Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Top Questions

The worst thing bout attending the Pennsylvania State University is trying to register for classes every semester. Since the main campus houses several thousand students, its harder for freshmen to be able to enlist in the classes that they desire to take due to the registration process being based on the number of credits one takes. As a freshman, registering for classes was an arduous task, for either I was not able to take all of the classes that I needed for my major, or my class times were spread very far apart.

The classes are enormous!! All of my classes have at least 150 students or more. It does not allow much student-professor communication during course time.

In a public school as large as Penn State, it is inevitable to have as many students as there are, which initiates frustration at some points. Class sizes are enormous, frequently making it difficult to have a discussion in class or have a close relationship with the professor. With the large amount of students comes many buildings and classrooms, making walking distances very far.

The classes sizes, especially during the first year of school, are extremely large. However, this school offers so many choices when it comes to majors and ways to get involved. Before coming to Penn State I had no idea what I wanted to do or what I wanted to major in, and I am so glad I chose a big school with some many different types of majors. Also, I got involved with the biggest college-run philanthropy, THON, a dance marathon raising money for kids with cancer. My advice: try new experiences and get involved early.

The most frustrating thing at my school is having so many extra curricular options and not knowing which ones to choose and which ones not to choose, which really isn't a bad problem.

The only thing I can think of that is a little frustrating at my school is that I can not understand some of my teachers because they have strong accents. The school is trying to bring an even greater sense of diversity here, and therefore highering professors and teachers with different ethnicities. It is a great idea, and they are very knowledgable of the information, yet should sometimes spend more time learning and practicing English before teaching.

The most frustrating thing here at Penn State University Park is the amount of people. I always wanted to go to a big school, and in particular Penn State, but almost every class is full and they have even started to create supplemental housing in dorm rooms using old study lounges. I was an unfortunate victim in this overcrowding and over enrollment problem. Six people inhabiting one room was unbareable, with respect to privacy, quiet time, study time, and personal comfort. When you can't live comfortably, you cannot complete much of anything efficiently.

It's large and if a person allows it, he or she can become just a number. I like to have my professors know me by name, but in order for that to happen, I have to make the effort.

Expensive tuition.

They don't give us study days before finals. They don't close when it snows....EVER! Other than that, this school is fantastic and I would recommend it even for those who think a big school isn't for them.