ukphd
New member
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« on: January 05, 2007, 02:16:40 AM » |
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Hello, after lurking for a while now, I've decided to post. I have just completed my PhD in sociology at a UK university and have an interview at Penn State.
Does anyone work there? I am interested in learning about the campus culture, and also what it is like living in Pennsylvania .
I have only ever lived in major urban centers, and am worried that I'll feel isolated in Pennsylvania (the college is not in Philadelphia or Pittsburg). I also have a two year old daughter. I think it sounds like a nice place to raise children, but I am not sure about me! My husband is an engineer and if I am successful, will relocate at the end of the year, so it will be me and my little one for a while.
Other than that, I really would like to hear from people who have had experience working at Penn State.
Thanks in advance.
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sibyl
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« Reply #1 on: January 05, 2007, 09:48:55 AM » |
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Which Penn State? I know you may be reluctant to answer for privacy reasons, but there are a lot of Penn State campuses, and it really affects the answer. The main campus ("University Park," in the town of State College) is a lot different from, say, the campuses in Erie or Wilkes-Barre (two medium-sized cities) or the campus in McKeesport (reasonably close to Pittsburgh).
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"I do not pretend to set people right, but I do see that they are often wrong." -- Jane Austen, Mansfield Park
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manicpanic
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« Reply #2 on: January 05, 2007, 10:42:10 AM » |
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However, College Park is by far the best known and an excellent research institution and would be worth dying for, nearly, for many.
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schoolmarm
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« Reply #3 on: January 05, 2007, 10:54:52 AM » |
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State College is a very nice place. The university brings lots of culture and diversity that would be lacking in other Pennsylvania towns of that size. The library is great. All of the people I know who work there are very happy. The university is actually in University Park, as another poster mentioned.
Central Pennsylvania is hilly. You are right on the good interstate extension to get to Washington DC fairly quickly. I think that it takes longer to get to Philly than DC. It might even be closer (about 4 hours) to get to NYC.
The downtown is full of funky little shops and places to eat.
The public schools are very good in town, but vary if you are in a neighboring small town.
The airport isn't all that big, but does have connections to a variety of places. Lots of my friends in the area fly out of BWI (Baltimore/Washington DC) for lower airfares.
I am assuming that you will be interviewing on the main campus. I can't imagine one of the branch campuses (say Penn State-Altoona) paying for overseas airfare to bring a candidate in for an interview. The branch campuses have a mix of faculty, but many are home-grown or from the main campus or nearby states. The main campus hires nationwide/internationally.
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pink_
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« Reply #4 on: January 05, 2007, 11:50:45 AM » |
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If you are moving to PSU (university park campus is state college, PA--College Park is Maryland) but back on track, if you are moviing there and have only lived in big cities, I would imagine you'll have a bit of an adjustment to make. State College is a college town. it exists solely to support the university. You'll not find a lot in terms of cultural diversity, ethnic restaurants, art-house theaters, etc. Many of my friends who moved there from urban areas (New York, Los Angeles, Boston) were really frustrated by the lack of options. Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington DC and New York are all within striking distance, but the closest of those, Pittsburgh, is a good three hour drive. Philly and DC are 4, and NYC is 5. So they are close, but not that close. You could easily plan a weekend (or more) away, but it would be difficult for a daytrip.
On the other hand, it's a great place to raise kids and the State College school district is a very good one (as you might expect given the high percentage of ph.d. parents in the locale). There are lots of things to do outdoors (hiking, biking, kayaking to name just a few), and it's a very safe place to live. Oh, and cost of living is pretty low too, or at least it used to be. There are, as another poster has mentioned, a lot of restaurants and shops, and there's also a number of cultural opportunities--a symphony orchestra and a chamber orchestra in the community, and the university brings in a number of acts too. The people are very friendly.
Intellectually, the library is terrific and you'd get a lot of support to do research. It's getting harder and harder to get into the main campus as an undergrad, so you'd have goood students to work with and there are some pretty interesting teaching opportunities with freshman seminars and the Schreyer Honors Program.
Good luck!
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Horses don't have seatbelts. Listen to Pink, she's smart.
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grumpy
Junior member
Posts: 93
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« Reply #5 on: January 05, 2007, 04:20:23 PM » |
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I did my Ph.D at Penn State (and I'm also a Brit)...As someone said, I'd nearly die to go back!
