The second summer session here at Penn State is quickly coming to a close this week. And with the end of summer classes comes finals. Before you panic, here are my Finals Week Survival Tips. While your summer finals might not be too overwhelming, keep these in mind during the fall and spring semesters when you have a heavier work load.

1. Start preparing weeks in advance. You don’t necessarily need to start cramming weeks before the final, but you should have gathered all the materials you need as you go along. It also doesn’t hurt to catch up on any readings you might have missed and go to your professor’s office hours to go over anything you might be unsure of. During finals week, professors might offer more office hours; however you can bet they’ll be packed and you might not get to ask your question. Ask before, that way when finals week does roll around, all you have to do is review everything you’ve already learned. It lightens the load when you have multiple exams in a short period of time.

2. Find a good study spot. Finding the right place to study can be the trickiest part of finals week success. It all depends on how you like to study. If you like a little bit of background noise, you might want to find a seat in the HUB to study. If you’re someone who needs complete silence, you’ll probably need to find a place like the Pattee stacks in the library. Personally, I find studying in my room really distracting so I like to head over to a place on campus or to a downtown cafe. It helps to have a change of scenery and not have the temptation of taking a quick nap in my bed or turning on the television. There are thousands of potential study places all over campus, so scope out some locations throughout the semester and see which one fits your needs. Wherever you’re comfortable is the best place to study during finals.

3. Take breaks. Finals week can be overwhelming and stressful, which is a given. Make sure you take a break once in awhile to grab something to eat and maybe hang out with a friend for a half hour. You might feel like you’re brain is going to explode if you do one more math problem or have to read another chapter from your chemistry book so give yourself (and your brain) a break. That way, when you go back to studying, you can see how much you retained during your break and see what you should focus on more or less.

4. Locate the nearest coffee shop. This goes along with choosing your study spot. There’s plenty of places downtown and on campus to get coffee and a snack so keep that in mind when choosing a place to study. If you’ve been up studying all night and need a little pick-me-up in the morning, there’s plenty of options.

5. Visit ANGEL before you start studying. Double check on Angel and your syllabus before you head out to study to make sure you have all the materials you need. You don’t want to create this distraction mid-study session because you forgot to print out a powerpoint you needed or had to run back to your room to get a book you didn’t think you needed. Study time is precious, don’t waste it!

Most importantly, relax! Yes, finals are important. No, they are not the end of the world. If you take the time to prepare and have been working hard all semester, your finals will not ruin your grades or your GPA. Most finals are worth the same amount as your other exams in each of your classes so there’s no need to stress out over them. Treat it like any other exam and you’ll be good to go!

And good luck to any and all summer session students taking finals this week!

I previously posted about some tips for making the transition from high school classes to college classes, which will help set you up for success academically here at Penn State. But, you will face some classes that are much challenging than others. Each major has a variety of classes and with that is a variety of difficulty levels. Don’t panic! Penn State is fully equipped to give you that little bit of extra help you might need to score an A in that impossible class!

Penn State Learning is a program on campus that provides additional studying resources for students. There are tutors to assist in the following areas of study: accounting, Chinese/Japanese, computer science, economics, French/Italian, mathematics, public speaking, sciences, Spanish, statistics, and writing. There’s even group tutoring sessions that will cover topics you learned about in class just to reinforce what you’ve already learned and help you sort through whatever you’re having trouble with. Whether you need a second explanation of how to solve that calculus problem or someone to proofread your paper before you turn it in, Penn State Learning has you covered.

The program has a couple of locations on campus and you can even set up an appointment to meet with someone at a convenient time for you. Another awesome thing about Penn State Learning is that you can reserve a study space for teamwork. Have a huge group project to work on? Make a reservation at Penn State Learning for your group to meet and work out all the details of the project. The rooms are set up with tables, chairs, a computer, and white boards so that you can discuss and work as a group without having to whisper in the library or talk over everyone in the HUB.

