Student by Day, Professional by Night

 Professional Clubs 

By: Team O

Professional Clubs are a great resource for developing your own skills and building your network. Penn State has tons of fantastic professional clubs and it is recommended that you join at least one of them! We’re going to introduce you to some of the fantastic options you have for professional clubs within the College of Engineering. Keep in mind there are plenty of professional clubs outside of the College of Engineering that are also great options!
 

 
The Engineering Leadership Society (ELS) is a professional club directly tied to the Engineering Leadership Development minor. As a newer club, they are still growing which means there are a lot of leadership opportunities available (yes, even for underclassmen!). You don’t have to be in the minor to join the club nor do you have to be in the club if you are in the minor, but it is a great way to grow your community within the College of Engineering. The club has alumni talks, case competitions, and workshops to name a few activities. The club is constantly growing and adding more events. To keep up to date, follow @eldpennstate on Instagram or go to the involvement fair and sign up to receive their weekly newsletters!
 

The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) is a national professional society, but Penn State has an award winning chapter of its own! Throughout the year, you will see lots of events run by SWE and is a great support system that acts like a big family! SWE leadership is a great way to get involved, and it IS POSSIBLE to be on the leadership team, even as a freshman! Being a part of the leadership team is so fun because you get to grow deeper bonds with the other women on the team. You also gain a stronger support system and really get a chance to see your hard work have positive impacts on the Penn State community. In addition to SWE leadership, SWE at Penn State also has its own THON organization that anyone can join!
    

Another way to get professional opportunities is through engineering major-specific clubs.  These clubs provide opportunities to dive deeper into your major and learn more about the many different directions you can take your career.  They also open the door for networking by bringing in speakers that talk about their experiences in the field.  By making connections with alumni and current students within your major, you will have a better understanding of what you want to do after graduation and how to get there.  If you are still undecided on your major, talking with these clubs is a great way to learn more about the coursework and careers associated with each major.
 

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Institute of Industrial Engineers

Biomedical Engineering Society

American Society of Civil Engineers

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (Compsci included)

American Institute of Astronautics and Aeronautics

Student Society of Architectual Engineers

American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers

Society of Engineering Science

American Institue of Chemical Engineers 

Hail to the Lion!

 Penn State Sporting Events

By: Team H

    When people think of Penn State, everyone immediately thinks of Penn State football. Though Beaver Stadium is one of the main attractions, Penn State has so many other sports that showcase Penn State pride. One of my favorite events to watch is Penn State hockey in the brand new Pegula Ice Arena and basketball at the Bryce Jordan Center. These teams are sometimes overshadowed by football but are extremely fun to sit in the student sections for. In my freshmen year, both hockey and basketball were on the path to playoffs. While I chose to not buy season tickets in either sport, I was able to buy individual games for about $5 - $15. This gave me the freedom to attend some of the bigger rival sports games like Maryland or Ohio State.

 

    There’s no doubt that Penn State football is one of the best experiences that come with being a student. Spending your Saturdays at Beaver Stadium with all your friends (and maybe family) is amazing! Whether you’re interested in football or not, everyone can enjoy a good tailgate. Especially after moving in the dorms, getting a home-cooked meal from some family and friends truly warms your heart. Before you know it, you’ll be making new friends as you walk to the tailgate fields, grab some food or find a seat in the stadium. Being surrounded by thousands of others like yourself who have the same love for Penn State can easily give you goosebumps.

    Although the price of tickets is higher compared to other sporting events at Penn State, the atmosphere of the student section is like no other. The price of tickets is 110% worth it.  It’s an experience that you can’t put a price tag on. Each class has an assigned day to purchase tickets, which you can find Here along with more information on how ticket sales work and pricing.

