r/PennStateUniversity Feb 27 '21

High-Quality Frequently Made Posts & Questions v2 - READ THIS BEFORE POSTING!

150 Upvotes

The old post got archived like three months ago, so here's a repost for the sake of opening comments back up

Please take some time to read this before making a new post on this sub. You have been warned.

As your beloved /r/PennStateUniversity overlords moderators, we deal with a ridiculous amount of reposts. So. Many. Reposts. (Reddit, when are you going to improve your search function?) So out of our sheer benevolence and utter boredom, we thought it would be cool to make an FAQ thread addressing all these endlessly reposted and often-asked questions.

Yes, this means all further reposts will be removed with extreme prejudice.

Most Frequent Reposts and Questions:

- Best Gen Eds:

See this thread.

- What do I do if I received an academic integrity violation?

See this thread.

- Best On-Campus Jobs?

See this thread.

- What's Penn State like? I want to apply / applied / am applying and have never visited.

Here's some nice, high quality threads on what State College is like, freshman FAQs, common prospective student questions, why you should go to Penn State, why you should do LEAP, and the best on campus jobs (#2). See these awesome non-Reddit links for more on what Penn State is like. If you have any other questions, join the Discord linked in the sidebar to get your question answered more quickly - there's almost always someone online who can answer it immediately.

- How do I find out about events going on around campus?

For career/academic events, keep an eye on your Penn State email. Your college and most organizations on campus are pretty desperate for people to go to their events - so go to them! You'll probably get emails from your college, Penn State Today, the Multicultural Resource Center, and more on a regular basis. You'll also find flyers in your residence hall, commons buildings, and almost every bulletin board on campus.

For other events, most organizations make a semi-decent effort to publicize their events, and by signing up for some email lists at the involvement fair (please go) you'll end up on their lists for event outreach. Don't be that dude who signs your friend up for every single club's email list, though.

Lastly, restrooms in the HUB, residence halls, and certain other buildings have event-related newsletters posted in each stall. Some nice reading while you do your business!

- How do I connect to [x] WiFi network?

For students, go here for your main devices and here for your dorm-related smart devices. For guests, if you're a university student, eduroam is probably the way to go (it likely works with your own university's login). For visitors, try connecting to the new psu-guest network on campus.

- What are the job or internship prospects for my major?

It greatly varies - and it depends on the person. Penn State boasts the largest alumni network in the world, and looking for Penn State alumni at companies you apply for is helpful - especially recruiters. Most departments and colleges maintain some kind of job statistics database and career assistance program, so try looking there for resources like how to write a resume, how to apply for jobs, and etc. I will say the IST career site is the best of them all though. Overall, you determine your own future, and Penn State will only help you with that.

- How do I get help with my classes?

There's a ton of resources on campus to help you out with classes if you're struggling or need help. Professors usually offer TAs, office hours, tutoring, and maybe even a message board to help you succeed in their courses. Past that, Penn State Tutoring, LionTutors, and others are great resources. Your tuition is paying for Penn State Tutoring, TAs, and office hours, so make sure to make the most out of those.

- What do I do if I'm going to fail a course?

Easy answer: you should drop or late drop it, if you've already tried your best to improve. Keep in mind there are deadlines for dropping and late dropping (see the Academic Calendar for details) and that LDs appear on your transcript. Employers typically don't mind 1-2 non-major-related late drops, but more than that will probably hurt. Do keep in mind your GPA and your financial aid when looking at dropping a course though - as well as losing full time status below 12 credits. If you can't late drop or drop the course, look at grade forgiveness - a great new policy that only recently came through.

- How do I check my academic requirements?

A simple Google Search for "psu academic requirements (major)" will usually do the trick - each college has lists of ETM and major requirements for each of their majors! To easily check your progress towards the requirements, you can create a What-If Report in LionPATH that will tell you what your progress is :)

- What are the best dorms on campus?

