10 Things I Wish I Knew Before the First Day of College

1.     Constant Study

College is a lot different than high school. When I had a test in high school, I would study one or two days before, take the exam, and then be done. It is said that in college, for every hour spent in the classroom, you need to spend three outside the classroom on your own. This sounds like an overwhelming number, but if the correct approach is taken, it can be very manageable. So, instead of binge studying, taking a break, then repeating the cycle, it is much easier and more useful to consistently study. By preparing little by little, your grades will reflect dependable study habits.

2.     Go to Office Hours Before Your Grade Depends on It

Go to office hours before you need to. If something in class does not make sense: Go to office hours. If you think you understand a new concept: Go to office hours. If you have a question: Go to office hours. Professors can be intimidating and it is very easy to get lazy and not go after class, but your GPA will reflect the effort and your professor will notice it as well. Do not wait until there is a poor exam grade on your report card to make this decision. Often times, while doing homework the night before it was due, I would email my professor to say I was coming in the next day because I did not understand the material. This way I could not get out of it and I had no choice but to go.

3.     You Will Learn What Activities Actually Matter to You 

When I was starting college, there were so many activities with which I wanted to get involved. I signed up for a lot then could not attend most of the meetings. Yet, the ones that I did go to turned out to be the clubs that I truly wanted to be a part of or the friends that I really did want to see. It’s better to be active in a few clubs than just a member of ten.

4.     Budget Your Money

There are various shops around State College and spending money on frivolous items is tempting. Going shopping or to dinner with friends is totally acceptable, just make sure that it does not happen too many times per week. Stay on top of the amount of money in your bank account and your last few weeks of school won’t be spent alone in the room, while everyone else is out enjoying themselves on College Ave.

5.     Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself

There will be plenty of times that you will fall down or fail. The key to this is to get up and do it right the next time the situation comes around. But then you get back up and study harder or maybe use a different method this time. Mistakes are how you learn. You try and try until you find what works for you. College is not only about learning in the classroom, but in life.

6.     Confidence is Just as Important as Studying When Taking an Exam

When a big exam comes around, it may seem like the material is impossible to understand or never-ending. Taking the time to study is definitely significant but once that is done, have confidence in yourself! You did the work, so be proud of it and showcase what you know.

7.     Some of the Best Friends You Will Make Are the Ones With Which You Study

For some reason, I kept my studies and my friends separate.  Studying with friends can actually be enjoyable and studying with others is much more productive. There is a lot of studying to do but you do not have to go it alone. Your friends are in the same situation and they would love to help you as much as you would them. Other people help put certain concepts into perspective. Also, teaching your classmates is an awesome way to learn since it solidifies the information for you! Once I started studying with friends I knew the material so much better and made some irreplaceable friends in the process.

8.     Parents are Great People to Talk To Whenever

There were many times that I would lose track of time or get caught up in everything going on at school that I would forget to talk to my parents. Other times I would dread calling my parents because I had some bad news to share. Yet, every time I took just a few minutes to catch up with what is going on at home, I felt grounded and refreshed. My parents became my cheerleaders. Whenever I felt upset, frustrated, or worried my parents calmed me down, provided necessary encouragement, and helped me see that things are not as bad as they seem.

9.     Take Advantage of Free Tutoring

LionTutors, PSU KnowHow, and similar tutoring places are great and can definitely help but do not forget to check out Penn State Learning and your professors’ office hours. These are two great sources offered by PSU that won’t hurt your wallet and could help just as much.

10.     Do Something With Your Free Time!

College can be very tiring and draining. When a small piece of free time comes around, it is really easy to lay down on your bed and watch Netflix until you fall asleep to the sweet sound of someone’s voice other than your professors’. I promise you will get more out of making plans with friends, taking a walk through the Arboretum, checking out some free activities, volunteering, etc. Really the possibilities are endless! (That being said, do not forget to relax either.)

Aleksa Susinskas is a sophomore in Civil Engineering, and she is a Rover for WEPO '14! 

How to Balance Engineering and LIFE

                As many engineers will tell you, succeeding in engineering classes takes a lot of time and effort.  A lot.  Sometimes it can feel as if all of your time and energy is going to schoolwork.  This can make you feel stressed out and burnt out.  Balancing your time while at school will help reduce stress, make you feel more fulfilled in what you are doing and actually help you in classes.  You will perform better in your classes if you are rested, relaxed and focused. 

