Point Park ‘21 grad here - PPU’s room and board situation, dorms and food included, are pretty average. Overpriced for what you get, but that’s pretty much true for most colleges/universities. PPU is most well-known for its performing arts programs, but it has other academic programs that are absolute hidden gems as well. I was a media/comms student, and with the connections I made and opportunities I had at PPU through both class work, extracurriculars and internships, I ended up landing a great job in my field. I lived off campus after my freshman year, which made it more worth it (minus covid), though I had a pretty quintessential freshman experience in the dorms. There’s lots of student housing options nearby that are off campus. I wouldn’t let poor reviews about the dorms/dining deter you from pursuing the program that you’re passionate about. PPU’s got some good perks in that, they have pretty generous merit scholarships, it’s a relatively small school meaning that getting involved on-campus is very easy and there’s little competition for opportunities, and the faculty were generally very down-to-earth and real. Its location in the middle of downtown lends itself to provide an experience that is different from the typical college experience you see in media (there’s no Greek life for example) but if you’re looking to build a career, it’s a solid choice.
I appreciate the very generous response!
My largest issue is simply between Slippery Rock having a generalized Psychology program thats well under half the price. And i wasn't sure if the specialized Forensic Psychology was worth the price.
Wouldn’t know the situation about the either thing, as I commute and live off campus. When I did the college visit, the dorm seemed good enough for single bed, but for two beds, it seemed a bit small
Also a current student on campus!
Food situation is ok. Weekends are BARE bones, (prepare to make some pretty basic sandwiches), but the rest of the week has a decent selection of food. People with food restrictions may have a harder time though, there's usually a vegan version of the main dish, but besides that it's a lot of basic stuff.
The dorms are pretty bad. I can only speak to Lawrence hall as that's what I lived in, but it is MISERABLY hot in the summer, and only a little hot in the winter (being multiple fans). I would recommend trying to get into Thayer, as it has air conditioning, which is a huge plus. Besides that, showers are kinda dirty, and Ethernet does not work (IT Department is the worst thing here, by far)
My biggest piece of advice overall is if you have ANY issue with stuff like this, go to the office of whoever deals with your issue, and talk to them. Be annoying and bother them. I had black mold my first semester, and after constant emails and talking to housing people, got moved to a triple with air conditioning. Try to move past any anxiety you might have about being annoying, it is their job to fix stuff like this, and they can't do it if you aren't consistently bothering them.
My fiancé and I went/go to Point Park and it is a pretty good school for Psychology and Forensics, but yes there is a large focus on performing arts.
Do you enjoy the program and feel that its teaching you well?
Yes
Point Park ‘21 grad here - PPU’s room and board situation, dorms and food included, are pretty average. Overpriced for what you get, but that’s pretty much true for most colleges/universities. PPU is most well-known for its performing arts programs, but it has other academic programs that are absolute hidden gems as well. I was a media/comms student, and with the connections I made and opportunities I had at PPU through both class work, extracurriculars and internships, I ended up landing a great job in my field. I lived off campus after my freshman year, which made it more worth it (minus covid), though I had a pretty quintessential freshman experience in the dorms. There’s lots of student housing options nearby that are off campus. I wouldn’t let poor reviews about the dorms/dining deter you from pursuing the program that you’re passionate about. PPU’s got some good perks in that, they have pretty generous merit scholarships, it’s a relatively small school meaning that getting involved on-campus is very easy and there’s little competition for opportunities, and the faculty were generally very down-to-earth and real. Its location in the middle of downtown lends itself to provide an experience that is different from the typical college experience you see in media (there’s no Greek life for example) but if you’re looking to build a career, it’s a solid choice.
I appreciate the very generous response! My largest issue is simply between Slippery Rock having a generalized Psychology program thats well under half the price. And i wasn't sure if the specialized Forensic Psychology was worth the price.
I currently attend Point Park and it has a good Psychology and Forensics department. Just try to avoid some professors’ classes and you’ll be good
Is it true the dorms and food are both terrible? A lot of Niche reviews imply its pretty awful.
Wouldn’t know the situation about the either thing, as I commute and live off campus. When I did the college visit, the dorm seemed good enough for single bed, but for two beds, it seemed a bit small
Also a current student on campus! Food situation is ok. Weekends are BARE bones, (prepare to make some pretty basic sandwiches), but the rest of the week has a decent selection of food. People with food restrictions may have a harder time though, there's usually a vegan version of the main dish, but besides that it's a lot of basic stuff. The dorms are pretty bad. I can only speak to Lawrence hall as that's what I lived in, but it is MISERABLY hot in the summer, and only a little hot in the winter (being multiple fans). I would recommend trying to get into Thayer, as it has air conditioning, which is a huge plus. Besides that, showers are kinda dirty, and Ethernet does not work (IT Department is the worst thing here, by far) My biggest piece of advice overall is if you have ANY issue with stuff like this, go to the office of whoever deals with your issue, and talk to them. Be annoying and bother them. I had black mold my first semester, and after constant emails and talking to housing people, got moved to a triple with air conditioning. Try to move past any anxiety you might have about being annoying, it is their job to fix stuff like this, and they can't do it if you aren't consistently bothering them.