freshman to make the experience better? Join clubs? Find a girlfriend 
etc.? Also were there any schools (could you name them) that you now wish you had attended instead?</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>[State</a> College PA Drug Charges Attorney | Delivery | Centre County Criminal Defense Lawyer](<a href=“http://www.liskolaw.com/Drug-Crimes/What-You-Need-to-Know-About-Drug-Cases.shtml]State”>http://www.liskolaw.com/Drug-Crimes/What-You-Need-to-Know-About-Drug-Cases.shtml)</p>
<p>It’s not the posession of pot that gets you a felony. It is the transfer of pot from one person to another that could get you the felony charge.</p>
<p>Its also in other states besides Pa. you can google it.</p>
<p>I am still not comfortable with a student telling others to stay away from PSU because of the states laws on illegal drugs. The poster is saying he doesn’t like PSU in large part because of their stance on underage drinking and illegal drug use.</p>
<p>I thought PSU was about getting a great education and having a good time while you do it.</p>