Anonymous
02/11/2026 15:11
Subject: Vibe at Penn State
They don’t call it “Happy Valley” for nothing.
Anonymous
02/11/2026 15:05
Subject: Vibe at Penn State
Anonymous wrote:My daughter is there now. She is in the honors schreyers college. She was not accepted to her top choice top 10 so we toured several of her 2nd choices. As we were driving thru PA I asked her if she wanted to check out Penn state since her uncle went there. She reluctantly agreed. She fell in love. It’s a big campus with its own “town” meaning a large area of shops, restaurants, services that is walkable to the students. Then there is the town of state college that has your target, supermarkets, retail, repair shows, etc. even though the entirety of state college is in not near any major cities, it isn’t desolate by any means and I have yet to see any cows on my drives up.
During admitted student days, she met a lot of people and loved how happy everyone genuinely seemed. There are a ton of active clubs (just because it’s listed on the club website doesn’t mean it’s still active!). As an honors student, class sizes are small but even her non honors friends are doing fine with the large classes. There is a lot of support with learning assistants, TAs, tutoring sessions, etc.
the networking is impressive. There are a lot of companies that visit to recruit and this is driven by the alumni association.
My daughter is reserved, has a hard time making and keeping friends and doesn’t drink.
She always thought something was wrong with her in high school. But she has met a ton of people and has a lot of friends now. Very active social life. They have gone on day trips to Pittsburg and Philly. During g the storm, lots of kids outside for a huge snowball fight and sledding. You didn’t have to know anyone, you just joined in. The honors college has its own activities. She complains that there isn’t enough time to do everything. It’s a big school with kids from all over the east coast and beyond. She has friends from Chicago, phoenix, San Diego, Seattle and even Hawaii.
Compared to other campuses, she said PSU has a lot of energy. It’s not perfect by any means, but we love it because the environment helped her realize she is more social than she thought. She was very upset when she didn’t get into her top choice but she now knows that she would not have been happy there.
THANK YOU!
DC went on a tour there and fell in love with it. They aren't into football, but they said they just got good vibes from the school. It is the "energy" that DC wanted, and the strong alumni network. DC has been accepted (first choice) and is over the moon excited. Going to admitted students day soon.
-not op
FWIW, my older kid was rejected at a T10 that they wanted, so they ended up at the state flagship (T10 for their major, and with merit) and is having a blast. In hindsight, they wouldn't have been happy at the T10, either.
Anonymous
02/11/2026 15:01
Subject: Vibe at Penn State
To add.. sports are big but there are so many things going on that you can skip all of it. Greek life is available if you want it. Lots of parties and places to socialize.
Anonymous
02/11/2026 15:00
Subject: Vibe at Penn State
My daughter is there now. She is in the honors schreyers college. She was not accepted to her top choice top 10 so we toured several of her 2nd choices. As we were driving thru PA I asked her if she wanted to check out Penn state since her uncle went there. She reluctantly agreed. She fell in love. It’s a big campus with its own “town” meaning a large area of shops, restaurants, services that is walkable to the students. Then there is the town of state college that has your target, supermarkets, retail, repair shows, etc. even though the entirety of state college is in not near any major cities, it isn’t desolate by any means and I have yet to see any cows on my drives up.
During admitted student days, she met a lot of people and loved how happy everyone genuinely seemed. There are a ton of active clubs (just because it’s listed on the club website doesn’t mean it’s still active!). As an honors student, class sizes are small but even her non honors friends are doing fine with the large classes. There is a lot of support with learning assistants, TAs, tutoring sessions, etc.
the networking is impressive. There are a lot of companies that visit to recruit and this is driven by the alumni association.
My daughter is reserved, has a hard time making and keeping friends and doesn’t drink.
She always thought something was wrong with her in high school. But she has met a ton of people and has a lot of friends now. Very active social life. They have gone on day trips to Pittsburg and Philly. During g the storm, lots of kids outside for a huge snowball fight and sledding. You didn’t have to know anyone, you just joined in. The honors college has its own activities. She complains that there isn’t enough time to do everything. It’s a big school with kids from all over the east coast and beyond. She has friends from Chicago, phoenix, San Diego, Seattle and even Hawaii.
Compared to other campuses, she said PSU has a lot of energy. It’s not perfect by any means, but we love it because the environment helped her realize she is more social than she thought. She was very upset when she didn’t get into her top choice but she now knows that she would not have been happy there.
During admitted student days, she met a lot of people and loved how happy everyone genuinely seemed. There are a ton of active clubs (just because it’s listed on the club website doesn’t mean it’s still active!). As an honors student, class sizes are small but even her non honors friends are doing fine with the large classes. There is a lot of support with learning assistants, TAs, tutoring sessions, etc.
the networking is impressive. There are a lot of companies that visit to recruit and this is driven by the alumni association.
My daughter is reserved, has a hard time making and keeping friends and doesn’t drink.
She always thought something was wrong with her in high school. But she has met a ton of people and has a lot of friends now. Very active social life. They have gone on day trips to Pittsburg and Philly. During g the storm, lots of kids outside for a huge snowball fight and sledding. You didn’t have to know anyone, you just joined in. The honors college has its own activities. She complains that there isn’t enough time to do everything. It’s a big school with kids from all over the east coast and beyond. She has friends from Chicago, phoenix, San Diego, Seattle and even Hawaii.
Compared to other campuses, she said PSU has a lot of energy. It’s not perfect by any means, but we love it because the environment helped her realize she is more social than she thought. She was very upset when she didn’t get into her top choice but she now knows that she would not have been happy there.
Anonymous
02/11/2026 14:43
Subject: Vibe at Penn State
Anonymous wrote:There are like 50K undergrads. What are you looking for? Obviously there are all types. The bigger question is whether your kid is looking for a big school or a small one. What a silly thread.
UP has 40,000 undergrads. If you don't have an answer, feel free to not post.
Would a student who's not into football fit in? They like to party and have fun but just not into football or greek life. They are into theater.
-not op
Anonymous
02/11/2026 14:40
Subject: Vibe at Penn State
There are like 50K undergrads. What are you looking for? Obviously there are all types. The bigger question is whether your kid is looking for a big school or a small one. What a silly thread.
Anonymous
02/11/2026 14:29
Subject: Vibe at Penn State
Does anyone have a kid there now who can share their kid's experience currently?
Anonymous
02/11/2026 13:52
Subject: Vibe at Penn State
Oh, and lots of cows. Moooooo 🐄
Anonymous
02/11/2026 13:52
Subject: Vibe at Penn State
Same vibe as VT. Big, rural, spirit, football, beer. If you like drinking and football you’ll be fine. A reserved kid would need a very specific plan on how to find their people because it won’t happen automatically without some effort.
Anonymous
02/11/2026 13:49
Subject: Vibe at Penn State
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Specify which campus.
UP
Main?
Very big, can be alienating and lonely because freshman classes are huge.
is that an opinion or based on your kid's recent experience?
Anonymous
02/11/2026 13:46
Subject: Vibe at Penn State
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Specify which campus.
UP
Main?
Very big, can be alienating and lonely because freshman classes are huge.
Anonymous
02/11/2026 13:43
Subject: Vibe at Penn State
Anonymous wrote:Specify which campus.
UP
Anonymous
02/11/2026 13:41
Subject: Vibe at Penn State
Specify which campus.
Anonymous
02/11/2026 13:40
Subject: Vibe at Penn State
Following for my MoCo kid who wants to go there.
Anonymous
02/11/2026 13:24
Subject: Vibe at Penn State
What is the vibe at Penn State? Anyone have a NOVA kid that ended up there and how did they like it?