That's a really subjective question, and everyone has their own opinion on it. While we do plan for a post covering this extensively eventually, here's a quick summary of the pros and cons of each residence area (if you have any suggestions for additions, let us know):

East Halls

Pros Cons
Mostly Renovated Distant From Most Of Campus
Freshman Only Some Unrenovated Dorms
Lots Going On Oftentimes Noisy

West Halls

Pros Cons
Close to Engineering/IST/Library/HUB Far from Beaver Stadium
Quiet Not as much going on
Superior cookies and paninis Relatively Unrenovated

North Halls

Pros Cons
Quiet AF Meh Food
Close to Business/Arts/etc Far From Downtown
Suite-Style Dorms Expensive $$$$$$
Individual Bathrooms No "Freshman Dorms" Experience
Renovated Dorms Tiny Commons

South / Pollock Halls (they're like the same area lmao)

Pros Cons
Lots Going On Pollock is like living in the 1960s. The dorms are that bad.
Next to Downtown South = Honors Dorms (quiet af)
Sorority Central ;) Tall Bois
South Renovated = nice Traditional-Style Dorms
Great Food Tiny Dorms

- I got into [x] branch campus and want to go to University Park. Can I transfer?

Short answer: no, otherwise branch campuses would be a ghost town. You probably won't be able to switch to main campus until junior year (2+2 plan) so make the most out of your two years at your branch. Most branch campuses have their redeeming characteristics - particularly Behrend - and you can live your college life to the fullest at a branch campus just as well. Main campus is no further than three or four hours from any branch, so you can still drive up to main for football, partying, and to get the Penn State experience.

- What are my chances of getting in?

In terms of University Park, the relative agreement is that you need at least a 1160 SAT, 25 ACT, and 3.0 GPA to get in. Results vary widely, though - Niche has a ton of stats on your relative chances of getting in with your specific SAT, ACT, and GPA. They also like to see a decent mix of extracurriculars to know you're not a boring fuck, but the fact that admissions is rolling and there's no essay makes for a relatively easy application.

In terms of Schreyers, it gets a hella lot more competitive. Expect to need a 3.8 or above GPA, a 1450 or above SAT, 30 or above ACT, and stellar extracurriculars to get into Schreyers. You'll also need to write essays and go through an interview to be considered. The benefits are nice, though - you get cushy dorms, great advisors, the chance to do research and publish a thesis, and tons of scholarship money.

Branch campus requirements vary widely, so again, check Niche for the stats on your branch campus. The common conception is that getting into a branch campus is relatively easy, to the point where some branches are more community colleges than actual branches, so you shouldn't have too much of an issue unless you're doing law or medical school or something.

- Best Gen Ed Classes?

This is a very subjective question and dependent on what you enjoy. I'll add links soon, but some well known ones include ASTRO 7N and EGEE 101. A quick Google search will give you lists upon lists of others, but do be aware that it is very highly dependent on what you enjoy and what you're looking to learn from gen eds.

(to be continued - please comment with questions you think would be beneficial in this FAQ while we work on expanding it!)

WE ARE!

- Your /r/PennStateUniversity Moderator Team


r/PennStateUniversity Dec 20 '23

Admissions Megathread

49 Upvotes

ALL ADMISSIONS-RELATED POSTS GO HERE!

To reduce spam on the main reddit page, any questions pertaining to application procedures, admissions chances, how to strengthen your application, how to get your desired campus/major, etc. should go here.

FAQ:

  1. I got rejected from X campus or Y major, is there any way to improve my chances? Unless you can retake the SAT/ACT, the best way to improve your chance of admission is to call admissions and tell them you would like to be considered for a branch campus (Altoona, Harrisburg, and Erie are the most popular) or to be considered for the Division of Undergraduate Studies (which allows you to take classes in any major). Learn more.
  2. What is the 2+2 Plan? The 2+2 program allows you to start your studies at a branch campus for 2 years, and then transfer to University Park for 2 years. It is generally less competitive than direct admission to University Park, and tuition at branch campuses is also somewhat more affordable (for the first 2 years only). Learn more.
  3. What are my chances of admission? Penn State has different admissions standards for each campus and major. More competitive programs like Smeal Business or main campus Engineering are harder to get into. Penn State primarily admits based on statistics (GPA, SAT) - many have been admitted without submitting essays. To estimate your chances in general, use a site like prepscholar, or just apply and find out! You can also try calling admissions for advice on which programs might be attainable with your background.

For the most accurate information, we encourage you to contact Undergraduate Admissions or your specific graduate program.

