Pennsylvania State University

Date: Mar 24 2009
Major: Chemical Engineering (This Major's Salary over time)
At first glance Penn State is wonderful. You go on the tour which basically highlights the places to eat in the HUB, and you are taken away by the beauty of the campus. That's all it has going for it. The nightlife is good if you drink. Frat partys are not as prevalent since the hiring of a new IFC director. Apartment partys are every weekend, but they get old fast. Drinking is the norm and if you don't then there really isn't anything to do in town. There are many bars, only if you are 21, but other than that state college has about three main streets, college, beaver, atherton. If your used to a city or living in a town that has more than 3 major streets or where people know what a turnpike is don't come here.

The engineering department is more concerned about research and getting into publications. The president of the university in press statements always insists that this is a student oriented university, but that is not the case. People say that once you get past the intro courses the classes become smaller. In the engineering department small classes are about 150-180, at least in chemical engineering, where even in the 200 level classes they still have TA teaching the class. Advising is terrible. Most of them just read off the engineering website. You are basically and student number.

Fraternity life is huge and frat kids don't associate with kids who don't choose greek life, or "independents" as they call them.

Overall I am looking into transferring. The quality of education is terrible. If you are one who wants student and professor relationships don't come here. Yes you'll hear that the profs have office hours and that's when you can get to know them. But my one professor has one hour a week for about 180 students.

So if you don't want to know your professors, be a student number and have drink as the only thing to do on the weekend come to Penn State.