What To Do The Weekend Before Class Starts

It is only a few weeks before WEPO!!!! And the beginning of classes... when most of us will find ourselves strangely relating to this nice young lady below.  

But have no fear!!  It happens to all of us at some point especially in those first couple weeks when everything is an adjustment period but we made it; And so will you, here’s how.

In the first few days before classes get yourself prepared:

1. DO MAKE A GOOGLE CALENDAR:  Putting your classes in a google calendar or some organizational set up beforehand with alarms and room numbers will ensure you aren’t late to class.  Plus, in the first few weeks you will get a plethora of office hour times from professors and club meeting dates you don’t want to miss out on.  Put ‘em in.  Right away.  Or you will forget.  You can always hide or delete them later if you change your mind.
2. DO EXPLORE THE LAND:  There is so much for you here.  Walk around campus with some friends to get your bearings.  It is a good idea to find the locations of your classes beforehand and look at a map and find the best route.  You can also find some sweet locations you may want to study or take a break.
3. DO EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES:  You will get a lot of information and resources from WEPO, from the club fair, from your professors, from promotional stuff everywhere including the bathroom stalls.  You don’t need to commit yourself to anything just yet.  Take those days to get a feel for different opportunities and resources Penn State has to offer.  You might be surprised what you get a good vibe from and don’t be afraid to check them out!  
4. DO MEET PEOPLE AND ASK QUESTIONS:  We have all been there so we can help.  And so can pretty much anyone else on campus.  Do not be afraid to ask about anything.  Asking questions is a great way to engage with new people including your peers who are trying to figure out everything, just like you.
5. DO ACCEPT THAT YOU WON’T BE COMPLETELY PREPARED:  Even though we may do everything by the book, we may feel uncomfortable when we suddenly encounter something that we are not familiar.  Neither will many other new (or older) students.  That’s okay.  Sometimes the best way to learn is to just go head first and figure it out on your own as it happens.  

Welcome to the beautiful journey to college!

By: Alli Ferri

Penn State Game Day To Dos

Penn State football Saturdays are unrivaled—not to be cheesy. I have been coming to games since I was in diapers and was actually potty-trained at a tailgate in ’99. Eighteen years later, the games still have that same excitement effect as if every game is my first one. There is nothing like over 100,000 fans coming from campus, downtown, State College neighborhoods, other cities, and even across the world to cheer on the Nittany Lions.

No matter what time the game starts, every Saturday during the season (minus bye weeks) is about football. Tailgates will start as early as the sun rises and Blue Band trumpeters will wake up students living in East with the fight song. Closer to the stadium, thousands of cars line the IM fields all the way to the RV lots with fans throwing footballs, cooking burgers, playing music, and enjoying the company of friends and family. In my 20 years of life, I have never experienced the energy and sense of camaraderie that I’ve felt in Beaver Stadium. For the record, everyone looks good in blue and white. Not every university can say that.

If you don’t have student tickets, I highly suggest that you try to make it to at least one game for the experience.  Even if football isn’t your favorite sport, the world class Blue Band will blow you away, and the chicken baskets will become one of your new favorite meals.

For the super fans like myself, you can take gamedays to a new level:

S Zone: The S Zone is the part of the student section sponsored by the Lion Ambassadors and the Alumni Association. Before kickoff, “Lambs” from the student organization will handout L/XL S Zone t-shirts to those in specific rows. The end result is a giant S in the center of the student section. Not only do you get a free shirt out of the game, you get to surround yourself with some of the most dedicated student fans. I have so many at this point, and I’m hoping to combine all of mine into a large blanket after graduation. To get into the S Zone, you typically have to arrive an hour and a half before the game, and you enter through the leftmost ticket booth at Gate A.

Nittanyville: A long standing tradition at Penn State is to camp out before gamedays. Other than traveling to away games, this is most intense level of fandom. To qualify, you sign up the Wednesday before the game. It’s best to have a group of up to 10 other students, but you can also join another existing group if you can’t personally convince anyone to join you in the experience. Once the group is registered, members camp out the Thursday and Friday nights before the game in tents in front of Gate A. Students still go to classes on those days, but the gameday excitement starts earlier for the campers. On Saturday, special wristbands are distributed among the campers which allows those students to have a guaranteed spot in the first row of the student section. Campers also make festive banners to hang over the railing and sometimes get to meet the players as well as Coach Franklin.

Get excited!!! Football season is around the corner!!!

By: Casey Mrazik

 

Climbing Mount Nittany!