Tutors are students just like you who have already succeeded in the course so definitely use them as a resource throughout the semester. They are there for a reason so don’t be shy to go a tutoring session! It often helps to hear things explained in a different way so this is a great studying tool. Make the most of your education here at Penn State! There are so many tools here to help you succeed so make sure you use them. Check out the website to learn more: pennstatelearning.psu.edu

Between classes, activities, and football games on the weekends, it is so easy to get wrapped up in your responsibilities that you forget the number one thing to take care of: yourself! Moving to a college campus will really put your immune system to the test. Here are some tips and things to consider so that you make it through your freshman year alive, literally!

1. Sleep. This might be the one thing most students are deprived of. It’s really important to get the right amount of sleep each night so that you can be as productive as possible when you’re awake. Not only does being tired affect your ability to focus, it makes getting through your day that much more difficult when you move in slow motion. There’s a lot to keep up with at Penn State so being well rested is the key to taking advantage of everything PSU has to offer. (And no, replacing sleep with caffeine is NOT a good solution for the sleep-deprived. Caffeine will only make you crash once it wears off.)
2. Eating right. There are plenty of healthy options in the dining commons and downtown. It’s up to you to make the right choices. Penn State Food Services posts daily menus for all of the dining commons and nutritional information. (Check it out here http://menu.hfs.psu.edu )
3. Exercise. Penn State has club and intramural sports throughout the year, which is great way to stay in shape and meet new people! Although team schedules are not always compatible with your schedule, in which case you can purchase a PSU fitness membership. A membership gives you access to the work out facilities at Rec Hall, the White Building, the Natatorium, and the IM Building (which is being renovated!) Weights, cardio machines, and fitness classes are available. You can even schedule meetings with a student trainer to set goals and come up with a work out plan. Definitely make time to hit the gym a few times a week, a good workout will make you feel better and is a great way to relieve stress.  For more information about fitness programs and memberships check out this website: http://www.athletics.psu.edu/fitness/index.html
4. Hand Sanitizer. Thousands of people walk through the same doors and sit in the same seats as you everyday at Penn State. Carrying hand sanitizer is great idea because you’re exposed to so many germs on door handles, computer keyboards, and desks all the time.
5. CAPS. Penn State University Health Services offers CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services.) Making the transition from high school to college can be really overwhelming and stressful. Meeting with someone at CAPS is a great way to talk through your feelings and relieve some of the stress you might be experiencing. There are so many resources at UHS so definitely take advantage of them if you need to! Find out more here: http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/counseling/
6. On-Campus Attention. If you ever do need to see a doctor, you can schedule an appointment at UHS. There is also an advice nurse on call 24/7 if you’re not sure what to do. You can schedule an appointment here: http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/health/
7. Flu Shot. Get the flu shot! Like I mentioned earlier, you’re exposed to so many germs your body can’t possibly fight them all. UHS offers the flu vaccine each year so all you have to do is schedule an appointment and go get it.

Nothing is worse than being sick at school; it might even make you a little homesick. Make sure you’re taking care of yourself and utilizing all of the services Penn State offers to stay healthy!

You might have seen Penn State students collecting donations at your local grocery store or an intersection near your house. They hold cans saying “Help Kids Fight Cancer” and “Penn State THON.” Did you ever wonder where exactly those donations go? Here’s the inside scoop on the Penn State Dance Marathon (THON).

Each year, 15,000 Penn State students raise money for pediatric cancer research. The money raised goes directly to the Four Diamonds Fund at Hershey Medical Center. It is a year-long effort made up of countless fundraisers run by students. The fundraising culminates in a 46-hour no sitting, no sleeping dance marathon on a weekend in February. THON Weekend, 700 students are given the opportunity to “dance” or stand throughout the whole weekend without any breaks. They are paired up with a morale committee member who helps keep them motivated to stay awake and on their feet until Sunday night. Families and students are all welcome to the event. Throughout the weekend there are bands, dance groups, and talent shows to keep everyone entertained. Spectators come and go throughout the weekend to support the dancers from the stands of the BJC.

