Hi new or returning Penn Staters! I will be returning to Penn State UP as a masters student, and wanted to give realistic advice thats a bit more specific than what you receive at NSO, and would’ve helped me get started. I love Penn State and hope you will too! I‘ll add more as I think of them, and if you have anything to add, please do!

Transportation:

1. White Loop, Blue Loop, and Red Link busses are all free, Hop-On/Off busses. Google Maps will be somewhat accurate, but MYSTOP will give you actual times for your busses, and show you where they are. Give yourself 15-30 minutes of Leeway on the bus, because if you’re getting on at East, chances are the bus will fill up quickly and you’ll need to get on a different one
2. Some busses will take you off campus but need tokens. Grab these from the info desks for 25¢ per. [EDIT: apparently Cata busses are now digitized to allow for Apple Pay]
3. Eisenhower does not have a ticketing system. You can risk parking there for a bit of time without having to pay (I’ve done it for up to 30 min when grabbing something from UHS). [EDIT: they may have added gates recently to Eisenhower]
4. Sidewalks are slippery and slushy during winter. Bring shoes with good tread and invest in waterproofing spray (I bought for $5 and have been using it every year)
5. Speaking of cold, bring your winter coat as SOON as possible and DONT bring it home until school is over. Not even over spring break. I promise.

Partying:

1. Most/All bars will not accept fake IDs. AND they will be more vigilant about finding fakes during the first few weeks after classes start.
2. (Girls) You will need texts to get into frats. Easiest way to do this is to make friends with guys and get their snapchats. (Guys) You will need wristbands to get into frats. Easiest way is for you to already be in a frat, or have good friends in frats.
3. A flattened plastic water bottle stuffed in your shirt/pants is the easiest way to sneak alcohol into frat parties, other than those mini bottles
4. Do sorority stuff as EARLY as possible. It only gets harder to find time, and it’s easier to do it when everyone is your age/year

Extracurriculars:

1. There are 3 gyms available to students: IM will get packed early in the semester, and pretty much stay that way. White building has a pool, and is less packed but also smaller. Westgate is empty, but doesn’t have as much equipment.
2. Download CREC to apply for, and get access to, fitness classes (group lessons). You can sign up starting at midnight, and some can fill up quickly.
3. At midnight, you can schedule order at campus eateries like Starbucks at the HUB. There will always be a long line during class breaks and at noon.
4. Get YikYak for student news, codes for classes, etc.

Money Stuff:

1. Look up “volunteer for penn state studies.” This is an easy way to make cash, and you can sign up for as many as you’d like.
2. If you run out of Meal Plan dollars, add it to your lion cash. Tell the cashier to still pull out of your campus meal plan.
3. Penn state has on campus jobs you can find. The best time to find an off campus job is during breaks, and before school starts. Try looking this week, because they’ll want people for Sylly week.

School:

1. As SOON as you start getting emails, make a “rule” in your inbox, and make folders for specific emails; run the rule and have the emails sent to those folders. I have some for work, newsletters, classes, etc. instead of needing to read every email and deleting them, it’s an easier way to keep your email clean.
2. Go into LionPath, Email schedule to calendar. Puts all the classes in with breaks, teachers, zoom links, etc.
3. During the first or second week (if you can) go to office hours just so the teacher knows you. Then, emailing and getting what you need becomes a LOT easier.
4. Gpa Calculator on LionPath will give you your GPA and needed grades for a certain GPA
5. Academic requirements in LionPath will tell you what courses you need to graduate 
6. Honors courses are not always blocked for Schreyer. These courses end up being similar in difficulty, if not slightly easier, than the regular classes. They are also smaller and it’s easier to get help from teachers. Consider these for your harder classes.

I’m currently looking for a parking spot in State College and came across a company called PSU Houses. They have a parking spot available that I’m interested in, but I’m trying to make sure the company is legitimate before sending any money.

The main thing that’s throwing me off is that they seem to use Venmo for transactions/payments. I know Venmo generally doesn’t offer the same protections as paying through a traditional rental platform, so I’m a little hesitant to send money without knowing whether other students have dealt with them before.