Website: http://www.hikemountnittany.com/

First, let’s start with some fun facts about Mt. Nittany!

• It’s named after Princess “Nit-A-Nee,” which means “Breaker of the Wind.”

• There are two main trails, appropriately named the blue trail and the white trail.
• You can plan to spend 1-5 hours there depending on what trail you take.

Things to Pack

• WATER!!! (they don’t have any water on the trails, so remember to pack your own!)
• Sunscreen
• Bug Spray
• Plastic bag for trash
• Snacks
• Extra hair ties
• Rain coat (you never know with the PSU weather)
• Portable charger
• Speaker (if you and friends want to jam on the hike up)
• Polaroid camera/ gopro/ any cool camera
• Sackpack/ backpack

What to Wear

• High Socks (to avoid bugs and itchy plants)
• A hat/ sunglasses
• Tshirt or tank top depending on weather
• Comfortable shoes (that you don’t mind getting dirty)

Game Plan Time!

Unfortunately, there is not free bus that takes you to Mount Nittany. If you have Bus Tokens, the M Cata Bus (the one that takes you to the Nittany Mall) drops you off pretty close! But, we live in the age of Uber and Lyft so if the bus schedule doesn’t work for you, calling a car is also an option! It also wouldn’t be too expensive when you split the fare between you and your besties.

Once you arrive to the bottom of the mountain, the next step is picking a trail. The white trail is a shorter trail; according to the website the average person can hike it in under an hour. The blue trail on the other hand, takes anywhere from three to five hours depending on how fast you hike and how long you follow it!

After the long hike, again you can either take the M Cata Bus or Uber/Lyft back to campus. My suggestion is getting dropped off at the creamery to get that well deserved ice cream cone you just worked for!

By: Maddie Yu

Stone Valley Recreational Area & Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center

Penn State’s own Stone Valley Recreational Area and Environmental Center are a short 25 minute drive away near Rothrock State Forest.  Keep your eye out for free shuttle bus services that are provided on select weekends from the HUB.  

• Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center:   3400 Discovery Rd Petersburg, Pennsylvania, PA 16669
  (814) 863-2000           http://www.shaverscreek.org     https://www.facebook.com/shaverscreek
  *Finishing renovations through the end of 2017, call to confirm operating hours*   
  Regularly Open 7 days/week 10am-5pm  Free Admission
  
  The Visitor’s Center houses several nature exhibits (some designed by PSU students!).  Adjacent is the Raptor Center, home to over a dozen birds of prey that have been taken into the shelter due to injury.  Picnic facilities are available for use.
  
• Stone Valley Rec Area:   (See website for directions, they are VERY similar to the Environmental Center)     (814) 863-1164     https://www.facebook.com/stonevalleyrec       http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/campusrec/stonevalley/sv_home.shtml  
  
  Enjoy 29 miles of hiking trails, fishing on Lake Perez, boat rentals and a high ropes course.  See website for rates and hours.

By: Emily Peters

Tips and Tricks to Set Up for a Great Semester

Exhilaration, anxiety, debilitating fear, or maybe immense joy might be some of your feelings going into your first week! I know I definitely felt that way my first week, but I managed to calm my anxieties and set myself up for a successful semester.  I tend to be an extremely organized person; I like to write down and plan out everything from mapping out my class locations to meeting my classmates.  I always purchase a planner before each fall semester and with that I am able to plan my semester out from week one.

Mapping Out Your Schedule

Before your first Monday in college, I suggest you take a map and walk to where each of your classes are.  The hardest thing about Penn State is just how big it is and that makes it tough between classes if you do not know where you are going.  By giving yourself plenty of time to walk around campus and explore you will reduce any chances of getting lost between class changes.

Planners, Calendars, or General Reminders

For each class you spend a little bit of time going through the syllabus.  I always take each syllabus and mark on my calendar when each exam is during the semester. This allows me to know ahead of time if I have two exams in the same week or if I need to study ahead for an exam on a Monday because there is the white out game that Saturday.  By using a calendar to mark out important events such as home football games, exams, career fairs, club activities (WEP Wednesday), and other fun events you would like to attend during the semester you are able to see what days you are free to study.   Besides writing out the exam days from the syllabuses I also list all office hours for when it is needed in the future.

I always use a planner where I can physically write things out, but you can always print out a calendar from online to use, or there are various apps you are able to use on your phone.  My favorite app is google calendar, this is because it is easy to set up special dates that you can set up for the whole semester.  You can also use google calendar to link up with your clubs.  

