How would you describe the typical Penn State kid?

[Anonymous]

I think Penn State is what U-MD used to be: mostly in-state kids whose parents went to school there.

My sense is that many Marylanders are heading out of state these days. Two reasons: UMD got harder to get into, or kids want to go further away and get out of the MoCo bubble.

Penn State fits the bill for some Marylanders.

Interestingly, I agree with pp that Penn State is more conservative than folks probably realize.

[Anonymous]

Bruh …

[Anonymous]

I have met a handful of Penn state grads, each in separate circumstances but all within the film and entertainment industry (which choice must have an impact on this assessment). They were all very up beat, peppy and mediocre.

[Anonymous]

From Pennsylvania. That’s the main thing. And often from suburban/rural central PA.

[Anonymous]

I know a lot of Penn State grads in their 40s, and also a handful of current students. All the Penn Staters I know are from PA and went to public high schools there. I agree with the PP who said they tend to be well rounded. All the Penn Staters I know are/were strong students who were also fairly sporty. I would say commitment to service is also very common as the people I know who went there are the type to be quite involved in volunteer organizations, often through church or schools. People tend to be family oriented and a lot of the Penn State grads I know married very soon after graduating from college and had kids in their 20s, which stands out to me because it is outlier behavior among most people I know, but normal for the Penn State grads I know.

A lot of the alums I know would be thrilled if their kids went there. This is interesting to me because DH and I are pretty neutral on whether our kids express any interest in our alma maters at all. We both went to strong schools (his an Ivy) and DH had what I would consider an ideal college experience, but we're very ambivalent about our kids going, because most schools aren't for every student. But I think Penn State students and alums tend to be sort of generally well-rounded people, and then marry sort of generally well-rounded people, and then have kind of generally well-rounded kids, and the perpetuates a fondness for the school in generation after generation. Whereas in our family, DH and I are both quirky and super nerdy with intense passions in our areas of study and somewhat unusual hobbies and interests, and our kids are the same, and I just don't know that we are Penn State material as a result.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of kids from PA. A growing number from MD and VA.

One of my kids pointed out that every time we set foot in PA it’s gray. And it’s true: it’s a gray vibe.

There’s a social media influencer who is a junior, and at one time (maybe still?) she was paid to promote the school and it’s athletics. Her name is Katie Feeney (not sure about the spelling). She graduated from Sherwood HS in mcps and made millions as a teen influencer. FWIW.

YES I call it the "pennsylvania gloom." The sensation increases the further into the state you travel. Literally as soon as you cross into the state from Ohio/DE/MD it begins.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From Pennsylvania. That’s the main thing. And often from suburban/rural central PA.

Can confirm, the philly suburbs definitely have way more UVA/VT/JMU bumper stickers than penn state. If people stay in-state in philly area, it's all philly schools: temple, villanova, st joe's, etc. Pitt is for the quirky SEPA kid.

[Anonymous]

I know several Penn Staters as well and I echo what previous posters have said here already - they are good students, good at sports, like to be social and go to football games and party. Overall nice, well-rounded, average people, nothing exceptional.

The only thing that I find exceptional about Penn State is the school spirit which can be a bit nauseating sometimes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know several Penn Staters as well and I echo what previous posters have said here already - they are good students, good at sports, like to be social and go to football games and party. Overall nice, well-rounded, average people, nothing exceptional.

The only thing that I find exceptional about Penn State is the school spirit which can be a bit nauseating sometimes.

One of the PPs you're agreeing with and I think of Penn State as like a public version of Notre Dame in this respect. Students and alumni have a very "they hate us 'cause they ain't us" attitude and are obsessive about their football team and some quirks of the school that people who didn't attend... just don't care about it. But it can be interpreted as jealousy (I heard a lot of "people are jealous" comments from the Penn State families we know during the Sandusky revelations, and just -- ick). I think people who go to Penn State or have kids there often have blinders on and assume everyone feels they way they do. But most people are indifferent to Penn State. My DH and his entire family are from PA and they don't hate Penn State or anything, but they aren't obsessed with it. They aren't mad that they didn't go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know a lot of Penn State grads in their 40s, and also a handful of current students. All the Penn Staters I know are from PA and went to public high schools there. I agree with the PP who said they tend to be well rounded. All the Penn Staters I know are/were strong students who were also fairly sporty. I would say commitment to service is also very common as the people I know who went there are the type to be quite involved in volunteer organizations, often through church or schools. People tend to be family oriented and a lot of the Penn State grads I know married very soon after graduating from college and had kids in their 20s, which stands out to me because it is outlier behavior among most people I know, but normal for the Penn State grads I know.

