Worried About Moving to University Park?
They Made the Transition: Former Penn State Berks students (from left) Brianna Hrusko, Angela Richard, Andrew Hirneisen and Lena Le sit on a wall near the famous Berkey Creamery.
For some students at Penn State's Commonwealth campuses, the transition to University Park can be intimidating. For others, it can be downright scary. But if they are enrolled in the College of Agricultural Sciences, it shouldn't be.
"The College of Agricultural Sciences is a supportive community of students, faculty and staff, and we work closely with students at other campuses to help them make a seamless and productive transition to University Park," says Deborah Little, the college's coordinator of campus enrollment and retention. "The college conducts welcome and orientation programs, but being well-informed and prepared for what to expect is definitely the key to success!"
Here are some tips for making a smooth transition:
Advising and academic resources - Students at all campuses are encouraged to make contact with advisers, both at their home campus as well as those in departments at University Park. The Office for Undergraduate Education can provide students with the names of academic program coordinators at University Park. Call 814-865-7521. Adviser assignments are generally given to new University Park students at the Change of Campus meeting during orientation week. Create an advising team by connecting with all available resources!
Co-curricular activities - Involvement in co-curricular activities is a very important part of developing not only social relationships, but also professional networks. There are many clubs and organizations, award-winning judging teams, and professional societies from which to choose. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn and grow outside the classroom. http://studentclubs.cas.psu.edu/
Learning support services -The University Learning Center stands ready to help all students with study skills, writing, math, languages, tutoring and more. These services are offered to Penn State students free of charge. http://www.ulc.psu.edu/
Housing - Students changing to University Park have the option of living on or off campus. On-campus housing is assigned in a random selection process. Students are notified of the procedure to request a housing contract by Housing and Food Services. The University also offers services for students who choose to live off campus. These helpful resources will assist students in choosing the best living option. Take the initiative well before making the change to University Park to secure housing. http://www.hfs.psu.edu/housing/, http://www.sa.psu.edu/ocl/information.shtml
Physical layout of the campus - University Park can be a bit overwhelming at first, but it need not be intimidating. Campus maps are available online and in paper format, and visiting campus before making the change is highly recommended. Take a walk on campus before classes begin and map out walking or bus routes to classes. Get to know the paths between buildings to cut down walk times. Have a sense of building clusters such as Ag Hill. Locate eateries close to classroom buildings. And be sure to locate the HUB and Pattee Library. Before long, campus will be old hat. http://www.campusmaps.psu.edu/%20print/pdf/extended_color.pdf/.
The bus system - University Park and the surrounding State College community boast an extensive bus system called CATA (Centre Area Transportation Authority). On campus, both the Campus Loop and Link systems provide quick and easy transportation throughout campus free of charge. During the fall and spring semesters, buses run approximately every 5 - 7 minutes. Need a ride downtown? CATA routes span the State College and Centre Region. Why hassle with parking? Learn to use the buses to get where you need to go. http://www.catabus.com/looplink/schedule/schedule.htm