The Best Places to Party at Penn State (In Your First Year)

You are fresh out of high school, and you probably still have a little bit of the SATs on your mind, so we’ll use a little analogy to get this started.

HIGH SCHOOL : STUDYING :: COLLEGE : PARTYING

Okay, so there is some studying and meeting people mixed in there too, but college students are known for their devil-may-care attitude and authoritative knowledge on how to get down, get down, jump up, jump up, and finally, get down.

• Fraternities:  Like it or not, this is a large part of Penn State and this is where you will find a lot of the parties.  You may decide to rush a frat/sorority or not, but either way you will probably get a decent amount of free alcohol from these groups.  This is a temporary thing however.  Don’t be surprised when fraternities start becoming invite-only for guys but open for girls.  Sexism isn’t fun come on!
• Other Places to Party:  The party is where you make it.  Meet new people and meet more people through them.  Believe it or not this will lead you to an endless supply of parties and fun hopefully.  Networking is key people.  If you meet a few sophomores/juniors, they will likely host some parties and you’ll be accepted into those.
• Houses: The classic “house party" is usually thrown by student groups or fraternities. Make sure that you go with someone who knows someone who lives in the house (unless you’re particularly attractive). It really also helps to go with someone who knows how to find the house. Expect a small fee at the door to help the house cover their beer costs (and finance any damages). The best house parties have a backyard where people can spill out to escape the heat inside. Just be ready for the cops to show up after an angry neighbor files a noise complaint by scoping out a few exit points.
• Apartments: These parties are usually more intimate. Parties in apartments are much more difficult to slip into because the person who rents the apartment will probably be handling the door. If you’re invited to an apartment party, definitely take it up, as the relaxed atmosphere will be a great change from the hustle-and-bustle of house parties or clubs.
• The Dorms: Okay, so maybe partying in the dorms isn’t really a party, but it’s pretty common. If you’re smart, you’ll keep the numbers down to six or less, because more than that creates a lot of noise, and that will probably attract the attention of an RA. Use the dorms to pre-drink, if you're legal and not driving, as it will be a more quiet way to get a buzz going and it is safer than having a bunch of people over.

Check out the Penn State Freshman Checklist

Create a List that you can Email

Recommend a Product