                Time management is crucial if you want to have a balanced college career.  Without it, school work will consume every minute of your life and you still won’t have time to finish it all.  A key tool for me is to create assignment sheets for myself.  Whatever method you use, important things to keep track of are: what assignments are due, and when? ; how long will the assignment take?.  Then it is important to have an hourly calendar of you week and plot out hour by hour how you will complete each assignment.  This may sound time consuming, but it will actually make you feel in control of your workload.  It will give you a concrete idea of what tasks you will work on, and when. (Feel free to email me at mlo5114@psu.edu if you would like one of my templates).

                Another important way to create balance in your life is through the clubs and organizations you join.  There are many excellent engineering related clubs available at Penn State.  I would encourage you to also look at non-engineering clubs.  These clubs will help you meet friends outside of your major.  Look back at your high school career and ask yourself what were your favorite activities.  Was it volunteering? The basketball team? The choir? Try to find groups at Penn State to continue pursing all of your interests.  You may have one less hour to study a week, but being happy and fulfilled at Penn State will help you study and in the end be willing to stick with engineering.

                Finally, I would advise you to use your gen-eds wisely.  Many engineers complain about how ‘dumb’ gen-eds are.  I think this attitude limits your college experience.  General education classes give you an opportunity to pursue interests outside of engineering.  You can learn about many engaging topics.  I personally am very interested in French and Art.  I have taken an art history class and am double majoring in French and Francophone Studies.  I know I would have gone crazy in engineering without the balance these other classes gave me. 

                It is possible to live a balanced life as an engineer! All it takes is some time management and a little effort finding clubs and classes through which you can pursue or discover your other interests.

Molly O'Brien is a junior in Electrical Engineering, and she is a Mentor for WEPO '14!  

Time Management

Hello! My name is Lauren Winkler. I am a junior in Computer Science Engineering at Penn State! This summer I have been working here in State College at the Penn State Applied Research Lab. I can’t believe I am already going into my junior year and halfway done with college! It seems like not too long ago I was a shy freshman packing up and getting ready to start my engineering education here at Penn State. I know from experience that one of the hardest things about the transition to college is time management. There are no longer a set number of hours for school or a specific time for lunch. You do not have the structure that was there throughout the past years. You must figure out how to use your time wisely. I hope to provide you with some tips on how to plan your time so that you have time to study but also make time to enjoy college and have fun too.

Keep a Schedule! Keeping a schedule helps to visualize your time commitments and also helps you not to forget any important meetings or events! Print out your class schedule. Then before the start of each week write in what you are going to do every hour! It truly helps! First add all the tests and/or quizzes. Then add meetings for clubs and activities. Then in the free time write what you should study/work on. Do you have an hour between classes? Go find a place in one of the buildings between the classes where you can finish homework! Don’t forget to schedule time to work out and eat too! It helps to know what your plan for the day is so you don’t waste time and end up with a pile of work at midnight! And you will have more time to do fun things!

There are several ways you can set up a schedule. A popular technique is using Google Calendar. This allows you to see and edit your calendar from your computer, phone, or tablet. You can also buy a planner from the office supply store.

Here is how I set up my schedule:

I choose to print out my calendar because it is easier for me to visualize my time management.

        1.       Go to elion. Click on Student Logon.

        2.       Login using your Access Account.

        3.       Click on Student Schedule.

        4.       Select the semester and go to the weekly view.

        5.       Print out 15 copies.

        6.       Take a thick black pen and write the months and days for each week in the semester.

        7.       Use colorful pens to mark the weeks with the important dates you get throughout the first week:

a.       Exams

b.      Meetings

c.       Projects

d.      Holidays

Having a schedule helps me to manage my time by showing me those blocks of time between classes that I can spend getting work done, or going to the gym instead of aimlessly waiting for time to pass. It helps me make the most of my time.

I strongly encourage you to find a time management technique that helps you stay on top of your classes and also allows you to make time to have fun!

Lauren Winkler is a junior in Computer Science Engineering, and she is a Mentor for WEPO '14! 

Let’s Talk Mentors!!

Hi everyone!  My name is Kenna Markel.  I am going to be a fourth year in architectural engineering at Penn State this year!  I still can’t believe I’m going to be a senior – believe me you’ll be one before you know it!  I have been spending this summer living and working in San Francisco for a general contractor called DPR Construction.  I’m packing up to come home next weekend, and WEPO will be here before we know it!

