Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Top Questions

When telling people about my amazing school, I get the biggest reaction when I mention the roughly 40,000 undergraduates that attend my campus (University Park-Main Campus). Some people are intimidated by the number, and some (like myself) see it as an opportunity. Freshman class sizes range from 4oo-600 people, and slowly but surely dwindle down to roughly 30-50 people classes. PSU is a big school, but like I said, PSU is what you make of it. If you don't approach the professors, they won't know your name. PSU is also a research university, therefore, many professors (if they can even be technically called a professor) are working on some sort of research, aside from teaching your class. I've heard complains that teachers don't care, but through my experience I've noticed the ones who complain just never made the effort to visit office hours. The general educations courses (gen eds) are pretty standard, and you can really have fun with choosing them. The course selection at PSU is vast, which allows you to take interesting courses while still meeting gen ed requirements. When it comes to major requirements, advisers will help you map out your courses so that you can maximize your time and enjoy your major. The recipe to success at PSU is quite simple: take one part class attendance, one part office hours, and two parts effort. My 6 roommates and I spend an average of 3-4 hours a day reading or doing homework. Success is top priority for those who attend or have attended PSU. We have some of the largest job fairs in the East coast with recruiters from all over the nation. The biggest job fairs are generally geared towards business and engineering majors. Students in colleges like liberal arts or communications need to make more of an effort to get internships/jobs. If you do your research, I can guarantee a feeling of astonishment when faced with the never-ending possibilities that PSU has to offer. I meet someone new everyday, and will graduate knowing I'm a part of one of the biggest networks in the nation; not a bad gig.

I love the English department at Penn State. The professors and faculty are so helpful with class advice and convenient office hours. I have never once had trouble getting in contact with a member of the English department. For a paper last semester I even conferred with a professor who I’d never taken and it proved very helpful. As an expert on my writing subject, she was flattered that I went to her for suggestions and welcomed me back anytime. I also think the English graduate students are spectacular because they add a current spin to the curriculum and offer timely suggestions for graduating seniors. Within my major every professor I’ve had has learned my name. That is without me even forcing them to with regular participation and conferences. Don’t get me wrong, I do that too. When I run into class acquaintances we actually do discuss class assignments, novels, stuff we’re currently reading. I don’t like the use the word “intellectual”, but most of the English majors I’ve come in contact with do fit that stereotype. Outside of my major my experience has been decent. I think the Spanish program here is strong. I took a stupid two year absence from taking a Spanish class for my minor. This semester I took a 400-level Spanish class which I thought would be a fatal error, but the professor is very helpful to students needing the extra clarification and attention. The larger auditorium classes are uncomfortable and usually boring. I don’t dislike them, but the classes are mainly for a general requirement that I don’t have as much interest as I would within my major. Also, a large setting like that makes it hard for me to pay attention or even attend sometimes. However, none of these gen-eds have been a negative experience. I at least felt I learned SOMETHING.

Class size varies here. Like most large universities, you are required to take “general education” courses. Freshman and sophomore year, your schedule is full of these, and they are usually conducted in lecture halls that seat hundreds. By the time you are a junior, though, you have been accepted into your major and your classes will dramatically shrink in size. I like seeing familiar faces and I’ve made a few friends through the classes I’ve taken for my major. This makes it nice when you feel like studying with someone or you’re required to do a group project. As corny as this may sound, my opinion is that the professors here are either hit or miss. I have had some interesting and hilarious professors, but I have also had some professors that were so boring, I text messaged throughout every single class of the semester. I recommend asking around to find out about professors. I’ve noticed that there is a lot of class participation at Penn State. I took a political science course last semester and every day there was a debate about something. As outgoing as I am, it actually made me nervous at first because I felt like I was surrounded by 50 cut-throat future politicians. The most competitive students are in the Smeal College of Business, especially when their major is finance. Internships and co-ops are not optional; they are mandatory if these business students want to make money in the future…and they definitely do.