The Four Diamonds Fund was founded my Charles Millard, whose son died died of pediatric cancer. The fund provides the financial support for research and helps to pay for treatments not covered by insurance. Families who have a child at Hershey Medical Center are automatically added to the fund. Each family get paired up with a student organization who they can fundraise with or just hang out during THON weekend with.

There is a role for each THON volunteer throughout the year. There are 14 committees led by directors and captains. Committees range from Merchandise to Rules and Regulations. During THON Weekend, each committee sports a different color on-shift shirt to identify what their job is. Besides committees, there are hundreds of student organizations that volunteer for THON. These organizations go canning, send out THONvelopes (mail solicitation), and host their own fundraisers around town and on campus.

You might have seen “FTK” on a t-shirt or some type of promotional material for THON. FTK stands for “For The Kids.” It is a reminder for all volunteers and people from the community that these efforts directly benefit the kids in the Four Diamonds Fund. It is used by volunteers to motivate each other to do everything they can to make THON as successful as possible.

THON is one of the most popular organizations on campus and is a great way to get involved and meet new people. Each volunteer is just as passionate about the cause as the next. Penn State students work tirelessly throughout the year to eradicate pediatric cancer. “One day we will dance in celebration, until then, we dance for a cure.”

Below you will see the promotional video for THON 2013. There is also a video from the total reveal from THON 2013. To learn more and get involved, be sure to check out www.thon.org

Look out for committee member applications early in the fall semester. Organizations also welcome new members at the beginning of each school year.

Transitioning from a high school classroom to a college classroom can be challenging for any new student. Here are some tips to keep in mind so that you’re prepared for the fall semester.

DO: Read all of your syllabi and write down the dates of all assignments, exams, projects, etc. A full course load can get very busy and you don’t want to lose track of anything. Professors don’t always remind you when something is due or if something is coming up so it’s best to be proactive and keep track of everything yourself. You don’t want any surprises during the semester!

DON’T: Wait until the night before an exam to start studying. College classes only have a few exams throughout the semester so it’s important to be prepared. Unlike high school tests, college exams will cover multiple chapters so it’s best to start studying a week in advance. If you’re keeping track of your course schedule, you’ll have plenty of time to plan study sessions and attend reviews.

DO: Go to your professors’ office hours. Especially in large classes, it can be extremely beneficial to go to office hours. It gives you a chance to meet your professor one-on-one and talk about any concerns you might have for the class or ask for extra study tips. If you have an interest in the field of study that your professor is teaching, they can help you with career advice or help you learn more about the field. If you maintain a good relationship with your professor they might even offer to write you a letter of recommendation and can help you choose further courses to take.

DON’T: Sit in the back of the classroom. There are so many distractions especially in large lectures. It’s easy to get sidetracked and a lot less interactive if you’re sitting in the back. Remember you’re paying so much for tuition, make the most of your time in the classroom! Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram will still be there at the end of class. Your texts and phone calls can wait!

DO: Make friends in class. You never know when a question might come up that you can’t find the answer to. It’s super helpful to have someone to ask when your professor isn’t available. It’s also easier to make a study group to review before exams or have someone proofread your assignments before you hand them in.

DON’T: Buy your books before you go to the first week of classes. When your professor goes over the syllabus, they will tell you exactly what you need. Textbooks are updated regularly so it’s important to make sure you have the right edition for all of your readings.

The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts is the biggest weekend of the summer here in State College. More affectionately known as “Arts Fest,” the event brings in about 125,000 people to downtown State College. Thousands of students and alumni return for the weekend and get to experience the artwork of more than 300 artists who will display their work along Allen Street. There are also musical performances that take place throughout the weekend. This year the festival will kick off on Thursday, July 11th, 2013. From Thursday to Sunday, there will countless events to check out. There will even be races benefitting the Sue Crowe Memorial on Sunday.