Now for the free stuff, since that is always everyone’s favorite. One of the most popular free sporting events at Penn State is the Blue and White game that takes place every spring. This free event marks the final football practice of the year. There are also many smaller attractions set up near the stadium during it. Another great way to watch athletics free of charge is to take advantage of student-run organizations. The largest ones include intramural sports and club sports. A great way to get involved and to stay up to date with both intramural and club sports is to log into IM Leagues with your Penn State account. You can find the schedules for these events and join teams using this website which you can find Here

Free Time, Weekends, and Breaks Oh My!

 What To Do On The Weekends

   By: Team B

What to do on the Weekends – On Campus Edition!

Want to stay close for the weekend? No problem, there are lots of fun things to do on campus for the weekends. Whether it’s football games, food, physical activity, the Penn State’s campus houses many fun activities that are right around the corner.

Starting in the fall, PENN STATE FOOTBALL IS BACK!! Head on over to Beaver Stadium to catch a football game every Saturday starting September 4. Beaver Stadium is about a 15 minute walk from the East Halls. 

After the game, or anytime at all, you can go to the Berkey Creamery, located across from the East Halls, which has some of the best ice cream ever. There are so many choices to pick from and you can even pick up pints to take back to your dorm and eat later. Personally, my favorite is the cookies and cream or the grilled stickies ice cream! Outside the Creamery, there are tables where you can sit and chat with friends or you can head across the street to the Arboretum. 

The Arboretum is a great place to have a picnic or go for a nature walk. Make sure to stop by the Arboretum in October to pick up a pumpkin during their pumpkin festival and also check out the other events that they have, including the winter celebration. Just outside the Arboretum there is a large lawn area where you can play spikeball, soccer, or picnic. Additionally, East Halls has basketball and sand volleyball courts and areas to hammock.

If you want to stay in, the craft center, located in the Ritenour Building near South Halls, has take and make crafts, or they offer classes with a variety of options to choose from.

In the mood for working out, Penn State offers 3 areas for working out, the Hepper Fitness Center in Rec Hall (located by West Halls), the White Building (located near South Halls), and the IM Building (located near East Halls).

There are lots of things to do on campus, and these are just a few ideas, but make sure to explore them for yourselves and make some new memories!!

Ava Zoba – Envoy, Team B

 

What to do on the Weekends – Downtown Edition!

            Here in State College, there are countless ways to spend your weekend. Whether you’re in the mood for a quick bite to eat, some coffee with friends, or shopping, downtown has it all!

    First, let’s talk about everyone’s favorite – food. Some personal favorites of mine include SNAP Pizza, The Corner Room, and DP Dough. There are also tons of places to get coffee. You can opt for the chains, like Starbucks, Dunkin, or Panera, or go local and try out Saint’s Café, Crust and Crumb, or Webster’s Bookstore and Café. Either way, you won’t be disappointed. Popular breakfast spots include The Waffle Shop, Irving’s, and Bagel Crust. If you’re in the mood for dessert, hit up Coldstone Creamery for some amazing ice cream (a close second to Berkey Creamery!).

            Now that we’ve covered food, let’s explore shopping. A place I frequently go to is Target. When I lived in West Halls, Target was an easy walking distance for me and had all of the groceries and essentials I needed for a dorm. They also have a small selection of clothes and housewares. If Target doesn’t have the clothes you’re looking for, you can go right downstairs to H&M. This is the perfect place to buy cute clothes on a budget. They also have a ton of business professional clothes which come in handy for career week.  Another place to get clothing is Urban Outfitters, which is located near Yallah Taco. A personal favorite of mine is Appalachian Outdoors, which hosts a variety of outdoor clothing, shoes, and gear. Last but not least, Uncle Eli’s Artist Marketplace and Frame Shop is an eclectic shop where you can find art supplies, knick knacks, and gifts. There are tons of other places I didn’t get to mention, but I’ll leave it up to you to do some exploring! Don’t forget to have fun – you’re about to start the best journey of your life!

Emily Webber - Mentor, Team B

 

What to do on the Weekends – Off Campus Edition!

