UCONN or Penn State?

pierre0913
Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:41:27 +0000

From The Princeton Review

University Of Connecticut

Academics:
“The hardy students of University of Connecticut recognize that a UConn education “is based on a solid foundation of research and academics” and a pedagogical approach that “promotes learning in and out of the classroom,” although that’s not to say that there’s not a contingency that are “all about partying, having a good time, and doing the least amount of studying possible.” UConn is large enough to offer “a wide range of great majors,” including programs at the “fantastic School of Business,” the “well-known Neag School of Education,” and “a solid engineering school with a unique biomedical engineering major.” In most areas, UConn “networks to provide students [with] millions of opportunities for students to expand in academics, self, and even careers,” including “great internships.” The school “does a great job of publicizing these opportunities, as well. We are a big icon of the state, and we keep our prestige.” Thanks to the “UConn 2000” and “UConn Twenty-first Century” initiatives, the campus “is improving drastically with a $2.8-billion construction program designated to refurbishing (and adding onto) nearly every building on campus.” As is the case at many large state schools, “The success of a UConn student’s education is really a matter of personal responsibility. Introductory classes tend to be large and very impersonal, so it is up to the individual to do well.” Bureaucratic tasks such as registration “can be a real pain,”and “the class enrollment process is very confusing and difficult to use,” but overall, students speak warmly of their interactions with administrators. “While usually you have to go through a middleman to get to the administration, it is possible to voice your concerns,” sums up a satisfied student.”

Student Body:
"Students report that the typical UConn undergraduate “is a Connecticut resident”—but after that, “it is so hard to generalize a student population of nearly 15,000.” Sure, “A lot of students are very similar in appearance” because “They are from in-state, and a lot of the same trends are prevalent. But there are plenty of students who do not follow this stereotype, and everyone fits in fine.” Many feel that UConn is “a fantastic representation of the Northeast in all respects,” especially the “actively involved, down-to-earth, [and] pretty friendly” student body. The party animal is a vanishing breed here (though the speed at which he or she is vanishing is open to debate); one student explains, “UConn has had its reputation as a drinking school for many years. And every year, the number of students who come here specifically to party and drink declines.”

Campus Life:
"UConn is located in Storrs, which “is pretty much in the middle of nowhere.” It seems especially so to students without cars, of whom there are quite a few (those with wheels can take advantage of Hartford and, occasionally, Boston). Some students feel this predicament “forces us to go out and party simply because there is nothing better to do.” Others point out that “people go out a lot, yeah, and there’s often alcohol involved, but there are many interesting and fun things to do here for those who don’t like that kind of stuff. For instance, there are UConn Late Nights in Student Union at which students can just hang out, meet new people, play games, and have fun. There are also interesting lectures given by guest speakers at the Dodd Research Center, and movie nights and concerts. Since I’ve been here I’ve seen Dave Chappelle, Kanye West, NAS, Busta Rhymes, Lewis Black, and more perform.” Those eager to join clubs and organizations will also find many to accommodate them here. And then there are the intercollegiate sports. “Basketball and football games are always a blast!” undergraduates assure us (the men’s and women’s hoops squads are both perennial national contenders).

Pennsylvania State University - University Park

Academics:
“At Penn State “You can do anything you want” academically because with “over 160 majors” to choose from, “There are unlimited opportunities” for every undergraduate. Such vast resources are typical of a sprawling public flagship university, but it’s the personal touches that leave students “pretty impressed with how such a large school can run like a small one.” For example, “Professors do a lot to facilitate personal interactions.” They are “really easy to talk to both in and out of class, and they’re always accessible.” Unfortunately, it’s not always a professor students end up with: “They do use a lot of teaching assistants, which can get frustrating.” Still, professors are “thought-provoking” and “You can tell that a lot of them really do want to be teaching.” If you can manage to get into it, the Schreyer Honors College’s “rigorous” curriculum presents “tremendous opportunities.” In addition to more challenging courses, it “offers incredible amounts of money for study abroad, internships, and faculty co-ops,” and its students get perks like “priority registration for classes.” Administratively, “Penn State is a huge machine . . . run with amazing efficiency.” Credit is given to President Graham Spanier, who is praised for not only “holding office hours” and “responding personally to e-mails,” but also for being “very involved in student life.” Despite having “created Late-Night Penn State and the News Readership Program,” he also finds time to be the “advisor to the magician’s club” and “play the washboard in a bar downtown.” Perhaps the greatest long-term benefit of a Penn State education is “the social networking.” With an alumni association of over 159,000 members and growing, opportunities for success through networking are “well in your favor” at Penn State.”

Student Body:
““There is a bit of everything” on this huge campus in the center of the Keystone State. That’s why some students find it so difficult to describe their peers succinctly. Rather than a “typical” student at Penn State, for some survey respondents it makes more sense to describe the school’s “multitude of groups of ‘atypical’ students: frat boys . . . jocks, internationals, loners, skaters . . . ‘jokers, smokers, midnight tokers’ . . . city kids, rednecks, country bumpkins, and so on.” In this way, “It’s like a large high school, where everyone is in their own group.” So “if you come to Penn State, don’t worry about finding friends because there is someone up here for everyone.” Yet even “Though there are a lot of differences, everyone wears blue and white on their sleeve.” Ultimately, “All Penn State students . . . love this college.””

Campus Life:
"At a university this size, “you can do anything and everything” in your free time. There are, however, a couple of common threads. First, “PSU football is a religion.” During the fall, “Everyone goes to the football games and tailgates on Saturdays.” Second, is the partying. “People party as hard on the weekends as they study during the week.” “Popular choices” for freshmen and sophomores are “frat or apartment parties,” while “For those over 21, Penn State’s College Avenue has a great range of over 20 bars for students to choose from.” However, “If someone is not a partier, there are plenty of activities and organizations” he or she can devote her time to. For example, “substance-free activities that occur during the weekends at the Student Union (such as movies, video game tournaments, concerts)” are alternatives for those that decline to imbibe. In terms of extracurriculars, the options are practically endless. According to several students, “with over 700 student clubs and organizations, there’s something for everyone” at Penn State, offering “virtually limitless possibilities to carve out your own corner” and “help students get involved, build a resume, and network.”