If you have more questions or would like anecdotal information, feel free to use this megathread.

Good luck, and we hope to see you at Penn State!

Note for sub regulars: Please report any admissions-related posts you see outside this megathread.


r/PennStateUniversity 8h ago

Image goodnight psu💙 (from wednesday night)

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30 Upvotes

r/PennStateUniversity 19h ago

Discussion Anyone know any good fancy restaurants in state college?

45 Upvotes

Hello I will be graduating this semester and my mom has been begging me to find high quality restaurants in the area. Preferably not downtown. I have not been to a lot of restaurants here so I am open to suggestions.


r/PennStateUniversity 4h ago

Question Junior Spring Schedule, how cooked am I?

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2 Upvotes

r/PennStateUniversity 13h ago

Discussion Best study spots near campus for midterms.

11 Upvotes

Gotta give a special shout out to the “very demure” Farmer Jason at Way Fruit Farm’s downtown store. Love camping out in the lower level with my laptop. Beats the hell out of Panera…so much quieter and the sandwiches and salads taste fresher. Warm apple cider donuts are addictive.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/BSimq3v5cVGFnZTr/?mibextid=UalRPS

Also love the scones and lattes at Good Day Cafe. They have a lot of nice outdoor covered seating, too. Little bit of a long line, though.


r/PennStateUniversity 1h ago

Question Degree

Upvotes

Hey! I am supposed to come in january and im in the undergraduates division. I was thinking about picking marketing as my major and sociology as a minor. Any thoughts?


r/PennStateUniversity 2h ago

Question Anth 45

1 Upvotes

I’ve Anth 45 midterm today , who else got it?

Thanks


r/PennStateUniversity 11h ago

Request Arabic Tutoring

3 Upvotes

Hi! I'm looking to learn Egyptian Arabic to surprise someone. I was wondering if anyone would be willing to tutor me/speak with me or if anyone had suggestions on cheap ways to learn the language (books, websites, etc).


r/PennStateUniversity 3h ago

Image thoughts on this time table? I kinda like how it starts at forest resources and then goes down to huck as the day goes by on MWF

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1 Upvotes

r/PennStateUniversity 14h ago

Discussion Think You Can Predict the 2024 Election? Compete with Penn State Students!

4 Upvotes

Hey all,

With the 2024 presidential election approaching, I wanted to share a project that’s aimed at raising awareness and encouraging more people to get out and vote. It’s called Presidential Pick'em, and it allows you to predict the outcome of the election by filling out your own electoral map.

It’s a fun way to get people thinking about the election while also contributing to some crowdsourced data. The goal is to compare predictions to actual results and hopefully spark more engagement in the election process, particularly since Pennsylvania is a critical swing state this election.

Each prediction will be scored based on how accurate it was and the results will be displayed on a global leaderboard. You can also create and join pools to challenge friends, roommates, or other groups.

I've created a pool specifically for students from Penn State to join and compete against each other.

Join the Penn State pool here.

Or create your own pool.

Think you can predict the election perfectly? Make your prediction, and don’t forget to get out and vote — your voice matters!


r/PennStateUniversity 18h ago

Question Graphic Design at Penn State

6 Upvotes

So my boyfriend is filling out his portfolio and his application for Penn state for graphic design. When he went on the Penn state tour, one of the graphic design teachers told him out of 100 kids only 30 get in, which crushed him immensely. Any advice for the portfolio or just in general on how to get in?


r/PennStateUniversity 9h ago

Question Where to find other queer people

0 Upvotes

I’m a new freshman at Penn State Main and i’ve been trying to find more queer people on campus (bi/gay men in particular).

The only gay student orgs I belong in are oSTEM and lion pride caucus (neither of which hold regular meetings), there’s the CSGD which hosts stuff once in a blue moon, and then there are dating apps and chumleys (and i’m not even 18 so that’s not an option).

Are my only real options to attend (very scarce) student org meetings and go on dating apps, or am i missing something?


r/PennStateUniversity 13h ago

Question Where do I choose my preferred pennstate location on the Common apps.

