<p>mowriter - I think the problems you described are true at most large universities. The relationship that parents have with their children is critical. And you are right - listening is the key ingredient.</p>
<p>The size of PSU was certainly something we considered when talking to DS about his options. But it was his first choice and he felt that it was the right place for him to be. However, he went in with a good knowledge of what to expect and a plan (and backup plan) to help him make the adjustment.</p>
<p>There is definitely vast amounts of information available on the internet about colleges, however I find it very helpful to hear a first hand account from a student who has spent 4 years at the school. Yes he had a lousy 4 years and wants to make sure everyone know…what’s wrong with that? You can certainly listen to what his experience was and balance it with what you know about yourself (or your s/d). We have very open communication with our son but I can see him feeling exactly the way this student did and not wanting to feel that we wasted our money. IH8PSU gave me some very good information on how to handle this situation.</p>
<p>I agree that most large universities are going to have similar problems, but I also believe that each school, similar to cities and even workplaces have their own culture. Some people fit into certain cultures better than others. IH8PSU has touched upon quite a few issues that I have already heard about at Penn State and given his own first hand account about them, specifically the diversity issue and Greek life. I don’t know if this information will stop my son from attending PSU, but it will give him a little insight and a few less surprises if he does decide to attend.</p>
<p>Exactly. Take what multiple people have to say (IH8PSU’s fairly negative perspective and other people’s positive perspectives) and integrate it to form your opinion.</p>
<p>One thing I’ve been curious about for a while – for all the parents posting on here: does your son or daughter also read CC forums and do his/her own research as well? Or do you mostly do research on here then share the results with him/her?</p>
<p>The two issues I personally would highlight out of what’s been posted here would be:</p>
<p>1) It is beyond time for a major major crackdown on greek life at PSU. IH8PSU shared some examples of what hazing entails at some of the frats. I find it despicable that the institution I graduated from essentially turns a blind eye to these activities.</p>
<p>2) The Penn State PR machine does a great job of characterizing the branch campuses (sorry, “Commonwealth Campuses”) as equal to main campus (err, “University Park campus”) in every possible way. “One university, many campuses” and all that. This is PR doublespeak!</p>
<p>Op who is unhappy (hates Penn state) may I offer my opinion.<br>
You are so obviously very bright. I have read through all of the posts on this thread. Your posts are so clearly written and you are quite witty at times. Being of high intelligence would certainly make one very intolerant of small minded people especially those who make racially negative comments and who speak without any knowledge of their subject. It is quite clear how unhappy you are and have been, basically because you haven’t found community with others of like mind. I’m wondering if you have been in trouble for drugs and this has discolored your entire view of Penn state. It’s hard for me, despite reading everything you’ve written, to entirely understand your hatred and unhappiness. I’m not seeing incredibly valid reasons, such as going through a great loss, receiving bad grades, or even being bullied by other students, that would cause this.
I would just caution you before you “warn” others considering this school that you also struggle with intolerance. The same intolerance to which you are so opposed.<br>
I do wish you the best in the future. There is a lot of injustice in the world and this will always be. Make sure you take a stand for what’s really important in this area.</p>
<p>You don’t have to have gotten in trouble for drugs to see a problem with destroying people’s futures over possession and use of a small amount of marijuana.</p>
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<p>Can’t we discuss the OP’s claims on their merits and have a healthy debate rather than attempt to perform amateur psychoanalysis regarding his motivations?</p>
<p>He has had a lousy 4 years and puts all the blame on Penn State. He takes no personal responsibility for his misery and the only suggestion he has for prospective students is to stay away from Penn State. </p>
<p>There has been quite a bit of discussion. I have no problem with the issues he has raised. Most of them are important things that all students should think about in making a decision about college.</p>
<p>But many of his issues/problems are ones that are going to be found at any large state university (and to a lesser degree at smaller, private universities). Other issues (drug/alcohol laws) are under federal/state control. Again, things to be aware of, but not Penn State’s fault.</p>
<p>Of course I understand that the friends and acquaintances I’ve mentioned in my stories were not “innocent” as they were engaged in an activity that is illegal. The severity of the punishments that are imposed on students for such a minor offense, however, is grossly disproportionate to the magnitude of the crime in question. If a given geographical area has laws that impose such disproportionate penalties for minor offenses, then wouldn’t you, as an outsider, want to know about that before you entered that area?</p>
<p>When I’ve had this discussion in the past, I’ve used the following hypothetical scenario:</p>
