Penn State Extension Reviews

I fell in love with Penn State when I first went to visit. It was a fantastic school and I loved my 4 years there. Great atmosphere, great people. We are...!!!!

Incredible school! It's one of the best universities in the country for elite academics and athletics. They work hard and play hard at PSU. Penn State will always hold a place close to my heart. As always, Penn State proud.

You get what you give. There are a lot of opportunities for those who decide to work for them. Once you get in your major the classes are smaller. Summer classes are always smaller, class sizes can be as small as 8 students. If you need help in a subject, take a summer course.

It's sad to see some of these negative reviews. Penn State is a world class university that has tremendous resources, if you choose to take advantage. I'm guessing those people didn't. My major was top 5 in the country, our facilities are second to none and the professors literally wrote the books you will use in class. I had experts in nearly every engineering class I took. We also had a brand new building with a factory floor. Looking back, they had a ton of resources that I wish I took advantage of.

The campus is beautiful and very safe (especially compared to our peers in the northeast!). There is also a tremendous social scene that is a mixed blessing. When you graduate, you will have a support network that's larger than almost any in our country, and you will find PSU friends everywhere. I even met PSU alums while hiking the Grand Canyon- one gave me the score of the game!

If you need a professor to hold your hand or make you do homework, or you can't handle a weed-out course 8AM M-W-F, consider going somewhere else. Also just like any large university, they use too many TA's to teach classes, class sizes are often too big, and tuition rates spiraled out of control recently. PSU is especially stingy with scholarships. Too many of the math and science professors were not fluent enough in English. The dorms are old and there is not much to do around town. Those gripes are minor and common at most big schools.

All in all, Penn State is what you make of it. If you live in PA you're not going to find a better value. I would go here again in a heartbeat. WE ARE!

Because Penn State officials do little about fraternity hazing and alcohol abuse involved this will continue and more beautiful smart young adults will become addicts and will die. This is not confined to Penn State yet Penn State has the opportunity to STOP hazing through various means and become at great national leader in this area instead of an enabler of this type of behavior. Though Penn State has a policy in place about this, the possible disciplinary action wording seems weak to me. The policy could state that all students witnessing this behavior that do not notify the police immediately will be expelled permanently. Furthermore the State of Pa only treats this as a third degree misdemeanor. Penn State could lobby Pa. legislators to increase changes and penalties.

Penn State UP is one of the best college experiences out there. It's the perfect combination of elite academics and athletics. I still look back on my time there with so many fond memories. It's hard to describe the seemingly countless things that make PSU so special. It's the professors, the beautiful campus, the family feel, the pride, the incredible facilities, etc....

It's everything. Anyway, I hope that one day my children will have the privilege of being accepted.

As always, Penn State proud.

It was great, except for all the football coaches trying to chase down the young boys. That was kind of a downer.

Great School and beautiful place to visit and stay....... It's awesome!

Big university in a small town, plenty of opportunities and resources for everyone. If you take full advantage and get involved it will certainly be an unforgettable experience. The university gets smaller the more you join clubs and activities and make them your own.

Best 4 years of my life! I received a wonderful education while I also learned important life lessons. There is never a dull moment in Happy Valley. I'm convinced that there is no place with as much school pride as PSU. I will forever bleed blue and white. We are!

An experience where what you get what you put in. The university is home to world renowned professors and academics in all fields of study, especially so in degrees especially related to the Sciences, Technlogies, and Agriculture. The quality of education mostly falls upon one's ability to tap the resources there are to offer. It is quite easy to miss out and fall short in the Penn State community if you choose to rest on your laurels. I would highly recommend this university to anyone who wants a strong job network and education as well as those who have the drive to make the most of their time both educational and socially.

One of the best Public Schools. A public Ivy school. Great for all engineering courses in grad level. And a welcoming school for international students.

Best College!! one of the greatest schools in USA. Haven't seen other colleges but this is definitely the best one.

Great university with a great student body. Ice cream here is the best and parking prices are reasonable.

happy valley is my home!!! i love going to the games they are the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After you read Mark Leach's scathing one-star review, read this next.

I'm sorry your son had a bad experience, but you can't make such sweeping generalizations about such a large institution. It's very misleading, but thankfully no one looks to Google reviews to see what school to apply to. Yes, some staff in specific departments may have not been helpful (which is inevitable when there's thousands of them), but from my experience and all of the alumnus I know, it's utter nonsense to assert that the entire faculty and staff is apathetic. Hell, the most helpful and friendly professor I've had was one neck-deep in his own economics research. My advisors told me exactly what was needed to graduate. Maybe your son couldn't adjust to the big school atmosphere or college life itself. Big deal, maybe he should have transferred if it was that bad. And bringing up the football scandal is completely irrelevant to whatever happened with your son.