Hiking

There are a lot of great trails for hiking surrounding the State College area. I highly recommend downloading the All Trails app. If you set State College as your location, you can not only see a list of all these trails, but also their length, estimated time, a map of the trail, and difficulty. To highlight a few:

●   Bear Meadows Natural Area is great for beginners as the 3.7 mile trail remains pretty flat. It can get muddy in some spots, so try to wear some water-proof shoes!

●    Mount Nittany is a short drive from campus and a popular destination for students. There are seven overlooks along a five mile trail, one of which has an amazing view of Beaver Stadium!

 

Tussey Mountain

Whether you love to ski, snowboard, or snow tube, Tussey Mountain is the perfect destination for winter activities! When the weather is warmer, there are other activities like mini-golfing, go-karting, and a skate park.

Parks

Parks are a great place to walk to with a group of friends and enjoy a nice day outside! There are a few parks in neighborhoods surrounding campus.

●       Holmes-Foster Park: This park has great swings - you are never too old to enjoy them! :)

●       Sunset Park: This park is located in a neighborhood behind the North side of campus. Not only are there pavilions for a picnic, but also there are some nice trails next to it!

Marissa Beighley - Mentor, Team B

X Marks the Study Spot

 Hidden Spots on Campus

By: Team I

Want to learn about some of the best hidden spots on campus? Well, you’ve certainly come to the right place! No matter where you live on campus, we’re certain you can find somewhere new to go!  

Westgate Cafe Area

If you live on the west side of campus, you might prefer to go to Westgate to study! The cafe area, which includes a small Panera and has tables and glass walls with great views. It’s a great place for those who like to study with some background noise. If you get hungry while studying, the tables are right by Panera, so you can quickly recharge! Another plus of studying in Westgate is that it’s close to most professors’ and TAs’ office hours for Information Sciences and Technology (IST) or Computer Science (CMPSC) classes, so you can conveniently get help on homework or have any questions answered quickly!

Harry Potter Room

Wanna feel like a true scholar? Try studying in the Paterno Family Humanities Reading Room, better known as the Harry Potter room! As a designated silent study area, you can focus amid the room’s classy long tables, wooden chairs, and green desk lamps. Surround yourself in wall-lined bookshelves to absorb the productivity vibe. Or, if you’d rather take advantage of the peace and quiet for a nap, you can always snooze on a couch in the center of the room!

HUB Library

Wait, the HUB has a library? It sure does! (And it’s a designated silent study area too!) When entering the HUB from Pollock Road, turn right at the top of the stairs. Passing through the doors at the end of Art Alley is like crossing into another dimension. The bustling noises of the HUB are no more as you print a document or get some work done in the HUB Library. If you ever need to grab a quick meal, food is just a couple steps away in the food court!

Childhood’s Gate

College comes with a lot of responsibilities, but Childhood’s Gate at the Arboretum grants you a quick break from the stress of adulthood. Relax on a giant caterpillar or play some funky-looking metallophones as you unwind and reminisce on the simple moments of childhood.

Media and Tech Support Services (MTSS)

Everyone knows the east side of campus has the first-year residence halls and the Creamery, but it’s also where you’ll find Wagner Annex, home of Media and Tech Support Services (MTSS)! For the low price of zero dollars, you can borrow almost any tech device you can think of: laptops, projectors, tripods, adapters, you name it! My favorite resource is their fleet of iPad Pros, which all come with the new Apple Pencil! Loan periods have a maximum length of 20 days, so if you’re willing to visit MTSS that often, you can theoretically borrow a device for an entire semester!

Map of Campus:

Oh, the Places You'll Dine

 

College Dining On and Off Campus

On-Campus Eating: Where to Start

By: Julia Jablonski, Team L Mentor

Coming into Penn State all first-year students are required to have a meal plan, I am here to tell you about how you can spend it! I lived on campus for my first two years of college, so I consider myself an expert in on-campus dining. Here at Penn State, we have five main dining halls. These are North, South, East, West, and Pollock. Each of these dining halls has many different options.

