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[quote=Anonymous]I worked at PSU for a bit and had friends who went there (about 15 yrs ago now) and my feeling is -- it's a large, enthusiastic, involved student body IF you fit in. It's a place that draws a LOT of kids from the small towns in Central Pa. There are high schools that'll send 20-50 kids a yr to PSU, so those kids come to campus with their best friends bound and determined to make PSU the time of their lives before they move back to central Pa. Those are groups of kids that room with and hang with their HS group and maybe a few others from neighboring HSs, so they aren't necessarily looking to meet people in college.

Of course that's not everyone and for the rest -- a large majority find a home in Greek life; it makes the place smaller and more manageable for them and gives them an in to parties and drinking.

I'm sure there are people who meet their BFFs in drama club or finance club or the thousands of other organizations, but I always felt like people participated in those groups as a resume builder and to do an activity they liked but when it was time to tailgate on Sat morning -- they go with their frat brothers or their HS buddies.

For your DD, I don't think she'll find that people won't be nice to her -- she'll have friends in class and maybe around the dorm. But at the end of the day she'll be surrounded by kids who are coming from places with zero diversity. They'll be happy to talk to Shalini in economics (and pat themselves on the back with how open minded they've become since leaving Williamsport), but when Sat morning rolls around and it's time to tailgate -- chances are they're calling their HS girlfriends, not their friend from econ who is SOOOO different from their other friends (not that she is but they think so). And if at some point they do reach out and invite her to a party and she attends but doesn't drink or doesn't make out with the boys -- then that seals it for them that she is SOOOO different that they have nothing in common with "that Indian girl."

Frankly I'd avoid the place, or if your DD gets a huge merit scholarship -- go in with eyes wide open.[/quote]

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