So before I was in architectural engineering at Penn State, I was really struggling to figure out exactly what I wanted to study.  My freshman year I switched from civil engineering to biomedical to aerospace back to civil to biological then marketing and finally to architectural.  Now, I couldn’t be happier with my decision.  Working in the industry again this summer confirms that this is exactly what I should be doing, but I never could have done it without my mentors.  I say mentors because it isn’t just one person, but many – my own little personal team of mentors!  To be your best here at Penn State you’re going to need mentors as well.  People who will give you advice on scheduling, buying books, and career fairs; someone who will encourage you to take risks and set goals.  Fortunately, by making the decision to come to WEPO you all have a mentor who has been assigned to you along with an entire team of mentors ready to help!  This gives you a great head start! 

Mentoring relationships come in many forms.  They can be as formal as being assigned a mentor, but they don’t have to be.  I personally found some of my best mentors on my own.  I’ve found that generally people are always willing to give advice you just have to ask.  I’m saying because with WEPO coming up so soon, there are incredible women on this leadership team and they are great resources for all of you.  If you hear any of these women say something throughout WEPO that interests you, please REACH OUT TO THEM!  We all would love to talk to you about it!  Whether it’s at WEPO or after, send us an email, and we can set something up!

Most importantly though, use your mentors!  Freshman year is a huge step and a huge change!  Find someone who you can go to when you have questions or if you’re having a hard time!  We all want you to excel and have a great freshman year!

So a little bit about my mentors, as I mentioned I wouldn’t be an architectural engineer student without them.  Two WEPO women sat down with me at WEPO’12 just before my sophomore year, and wrote out a new schedule for me with all the required architectural engineering classes.  They handed me this new schedule and said, “take this and bring it to Prof. Moses Ling, and he’ll put you in.”  Despite the classes being full and it being the Monday of syllabus week, sure enough, Moses hooked me up!  I’ve been an AE ever since, but I never would have had the courage or ability to switch into these classes that year without these women!  This is just one example of many times my mentors have come to the rescue! 

We are all so excited to meet you all at WEPO next week!  I hope you’re all getting excited for your first year here at Penn State!  It’s going to be an amazing year!

Kenna Markel is a senior in Architectural Engineering, and she is a Mentor for WEPO '14! 

Balancing College Friends and High School Friends

Well ladies it’s almost here! The grad parties are coming to an end, the boxes are filling up around your bedroom, and the tearful goodbyes to friends and family are just beginning. As you are getting ready to start your AMAZING journey at Penn State, you might be worried about leaving behind some loved ones. But don’t worry!! I’ve compiled some helpful hints on how to balance all of your new WEPO friends ;) and the friends you have from back at home.

I know my biggest fear coming in as a freshman was making new friends! Now, I knew some people from my high school were also coming to Penn State, but I definitely wanted to branch out and meet new people. What I wasn’t expecting was just how difficult it would be to keep in touch with my friends from back home. It became hard to find the time to catch up with people that I was used to talking to everyday. Because, when you come to a school as big as Penn State, you have the opportunity to meet so many new people (close to 44,000 of them) and it’s easy to fall into a routine with these new friends and almost forget about those that are still back home without even meaning too. But before you panic, listen to some of my ideas on how to stay in touch. Following some of these may make it a lot easier to keep in touch even with friends going to school across the country!

Tip 1: Once everyone has their schedules, trying setting time aside each week to catch up. Maybe even put it on your calendar like another class. From personal experience, this has been the best way to catch up with everyone at the same time. For example, there are five of us that have been close since kindergarten and we all go to different schools across the country, one as far away as Georgia. Since this is the first time we are in separate schools, we were so worried about losing touch with one another. So, we decided to plan into our schedules at least one hour a week where we would all be available to talk. Now of course we would talk throughout the week, but this one hour was a time when all five of us stopped everything and got caught up with each other’s lives. It has worked successfully for 3 years now. It does take effort to make sure that I am available to talk every week, but it’s that conscious effort that has kept our friendships so strong!! Also, it’s good practice to try to put away your phone when you are with friends. If you are constantly texting your friends from home, when you are with your new Penn State friends, it might send the message that you are uninterested in the conversation, and therefore, the friendship. Having this set time a week will allow you to catch up with your friends from home, while not interfering with time you set aside to see your new friends.

Tip 2: Definitely utilize GroupMe or some sort of group messaging program! It’s awesome being able to communicate with all five of them at once. This way everyone can be on the same page with what’s going on with each other. It’s also a good idea to try to Skype one another from time to time. Even if it’s the occasional Facetime, it’s always nice to see each other’s face. Snapchat is also a nice option as well. Using these programs is a great way to introduce your new friends to your old friends. I’m sure because of all the stories you’re telling one about the other and visa verse, their names have come up and it’ll be a great way to put a face with a name.