Meeting Your Classmates and Professors

The last great tip I have to do during your first week is to introduce yourself to the person you sit next to in class and your professors.  By talking to the person next to you, you will be able to exchange numbers with them.  Having a classmate’s number in each of your classes allows you to be able to ask them questions if you happen to miss a class or to help you study for exams.  You can even suggest they come to office hours with you because you share the same professor.  

By introducing yourself to your professor he or she will take note that you are trying to form a relationship with them.  This can come in handy when you need a letter of recommendation.  It also makes it easier and less awkward when you go to their office hours.

Overall as long as you organize your life you will set yourself for a great semester, and you will do more than survive in college you will thrive!

By: Sarah Maslakowski

FIRST WEEK: MEETING YOUR FLOOR

The way you interact with your floor in the first week can make a world of difference in your living situation for the rest of the year. Don’t be afraid to knock on some doors and say hello! :) Some of your future best friends could be living just down the hall from you! The first week is the best time to introduce yourself and start making connections with your floor. Everyone is excited to be starting their college journey and wants to get to know everyone they possibly can, but this excitement starts to wear off after everyone gets busy with classes. So use the freedom of your first week to make friends with your floormates! They will be there to support you when classes get rough and you’ll never have to eat alone when you have friends right down the hall! Good luck and make your first week the best it can be!!!

By: Lexie Smathers

Thriving in the First Week: Navigating Campus

So one of my biggest fears coming in as a first year student was navigating the campus. I was terrified that I would get lost. In the process, I came up with a couple ways to navigate campus like a pro.

The first way is mapping out campus before the first day. I printed out a picture of the campus and took a pen to “walk” myself through the schedule. Later that weekend, I actually walked my schedule as if I was actually going to class. This made me feel significantly more confident on the first day.

Another method I know works well is keeping a picture of the Penn State campus map as the background of your phone. I found out about this idea after talking to some of my floor mates after the first week and thought it was genius. I never put this method into practice, but I know it works well.

If your phone happens to die or you don’t have a map, there are plenty of other students on campus. Just ask! Everyone is so nice and will most likely know where you need to go. I know I have asked my far share of questions, but I have also answered a ton myself. There is no shame in asking for help.

To conclude, DON’T WORRY! I promise you will be fine and the professors are understanding. But hey, at worst you will have a fun adventure!

By Rachel Piecknick

Summer Options: Classes

Ah summer! A great time to relax by the pool, have fun adventures, travel, eat ice cream, you name it. Who would ever think to take class in the summer? Why struggle through lectures and exams when it is 90 degrees and sunny?

I had the same feelings after my first year of college. Transitioning from high school to university is not an easy task. To think of continuing your education during the summer after your first year seems crazy; however, not only is the summer a great time to get ahead (or catchup) on coursework, there are plenty of options when it comes to studying during the heat of the year!

There is a major difference between coursework in college and in high school. Not only do you juggle multiple classes per semester, but the amount of coursework jammed into that 15-week session can seem overwhelming during your first go-around at school. Although it is expected that you give each class your best efforts academically and that you should seek help (no matter the form) when you are having an issue with a professor, course material, etc., completing a course at University Park may not be the destined route for your first year. Completing an engineering degree is a process. The four years you put into achieving your dreams will be filled with stress, but also plenty of success. Not only are we, as a leadership team, here to help you succeed, we also wish to provide advice that will steer you on the right path towards your engineering goals.

Summer begins earlier in college (beginning of May) and lasts a lot longer (mid/end of August) than that of a summer break in high school. Typically, Penn State, its commonwealth campuses, community colleges, etc. will offer multiple 5-8 weeks sessions throughout the summer that are available for students to complete coursework. For example, as a Penn State student, you can complete coursework at University Park or any of the commonwealth campuses offered by the University. These are great options for students that will spend a summer at University Park in research or who live close to a commonwealth campus. Beginning a couple of days after the end of the spring semester, Penn State students may enroll in what is termed “Maymester.” This academic session lasts approximately 1 month and can be completed at University Park or any of the subsequent commonwealth campuses. Depending on the campus, Penn State also offers two summer sessions (5-6 weeks) where students can complete full courses.

For more information about course offerings during Summer Sessions at Penn State, please visit: https://handbook.psu.edu/content/summer-sessions

For those students who don’t wish to remain at University Park over the summer or live out-of-state, Penn State also offers a list of online coursework that can be completed throughout the summer months.