Most of my professors are grad students. While this wouldn't be acceptable at an Ivy League, it makes sense here. I have become very close with a few of my professors, especially in creative based learning classes such as creative writing, or critical reading. The expressive, mental work that exists in creative classes often leads to a less inhibited relationship with the professor making them more approachable. Although graduate students usually do a good job, an awkward, uncertain, inhibited graduate student can result in a lackluster learning experience. Even though students don't take themselves too seriously as undergraduates, the classroom setting still needs to be challenging and professional.

I love the academic atmosphere at Penn State. From the professors, to the library resources, to the actual in class and out of class stuff, it's great. The professors really want to help the students. Many of them beg for us to go to office hours just to hang out and talk. Many of them require it for certain papers so they can look over them to make sure you personally understand. The library also has many great resources besides books. There are computer labs, music and movie labs and resources, even full size skeletons if you're so inclined to check one out. Most of the professors are extremely enthusiastic about what they teach and extremely knowledgeable. I've had numerous professors who have not only academic, but civil interest books published, or who have appeared on TV as commentators or experts. As intimidating as that sounds, they are all very interested in their students' successes. Many of them like to keep in touch after you've left their class to know what you've been doing. The class sizes depend on your major. I'm in English and Philosophy, so many of my classes are pretty small, ranging in sizes of 12-50 students. I wouldn't say the students are as competitive with each other as much as they are competitive with the material. It is not uncommon to find a study group of 10 or 15 kids helping each other for a test or discussing a reading assignment. The hours you put in to studying really depends on your major; like with my major, I general spend 4-6 hours a night reading and writing, while many of my friends spend about 8-10 hours a day studying and doing homework for their engineering classes. It also depends on how much you want to get out of your education. While getting an internship is not required for most majors, they are definitely made accessible through your department or job fairs on campus. Many of the professors will put in a good word for you if you've shown great interest or ability in one of their classes. Upper classmen are also a good resource for finding internships, as they usually have experience or have heard things from some of their friends. They too can sometimes hook you up with a reference.

One of the main reasons I chose to come to Penn State was the amount of options they gave concerning majors, minors, and different classes they offered. I came here in the fall of 2005 with no idea about the type of degree I wanted to pursue. Everyone at home always asked, "So, what are your plans for the future? What do you want to do?" I was nineteen years old. How the hell was I supposed to pick something that could ultimately affect the outcome of my life? (I have since learned that just about everyone felt like I did and that your major in no way dictates what you can/will do in the course of a lifetime) In my first two years, I took anything and everything I was interested in. I didn't discuss my goals with an advisor. I just had basic courses in mind and would choose whatever caught my attention. This was an amazing way to orientate myself to college. I had huge classes (we're talking 700 kids-my entire high school-packed into one room), small classes, computer classes, labs, everything. I found out that I preferred smaller classes (think 40 max.) and fell in love with English literature (I had always been an avid reader my entire life). I loved the English professors, so passionate, debating about "The Great Gatsby," "Lolita," and "Mrs. Dalloway" as though they were cases of life or death. I stuck with English and finally got an advisor, who steers me in the right direction (or at least tries). I think college is a bit much about filling quotas and not enough about finding passion in what you are studying. Yet Penn State gives me opportunities to do just that. I'm taking an outreach course this summer where I am going to study on an Indian Reservation in northern Minnesota for three weeks. It is courses like this one that make Penn State a truly stupendous learning institution (though many students don't ever discover courses such as these). When I told my advisor what I was doing, I remember she laughed and said "Where in the world do you find this stuff?" I think I just know the right places to look.

With 40,000 students you would obviously assume you're just another nameless face in the middle of a 300 person lecture hall. Not the case, sorry slackers. Sure there are huge lectures, but they are mostly electives and general education like into to psych. The biggest class I had was only 100 people, most of which never showed up anyway. Most professors will take attendance and will base your grade on whether or not they can attach a face to that name on their roster. Morale of the story? Speak up.