Tip 3: One of my friends loves being traditional, and sends me postcards and letters from time to time. Even though we talk on a weekly basis, this little personal touch always brightens my day. It might be worth taking some time to collect your friends’ addresses and stamps before you leave for school. I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that I love the feeling of getting some snail mail! Postcards are always fun! My friend from Georgia would try to pick up a postcard at every college she ran at during cross country season. This was a great way for me to see where she had been. They were always so beautiful and she would fill me in on all of her races. I also was able to show my new friends these postcards as well and it became something they looked forward to seeing. Along this same line, it’s always fun to send each other small packages. Nothing too expensive! I know for Valentine’s Day I sent each of them a small package with some candy and a homemade card! Or when I was going through a tough week with exams, my friend sent me a study care package! It was so thoughtful and really picked me up!

Tip 4: Another thing that becomes hard to remember once you get to college is everyone’s birthdays! Days start to fly by once school begins, and sometimes dates and birthdays seem to creep up on you without you even knowing it. So what I did was I made a list of everyone I wanted to remember to send a card to and I made sure I put a reminder in my phone about a week before. This gave me enough time to get a card and something small in the mail in plenty of time. Facebook is helpful in reminding you the day of, but if you wanted to send a card, it’s a little late then, this way I had a whole week to figure out what I wanted to send and it would arrive on time. It’s the little things that are going to make the difference in keeping your friendships alive even if you’re not around the person all the time.  

Tip 5: I also recommend scheduling dates ahead of time over break to get together. I know my first Thanksgiving break I wanted to see so many people, but between family events and some miscommunication, I only saw a fraction of those friends. When I planned specific dates out with people prior to winter break, I was able to see a lot more people! You could also try planning a weekend trip to one another’s colleges! It’s always really fun to see other colleges and meet your friends’ friends. It can even be a lot of fun to take some of your new friends with you! A fun little road trip so that everyone can get introduced is an excellent way to come full circle and link old and new!

Hopefully you find these tips helpful!  It’s always great to meet new friends, but just remember to keep in touch with your friends from home as well. One thing to keep in mind is not to compare new and old. What I mean is, if you are with your new friends from Penn State, don’t constantly talk about your friends from home and vice versa. It might make either party feel as though you don’t value their friendship. It’s natural to talk about stories and events that have happened, but be mindful of how it sounds.

Hope everyone enjoys there freshman year!

Sam Alexander is a senior in Chemical Engineering, and she is a Mentor for WEPO '14!  

Best Places to Go Downtown

Welcome to Penn State, WEPOteers! You’ve made a fantastic decision to spend the next four years at Happy Valley. State College is a place that is filled with opportunities for success, friendship, fun, and FOOD! While the Dining Commons are filled with great options, like M.T.O. sandwiches from Redifer’s In A Pickle and the famous West cookies, there will come a day when you just can’t eat another Pollock crepe (shocking, I know). When that day comes, check out one of my top five places downtown!

Irving’s

Irving’s is my favorite place to be in State College, and it’s one of my favorite restaurants in Pennsylvania. It’s a bread and bagel bakery and café (think Panera), where they use fresh and high quality ingredients. Irving’s is conveniently located across from Hammond Building, so it’s a great place to take a study break or grab a coffee and use their free WiFi to get some work done.

Recommendations:

Sonoma turkey sandwich – turkey topped with avocado, Swiss cheese, Russian dressing, lettuce, tomato, and onion on any of Irving’s homemade bread or bagels

Joe Papaya smoothie – pineapple, strawberry, mango, and coconut blended to become a little bit of heaven

Any of their seasonal lattes – S’mores and Almond Joy are my favorites

Insomnia Cookies

Insomnia will deliver warm, freshly baked cookies to your dorm until 3:00 am. They have deals that are big enough to share with your roommates and friends, but you’re not going to want to. These are probably the best late-night study buddy you’re ever going to have.

Recommendations:

Cookie Monster will approve of anything from Insomnia, but I suggest you order The Sugar Rush.  Mix and match 12 cookies, and definitely try the double chocolate chunk.

Otto’s

Otto’s Pub & Brewery is located on Atherton Street past the Wegman’s. Since you have to drive there, it’s the perfect place to take your family (or have them take you) when they come to visit.