 

There are a few things that are universal regardless of where you are eating. The dining halls all have a buffet. Not all of these buffets serve the same food though. If you want to check what a buffet is serving at mealtimes, you can go to the website: http://menu.hfs.psu.edu/

You can also find this information on the Penn State Go app. It is a great idea to check out the menu before you head into the buffet, just to make sure you enjoy the things being served. I always start my day by looking at the menu options for each of the dining halls and planning where I will be eating for the day! It is a great way to organize your time and create a bit of structure for you.

This is the menu available to all PSU students

Dining hall breakdown

 

 North is located on the northern side of campus, across the street from the business building. Along with a buffet, North has the "Blue Spoon Cafe". At the "Blue Spoon Cafe", you can order and create sandwiches and wraps. This is a great way to get a quick bite to eat. Doing this allows you to avoid the long lines of the buffet. I have spent the least amount of time in North, so I am not as familiar with the dining hall, but I have heard from others that lived there that it is the best dining hall. I am not sure I agree with that, but oh well!

South is my favorite place to eat on campus. I say this because of all of the options. South has multiple options including “In A Pickle”, “Fresco Caliente”, “City Grill”, and “Bowls”. At “In A Pickle” you can get paninis, sandwiches, and wraps. This year salads were also sold at “In A Pickle”! All of these food options are customizable, which is great. “At Fresco Caliente” you can order burritos, tacos, burrito bowls, walking tacos, and nachos. At “City Grill”, you can get burgers, fries, cheesesteaks, chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, and grilled cheese. These are very quick and easy options for you if you are in a hurry. The newest addition to South is “Bowls @ South”. Here you can get oats, Greek, and acai bowls. This is a great place to have breakfast and it is super cheap! South is a great place to eat for the options alone!

This is "In A Pickle", my favorite place to eat on campus!

            Pollock has one of the best markets in all of the dining commons area. In these markets, you can buy snacks, premade salads, and sushi. I ate so much sushi from Pollock last year. It is a very quick and easy way to get a meal on the go. There are also premade sandwich options and frozen meals you can microwave in your dorm. This is a great option if you are getting tired of Penn State food, but still want to use meal points!

East is also a great place to eat! East has a special section in the buffet called Pure. At Pure all of the food is gluten-free, lactose-free, and nut-free. This is a great section to eat at if you have dietary restrictions. I had a gluten-free friend and she spent almost every night eating at Pure. She loved the food! East also has many different side food places including an acai bowl place, a pizza place, and a burger place. East is the newest dining commons, and you can tell, it is beautiful. Many of you may be living in the East so this is great news for you! 

This is Pure in East

Finally West. I am not sure if you are all aware of the BEST food that Penn State has to offer, but I am going to let you in on a little secret. West has fresh baked cookies, and they are AMAZING. These warm gooey cookies melt in your mouth and are perfectly paired with a cold glass of Penn State Creamery milk, which is available in all buffets on campus. West has another eating option called “West Wing”. At “West Wing”, you can order food beforehand and pick it up. When you order food on the Penn State Go app it is linked to your meal plan, so the food is paid for when you pick it up. It makes things much simpler for the user.

Here are some delicious West cookies!

There are so many different and great dining options here at Penn State. I am glad that I was able to share some of my secrets with all of you. I love eating on campus and I hope that you guys will too! Some bonus content as well: My favorite buffet meal is the pulled pork sliders with onion straws in South. I ate it every time they served it and I recommend you try it as well! Happy eating!

Off Campus Eating

By: Hadley Sager, Team L Mentor

State College has food offerings for everyone, whether you’re in the mood for a quick breakfast or a sit-down dinner with your family. I’m going to share some of the most popular eateries near campus, and hopefully reveal a few hidden gems.

