What Students Say
Likes
- Large, lively, and friendly campus life and community that always makes students feel a part of the college
- Beautiful Campus and locations with the arboretum, wintery landscapes, line shrine, secret pond, etc.
- Rich Culture, College traditions, and Unique History such as THON, State Pattys, etc.
Dislikes
- Extremely high winds at times, making it very difficult to walk at times
- Getting the exact class you want may be difficult due to the massive student class size
- Expensive tuition and living costs, especially for off-campus
Course Curriculum
- The course curriculum isn't too difficult, especially in the first year, with most topics stemming from 11th and 12th grade topics. Most science classes have some sort of lab class attached to it leading to a good mix of both.
- The most negative point is that classes don't require attendance, hence there may not be much motivation to go to classes sometimes. When a student does attend classes, however, it is a very positive learning experience, carefully curated by the professor to be fun and interesting.
- For a first year, a typical day can consist anywhere from 0-6 classes, with an average of 2-3 per day. The timings are completely up to the student and their scheduling
- Large lectures can have upwards of 200 people, while most small classes are under 20 people
- As a computer science major, there are a massive number of Indians, with atleast 5-6 in small classes and atleast 50-60 in larger classes (25% of the student body)
Admission Experience
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Virginia Tech- Waitlisted, then Accepted
Purdue- Accepted for a different major
Arizona State University- Accepted
Georgia Tech- Rejected -
I expected a rejection for my GA.Tech Application but still wanted to go forth with trying just in case. My grades, while decent, were not quite up to the mark. Additionally, I feel like I did not have great extracurriculars compared to US high school students.
- I deeply valued the network and alumni that Penn State brought me. Additionally, Penn State had given me the major I wanted, unlike my other acceptances
- Holistic application through CommonApp, requiring highschool transcript, and test optional (I hadn't submitted my score)
- The overall admission experience was quite smooth, especially since I had submitted through CommonApp. -
I applied Jan 2023 and got accepted around Feb-March 2023.
The following factors influenced my decision:
- Academic Programs: Penn State offers a wide range of academic programs, which attract many students, including myself.
- Campus Life: The vibrant campus life and diverse student group make Penn state a well-rounded college experience.
- Location: I enjoy the campus's rural isolate location, with the natural surroundings of State College.
The admission process took about 2 months from submitting the application to getting the offer letter and begin the new student orientation process
Faculty
- The interaction between students and faculty will always be very positive because of properly set up office hours for all professors where students can have one on one meetings with professors, TAs, and other staff.
- The typical faculty student ratio is about 1:15 for CS. The teaching methodology is quite practical and preparatory, and faculty are very open to network and connect with students to assist them in job hunting.
- I admire my aerospace seminar faculty the most, as most of them have been teaching at Penn State for over 30 years. They have a very strong sense of trends at Penn State and in the industry, and are very well recognized in their space as well.
Campus Life
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Penn State has 24 campuses, with the main campus at University Park, and there are 19 Commonwealth campuses. Some of the notable Commonwealth campuses include Penn State Abington, Altoona, Erie (Behrend College), and Harrisburg.
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The campus has the following facilities
- Libraries: Multiple libraries (approximately 15) covering various subjects
- Sports Facilities: Beaver Stadium and the Bryce Jordan Center, along with numerous intramural fields.
- Medical Services: University Health Services (UHS) with ambulance and paramedics 24/7 -
Penn State is known for its vibrant events:
- THON: The largest student-run philanthropy in the world, raising money for pediatric cancer research.
- Arts Fest: A downtown State College festival showcasing local art.
- Over 1,000 student clubs and organizations -
Extracurriculars
- Sports: Big Ten athletics, club sports, and intramurals.
- Cultural Events: Concerts, performances, and festivals celebrating different cultures, with a large emphasis on Indian culture.
- Student Organizations: Opportunities for community service, academics, and personal interests.
Part Time Jobs
- Penn State offers over 4,500 assistantships each year, which include Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant roles.
- The pay ranges from $10,000 to $50,000 a year, depending on the student's role and degree
- Students can work at dining, the HUB-Robeson Center, Campus Recreation, Residence Life, etc. With the hourly wage average about $13-$14 with additional benefits.
- 20 hours per week for international students
- It is relatively easy to get roles such as dining work, since there is no experience required and there is only a processing wait time. Getting a position as TA/LA is fully up to the student's capabilities.
- Students typically earn about $13-14 in their part time jobs at dining with additional perks, such as cheaper food and free meals. It is quite easy to get these jobs as there is no experience required as only a few weeks of waiting time between applying to getting accepted, and completing the required training. There is no interview for dining jobs. Indian students generally dont work as TAs/LAs immediately as they will want time to get accustomed to the new American system first
Placement
- Although I don't have the exact details, nearly everyone that applied to jobs will secure some form of employment within 6 months, especially due to Penn State's large alumni networkk and referral system.
- CS students can near a 6 figure salary, especially if they have prior experience through internships through their college life. Most students use a mix of online job portals and campus recruitments with referrals to get jobs after graduating. Lockheed Martin, FBI, Northrop Grumman, MDI, Tesla hire graduates from my program
Accommodation
- First years are required to use On-campus housing. The rent comes to $4000 per semester as I live in East Halls, which is renovated with a kitchenette, AC, and multiple study spaces.
- There is wifi in each room with private bathrooms on each floor. The commons is less than a minute walk away with a computer lab, gaming room, market, and several dining options.
Exams
- An SAT/ACT score is optional, IELTS/GRE may be required for international students that don't have English as their first language.
- Statement of Purpose, 2 LORs, and several essay questions, along with the CommonApp essay questions, and other questions from the CommonApp were required to complete the admission process.
- No interview was used as part of the application process
Fees
- It costs approximately 55k a year, broken down as 8k a year for campus, 40k a year for tuition, and 5k for miscellaneous things such as prepaid meal plan, textbooks, etc.
- The fees are charged semester wise, and one can opt in for monthly installments
- Since the meal plan is prepaid, transportation is free, and I live on campus, the only regular expenses are for things such as laundry and occasionally shopping at walmart or target
Scholarship
- I did not apply or try to get any scholarships and am also not aware of anyone else that has gotten scholarships.
- While I am aware that Penn State has a handful of scholarships, Penn State is also known for having very limited scholarships, few recipients, and of low amounts. The only financial aid I received was through FAFSA (only for US citizens).