Recommendations:

Creole Crab Dip with house made beer pretzel – Blend of cream cheese, spices and sweet crab meet

Turkey bacon avocado wrap – House smoked turkey, avocado spread, Hogs Galore bacon, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, and garlic aioli in a flour tortilla

Pretzel roll sandwich – House made, beer infused pretzel roll with house smoked turkey or Hogs Galore ham, topped with Amish cave-aged Swiss cheese and Roger’s almost famous mustard

Green Bowl

After stuffing your face with Insomnia Cookies and bagels, you should probably eat some veggies, and Green Bowl is the place to go! It’s an All You Can Eat stir-fry restaurant. Load up your bowl with veggies, fruits, noodles, sauces, pick a protein, and watch it be grilled. Warning: There is a distinct Green Bowl scent that will stick to you and your clothes afterwards.

Recommendations:

Try the Bourbon BBQ sauce and add pineapple for a hint of sweetness

The Deli

Don’t be fooled by the name of this restaurant. The Deli offers much more than some lunchmeat and bread. It’s another great option to go to when family or friends are visiting. It’s located downtown, so it’s also a great place to celebrate your roommates’ birthday, acing a test, or just making through Monday. The menu is HUGE so be prepared to ask the waiter for a few extra minutes.

Recommendations:

Black & Bleu Burger – blackened Cajun spices, bleu cheese, spicy mayonnaise, Kaiser roll

Pittsburgh Prima – grilled steak, fresh cut fries, fried egg, provolone, coleslaw, Russian dressing, focaccia, fresh cut chips, pickle

Tori Vadyak is a senior in Chemical Engineering, and she is the Resource Innovations Lead for WEPO '14! 

Making the Most out of Freshmen Year!

Freshmen year is a stressful yet amazing experience. Going into my second year and looking back, there were definitely many things I could have done differently. I’m here to help you make the absolute most out of your first year here at Penn State!

1. GO TO FOOTBALL GAMES! Hopefully you were able to get season tickets, but if you didn’t there is still a way to go to the games! Online, there is a website that allows you to buy tickets that other students are selling. At least go to one game, even if it isn’t one of the better games (against Michigan or Ohio State). When I went to my first game, I got chills. The entire stadium has so much Penn State Pride, and it’s amazing. Also we have a great football team, and this year is James Franklin’s first, making it even more interesting!

2. Try to get your time management in check as soon as possible. This is always my advice to first year students. I struggled with managing my time so much my first semester that I missed out on a lot of opportunities with organizations and my grades definitely suffered. Get a calendar; write down all of your exam dates and organization meetings. Plan ahead! You’ll feel so much better when you get things done and can enjoy your free time.

3. Join different clubs and organizations! This mostly pertains to your first semester. Join any club or organization that sounds interesting to you! Go to a meeting or two and find out which you like. This way you’ll know where you want to be for the next four years. It’s also a great way to meet people!

4. Go to office hours for your classes if you need help. If you’re struggling with a class, going to your professor’s office hours can be so beneficial. I have never had a professor that was not willing to help answer my questions about the class material. The professors want to help you, so don’t be afraid!

5. Roommates can be tough, but try to make the best of it. I didn’t get along with my roommate most of the time last year. We had different schedules and course loads, and this made it difficult for us to live together. Be willing to talk to your roommate about whatever is upsetting you. If she stays up too late with the TV on when you have a Chemistry lab at 8 in the morning, tell her that isn’t okay! You both live there, and you don’t want to be miserable. 

6. My last piece of advice for having a great freshman year is THON! This event is one of my favorite memories from last year. Go canning with an organization you really like and start getting involved. When THON finally rolls around, try staying until the final four hours. I stayed at THON for 27 hours and made it through the final four. It might not make sense to you why you should be there for the end, but once you do stay it’ll make all the sense in the world. THON is such an incredible and emotional experience. It’s so great to spend so much time there with all of the families, supporting such a great cause. So go to THON, experience it for yourself. FTK!

HAVE FUN! This is your freshman year of college. You are all finally out of the house and on your own. Make the best of being in Happy Valley. It’s my favorite place, and it should be yours too! Try to do everything Penn State is known for and more, and have an amazing first year of college! 

Brienna Phillips is a sophomore in Biomedical Engineering, and she is a Rover for WEPO '14! 

Penn State Packing List

Two weeks until you’re all up at Penn State starting your next adventure as college students!! You move in in less than 14 days! But wait… what are you going to bring with you? Ah, the classic dorm room checklist. There are tons of them, and I have no doubt you’ve all Googled it at least once this summer. I’m sure you’ve all started a pile in your house of things you want to bring. Well, here is another list of things you may want to consider, but with a touch of my personal recommendations that might spark a thought of other items you need!

