First Semester Tips

Congratulations on your acceptance to Penn State! My name is Emily Clark and I am a Rover for WEPO ’12. I am a sophomore studying Chemical Engineering. Everyone is probably telling you that college is going to be the best four (or five) years of your life. Well, these people have been right so far. Everything is so new and exciting, especially because you chose the BEST school there is! But, to make sure you have the best experience you can have, there are a few key things to keep in mind during your first semester at Penn State.

Put yourself “out there”

One thing you can never have too much of is friends. In college, there are a million opportunities to make friends, but you just can’t expect instant friendships to form. If someone asks you to get dinner, why not go?! Meeting new people is fun and getting to know them is even better. The first opportunity you will have to make new friends is WEPO, of course! Not only can you make friends, but also great study buddies since engineering majors take most of the same classes the first year. Two of my best friends at Penn State were in my WEPO group last year when I was a freshman, including Katie Ciccaglione, a fellow Rover for WEPO ’12. I also think it is important to have friends outside of your major, even though engineers rock. It helps you stay balanced. I became very good friends with girls that were on the same floor as me. During the first few weeks of classes go up to new people and introduce yourself, because you never know who could be your new best friend!

Get involved

The best way to make Penn State feel like your new home is to get involved. There are so many great engineering clubs, sports clubs, THON committees and organizations, and clubs for just about anything you can imagine. Attend the involvement fair in the beginning of the year and see what grabs your attention! Again, don’t be afraid to put yourself “out there” and try something new! During my freshman year I was on a co-ed flag football team and we had a blast! I also joined Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Atlas (a THON organization) and even tried out the Boxing Club. This year I look forward to being on a THON committee and possibly trying out the Penn State Biking Club. There are many great leadership opportunities within the clubs and so many new people to meet!

Time management

You have already made fantastic choices by choosing to go to Penn State, studying engineering, AND choosing to come to WEPO! One of the most important skills you can have at Penn State is time management. Engineering is a challenging major as I’m sure all of you know, but there has to be a balance in your life. You must learn to manage your time so that you can finish all of your homework and studying and still have time to do the things you love. There are SO many fun things to do at Penn State that you won’t want to miss out on! Football games are a great example, and they usually consume most of your Saturday. A great way to stay organized is to write out what you need to accomplish by the end of the week each Sunday. That way you can make sure you allow plenty of time for studying and plenty of time for your friends!

Stay healthy

Last, but certainly not the least important tip, is remember to stay healthy. Maria Poluch wrote a fantastic blog entry about staying healthy at Penn State and I can’t stress to you enough how important this is. It is amazing what a little exercise and eating healthy can do for you. It can be difficult to avoid eating past 8 pm with the late nights of studying that lie ahead of you, but only YOU can prevent the “Freshman Fifteen!” And let’s all be honest, it is almost IMPOSSIBLE to pass up free creamery ice cream each night in the dining commons, or the delicious spread of food for brunch of Saturday and Sunday mornings, but it’s all about moderation. Exercising can be made fun, too! There are so many fitness classes offered at Penn State, so take advantage of them! The gym membership is very affordable. I recommend finding a work out buddy to attend the classes with. For example, my friend and I always went to Boot Camp two days a week. Exercise is a great way to relieve stress and it always leaves you feeling better about yourself.

Have a great summer and I can’t wait to meet you all at WEPO!

Emily Clark is a sophomore in Chemical Engineering. She is a rover for WEPO 2012.