Getting Involved

As I am sure many of you were, I was extremely involved in my high school.  From bands to clubs and honor societies, it seemed like I was in everything.  I wanted to keep up my diverse involvement in college and this was one of the reasons I chose to attend PSU!  There are over a thousand clubs and organizations to keep you involved.  With so many choices, you don’t have to stick to your old favorites.  There are always new clubs/activities to try.  Here are a few you may find interesting!

TPEG (Theme Park Engineering Group)- This club meets about every week and hosts behind the scenes tours and trips to sites from NYC to Hershey Park.  They invite industry professionals to skype into their meetings and they even partner with the Forensics Club to set up the annual PSU Haunted House.  http://www.psuthemeparkengineering.com/

3-D Printing Club- If you’re interested in learning how to 3-D print, this club is for you!  Located on the third floor of Hammond, the club owns dozens of printers and are often available to help with personal and class projects.  Additionally, PSU installed approximately 30 MakerBots in the library’s Maker Commons.  Students can submit files online to be printed and picked up at the Patee desk.  https://sites.psu.edu/3dprintingclub/   http://makercommons.psu.edu/ 

Band/Orchestra/Chorus- No matter your skill level, there is an ensemble for you at Penn State!  Auditions are required for some (but not all), of the 6 choirs, 9 bands and 3 orchestras. Check them out here: http://www.music.psu.edu/ensembles  Most classes count for GA requirements and those that do not can be easily petitioned as such.  (Ask an advisor for more information).  

Engineering House (E House)- Although this is not a club, it can be treated as such! Special Living Options, like E House, accept “associate members” during the year and many are offered housing in subsequent years.  Activities in E House range from guest speakers to movie nights.  This coming year, we are also planning a winter formal and speaker sessions from industry.  For more information on this engineering live in community, please see: http://www.engr.psu.edu/e-house/home.aspx

IM/Club Sports- With 20+ IM sports and 77 recognized Club sports, you can always find something to keep you active.  IM’s are typically less competitive and rarely hold practices. Clubs vary in their competitive nature.  From Quidditch to Basketball, Clubs offer them all!  http://sites.psu.edu/clubsports/  http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/campusrec/imsports/

Concrete Canoe- My roommate absolutely loved this club! Concrete Canoe is affiliated with ASCE and builds a canoe out of concrete over the year and travels to race.  Meetings are typically on Friday nights off campus and carpools are arranged.  The competition was at Drexel last year and Penn State got second place!   http://www.pennstateasce.com/concrete-canoe.html

The Daily Collegian- Started in 1904, The Collegian is Penn State’s oldest independent student-ran newspaper.  Whether you’re interested in journalism or photography, the paper offers it all.  http://www.collegian.psu.edu/ 

Yoga- This is a wonderful stress reliever during the week! All three gyms offered classes last semester but check the website for an updated schedule! (Club Yoga is available as well!)  http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/campusrec/groupx/

Religious- Along with several off campus churches, Penn State’s Pasquerilla Center offers services and student ministry opportunities in many faiths.  A meditation group, called the Dharma Lions, meets regularly there as well.  http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/spiritual/

Just a note: Don’t feel pressured to join every club or go to every meeting! (You won’t have time).  Try a few during the first few weeks and decide from there.  If you end up to busy or bored at the end of a semester, you can always try something new.

Emily Peters is a sophomore majoring in Aerospace Engineering and is a Rover for WEPO'16!