Admissions

Stay organized. Learn your buildings. And try to schedule yourself so you ensure you can still have some time for fun. As long as you stay focused college isn't to bad. Make sure you discuss financial aid with your parents, your counselors, with your college advisers, and even with the office of financial aid. This is a money intense university and you will need the help.

Yes, Penn State is well known for its drinking and for its Greek life. But don't let that be the be-all, end-all of your college career.
DON'T immediately get lost in the partying scene of Penn State - while its okay to party and have fun, learn how to do it in moderation so that you don't end up screwing up your G.P.A. (and in turn, screwing yourself over) in your first year - you'll still be paying for it two years later and its a lot easier to do than you'd think.
DO go to the involvement fairs. In Alumni hall in the HUB running for a week straight at the beginning of the semesters there are booths and booths of clubs and activities across the Penn State community, with different groups every day. If a group even mildly interests you, put your name on the list serv. You can always take it off later if you choose.
DO get a planner or some method of keeping track of when all projects and deadlines are due. They have a nasty way of creeping up on you.
DON'T take the buses unless you have to. Long walks across campus will help you NOT gain the Freshman 15.
DON'T make a habit of always skipping class. Sure its okay to miss one here or there, but by telling yourself that its okay to constantly miss class, you'll screw yourself over in the class and develop a habit that may be harder to break in the future.

DO not waste your time. The worst thing you can do is not take advantage of all the opportunities schools can offer. Networking, getting involved, joining clubs, getting to know your teachers can only benefit you.
DO learn how to budget your time. You need to be able to balance school work with having fun. This is probably one of the hardest things to do when you enter college. Its not like high school, teachers will not be lenient, and if you miss an exam you will get a 0. Stay on top of your work, and study in advance for test. Exams cover so much more material than they did in high school.
DO know your limit. When you go out, know when you need to stop, and when its time to go home. Always go out with friends and stay with someone you know. There are buses that run till around 2 - 2:30 at night, and are the easiest ways to get back to dorms. You can have a good time, just be safe about it.
DO go to your teacher and ask for help if you do not understand something. Don't let yourself get behind because if you do it is so much harder to catch up. Having to drop a class because your afraid of failing sucks!
DO take online classes with your friends. Some are easy general education classes that do not require as much work/time because you do not have to go sit in a classroom. Also taking them with people you know helps, you can ask each other questions.
DO stay on top of dates. It might sound stupid, but if you forget to do something, chances are your going to have problems. Housing and classes go quick. If you do not schedule when you are suppose to the class will fill and you will miss your chance to get it. There are deadlines for everything. Planners help a lot with keeping things organized.

Make sure to study hard and get to know your professors well. They will help you and even offer letters of recommendation when they become more familiar with you.

Go on the website and seriously check out all the different things Penn State offers. Division sports teams, club teams, intramural sports of every kind, dance teams, theater, THON, student government, greek life, yearbook, radio, news reporting, choir...the list goes on and on. Take a tour of the campus or better yet come stay with someone who already goes here. I was torn between Maryland, Delaware and Penn State until I finally came and stayed for a weekend. By the end of the first day I knew that Penn State was the only place for me.
Also - the summer before I came I participated in the ORION wilderness orientation trip. It was an intense experience but it honestly made my transition to college so much easier. I came into my first semester with 10+ friends already. I definitely recommend it to everyone.

if you want a campus-y school, you're in the right place. some people may first feel overwhelmed by the large size of the university, but within two weeks you will be comfortable with your schedule and the locations of the most important buildings. my best advice for students finding their niche? get involved. there is so much to do and so much to be involved in if you just look. also, thon is the most amazing organization i've ever had the chance to be involved with, and a lot of freshmen hesitate to get involved right away in the fall, so be on the lookout for ways to get involved with it! most importantly- do not get caught up on the social scene. you have to learn to time manage from the get-go or you will have trouble staying on top of your grades. you just need to keep the end in mind, and you should do just fine. this means that you should remember that you are at penn state to get a great education, so your classes and schoolwork should remain your first priority. college is the step before your career, and that is something that needs to be taken very seriously.

-Make sure you really want to be at PSU, because honestly you either love it or you hate it, and many people love it and won't get in because YOU wanted to get in and then end up hating it. So visit first.
-Have a lot of extracurriculars because PSU has alot of extracurriculars. It will prepare you for the balancing act of school, sleep, social life and extras
-Be eternally thankful for the sleep you have now. Take advantage of it. Because you won't have it for long

Apply early for admission and the FAFSA. Be ready to shout out PENN STATE with all your might. East is where most freshmen end up and it's the least desirable dorms even though some love the freshmen experience there. West has the best food. Walking is faster than taking the bus if you aren't lazy. Be prepared to compromise with your roommate(s).

Penn State is HUGE and it's very easy to feel lost in the mix. If things don't click immediately, don't get discouraged. It takes time to find the right people, but it's worth the wait.

Be honest and stay true to yourselves.