A lot of the alums I know would be thrilled if their kids went there. This is interesting to me because DH and I are pretty neutral on whether our kids express any interest in our alma maters at all. We both went to strong schools (his an Ivy) and DH had what I would consider an ideal college experience, but we're very ambivalent about our kids going, because most schools aren't for every student. But I think Penn State students and alums tend to be sort of generally well-rounded people, and then marry sort of generally well-rounded people, and then have kind of generally well-rounded kids, and the perpetuates a fondness for the school in generation after generation. Whereas in our family, DH and I are both quirky and super nerdy with intense passions in our areas of study and somewhat unusual hobbies and interests, and our kids are the same, and I just don't know that we are Penn State material as a result.

I’m in PA and this seems spot-on. The Penn state grads I know are very accomplished (they have to be given our housing prices) but still love spending time with family and friends. They don’t have much time for neuroticism. Bright and accomplished but not overly intellectual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SO MANY kids from my central PA public school went there. Most have parents who went there and they didn’t really look anywhere else other than maybe Pitt. Its goal was to get into main campus, but if not they just went to one of the many branch campuses. [b]The main campus kids I grew up with were smart and sporty and rather conservative. They were not well travelled, bright, or cultured, nor did they seem to have ambition to expand their world in that way. Happy Valley was the ultimate for them. It’s fine for people that want to remain in PA, but students with greater ambitions should consider elsewhere IMO.

I know & have known hundreds of Penn State students & alums and agree that the bolded is spot-on correct.

[Anonymous]

They seem to have escaped the temptation to be intentionally edgy & cynical, unlike those at many other good schools in the northeast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SO MANY kids from my central PA public school went there. Most have parents who went there and they didn’t really look anywhere else other than maybe Pitt. Its goal was to get into main campus, but if not they just went to one of the many branch campuses. [b]The main campus kids I grew up with were smart and sporty and rather conservative. They were not well travelled, bright, or cultured, nor did they seem to have ambition to expand their world in that way. Happy Valley was the ultimate for them. It’s fine for people that want to remain in PA, but students with greater ambitions should consider elsewhere IMO.

I know & have known hundreds of Penn State students & alums and agree that the bolded is spot-on correct.

I've only known a few (including a handful of my kid's sports teammates who are there now) but I agree too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a lot of Penn State grads in their 40s, and also a handful of current students. All the Penn Staters I know are from PA and went to public high schools there. I agree with the PP who said they tend to be well rounded. All the Penn Staters I know are/were strong students who were also fairly sporty. I would say commitment to service is also very common as the people I know who went there are the type to be quite involved in volunteer organizations, often through church or schools. People tend to be family oriented and a lot of the Penn State grads I know married very soon after graduating from college and had kids in their 20s, which stands out to me because it is outlier behavior among most people I know, but normal for the Penn State grads I know.

A lot of the alums I know would be thrilled if their kids went there. This is interesting to me because DH and I are pretty neutral on whether our kids express any interest in our alma maters at all. We both went to strong schools (his an Ivy) and DH had what I would consider an ideal college experience, but we're very ambivalent about our kids going, because most schools aren't for every student. But I think Penn State students and alums tend to be sort of generally well-rounded people, and then marry sort of generally well-rounded people, and then have kind of generally well-rounded kids, and the perpetuates a fondness for the school in generation after generation. Whereas in our family, DH and I are both quirky and super nerdy with intense passions in our areas of study and somewhat unusual hobbies and interests, and our kids are the same, and I just don't know that we are Penn State material as a result.

I’m in PA and this seems spot-on. The Penn state grads I know are very accomplished (they have to be given our housing prices) but still love spending time with family and friends. They don’t have much time for neuroticism. Bright and accomplished but not overly intellectual.

+1000

If your kid is relatively socially "normal" and well-rounded, they'll love it. If they're quirky, intense, and nerdy with unusual interests, it might not be the best fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know several Penn Staters as well and I echo what previous posters have said here already - they are good students, good at sports, like to be social and go to football games and party. Overall nice, well-rounded, average people, nothing exceptional.

The only thing that I find exceptional about Penn State is the school spirit which can be a bit nauseating sometimes.

One of the PPs you're agreeing with and I think of Penn State as like a public version of Notre Dame in this respect. Students and alumni have a very "they hate us 'cause they ain't us" attitude and are obsessive about their football team and some quirks of the school that people who didn't attend... just don't care about it. But it can be interpreted as jealousy (I heard a lot of "people are jealous" comments from the Penn State families we know during the Sandusky revelations, and just -- ick). I think people who go to Penn State or have kids there often have blinders on and assume everyone feels they way they do. But most people are indifferent to Penn State. My DH and his entire family are from PA and they don't hate Penn State or anything, but they aren't obsessed with it. They aren't mad that they didn't go.

Bahahahaha, I am sorry the bolded just made me laugh SO HARD!! Jealous of what exactly??? LOL

Yes, there are a number of schools I'd be jealous of....Penn State is definitely not one of them! I agree with some of the previous posters - how they handled the Sandusky scandal was simply disgraceful.

Now, I can add "delusional" to my impression of Penn State people.