It is now the time of year where high school seniors begin to apply to prospective colleges and universities.
I might be a little biased, but I truly believe that Penn State is the best school in the world. However, even though I’m not the first Penn Stater in my family, I didn’t know much about what it was like to be a student here.
If you’re thinking about applying and attending Penn State (or you’ve already committed and looking for some advice), here are some things I wish I knew before coming to Penn State.
Support the local businesses
Although there are plenty of familiar chains close to campus, the small business are undeniably what makes downtown State College such an amazing college town.
McLanahan’s is a local staple that has everything from groceries to Penn State apparel. Speaking of clothing, Family Clothesline and Lion & Cub have all the Nittany Lion gear you could ever need.
If you’re looking for places to eat, there is no shortage of options. One of my personal favorites is BRGR, where you can customize your own burger. Yallah Taco is also a staple for Penn State students, conveniently located downtown right across from the HUB.
Although it might be tempting to go to the places that you’re most familiar with, remember to shop small and give the local establishments a try.
Take Advantage of Free Events
I don’t need to be the one to tell you that Penn State tuition is not cheap. But the best way to make the most of your college experience is taking advantage of the resources Penn State offers.
One of the best ways to do this is to attend events sponsored by the Student Programming Association. SPA hosts many events during the school year, all paid for through your tuition. These events range from concerts to Q&A’s, and many of these guests are people you already know.
During my freshman year alone, I was able to see child safety advocate Elizabeth Smart, SNL’s Mikey Day and YouTube sensation Noel Miller, all without paying a cent. Many of these events I attended alone, and I always had a blast.
Be sure to follow SPA on Instagram @psuspa to stay updated on when events are announced.
There is no bad place to live
Once again, I am very biased on this subject, but I don’t think you can go wrong with living in any of the housing areas at Penn State.
The day housing assignments came out for this school year, people flooded to social media, offering thousands of dollars to switch into East renovated. East Halls is advertised as the place to be as a freshman, with half of all Penn State freshmen living there.
But if you’re in the other half, don’t stress.
Every dorm has its cons, and it’s important to not focus on the negatives. I’ll admit, I was very nervous about living in Pollock prior to moving in. But I grew to love Pollock for what it is, I am sad that I will be moving out of my room in less than a month.
Some of our staffers have shared their own thoughts about living in East and West dorms, but know that your dorm assignment really doesn’t matter. Living on campus is an experience, both good and bad, regardless of where you live. Take it in stride, and enjoy it for what it is.
There Are more sports than just football
I’ll admit, Penn State has made me a football fan. Although I am not an expert, there is no experience quite like Beaver Stadium during football season.
But there comes a point where football season becomes exhausting. During the fall semester, Saturdays are completely taken up by tailgating and football, and Sundays are spent recovering.
Penn State boasts over 30 varsity sports teams, along with plenty of club and intramural teams. The best part is that most sports tickets are free for students, making it much more affordable than the hefty price tag on football student section tickets.
So if football isn’t your thing, try attending different event. Men’s ice hockey and men’s basketball have their own student section organizations if you crave the school spirit, but you can’t ever go wrong with going and supporting your Nittany Lions.
Penn State is one Big Family
This is definitely sappy, but I did not truly understand what it meant to be a Penn Stater until I got here.
Penn State loves to brag about their alumni association, which is one of the biggest in the world. It’s an amazing resource to have when networking or looking for a job post-grad.
But even as a student, Penn State’s community is unbeatable. The “We Are” mentality is something unique to Penn State, and getting to be a part of that is something special.
Penn State is sometimes referred to as a cult, but I think its a testament to the community and camaraderie this school has. Love for Penn State is contagious, and every day I am more and more grateful that I get to be here.
College decisions are hard. Wherever you end up, know that you’ll do great things.