<p>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 the population that occasionally exceeds 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>Thank you for your post. What you mentioned in your thread is a big part of why I felt the need to create this thread. Prospective students often only hear the good parts about the schools they are considering because that is all that’s discussed through official channels such as campus tours and information sessions. Additionally, the students who are most likely to want to share information about their college experiences tend to be those who are happy with their schools. </p>
<p>This time of year I see student tours all over campus and I can’t help but feel that they are receiving a very one-sided view of the school. Therefore, as a student who has had a negative college experience here, I wanted to share that side of the school with prospective students as well.</p>
<p>@grcxx3</p>
<p>Admittedly, my choice of wording in my opening post, specifically the passage you mentioned,“list of reasons why you should go anywhere else besides PSU” was somewhat hyperbolic. Even given my experience, and the vast number of schools that I would much rather have attended in hindsight, I do acknowledge that there ARE plenty of schools out there that I would not have preferred to PSU. However, most of those are schools where I would expect that the problems that I’ve noted at PSU would be even more severe, such as BYU or WVU.</p>
<p>No, I have never been in any kind of trouble whatsoever for drugs or alcohol at PSU (or anywhere else for that matter). The most trouble I’ve ever got into here was a couple of parking tickets. As psumb pointed-out, not being personally impacted by an unjust policy does not preclude one from recognizing the inherent wrongness of that policy. There were white people involved in the Civil Rights Movement after all.</p>
<p>It was more of a gradual realization than the result of a single traumatic event. Over the course of my first 2.5 years at PSU (pre-abroad) there was a long list constant reminders that the many in-state friends that I had made during my first 2 years at PSU would never really accept me into their social group and that I was still viewed as an outsider.</p>
<p>How about the story I relayed previously about a good friend of mine (an in-state student) getting arrested, and turning snitch? Instead of giving-up his friend from high school (who WAS a drug dealer) he attempted to set me up on felony charges despite knowing that I had never sold drugs. Realizing that one of your close friends, someone you had hung-out with at least 2 nights a week for the past 2 years would sell you down the river in a heartbeat with full knowledge that you did nothing to deserve it is a pretty profound thing.</p>
<p>Or the much simpler story about how much differently my best friends from summer semester (in-state students) treated me once their high school social group arrived on campus in the Fall. Or realizing that someone that you thought was a good guy harbored appallingly racist or homophobic beliefs.</p>
<p>Additionally, my best friend from freshman year transferred at the end of the year and my best friend sophomore year (plus another close friend) did the same thing the next year. It wasn’t that I never found like-minded people here. It was that like-minded people admitted to themselves before I did that this place isn’t a good fit.</p>
<p>I haven’t seen the ‘you’re intolerant for not tolerating other people’s intolerance’ card played in quite some time. Guilty I guess.</p>
<p>IH8PSU, despite all this empty criticism, I just wanted to thank you for giving me some examples of fraternities and the social scene. If you can ever provide more info haha I’d be glad to listen and would be eternally grateful.</p>
<p>Also, if the drug policy you stated is true. Caught with Marijuana, and you have committed a felony. Then, I have to say that is OUTRAGEOUS. Yes marijuana is illegal, but so is underage drinking, sneaking into an R-Rated movie, switching driving lanes w/o a blinker, and many other things that are done by the million. None of which would cause felony charges. Marijuana is a drug, and it is not illegalized due to its damaging effects on the body or brain, because if it were, then alcohol would also be illegal. It is illegal because it is known as a “gate-way drug” which is probably the largest contributer to people trying other drugs. If someone can do marijuana, why not cocaine, and then we have problem.</p>
<p>And IH8PSU, if one of your friends really did try to snitch on you for something you didn’t do then I must say that is downright ridiculous. I hope for you that that person recieved the felony and jail-time for lying to the police.</p>
<p>hey thank you for everyone who is standing up for penn state. i am going to be a freshmen next year, and i am currently here visiting as an oos, so at first i was worried. but with all the support, i have a new opinion! :)</p>
<p>mewoimacat -
It’s all what you make it. And having realistic expectations helps a lot. Coming in from OOS (at ANY big state school) is tough. You need a strategy for making friends, finding a group to belong to, feeling comfortable, and getting involved. </p>
<p>Don’t expect to be best buds with your roommate. At best, hope that the 2 of you get along. Anything more than that is (as we say in New Orleans) “lagniappe” (a little something extra). PSU does a great job of offering students tons of opportunities to meet people. Take advantage of those opportunities!</p>
<p>Keep in mind that no school if perfect. But if you’ve done your homework, looked at all the pros and cons of a big state school (especially from OOS), and still feel confident that PSU is the place for you - then make it work!</p>
