Dont know anything about Altoona, only driven through it a few times. If you can, try to go to main campus and not one of the branch campuses. When i was there, all freshman had to live in the dorms, the majority of them were in East halls. Good thing about that is your are pretty close to the stadium but the bad thing is it's the farthest from classroom buildings and downtown with all the bars, fraternities and apartments. long walk home after drinking all night.
where do you live now?