First, here’s a list of things that you DON’T need because Penn State provides them for you:

      -          Each room comes with a microwave and mini fridge. Fun fact – the mini fridge freezer was made to fit exactly two containers of Creamery ice cream! Each side of the dorm rooms are also provided with large corkboards on the walls so you can pin pictures, etc. Also, each desk has a built-in light, so a desk lamp isn’t absolutely necessary.

Now for what you DO need:

      -          Bedding: Bring 2 sets of sheets for when one set is dirty. Pillows - however many you love to sleep with! Personally, I use one of those pillow armchairs that you sit on your bed. They’re comfortable for reading and browsing on your laptop. Bed risers are extremely helpful for providing space for storage. Mattress pads and mattress cases are an option, too. Personally, I made my bed at college so fluffy it was almost nicer than my bed at home!

      -          Care products: 2 sets of towels and washcloths can be helpful. Bring a shower caddy and shower shoes – cheap flip flops work fine. Toothpaste and a toothbrush are definitely needed. I usually just kept them in a plastic cup so I can easily bring them to the bathroom. Anything hair care – hair dryer, straightener, brush, shampoo, conditioner, etc. And don’t forget any personal toiletries and medications.

      -         Clothing: Besides all your normal clothes, bring along with you a professional outfit. You’ll need one for WEPO anyways, but it’s nice to have a least two options for outfits because you never know when you might have to go to an interview or a professional event. Sports clothes are always handy, especially if you plan on going to the gym! In the winter, some sort of winter boots are pretty handy for Penn State snow and ice storms. And as for rain, a rain jacket and pair of rain boots are highly recommended because it rains A LOT at Penn State. Speaking of, a small umbrella to fit into your backpack is a must for days when you walk out of class and into an unexpected rainstorm! Lastly, you need hangers for all your clothes!

      -          For the room: Obviously you’ll be decorating your rooms with tons of pictures and posters and fun things, but you also need a lot of practical items, too. First, a trashcan is absolutely necessary. Here’s a tip, I never buy those mini trash bags, I just stock up on grocery bags and use them to line my wastebaskets. A laundry basket is super handy for trips up and down the elevator to the washers and dryers. In case you didn’t know, the washers and dryers all charge your LionCash on your ID card. You’ll need an alarm clock for all those early morning classes! If you bring a fan with you, it will become one of your best friends, especially early in the fall semester and later in the spring semester. A full-length hanging door mirror is pretty useful, too.

      -          Technology: If you’re looking for a laptop for college, check out Penn State’s official recommendations here: http://www.ecs.psu.edu/PSU_COE_COMP_RECOMMENDATION.htm . You’ll also need an Ethernet cable in order to hook up to the internet in your dorm. Several dorm halls are in the process of switching over to Wifi, but this has been a slow process. I’d recommend buying the longest Ethernet cable you can find. Try Bed Bath & Beyond for cheap 25-foot cables. If you want, you can bring a printer for your room. I found this extremely convenient so that I didn’t have to run down to the computer lab on late nights of doing homework, but it’s not necessary by any means – you can always find a computer lab nearby, and most are open until late. Extension cords are also pretty useful.

      -          Miscellaneous: If you have one, bring a camera! You’ll want to take a ton of pictures of all the fun things you’ll be doing at Penn State! Slippers are comfortable to wear around your dorm room and hall. A first-aid kit is always a good thing to keep around the room just in case. Each desk comes with a locking drawer if you want to store any valuables, but you need to bring a combination lock. A rug is nice so your feet don’t get cold in the morning. And last, but certainly not least, cleaning supplies can be quite useful!

I hope you all are getting super excited for college and that this list helped you remember something you would have forgotten otherwise! We can’t wait to welcome you to Penn State! WE ARE!

Melissa Shallcross is a sophomore in Mechanical Engineering, and she is a Rover for WEPO '14! 

How to Deal with Your Roommate

Moving away from home can be a difficult and exciting new adventure when you go to college. I couldn’t wait to get that freedom, but then I also realized that I wouldn’t be living by myself; I would have a roommate. I was the only person from my graduating class to go to Penn State, and I didn’t really know anyone that was going to be a freshman who I could live with. So, I went with a random roommate.

You have all heard crazy stories about getting a random roommate, maybe they don’t speak, or they like to have a lot of fun, or they have weird habits. But if you do a few simple things, then living with another person can work out. Who knows, maybe you will even become the best of friends!