Irving's Downtown

For breakfast, you can never go wrong with “Irving’s”. They serve the classic egg and cheese on a bagel that has become a staple among Penn State students. Don’t miss out on their coffee either (my favorite is their cold brew). Be careful through, “Irving’s” will get busy quickly, especially on weekends. If you’re looking for a slightly cheaper option for your bagel fix, my go to is “Bagel Crust”! There are two locations downtown, so it’s convenient to get to no matter what side of campus you live on. If you’re looking for a sit-down breakfast, “Waffle Shop” is a State College classic. Here you’ll find a diner breakfast and some of the best hot chocolate you can ask for. “Sower’s Harvest Café” is also one of my favorites. It’s a smaller store off the main road, so it tends to not be as busy as other spots.            

Yallah Taco

            A definite favorite for a quick lunch or dinner with friends is “Snap Pizza”. Snap has personal pizzas and space to sit inside and out. My usual order there is the Kennett Square or the Farmer’s Market pizza. “Yallah Taco” is the perfect spot to visit if you want a big burrito or a few tacos. If you’re looking for a quick eat, I highly recommend “Penn Kabab” or :Big Bowl Noodle House” right across the street from South Halls. “Penn Kabab” is a go-to for me. The owner is always very nice, and they cook your falafel fresh when you order. There are no bad choices at “Big Bowl”. I usually go with the Thai noodles, and I can always get at least two meals out of my order. They only take cash, but the food is worth it. 

Farmer's Market

            On Tuesdays and Fridays there is a famer’s market on Locust Lane. There are apples, tomatoes, baked goods, fresh flowers and more. Pro tip: if you pay in cash, the vender may give you a slight discount. The fresh produce is the absolutely best and the baked goods are the best around

            You can’t go wrong with the restaurants in State College. My biggest advice is to take advantage of being in our small town and try as much as you can.

 

To Room or Not to Room

 Navigating Roommates

There are many options when it comes to finding a roommate. You can choose to room with someone you know from high school, you can join Facebook groups to find a roommate the summer before you move in, or you can go random. You can choose to live in a special living option (SLO). These are specific areas of residence halls that group people with the same interests together. One of them is Engineering House, which is a dorm in West campus for engineering students. My sophomore year, I chose to go random and I utilized the room exchange e-board on e-living because I wanted to live in a specific dorm in South. I ended up becoming best friends with my random roommate. It can be scary to think of living with a stranger, but it can also be an amazing experience. Also remember, you can still make friends outside of those living in your dorm.

-Kaitlyn Hartman, Team N Mentor, WEPO ‘21

Kaitlyn with her roommate

I was lucky to meet my roommate at SWE stayover. Connecting with another women in engineering is a great way to find a roommate who is just as driven as you are! There are many perks to living with people who have similar qualities in regards to scheduling, such as morning/bed times and being able to ask questions about homework. Although these perks are great, I also found it beneficial to live in East dorms where most freshmen live in order to have friends outside of my classes. This allowed me to take a break from a constant engineering mindset. Most of East halls are now newly renovated and super close to the football stadium, IM gym, and the creamery. So, if sports and sweets are your thing, it is a great location to make friends and stay active.

Regardless of what dorm you are in and how you found your roommate, COMMUNICATION IS KEY! Reach out to your roommate as early as possible to get to know them, share your move-in dates, your school schedule, and to plan logistical things. For example, decide who is going to bring the trashcan, the carpet, and the vacuum. Discuss your preferences such as when a good time to turn off the lights would be or your comfortability with having people in the room. Lastly, set up a weekly time, such as Friday at 3 PM to discuss problems like not cleaning dishes often enough. This way both parties can feel comfortable discussing what they can and cannot tolerate without overthinking how to bring up the issue. Never brush a problem under the rug for too long because small problems can build up creating a larger problem that could have been resolved earlier.

-Julia Szyszko, Team N Mentor, WEPO ‘21

Julia with her freshman year roommate

     While it would be amazing to be best friends with your roommate right off the bat, it’s ok if that doesn’t happen. If you don’t get along with your roommate, you can talk to your Resident Assistant (RA) about switching roommates or you can change rooms your second semester after you’ve met more people and know who you’re comfortable around. I moved from East renovated dorms in the first semester of freshman year to unrenovated E-house in my second semester. I didn’t even mind the lack of air conditioning in West because I loved my roommate and neighbors so much!