Attending Penn State was the best decision I ever could have made. The PSU education and preparation for the work force has landed me in a prestigious role at a Forbes and Fortune Top 25 Best Places to Work very early on in my career. The networking opportunities and incredible reputation of this university will get you far if you capitalize on them. WE ARE!

This place sucks man. My friend goes here. Says he hates it. Go to the University of Maryland. So much better.

Penn State is an internationally acclaimed research institution. It has one of the world largest collegiate networks, and a plethora of studies/majors/ focuses for its large body of scholars.

They have an amazing athletic program, and Penn State is very well known for football, volleyball, wrestling, hockey, and much more. But all that side the largest organization on the campus is the nation's biggest student run philanthropy THON for the kids suffering from cancer. Penn State does it the right way...no matter what others think...

Penn State Pride!! I am Penn State Proud...WE ARE!!

Decent academic and sport school. However, life expense is fairly high as a college town. Seems to be pushed up by the realtor developers, who might pay the school as return in favor. Commuting is a problem too. Buses are always packed in school days. Parking lots on campus are up to a mile to your building. Constant traffic jams in and near campus. Town roads are narrow and curvy, especially Atherton and Park.

I played football here the university sucks i played tight end and i was in the nfl for 2 years i was in the pro bowl twice but then broke my leg

It's university that's in the middle of nowhere. Expensive too.

One of the best American public universities. Foreign students are welcomed with open arms, the courses are great, the students are open-minded and very warm, and the campus is MA-GNI-FIQUE !! Lots of convenience stores and places to work or play sports, this university is absolutely superb !!!

Pedophile State is no place for children. They obviously choose football and the money they make from the sport over the protection of children. One star is too high.

Never been here. But since early high school I knew I wanted to play for Penn State. Since my time has come to past I'm now training my three boys mentally and physically. Academics first of course. Get ready Penn State. They are already racking up big achievements.

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If I could go back in time and do my college life again, I would come to Penn State again. Amazing academics. I am not a sports person but its great in here. The only catch is, you have to work hard to stay good. But hey, you are in one of the top universities of the world!

They still think Jerry sandusky's a hero and the victims are the ones that was wrong

PSU. High quality education comparable to Ivy League, but without the Ivy League price. Proud of my alma mater.

Great university in every way! Good science/medicine program with strong research base.

Not a big fan of Paterno hiding a rapist pedophiliac, but have to say the college and the program have responded and done there best to move on, and a return to respectability.

Great place to be for graduate study. The best university possibly in terms of environment for petroleum engineers.

The Penn State online program or World Campus is a money-making, love-less program. Online programs are highly lucrative endeavors for universities, maximize the number of students per class to get more $$$. The Master's of Education in Children's Literature at Penn State stands out as a program in which students in general are not remembered by their professors and are just nameless tuition payers who receive grades. It's really sad as this is potentially such a unique program - I wish I would have known this before I began. The program doesn't care about their students or their names - just the tuition dollars. I switched to a different distance/online master's program and my experience is really different - the professors know who I am and actually are innovative problem-solvers who are willing to support student's learning. Sometimes the more prestigious programs like Penn State actually are less value - lesson learned. The professors/instructors at the Penn State online program are so overloaded they just don't care - students are just a random names on a computer screen. It was a really disappointing experience with Penn State. They charge a steep tuition, provide assignments impersonally online, and then deliver a diploma. No care or support. I advise talking over the phone or skype with the program coordinator or a professor of online masters program (not just email) to get a better feel for the program before beginning.

We ARE - PENNSTATE!! I have never found a group of people that make you feel like a part of a community more than the folks at PENNSTATE- I was an adult student several years ago and decided to go back to school. I never imagined that 7 short years later I wails be alumni and be working for the university. I live this place.

It's a great university. The campus is very nice!! Is good watch when is summer and people are playing some sports.

Good university. With the friendly environment for every international students. Great experience that everyone should try and get into!

I couldn't have chosen a better school to attend. The courses are relevant and the lessons learned are very applicable in the real world. The networking opportunity is undeniable. You will encounter countless Penn State Alumni holding high positions in many organizations. Penn State is a highly recognized and reputable institution. When I say I'm from Penn State, the respect it commands can't be ignored. Forever Proud to be a Penn Stater! WE ARE!!!