Everyone does it, when you get your room assignment, in this modern age of technology you immediately look them up on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. I know I did it, I went on Facebook and “creeped” through all of her pictures making judgements before I even met her. The best thing to do before making any judgements is try to contact this person. Find out what her interests are, what activities she did in high school, and see if you two have anything in common.

Once you move in, just be friendly and see how everything works out. If she is shy make sure you try to open her up and spend time with her. You could maybe walk around campus or even grab some ice cream at the creamery. Like I said before, she could end up being your best friend. My roommate that I had freshman year is still my very good friend!

On the other hand, there are different kinds of people who you just don’t like or don’t get along with. There are plenty of options to deal with these situations as well. First, make sure to take advantage of any events that are happening on your floor. Sometimes the RA will get everyone together to go to dinner or do activities. This is a great way to meet the other women on the floor and if your roommate and you don’t click, you can always find someone down the hall to hang out with.

Another big thing to do if you don’t get along with your roommate is to get involved in a club or organization. Getting involved in something such as THON will allow you to meet new people of all different ages and majors.

Always remember, even if your new roommate is great, or if the situation is terrible, to just make the best of it because you will make friends. You don’t have to be with that person forever. You will find out where you fit in!

Melissa Monstrola is a junior in Chemical Engineering, and she is a Mentor for WEPO '14! 

Best Places to Study

Penn State has so much to offer, but at the end of the day classes need to come first, so studying is a must.  You will learn pretty quickly that studying for college is very different from high school.  For starters, you have a whole campus available to you.  Everyone has different preferences and requirements when it comes to study spots, so it's a good idea to start exploring early on and find out what environments make you the most productive.  Let's explore the usual places people do work!

1. Your dorm room 

Dorm rooms are very convenient places to do work.  Your textbooks and papers will already be there, and there's no long walk home at the end of the day - plus, you'll never have to worry about finding an available space like you would at the library.  However, dorm rooms can have many distractions and it may be tough to focus.  Depending on your floor, dorms can also get pretty loud.  You may also want to keep the place where you work and where you relax separate. 

Another thing to consider is roommates.  If you are studying late at night, the light from desk lamps and the constant turning of book pages may keep your roommate up as they try to sleep - this is a good thing to talk to them about in the first few weeks.  If you don't feel like venturing too far from your bedroom, you may want to try a…

2. Dorm building common room 

These rooms can be located on your floor or the ground floor of buildings.  These rooms range from really crowded to rarely used, which can be good or bad depending on the level of noise you can handle while studying.  They usually aren't exclusively used by studiers, either, so you could run into other students just hanging out or having fun.  

But, if you need a break from being in your room all day, common rooms are close and convenient places to move to, and if you realize you forgot something in your room, you can quickly head back.  They also make good places for group study, especially with other people on your floor.

3. Outside 

When the weather is nice, many a Penn Stater can be seen under the sun, stretched out along the grass.  Studying outside is a really good way to get some fresh air and get some work done.  If it's earlier in the day, watch out for dewy grass and maybe bring a blanket or towel.  Finding someplace like a picnic table or a bench is nice too, but if it's been rainy lately, watch out for wet surfaces.

4. Commons building

Penn State has five different commons buildings, each located by a hall complex: Pollock Commons (Pollock Halls), Findlay Commons (East Halls), Warnock Commons (North Halls), Redifer Commons (South Halls), and Waring Commons (West Halls).  The beauty of the commons buildings is that they are spread around all the different corners of campus, and while you're there, food is never far away.  Each building has different lounges where you are free to bring your stuff and start studying. 

5. Computer Labs

Computer labs are a great place to go if you need to work on a computer but find your laptop too distracting.  They also have a lot of resources, like powerful software, printers, scanners and lab consultants.  Both West and East commons have large computer labs with computers often available - plus, they're open 24/7!  You can also find computer labs hidden in different buildings, like Willard or Boucke (those two labs are really great if you have some downtime between classes, although they can get really packed between 10-2.   But, they're practically deserted on the weekends).  For a full list, go to this link:

http://clc.its.psu.edu/labs/locations

Here you can view the different labs and their availability.  Make sure it says "Open Lab" or else there could be a class in there, which means you can't use the computers.

6. The HUB

The HUB is a good location for studying due to its central location and high energy.  If you don't mind the noise, find a comfy chair or an empty spot at a table.  There's food all around in case you get hungry.  Also, there is a silent study lounge on the west side of the building, by the auditorium and art.  It can get crowded but is very quiet.

