Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Top Questions

- Professors know your name in smaller classes. You have to make more of an effort in larger classes. - Favorite Class: Psych 2 (Freshmen Year) - Early am class and the Prof threw beach balls every morning and told stories to make class interesting. - Least Favorite Class: English 100 - Prof was horrible and the class was boring (diagnosing the English language) - Studying Habits: Everyone is different and every class requires different amounts of studying. I'd say for a regular midterm I would study about 10 - 15 hours. - Class participation: Depends on the class size. It is encouraged and allows the prof to learn your name. - Intellectual Conversations: I did occasionally, but not on a regular basis. - Competitiveness: Yes... - Unique Class: Rhetoric of Place - discussed the significance of how buildings are situated and how people move and interact according to how our world is built. - My Major: Secondary Education - The program prepared me for teaching and I am regarded as a well trained professional. I didn't directly spend time with profs outside of class, but every once in a while I would run into one of them on the street or in a bar. I have heard of students going to the bars with profs. - Academic Requirements: I do not think the academic requirements are outlandish or unattainable. - The education I received at PSU, I feel is geared toward both receiving a job and learning.

My professors know my name, I make sure of it. My favorite class is ballroom dancing; dancing is fun. Least favorite was Chemistry; I liked the subject matter, but the class was at 8:00am in a really crummy building that I do not like. I have no clue how often students study; I never do. Class participation varies on the class; some classes have more, some have none. PSU students generally only talk about alcohol or partying (including sexual relations) outside of class. I have no idea if students are competitive. The most unique class I have taken was African Art History. My major is History, it's a fairly straightforward department. I visit my professors during office hours and sometimes make appointments outside of class to meet with them and chat; I also stay after class frequently to discuss things. Penn State's academic requirements are fine. Depending on your area of study, your education is geared toward either learning or getting a job. A lot of business classes focus on getting a job, liberal arts and sciences focus on learning.

No. Favorite- Sociology 5 with Frank Clemente Least Favorite- Economics with Dirk Mateer I don't know about other students but I study a lot. Depends on the size of the class. Yes. Yes. Unique- Sociology 5 with Frank Clemente Business- Marketing. No. I think they are aligned with what is expected after graduation. Geared toward getting a job

in 4/5 of my classes the professors know my name. My favorite class is my telecommunications and sales class because it will be the one that will probably help me the most when I graudate. My least favorite is my ethics in journalism class because all we do is look at articles. Some students study a lot- some dont study at all. Class participation is common but theres always that guy who has to answer every question- or at least attempt to- that guy is in my ethics in journalism class. Students are extremely competitive although they might not admit it. The most unique class I've taken was my Fitness Walking class, it was a really good experience. Im majoring in telecommunications- The Department is really helpful especially with internships. Education in lower levels is geared toward learning but as you get deeper into your major the focus slightly shifts to getting a job.

The academic environment at PSU, at least, in my experience, especially when you start taking courses for your major (assuming you enjoy doing whatever you chose as a major), is pretty good. There are ofcourse the general education classes that people tend to complain about. But in my experience, there are classes particularly designed for non-majors to take and the teachers tend to design them that way. Astro 001, for instance, is an online introduction to astronomy course that is designed towards students not in the sciences. I took this course to complete 3 of my required 9 general science credits. The fact that the faculty was aware of this made them gear the glass in a more general direction and by the end, I found myself very much enjoying the class. WIth my majors, English and Spanish. Classes tend to be small and more personable. That said, attendance is mandatory, but the classes, especially as you get higher, become more conversational and are not so boring. The thing about academics here is it is mostly up to the student to get a good education.

Lecture classes at PSU are HUGE. I think this one biology class I took freshman year had like 600 students! It's difficult to get to know the teacher one-on-one in classes like that (unless you go to their office hours every week), but there are some labs which go along with those kinds of classes (especially science classes), so you get a chance to interact with other students and teaching assistants, and sometimes even the professor. My major is English, so most of my classes are small in order to be able to properly discuss whatever text is assigned. Small classes are great way to get your ideas on the table and hear other peoples opinion and then respond to it. I have been fortunate enough to be at a school where numerous types of English classes are offered, ranging from Gothic novels to British Literature to Fiction Writing to Editing. I was even able to sign up for an internship course, where I received college credit for doing an internship in New York (so it counted as a class).

Although Penn State is an extremely large university, once you get rid of your gen-ed classes taught in large lecture halls, classes become a lot smaller and you get more of the attention that you may need. For all but one of my classes this semester my professor knows my name and for most of my classes, it's definitely encouraged to engage in class participation. The professors are all extremely intelligent and they definitely try to prepare you for the real world after college as much as they can.

The professors at Penn State are among the most prestigious men and women in the country. A common misconception about PSU is that with so many students on campus, professors don't know their students' names. My professors know my name, greet me outside of the classroom, and are willing to help any student at the drop of a hat. From my experiences here at Penn State I would say the education is geared mostly toward learning for its own sake although certain classes geared toward getting a job are also required for students.

Except for my largest lecture classes, my professors have known my name. It's not hard to get to know your teachers, even in a school as big as Penn State, simply by going to office hours. It's easy to get one-on-one help that way and your teachers know you care about your grades, which is crucial if you end up falling on the borderline between grades at the end of the semester. One of the most unique classes I took was an introduction to microeconomics. The teacher was really excited about the subject and would help explain the concepts by showing related movie and tv clips. It not only made the class more entertaining, but it also helped me remember all the topics when it came time to study for the exams.

Even in large lecture halls, students have the opportunity to get to know their teachers. I’ve found that professors go through great lengths to make themselves available to students, and to help out in any way they can. My favorite classes however, have been small discussion based courses, which are conveniently extremely common. These classes tend to create lasting friendships between students, while also facilitating great relationships with teachers. Many of my past teachers have been extremely helpful in helping me to gain connections, and giving me advice to help me succeed in the publishing field. Really the classroom experience is whatever you make of it. There are students who enjoy to challenge themselves, and actively participate in class, while others prefer to sit in the back and soak it all in. I’m currently taking an African literature course which is unlike any other class I’ve ever taken. Students are encouraged to think differently and participate in active discussion about the differences between African and Western cultures, while reading texts that are incredibly original. I find that this class's unique qualities reflect this school's ability to cater to a wide variety of interests. I’m majoring in English and Comparative Literature, for which I have two advisors who are both incredibly helpful. They work together to create an academic plan for me spanning over the rest of my Penn State career. Apart from my advisors in the English and Comparative Literature departments, I also have an advisor at the Career Services Center. Students have the opportunity to make appointments here for help on all levels of future career decisions. Career Services can help students decide on a major, find internships, prepare for interviews, and eventually apply for jobs.