Penn State University Park (PSU)

Penn State University Park provides students with a "quality education" through "highly regarded programs across a wide range of academic colleges." These programs include the "prestigious undergrad business school" Smeal, standout engineering and education majors, and Schreyer Honors College, which participants call "the finest honors program in the nation." Undergraduates note that due to Penn State's size, "classes freshman year are mostly lectures," which new students may find intimidating. But "even in lectures with hundreds of students, many professors still make an effort to get to know their class and have plenty of office hours to make themselves more accessible." As students advance in their studies and complete more General Education and major requirements, they find that their academic experience becomes more individualized. One student shares, "As I have gotten into my majors, my classes are down to about 15 to 40 people and there are a lot more discussions. I know all of my professors personally now." Students often describe the academics as "rigorous" and "competitive" but not overwhelming. Here, "professors will challenge you, but it's nothing that a hard-working student can't handle." The school's career services and strong alumni network help many graduating seniors find jobs, with one student exclaiming, "The Penn State networking web is incredible!" Additionally, its prime "location, within driving distance to Philadelphia, Washington, and New York," provides valuable opportunities for internships and employment.

Though students hail from all 50 states and over 140 foreign countries, Penn State draws heavily from the Northeast, with “lots of kids from the tristate area” who are mostly “athletic, suburban, and friendly middle-class.” Penn State offers various orientation and transition programs to help new students make social connections and build relationships on campus. “There are many opportunities to meet new people,” especially throughout the first year, and students say that “everyone is friendly.” Students claim that the best way to meet like-minded people is to “try different clubs and find your niche” among the many options available, from fraternities and sororities to sports teams and student-organized groups. With such a wide array of opportunities and the sheer number of students and personalities, “pretty much every student will find somewhere to fit in.” There is “a sense of community” and “school spirit” among students: “Penn State is the passion and pride of a large and diverse student body.”

At Penn State, students can immerse themselves in the “full college experience,” which has “the perfect mix of great academics, social life, and sports.” Football dominates campus throughout fall semester; “game days are super exciting and unifying for the student population,” who turn out in large, spirited numbers to tailgate and root for the Nittany Lions. In addition to sports, Greek life has a strong presence on campus, and students enjoy patronizing the many bars of State College’s downtown on weekends. Those seeking alternative pursuits won’t have trouble finding “on-campus concerts, stand-up comedians, craft nights, sporting events, and other ways of having fun without drugs or alcohol.” Many students opt to “go out to the local avenue and try new eateries and walk around campus and enjoy the scenery.” Besides these activities, there are over 1,000 recognized student organizations to join, and Penn Staters have “a great enthusiasm for extracurricular and philanthropic involvement.” One particularly popular event is THON, “a 46-hour, no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon” that “raises money for children with pediatric cancer.” No matter your interests or hobbies, “between football games, Late Nights in the HUB, festivities downtown, movies, shows at Eisenhower Auditorium or the Penn State Theatre, concerts at the BJC [Bryce Jordan Center]...there is something for everyone.”

It’s no secret that one of the top reasons students value Penn State is its vast Nittany Lion alumni network. How vast, you ask? Students boast of “access to an alumni network of over half a million, and...of its job-recruiting power out of major metropolitan areas such as Philadelphia, New York, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Washington D.C., and across the country.” One student notes that the “giant alumni base and brand name make getting internships so much easier. I loved our career fair when just about every company was here. I was offered four summer internships...as a freshman!” Career Services at Penn State assists students and alumni with their career goals, networking and recruiting opportunities, and offers coaching with résumés, cover letters, and interviews. Penn State also has a Peace Corps office on campus for students and alumni who are looking to be of service while gaining valuable experience. According to Payscale.com, the typical Penn State graduate has a median starting salary of around $69,400, and 50 percent report that their job has a great deal of meaning.