7.  Empty classrooms

Empty classrooms can sometimes be a gamble if you don't know if a class or club has the room reserved.  However, you'll get a lot of empty space and a white or black board to write your ideas on.  Empty classrooms are also great for group studying.  Hammond and Willard usually have many unlocked classrooms open for you to use.

8. Libraries

Libraries are a great place to do work.  There are many helpful resources, like books, computers and rooms that can be reserved for group work.  They can get very crowded, especially as the semester rolls on, and sometimes empty computers can be impossible to find (but you shouldn't have trouble on the off hours).

I like the Pattee and Paterno Libraries because they are connected and have many different wings to them.  In addition, MacKinnon's Cafe is located on the ground floor of Pattee and has food and drinks until 10 p.m.

Other libraries to consider visiting are the Engineering Library (3rd floor Hammond) and the Earth and Mineral Science Library (105 Deike).  Check out the different library hours here:

http://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul/hours.html

9. Cafés/coffee shops

If you're itching to get off campus, another good place to study is a cafe or coffee shop.  Popular places include Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts on College Ave, and Webster's Cafe on Beaver Ave.  A quick walk down College and Beaver will reveal many other good cafes to get work done.

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I just gave you a lot of ideas of where you can study, but you likely don't know yet what types of study locations even work best for you.  So get out there and start testing which places make you productive!  It's going to take some trial and error, but pretty soon you'll have some favorite study spots all around campus.

Molly Basile is a junior in Computer Science, and she is a mentor for WEPO '14! 

Adventure Down Under

                Let me start with a fun fact about myself. My favorite animal is the duck- billed platypus.  I love how they are a strange mix of characteristics from other animals. They have a duck bill, chipmunk cheeks to store food, webbed feet, and they are mammals that lay eggs. Crazy right? Did you know that the only place in the world you can see a platypus (either in a zoo or in the wild) is Australia? So imagine my delight when looking at summer programs abroad during one of my very first weeks of school I found one that gave me engineering credit AND would take me to the country of my dreams.  It was a perfect combination of work and play for my summer. I traveled throughout Australia while learning about different energy sources. We visited sugar mills, uranium mines, wind farms, Biofuels plants, and a six star green building. We built a battery in class and tested the efficiency of solar panels.  The course material was interesting and will give me technical elective credits at Penn State.

                My class was made up of 32 engineering students from all over the United States and enrolled in eight different majors .We aged from 19 to 26. It was really interesting to work with students from a variety of universities, engineering majors, and ages. Because of this program I now have friends and connections all over the United States and Australia.

We studied under six different professors who all specialized in different fields of study from energy storage to wind energy. All our professors were Australian and would compare us to their Australian students as well. Apparently American students are generally better at presentations! We traveled with some of our professors which allowed us to build strong relationships with them. One came with us to Kakadu National Park. The time zone there is a half hour off from the place we had been before. He forgot to change his watch and thought that we were always protesting class when we didn't show up. He calmly came to the campfire where we were all relaxing before class and asked if he could join our strike. He wasn't mad and found us amusing. I think he was even a little disappointed when we told him we were not actually protesting class but rather relaxing before it started      

Between classes I was able to spend my time on normal tourist activities. We traveled to Byron Bay, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Sydney, and Cairns. In these places I held a koala, walked across the Sydney Harbor Bridge, hiked the Blue Mountains, white water rafted in the rain forest, and snorkeled on the Great Barrier Reef. My favorite place was Kakadu National Park which is outside of Darwin in the Northern Territory. We camped there for five days , while still surprisingly having class. The skies were so clear that you could vividly see the Milky Way. It was nice to turn off our technology and immerse ourselves in the landscape, wildlife, and culture of the Northern Territory. Our guides were Aboriginals who showed us the art of their ancestors, swimming holes safe from crocodiles, edible plants, and taught us which animals were harmless.  Most importantly, in my travels, I saw SEVEN different platypuses. They were everything I dreamed of and more.

                The moral of this story is you can advance your education while following your most unrelated to engineering dreams. There are study abroad programs all over the world. You can learn about these programs through Penn State's study abroad office, they often have information sessions during the year, or online. Where do you want to travel? Do some research. Odds are you will find something engineering related there. If not, you can always use study abroad to fill your general education credits. There are also opportunities to do research, service work, or intern abroad. The possibilities are endless!

Maxine Taylor is a sophomore in Mechanical Engineering, and she is a junior for WEPO '14!