For more information about online course offerings through Penn State, please visit:

http://summer.outreach.psu.edu/

A great resource for students that will not be on-campus or in-state during the summer are online courses offered by non-Penn State universities, community colleges, or other academic institutions. For example, if you live in Ohio, but wish to complete Math 141 or Physics 211 or 212 during the summer months, community colleges in your area or around Pennsylvania are an option for enrolling in online summer credits.

For those students that are in-state, but cannot attend a commonwealth campus, completing credits in person at a community college or other academic institution is a wonderful option.

To review the equivalency of a course offered by another institution to that of the Penn State course you wish to take, please visit: https://www.admissions.psu.edu/my_admissions/tas/cart.cfm?CFID=129755533&CFTOKEN=62a195756d9ebca9-A0A5C2D8-E586-9FDB-35A6EDB7B127D893

This link acts as a “Transfer Course Evaluation Guide” that will help you determine if the course you wish to take is sufficient for use as a Penn State credit. Remember, those courses taken at another institution (besides Penn State and its commonwealth campuses) will only count for course credit and will not affect your GPA standing. For those courses taken online (through Penn State) or in attendance to a Penn State campus, your final course grade will count for credit and towards your GPA standing.

I hope you are ready to rock first year (and summer)!

By: Katie Strohm

Summer Options: Research

With Penn State, there are countless opportunities to do research. Research is like a class in the aspect that you learn a great deal. Research is very different from a class.  It based on a small group setting with one on one time with a research advisor and there is a great deal of hands-on work.

You can do research during the school year as well as during the summer. The time you spend in the lab varies based on the study but it averages from 4 to 10 hours during the week. It’s something great to put on your resume that companies will love to see, and it gives you the opportunity to develop stronger relationships with professors.

Research allows you to develop real world skills in Penn State’s state-of-the-art labs. You learn to do individual and collaborative work that may be interdisciplinary. Having this hands-on experience can help you determine what you want to do as a career. Many people do research in a field and then realize that they either love it or that they want to explore other avenues.

Getting involved is easy; all you have to do is reach out to your professors and ask if they have any research or know anyone doing research that can use help. Don’t think that as a first year student that you cannot do research. Professors love to see ambitious students who are willing to learn.

By: Nicole Dato

Summer Options - Study Abroad

San Sebastián, Spain 2017

My best advice I can offer for this blog is to take advantage of the amazing opportunities that you will be offered throughout your time at Penn State. However, these opportunities don’t just occur during the school year – summer is the perfect chance to try something new! Study abroad is one of the most enriching experiences I’ve ever had through Penn State but I had never even considered it as a possibility.

First, let me convince you why it’s so valuable to study abroad. From my experience, companies love to hire candidates with an open outlook and ability to see the bigger picture. Going abroad helps to establish a global perspective of your own which only furthers your value to a company. Next, these top universities abroad don’t just offer general courses; some have excellent engineering classes which will continue to shape you into a world-class engineer. Lastly, trying new things and challenging yourself helps to develop an even better, well-rounded version of yourself. Meeting new people from different cultures and universities also gives you a much broader perspective and sense of appreciation for diversity.

Penn State University, University of Michigan, and Tecnun students and professors

My personal study abroad experience was during this summer for two weeks in San Sebastián, Spain at the Universidad de Navarra at Tecnun Engineering School, taking the Summer by Design Engineering Design course. Not only was the school, staff, and course excellent, but also the program was well-done and exceeded all of my expectations. The place, the people, the food, the art, the culture, the language, the friendships, and the memories were the best items with which I could have filled my summer.

Mentor Casey Mrazik and I travelling in Madrid, in Bilbao’s gardens, at the top of Mount Igeldo

If you’re convinced to go abroad or want more information, check out this website www.global.psu.edu for a general starting point or www.gpglobalea.gp.psu.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.SimpleSearch to filter through any options based on categories like semester or region. Each program also has a financial budget sheet which is very helpful for planning and applying for aid or scholarships if needed. Throughout the school year, there are also many information sessions where you can get feedback from students who did the program the year prior. Meeting with an academic advisor, a global advisor, or past student to discuss can also be very useful (feel free to reach out if you want help or a more in-depth look at my own trip!).

No matter what major, country, duration of time, or cost you might be looking for, there is something that may fit your needs and wants and I highly encourage you to consider an opportunity like this from Penn State – who knows, it could be your best summer yet!   

My engineering design team at Tecnun on the last day of class

By Julia Minakowski