Campus and Student Life

For Anthony Palocaren, a native of India, the 2+2 plan has been his vehicle to educational success.

“If I had come here straight from India, straight to the (University Park) campus, I would have been lost,” he said.  “Cultural shock is one part but the other part is the responsibility and understanding what your professors are asking of you.”

Anthony grew up in Tamil Nadu, India, and he moved with his family to West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, in 2005.  An Engineering Science major now in his first year at University Park, Anthony started his career in higher education at Penn State Greater Allegheny.  Starting out at a campus other than University Park allowed him to focus on his academic goals while enjoying student life in a smaller setting, receiving personalized attention from professors and meeting new friends.

Anthony found that his transition to the University Park campus this fall was a lot easier than he expected.  Eleven of his friends and fellow engineering classmates from the Greater Allegheny campus also made the transition, so he felt right at home as soon as he arrived.

“We still keep in touch,” he said. “We get together and have fun.”

Meeting friends at his new campus was also easy.  A resident at Eastview Terrace, Anthony met friends in his residence hall, as well as during classes.  He was also happy that his engineering classes at University Park average 20 students.

“My professors know me by name,” he said. “It’s a big campus, but you feel like it’s a small campus.”

Anthony also appreciates the diversity of academic courses and sporting events that University Park has to offer.  He’s had the chance to see events ranging from gymnastic meets to football games, and he vividly recalls the first time he saw the Nittany Lions play in Beaver Stadium.

“It was insane, I loved it,” he said.  “I just looked around and saw all the people having fun. I’ve never seen a stadium that big.”

His favorite spots on campus include the Hintz Family Alumni Center garden and the engineering buildings.

A Schreyer Scholar who aspires to work toward an M.B.A. or work in the Army as an aviation officer upon receiving his bachelor’s degree, Anthony says he couldn’t be happier that he chose Penn State and its 2+2 plan.

“When you’re in your home country, you know everything because you were born there.  So you’re like a big fish in a small pond,” he said. “When you come here, you become a small fish in a big ocean.”

Anthony highly recommends starting out at a campus other than University Park because “it’s the nearest simulation to your home environment.”

Penn State Greater Allegheny(wmv)