The students are so zoned into the phones that it's really not safe to drive through the campus. I found out by accident when I was doing road work near the school and needed a restroom and made a wrong turn into the campus. None of them batted an eye when I'd want to turn in to turn around or when I stopped at a stop sign. I almost got several students at several different areas as they crossed the road outside of cross walks. To even turn around I had to cut students off. Carefully of course.

This is an overrated university with ignorant students and alumni.

Penn State provides the right mixture of Academics, athletics life, and social life. Reputation is way higher than its rank (which is already high). I truly enjoyed my time there, and will always continue to support the school.

We Are...

Excellent military veterans services. Yellow ribbon program, clubs, events and more makes transitioning to the civilian world much easier.

Penn State University opened doors to me and enabled me to succeed upon graduation. Only those who have partaken in the University in some way can truly "rate" the school. Our football program and the actions of a few do not overshadow the overwhelmingly positive attributes of Penn State. It is true that almost everyone knows someone who attended the university and there is a reason for that...excellence. I am forever proud of my alma mater and will always stay Penn State strong.

Wish to be on their wrestling team one day will come true

One star for Dr. Halnon, her behavior is abhorrent.

Hate to do it, but I'm going to have to agree with some of what Mark said. I think I owe it to my Alma Mater and native-state to try to make it better through constructive criticism. Penn State main-campus' strength is not necessarily it's personal-touch. Although I graduated from this institution and do have some fond memories and appreciate the experience, I definitely came-in optimistic, social, confident and left not necessarily so, somewhat socially-awkward and feeling disconnected from people around me. I think I even regressed in-terms of health-habits and life-skills. Not only is this school huge, but State College itself is somewhat isolated (Happy Valley) from the rest-of the world. This has its advantages and disadvantages. Perhaps, things have changed since I graduated, but for all of the money that is spent on administration and staff, something could be done to make sure that every single student is made to feel connected and like more than just a number. The branch-campuses definitely do a better job of this in my-experience. I completed a graduate degree from a Penn State branch-campus several years later and actually felt the care and quality of instruction was much better without sacrificing rigor across the board. I would suggest that if a student is considering Penn State, to pay-close attention to the effect that campus-size has on the students' experience (if that isn't obvious -- as it wasn't to me as an idealistic and focused teenager who grew-up brainwashed by the Penn State brand). That being said, it is what it is and there are advantages to being at main-campus. If you do go to main for your undergrad and you think you might have trouble adjusting to the size, be certain to stay on-campus for as long-as-possible, get and stay involved in something that connects you to a group of people outside of your normal academic and social activities, the more the better. Whatever you like to do with other people, find an organization that does it, and if it doesn't exist, create it. The quality of your experience depends on it. I think this is just as important as the academics or partying at a school like this in my mind. My experience with career services after attending every single career fair aside from one during my four years at Penn State, mirrors my other experience. While it's nice to dress-up and get some practice pitching yourself at these fairs, I did not feel that career services did anything that I couldn't do more effectively myself and on my own. It merely contributed to that feeling of being just another number. We may be Penn State, but we can do a better job of encouraging uniqueness, inclusivity, and caring for the individual.

Great University. The Staff, Faculty, and Students are all very helpful. I highly recommend the University.

Grew up in State College, graduated with a B.S. in Health and Human Development, and now working for the Smeal College of Business. Ecstatic about this next phase of my life. Thanks PSU!

Best experience of my life. Great professors, challenging courses, fun atmosphere. Would recommend to anyone looking for a great college experience!

Great school! They call it happy valley for a reason

Pennsylvania State University is a world-renowned public research university located in Pennsylvania, USA. Metropolitan State University has 24 campuses throughout Pennsylvania, the largest of which is the University Campus. Penn State University's University Park campus is ranked 8th among public universities nationwide.

Really solid school, but, like any, you must make things work for it to be so. Hard work and a lot of study has led me to a high GPA thus far, but I would be doing very poorly with less effort. Additionally, though the school is huge, meeting people is relatively easy and becoming involved takes little work. The complaints of a large school with little interaction between faculty and students is hogwash- the student just has to actually attend office hours or reach out to his professor to begin that engagement. I have had a great experience with professors when unable to understand something or when needing time on a project. State College is a wonderful college setting, as well.

Wonderful university with excellent faculty and mentorship that enables students to lay a strong foundation for future success.

Great college, great staff, and beautiful scenery this is probably one of the best schools you can attend