<p>For my son, the “plan” was the make it into the Blue Band. But he knew that he had the honors college as part of his support system. As it turned out - both have worked extremely well for him. My son is also from OOS. Of course, for him, when people ask “where he’s from” - it’s a tough question to answer. Altho New Orleans is considered home, he has family in PA, came from a high school in Texas, but basically grew up overseas. He doesn’t exactly fit into anyone’s “mold!” Of course, I guess that could work in his favor!!! ;)</p>
<p>@ih8: Just wondering, were/are you an SHC student, or did you take Honors classes? I’m enrolled at Schreyers for the Fall and am just curious if your experience included them as well.</p>
<p>I’m from New Jersey OOS. I’m starting off at PSU Altoona because of the close proximity to University Park. It’s a good program because if you maintain a good GPA, you can easily transfer to University Park. It also saves you about $14,000 over 2 years. Altoona’s tuition is ~$20,000 while UP is ~$27,000. </p>
<p>It’s also a good option because PSU-UP is one of the most prestigious public Universities in the East. My parents can’t afford Private Universities.</p>
<p>To H8 (sorry I can’t bring myself to write your whole name ) ----
Sorry to hear of your unfortunate experience at Penn State University. I just want you to know that there is a plethora of extra curricular groups of interest, clubs, etc of which you can become a part. That is how you meet people in college who you can connect with; other students with whom you share interests. Friendships and relationships are formed with common interests and PSU is a school which can offer ways to be happy socially. You just need to step out and try.</p>
<p>H8, Take a look at this video : This is for the others who have a great appreciation for the State of Pennsylvania as well as PSU .</p>
<p>not gonna go through all these posts, but i really like penn state and was just wondering if any current students had some thoughts on it? and maybe PM me because that’d be easier. another top choice for me right now is cal poly san luis obispo. </p>
<p>so just PM me if you’d like about social life (which i imagine is huge), academics, greek life (cliquey? fun? hazing?), and just in general if you’re happy there or why i should or shouldn’t choose PSU.</p>
<p>(if it helps: psu: hospitality major, cal poly: business, want to be event planner)</p>
<p>I am an in-state freshman currently at Penn State UP and I came across this thread and was very interested. I only read through about half of the thread but I can definitely say that many of the things that H8 is saying are entirely true. I will share some of my experiences in my first year that are similar to what H8 mentioned.
Although I am instate, only about 5 kids from my HS came here, none of which I am friends with. I definitely have noticed that many kids do just hang out with their HS friends. Of course everyone meets people from other places, but many will primarily hang out with their HS friends so it can definitely be hard to make friends.
I agree that the party scene isn’t impressive. Frat parties are absolutely awful. I went to 2 and left after 20 min at both. Obviously using a fake id is dumb here, you will get caught, but it is easy to get alcohol.
People honestly are racist here. I went to some session for extra credit for a class which was on race relations and we were discussing about how people feel about other races and how they judge and act around people and everyone in the group pretty much said they were racist without actually putting it in those words, even the leaders of the discussion who were african american and asian. Meanwhile I was sitting there thinking <strong><em>. At some point I said something like “I judge people on who they are, not race” and one of the leaders said “well yeah, but race definitely has some influence on how you act right?” Hard to explain without telling the whole story, but that is just one instance I experienced racism here, there have been others.
Don’t even get me started on the penalties for marijuana here. Very, very strict. I know friends who have had their room searched (which they had absolutely nothing in) because the police said “it smelled like marijuana.” They go out of their way to try to catch you for marijuana, but almost turn a blind eye to drinking, even when at least 5-10 people go to the hospital each weekend due to alcohol. The penalties aren’t really made up by the school, its the state. And it’s not a felony, it’s a misdemeanor but it still *</em></strong>s up your life.
Theres good and bad professors, you just need to find the good ones. I use ratemyprofessors and I have had mostly good professors so far. There are a lot of TAs that teach but I think it’s pretty common. However, scheduling here is awful. There are never enough sections or seats for classes that you need/want. I was told on my tour that since the scheduling goes by number of credits, scheduling wouldn’t be a problem because upperclassmen usually aren’t taking the same classes as freshman/sophmores. I wish that were true, but I’m stuck taking dumb classes that have nothing to do with my major but that I almost had to take because I couldn’t get into entrance to major classes because they were full (i’m an acctg major).
Theres next to nothing to do that is free, and when there is, there is limited space for it. Sure there are concerts and events and stuff like that but I have encountered way to many times that there was something I was interested in doing but couldn’t do to space limitations. </p>
<p>Overall, I think some of the response to H8 has been unfair, because most of what he has written is true. Penn State is still a good school and if you don’t mind these things then go ahead. However, be warned that PSU is also very good at making something seem a lot better than it actually is, I in fact feel like I was tricked into going here. I will be transferring next year most likely.</p>
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