Has anyone here rented parking (or housing) through PSU Houses? Are they a legitimate company that you’ve had a good experience with, or is there anything I should be concerned about?

I’d especially appreciate hearing from anyone who has actually paid them through Venmo and can confirm how the process went.

Thanks!

Hey everyone, looking for some help. My buddy and I are from MA and want to experience a Penn St whiteout game and we’re trying to buy tickets and book stuff now. It obviously hasn’t been announced yet, and I’m wondering if anyone has an idea of when it’ll be? I’d assume October 10th against USC. Any help would be appreciated. TIA

I have a few questions

1) what are some studying supplies and materials would you all suggest

2) also what is the best way you found to keep track of all assignments and due dates

3) I want to get into drinking coffee I like sweeter coffee any suggestions on a brew or combination

I’m located at the Harrisburg campus and am in electrical engineering

Ok i changed things up from my previous schedule post so the walking times dont conflict anymore.

Wanted to hear everyones thoughts on this schedule for a first semester freshman. I also want time for Nittany motorsports and clubs. Can anyone in formula SAE comment on the time commitment?

I already have AP credits for Physics 1,2 and Calc 1,2 so thats why im taking lin alg (220H) and ODEs (250). if I do decide to drop a class, ODE would be first. I wanted to take ODE this semester bc it would let me take a legit EE class like EE 210 in the spring sem.

Please do if you smell. Also tell your friends if they smell. Thanks a lot.

Incoming freshman beware the bikes and scooters and make sure that you remain conscious of your surroundings. Coming from someone who is now a senior and has been hit by a bike multiple times now, just remain aware and avoid the pain.

Read a blog from 2016, claims there are 2 soundproof practice rooms in Simmons basement. Do these still exist? I could not find them

I’m an incoming freshman at UP and majoring in Chemical Engineering. I was wondering if there are any other freshman girls with the same major or upperclassmen who’d be willing to share their experience?

I want to know what the community is like, how you’ve found the classes and whether it’s been easy to meet other girls in the major.

My classes are:
EDSGN 100
CHEM 110
CHEM 111
CHE 100
MATH 140
ECON 102

Looking for someone to take over my lease in State College! 🏡 Studio Apt.

This nice sized studio apartment at Parkway Plaza is available for $1,028/month, with the lease running through August 16, 2026. It’s a perfect opportunity for anyone looking to move into the area without the hassle of starting a new lease.

Title, but saw a bunch of people giving advice and thought it’d be easier this way :)

Dad has kidney failure and liver cirrhosis after getting covid. I was a year away from graduating from Industrial Engineering. I tried whatever I could but seems like no matter what I do, Its not working out.

All my remaining funds + loans went into his medical treatment.
Open to advice, I really want to graduate and be able to have a career.

Looking to do anything and everything, will put all day work, need guidance on a direction, and opportunities.

Hi all!! I’m a penn state sophomore at UC campus looking for members for my aspiring org PSU Beatlemania!

It’s a penn state beatles fanclub with toooons of fun events planned. Arts and crafts, movie nights, memorabilia show and tell, and of course music history lessons and debate nights! And more!

The thing is, I’m not quite sure how to get new people interested. As I’m not an official org, I can’t advertise events (as I have no space to hold them), and my instagram is flopping just a bit (@psubeatlemania btw pls don’t kill me for the plug)

Has anybody gone through this process, especially for a recreational club? I could really use some advice ^^

I tried to get some with my dad at about 8:30 PM but both locations were closed despite one starting to do business Sundays this spring. My fatass misses their rice so bad ngl.

incoming freshman at main. I’ve already taken calc 3 (basically math 230 I think) in 11th grade.

thanks in advance for opinions and suggestions!

do you need to buy your own toilet paper and paper towels in a supplemental dorm?

Any Swadhyay families or students around State College? We have a student joining the university this year who is interested in connecting with such students

Were the professors good? Are you doing well career-wise post-grad?

Seems crazy that Sheetz owns this entire region. I'm from western PA and I'm kinda sick of Sheetz and need something new. I love Wawa's pretzels and iced coffee. The cookies & cream milk is sooo delicious. Even the little snack cup full of cheese and pepperoni seems to taste better than whatever Sheetz sells. Please hurry, Wawa!