A Student's Guide to Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

Mansfield University, located in Northern Pennsylvania, is a "small university with big opportunities", as their motto states. MU offers the character and class of a large university, at not only a cheaper price, but also in a much more beautiful setting, nestled in the mountains of Northern Pennsylvania. If you are looking for a quiet place to learn, with a lot of things to keep you occupied in your free time, this is the university for you.

AT A GLANCE

In Fall 2006, there were 3,360 students enrolled at Mansfield University, with nearly 2,800 of them full time students. 180 professors lead 3 four-year baccalaureate programs, 45 minors, 6 master degree programs, and 5 two-year associate degree programs. The student-faculty ration is 16:1, with 75% of classes containing fewer than 30 students, and 45% containing fewer than 20 students.

Pennsylvania residents pay only $14,415 per year to attend Mansfield University, while out-of-state residents pay $22,182. MU also has a Good Neighbor policy, which states that New York state resident's receive a discounted tuition price of $17,782. These tuition prices are based on the Fall 2006 prices. In addition, more than 80% of undergraduates receive financial aid, and more than 70 scholarships are offered to incoming students.

Approximately 90% of students obtain jobs directly after graduation.

CAMPUS

Mansfield University has 39 buildings on it beautiful 174 acre campus. In addition to academic buildings, all of which have open computer labs, there are three auditoriums, multiple recreation areas, playing fields, tennis courts, an indoor swimming pool, a state-of-the-art library, a newly renovated fitness center, an updated student union, and a newly built childcare center.

The four residence halls on campus house approximately 1,325 students. Each residence hall has different options, including wellness floors, travel floors, twenty-four hour quiet areas, an all female side of one building, as well as an entire hall for greek life.

THE TOWN & SURROUNDING AREAS

This small university sits comfortably in the middle of a small town, in a rural area. Despite the one stop light in the center of town, there are plenty of things to do in your spare time.

If you are looking to stay in town, you are not going to find much other than the normal college hangouts. If you are of age, you can check out Marks Brothers, the local bar and well-known college hangout. There are also several cafes, and when all else fails, everyone heads to the town Wal-Mart.

Once out of town, one is able to find many more things to do. Tioga County alone has three state parks, four federal parks, and seven lakes. Only a few minutes from campus, there is a bike trail leading to a recreation area, so be sure to bring comfortable shoes and your mountain bike (if you think you can fit it in your room). A short distance away is the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. In addition to the beautiful view, there are also several trails, along which one will see much wildlife, waterfalls, and nature's wonders, waiting to be explored. Also, near the PA Grand Canyon, you can also find the Tioga Central Railroad, which is a great place to check out in the fall when the colorful leaves spread across the never-ending mountains.

Less than a half an hour away is the New York state line. Once you cross it, even more opportunities open up. There you can also find several lakes and parks, along with an enormous amount of wineries. The two most visited places by college students in the area are the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning and the Arnot Mall in Horseheads.

THE INSIDER'S SCOOP

I am not going to praise my school, nor am I going to bash it, I am simply going to lay out my opinion, without sugarcoating anything.

If you are looking to walk into an auditorium style classroom filled with 200 students, then this is not the school for you. I hate to break it to you, but the biggest class I ever had was about 70 students, but yes, it was in an auditorium. Generally, the class sizes are small, which gives students a one-on-one relationship with their professor. Like most universities, the majority of professors are nice and willing to help students, but there are a few that you want to steer clear of. I, of course, will not mention any names here, but be sure to ask around on campus when it comes time to schedule.

Dorm living is not as bad as everyone makes it out to be. If you are a spoiled brat, such as myself, I recommend living in Maple B because not only is it the nicest of the rest, in my opinion, but it also has the biggest rooms. If you aren't use to sharing your living space, start bracing yourself now. Roommates can be difficult, as I went through three my freshman year alone. Lucky for those of you who don't share well, you are able to get a single room, though it is a seniority procedure. As for the community bathrooms that you are dreading...no, they are not the cleanest. Just get a crappy pair of flip flops and bring some extra toilet paper and you will be fine. Maintenance is usually pretty good about cleaning up; it is just your floor mates that tend to ruin the experience for everyone else.

The campus is beautiful. No one wants to be cooped up in their room studying, and on this campus, you do not have to be. There is plenty of green grass just waiting to be laid on by you. There are also outdoor tables and chairs, as well as a gazebo. MU also has one of the nicest libraries I have ever seen, so take advantage of those comfy chairs and read, read, read!

College is a rough transition for everyone, but I think mine was fairly painless at MU. I cannot even picture living my college experience anywhere else...I love this school.