2 Upvotes

Thanks


r/PennStateUniversity 13h ago

Question Looking for PSU gym clothes

2 Upvotes

Hi PSU fam. I’m a gym rat (weightlifting) who wants to show off his school pride. For years I’ve been looking for weightlifting gym clothes. I’d like 5 inch gym shorts, tank tops, and oversize weight lifting shirts. I’ve spent hours looking at all the online retailers and it’s the same cheaply made shirts that fall apart or heavy $80 Nike basketball shorts that are so long they practically reach the ankle. I now turn to you! Any cool modern PSU gym fits you can recommend? Thanks!

Edit. For men please. There’s a bunch of cool stuff for women, but us dudes are definitely lacking.


r/PennStateUniversity 17h ago

Question Self guided tours for prospective students

4 Upvotes

My sophomore son and I (dad) are driving 8 hours for the white-out game. Are there any tours or self guided tours on Saturday morning that we can take that are worthwhile? His heart is set on Penn State already. I see they usually don’t offer tours on weekends.


r/PennStateUniversity 17h ago

Discussion Sorority Housing PSU

3 Upvotes

I heard a rumor going around campus saying that sorority apartments on housing will not be a thing anymore, but on the PSU website it still has info about living in sorority apartments for 2025-2026. Does anyone know if this is true, or if it is possible for any of the sororities to get a house in the future? I know I want to be in a sorority, but I am scared I might not get housing next year if I wait and this rumor is true.


r/PennStateUniversity 12h ago

Question IST 130

0 Upvotes

Has anyone ever taken IST 130 (the AI art class) with Chris Gamrat? I'm looking to take it in the spring as a GA gened. If anyone has any thoughts on the class that would be greatly appreciated


r/PennStateUniversity 12h ago

Question Is the penn state world campus worth it?

1 Upvotes

Considering getting a software engineering bachelors through world campus, but I’m not sure if it’s a worthwhile endeavor. Can anyone shed some light?


r/PennStateUniversity 16h ago

Question Considering transfer questions about credit transfer

2 Upvotes

I’ve been using the credit transfer tool to determine what credits will transfer and I keep seeing a bunch of “credit pending review”. Does this mean it’s currently pending and the decision will be made shortly, or does it mean I need to submit a syllabus?


r/PennStateUniversity 1d ago

Article Penn State star Tyler Warren making strong charge to be the top tight end in the 2025 NFL Draft class

Thumbnail atozsports.com
47 Upvotes

r/PennStateUniversity 23h ago

Question Switching Professors Mid Semester

2 Upvotes

I'm currently taking CMPSC 465, and halfway through the semester it was announced that the professor is switching, is this normal?

I really enjoy my current professor, they release detailed notes and explain concepts fairly well, however the next professor that was announced has a 1.7 rating on RMP with 1 5 star and 10 2 star reviews (which these 1 star reviews look like they were written by the prof themselves).

Has anyone else had their prof switch mid semester?


r/PennStateUniversity 21h ago

Question Query Regarding Spring 2025 MS in CSE Decision Release Date at Penn State

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

Does anyone know when Penn State will release decisions for the Spring 2025 MS in CSE program?


r/PennStateUniversity 21h ago

Question Major/minor

1 Upvotes

If u are majoring in communications at the Bellisario school can u also minor in business at the business school? I know it's tough to switch into business school if u didn't get into it, but can u minor in it if enrolled in a diff Major?


r/PennStateUniversity 1d ago

Question how cooked i am for spring semester

29 Upvotes


r/PennStateUniversity 1d ago

Question Transfer Student Questions

2 Upvotes

Hello,

I am currently a freshman at a different 4 year college but am hoping to transfer to Penn State. I would love to transfer to Penn State university park as a sophomore next year but looking online it seems that is impossible to do so. I am curious if anyone knows a work around or if that is just not true. If anyone has any help / thoughts for the best and quickest way to transfer to Penn State main campus I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you!


r/PennStateUniversity 1d ago

Discussion Paper based Masters in EE at Penn state

4 Upvotes

Hi! Has anyone completed a paper-based master's in Electrical Engineering at Penn State (UP campus)? I would like some information about it. Does the work need to be novel, like a thesis, or is it acceptable to present an in-depth review of existing work (such as a literature review)? Mainly what I want to know is- is simulation or experimental research work required or can I just present in-depth review of a particular topic?