Not to sound cliche or like anyone's parent, but you really do get out what you put in with regards to academics here. Making the effort to introduce yourself to your professors is definitely worth it! Asking for help and talking in class can really help to understand the material better. And when you know your professor as more than just someone standing in front of the class lecturing you it makes the experience more interesting. Personally, I've loved all my english classes here (but that's because I'm a book nerd). I've been taught by grad students and professors and both have been interesting. PSU claims the creating of American Literature study and houses personal items of authors such as John O'Hara. Unfortunately I've never been that great at science, so my worst class was definitely my nutrition science course. It didn't really help that my teacher had a heavy accent, which I guess can be a negative about going to a big university since they seek the best professors from around tons of different places. Studying, again I'm probably going to sound like a mom, but studying all depends on you: you put in what you want to get out. I've had classes where I rarely study and other classes that dominate my time. The only classes where there wasn't a good amount of student involvement were my lectures, but even in one of my hundred person lectures there was still student discussion. There's different political clubs and tons of people to have serious conversations with, and even though grades are competitive, I've never met anyone who's too competitive to help if you need it. Right now I'm taking my senior seminar for writing, which is like a creative writing class. It's definitely different from all the classes I've taken in college. The English department is great; professors are easy to talk to you and there are great resources at the libraries. I've never "hungout" with any of my professors (although I've known students who have), but I've talked to them in their offices or walked and talked on campus. I known that there's that mentality that teachers don't have a life outside of school (or at least one students know about), but it's always fun seeing a professor eating lunch or shopping downtown. Requirements here aren't out of the ordinary and I really think that classes that seem pointless for your major really do add to your experience not only as a Penn Stater, but as a student in general. The classes really do set you up for real life experiences; maybe not specifically the information taught in class, but taking the classes (even if they're stupid science courses that you never think you'll need) and learning to deal with tough situations is always something people can use.

With a student body of over 40,000, it is in itself a large task to try and get to know a lot of people. When it comes to professors they try and be as personable as possible, often throwing out invitations of them being at say Irving's Coffee shop after class and anyone who would like to join them to talk about the class or just shoot the breeze is more than welcome. When you teach a class of more than 300, attendance and getting to know names goes right out the window which is typical among 100 and 200 level classes. T.A's are also usually present, but are normally there to assist the professor not teach. But, most professors will make a conscious effort to make themselves as accessible as possible giving the students a feeling of their care. In smaller classes like 300 and 400 level, all the professors that I've had try hard, and will learn your names and a lot of them will be interested in your personal goals, activities, and interests in life. Also, you'll often catch a professor downtown getting lunch, coffee, or even at a bar grabbing a beer on the weekends. They welcome your company on those occasions too, often engaging in conversations that don't pertain to the classes they teach, which is nice. The education at PSU is geared towards a universal knowledge on a lot of subjects. Much like other universities they require a core set of classes to be fulfilled before graduation. It's their theory that well rounded students create a more diverse, well rounded, and productive work environment. It also makes a student more marketable upon graduation to companies searching for someone who is not like all the others. It also gives students a break from the mundane classes of their majors. But, PSU also pushes jobs very sternly. Internships are a big thing on campus, and seminars are often held about attaining them. Many professors and advisers feel strongly that internships are an essential part of getting that desired job upon graduation, which has proven itself very effective in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

Academics can be whatever you make of it. Every possible major seems to be available, even flower arrangement. Classes can be up to 600 kids in the Thomas auditoriums, or as little as 15 for classes in our older buildings like Willard. My favorite classes were my electives such as, THEA 102 with Paul Puma. I am currently taking Beginner Hip Hop. These classes I could finally relax and have fun. There is always a place for you to further your education and pursue other things. Office hours are becoming very popular for students to take advantage of. Teaching assistants are also on the rise to deal with the high demand of teachers time outside of class. People are always debating their viewpoints with others. Education Abroad is another firmly backed organization with plenty of scholarships to help aid the costs. We are flooded with Career Fairs and Company Lectures. If you don't land a solid job after graduation, you have seriously dropped the ball.