College/University Research Questions 

Penn​ S
​ tate 
General Information 
1. Where is this school located? How long would it take you to get there from Garnet Valley? 
How do you feel about this distance? 
a. This is school is located in State College, PA. It would take you about three hours to 
get there from my house. This distance is a comfortable distance for me, it is far 
enough that I don’t feel like my parents can pop in anytime but far enough I can 
come home if I need to.  
2. How many undergraduate students attend this school? How many graduate students? 
a. Penn State has about 40,000 undergraduate students at the University Park campus 
but almost 100,000 including all of their campuses. At University Park they have 
about 7,000 graduate students. 
3. List three sports, clubs, and/or organizations that the school offers that interest you. 
Consider Greek life (fraternities/ sororities), campus ministry, study abroad opportunities, 
community service organizations, etc. 
a. Biomedical Sciences Club 
b. Pre-Physician Assistant Club 
c. Emergency Medical Services Association 
4. What kind of internships are available to students of this school? ​Try to find the answer to 
this question for your prospective major.  
a. They have research programs and multiple shadowing opportunities for students in 
pre-professional health programs or in the pre-med major. 
5. What is the campus setting (urban, suburban, rural, etc.)? What kinds of off-campus 
experiences are available to students at this school? 
a. It is in a very rural area where the only thing around is this university. There are a 
bunch of opportunities for students and have fun off campus. 
6. What are the three majors that this school offers that you would like to consider? 
a. The three majors I would be interested in are: biology, pre-professional health 
studies, and pre-medicine. 
7. What is this school’s job placement rate for graduating students?  
a. 81.8% 
Application Information 
1. When is the application deadline? Does this school accept the common application? What 
are the SAT/ACT requirements for this school? What are the GPA/Class Rank requirements 
for this school? What other admissions requirements are there? SAT 2, letters of 
recommendation, personal statement, interview, audition, etc.? 
a. The application deadline is December 3​rd​. Penn State just started accepting the 
common application within the past year. The SAT requirement for this school is 
1160-1340. The ACT requirement is 25-29. The GPA requirement is 3.59, and the class 
rank is the top 21% of your graduating class. The additional admission requirements 
are at least two years of a language.  
2. Is this school “Safety” “Reach” or “Middle of the Road” for you? 
a. Penn State is a middle of the road school for me.  
Campus Life/Services on Campus 
1. Where is the Health Center and/or Counseling Center located and what are the hours? 
How do you make an appointment at the Counseling Center? What are the hours for the 
Writing Center? Do you need an appointment or can you just drop in? What academic 
supports/curricular accommodations can students with special learning needs receive? 
a. It is located at the center of campus, and the hours are 8am-5pm and are closed on 
the weekends. You can make an appointment by calling their phone number. The 
hours for the writing center are from Monday-Thursday (2-10pm), Sunday (6-10pm). 
At the library, their hours are Sunday-Thursday (10am-10pm), and Fridays until 6 pm. 
Those are the drop in hours but you can make an appointment. They have a support 
center on campus that is open Monday through Friday.