-Katie Maloney, Team N Envoy, WEPO ‘21

Katie with her roommate and neighbors in West quad.

Katie and her future roommates (2 she met at WEPO!)

What to Pack and Where You're Going to Unpack It!

Do's and Dont's of Packing

One of my rules for packing clothes is: if you don’t wear it at home, you won’t wear it at school! You may want to bring a ton of summer clothes when packing for fall semester, but it gets chilly quicker than you think. Normally after the first or second week of September, you’ll want to bring a sweatshirt with you everywhere. I would also recommend bringing a couple of extra hangers for clothing, in case you buy something or if you want to air dry some clothes.

You’ll want to bring good shoes for walking- I personally wear my sneakers almost every day because they are comfortable for the whole day walking across campus. The last thing you want is your feet to hurt when you’re on the other side of campus or rushing to class.

Another thing you’ll need is power strips and extension cords! I personally used two power strips for all of my chargers, printer, speaker, and lamp, and one extension cord, to move the fridge to a spot with no outlet. I also brought a lamp which was nice if you didn’t want the harsh overhead light on. Since it had multiple lights, you could pick how bright you wanted it. I also had a desk lamp, which was nice for direct light over my homework.

I also had a printer in my dorm- but this is definitely a convenience thing and up to you. I purchased a cheap printer to have in my dorm, which came in handy when I wanted to print notes late at night and didn’t want to leave my room. It is also nice now, as you have to pay (a small price) to print things out at the printers on campus. This is definitely an investment, I’ll be using until I graduate & even after that!

~Mia Wanyo, Team G Mentor, WEPO ‘21 

Despite all of the warnings, I still managed to pack too much stuff! But there are two extra items I brought after experiencing dorm life in the fall that I would never leave behind again.

Imagine yourself in your small dorm room. You’re studying and sleeping--all with your smelly trash can beside you! You take out the trash constantly, but it still reeks of last night’s burrito or this morning’s banana. It seems like a funny complaint right now, but this was seriously one of my least favorite things about dorm life. These two things helped me tackle the problem.

First, a lidded trash can is a must! I know housing provides trash cans, but they are so small and have no lid. I brought a lidded trash can 2nd semester and it helped with the smell tremendously! Housing doesn’t provide recycle bins, so how about using the extra trash can for recycling?

Second, freshen up with a wallflower! I dislike most fragrances, but I was able to find milder scents like vanilla and cherry from Bath and Body that plugged into the outlet and released some nice scents. Waking up to fresh peach is much better than leftover pizza!

~Kaylie, Team G Envoy, WEPO ‘21

Residence Halls

One of the biggest decisions you had to make after committing to Penn State was where to live. Each dorm area on campus has its special perks to take advantage of while living there.

East Halls is the all-freshman area of campus, so it is a great chance to meet classmates and experience living on your own together. One of the biggest perks is its proximity to many of the sports arenas (football, hockey, baseball, etc). It is also right next to the IM building, so it is not a hassle to work out and enjoy the fitness classes offered (my favorite is power remix)! Also, treat yourself after an exam by stopping at the creamery on your way back to the dorms!

West Halls is a quieter area of campus with large rooms, which is where I lived the past two years. It is right next to the library, rec hall, and the Nittany Lion Shrine. Also, make sure to grab a west cookie at the dining hall!

West Residental Halls

South and Pollock are right next to each other, which gives you more than one option for choosing a dining hall. They are also close to the HUB and downtown State College. South is home to the Honors College.

South Halls in the winter

North is mainly suite-style living and is central to most of the campus. If you live here, make sure to take the short walk over to the arboretum on a nice day.

~Kayla Brown, Team G Mentor, WEPO ‘21