The town is fabulous (depending on what you like to do..): It's tiny, but dynamic, with amazing coffee. The natives are incredibly friendly, and there was a year I sent Christmas cards to nobody but store owners and car mechanics.
Be aware that it is COLD in winter!
Also consider that compared to UK housing prices right now, you'll be able to afford a nice house in State College without too much trouble (at least if you're a 2-income household, and at some stage even if you're single...but on that note, I should say that State College is a pretty crappy town to be single in if you're past college age)
Seriously, do everything you can to land the job, and then hire me!
If you have specific questions you want answered, feel free to pm me.
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sirrah
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« Reply #6 on: January 05, 2007, 06:15:08 PM » |
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I heard things can get competitive (not surprising) but very good program. I'd definitely take a job there. Nice town, too. More cosmopolitan than most places that size.
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goingcrazy
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« Reply #7 on: January 05, 2007, 06:52:56 PM » |
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Oh MY! I received my BA from PSU and I LOVE it there! My goal is to some day teach there. There is so much to do but it still has a small town feel. I you get so lucky to get the job you must take it!!!!!!! I guarantee that you will adore State College. Keep me posted!!!
Yes, I am a (dorky) Penn Stater, blue and true!!! It cannot be helped!
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history_grrrl
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« Reply #8 on: January 06, 2007, 01:25:02 PM » |
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I'd echo most of what pink_lady has said, with a major exception: if you're not white, it might not feel very safe to live there. We're talking rural, conservative, middle-of-nowhere Pennsylvania. I've heard it described as "Klan country" by those in a position to know.
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[R]eality sometimes has a left-wing bias.
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goingcrazy
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« Reply #9 on: January 06, 2007, 04:36:26 PM » |
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Klan country? Wow, nice stereotype for a predominantly white area.
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grumpy
Junior member
Posts: 93
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« Reply #10 on: January 06, 2007, 05:57:15 PM » |
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Re the "Klan country" comment.
There was some nasty racial 'stuff' going on at PSU about 6 years ago, and it is a VERY white area...but to balance this claim, I think it is one of the ten safest places to live in the U.S. regardless of color!
I don't mean to minimize the possibility of discomfort living in the area for non-whites (though at least towards the end of my time there, this didn't seem such a problem for people), but I thought that was balancing the earlier comment.
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losemygrip
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« Reply #11 on: January 07, 2007, 05:01:26 AM » |
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You know that the University Park area is called "Happy Valley?"
Penn State is a major public research Univ. in the U.S. Very desirable from a professional sense. Believe me, when you live in a town of 5000, University Park sounds great! Positively metropolitan!
Know that Pennsylvania has a state income tax and lots of other taxes. It also has more social services than many states. There is a lot of wilderness in the state. There are far more car collisions with deer than in any other state--over 18,000 this past year. (I've learned to hate the damn deer.) Hunting is VERY big, as is football (American football). It's true that the Klan is also big in PA (it used to have the second highest number of Klan chapters of any state outside Georgia), but they've kept a low profile of late. You shouldn't have to worry about it in Univ. Park.
I think you should have no concerns about ending up there, other than any professional ones specific to your position.
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lunagrrl
New member
Posts: 8
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« Reply #12 on: January 07, 2007, 10:59:43 AM » |
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Hi,
I'm not from PA but have also heard great things about the College Park campus as a place to work.
Since it was mentioned earlier, could anyone share their perceptions or experiences of the Penn State Erie campus/community? (Scholarly reputation, political leanings, professional climate, etc?)
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pink_
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« Reply #13 on: January 07, 2007, 09:11:57 PM » |
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I had a close friend from high school who went to the Behrend campus (erie) with every intention to transfer to main campus (university park) after two years. he ended up liking it so much that he stayed.
Since it is right on the lake, Erie is really, really cold in the winter, but it is one of the better branch campuses academically in the system, especially in the hard sciences and engineering (which is also very strong at main campus). Apparently they offer a few majors at the campus that are exclusive to behrend. People seem to be geniunely happy there (at least according to my friend several years ago--not sure whether his perspective would be representative or not).
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Horses don't have seatbelts. Listen to Pink, she's smart.
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