Arts Fest has evolved a lot since its beginning in 1967. It originally lasted nine days; however today it is only four days (I would guess that most visitors wish it still last nine days.) Artists used to take over the Old Main Wall along College Avenue to display their work, but now they inhabit Allen Street with their paintings, photography, sculptures and more. They now even hold a Children & Youth Day on Wednesday before the festival kicks off.

According to the official website (www.arts-festival.com) the mission of the festival is as follow:

“The mission of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts is to celebrate the arts with presentations of diverse, high-quality visual and performing arts through the cooperative volunteer support of the community and The Pennsylvania State University. The essence of this organization is the enrichment and education of the audience, grounded in personal interaction between artist and audience.”

This weekend the freshmen will get a little taste of what it is like here during the year. Quiet State College will be busy and hectic similar to a football weekend in the fall. Upperclassmen will have their classmates visit for a little summer reunion and alumni will be back to reminisce on their days here at Dear Old State. It is without a doubt the highlight of the summer. Grab a couple friends and head down to Allen Street this weekend to see what it’s all about!

The thought of attending a B1G Ten school with over 40,000 students can seem terrifying for students graduating from small high schools, especially in my case. I graduated from Merion Mercy Academy in Philadelphia with only 116 in my class. During my college search I looked for strong academic reputation, school spirit, and opportunity. All of these criteria were met in Penn State. But I wasn’t sure I wanted to be just a number, I wanted to have a voice. Taking a leap of faith, I chose Penn State and shortly realized that I was more than just a number here. Something to keep in mind when looking at schools is that it is possible to make a large school feel small, but not necessarily make a small school feel large. Getting involved at Penn State and taking the smaller classes for my major made me realize that although there were thousands of people on this campus, I found myself running into people I knew all the time. It was almost too easy to meet people because of my involvement. Going to my professors’ office hours and participating in class made it easier to transition to such a big school.

Most people associate Penn State with football or State College. However, when I hear Penn State I think of the word “opportunity.” This is a large reason why I chose to attend Penn State in the first place. With hundreds of thousands of living alumni, the networking possibilities for life after college are limitless. A huge advantage of being a Penn Stater is having access to alumni all over the world in various fields. As a student in the College of Communications, I get daily emails from the career advisor with information about internships and jobs. There are so many of them that I actually had to create a separate label in my Gmail account to keep track of all of them.

At times it can be overwhelming. But that’s also the best part about it. There is nothing out of reach when it comes to opportunities at Penn State. You get the chance to network and go to career fairs and join student societies for whatever field of study you are interested in. There’s even a career services building on campus, aside from each college’s advisors. (http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/career/)

Besides job hunting, Penn State has a club or activity for everything. There are over 900 listed at http://www.clubs.psu.edu and if there’s something you’re looking for that isn’t listed there, you can start it up yourself. The best way to make the most of your college experience is to get involved and get involved early. You’ll meet people just like you with similar interests and you’ll also meet people who are different from you who you can learn from. The diversity at Penn State is definitely something to take advantage of.

Anyone who is familiar with Penn State knows the famous words “We are Penn State.” As a prospective student or any outsider, one might wonder who “we” are. The “we” is compromised of an incredible student body, alumni, faculty, and staff of one of the most reputable universities in the country. Penn State is home to research, philanthropy, and innovation. What really defines a Penn Stater? Well, there are plenty of qualities that make up each student, which is what is so unique about this school. Each person affiliated with the university brings something different to the table. Out of 40,000 undergraduates, it is almost impossible not to meet someone who has a similar interest or goal as you. All the while, everyone has their own individual path and what being a Penn Stater means to them.

Academically, Penn State offers over 160 different majors. The Division of Undergraduate Studies is there to assist students who have not been able to narrow down their choice of major. With that many options, it can seem overwhelming to choose. However, the faculty and advisors at Penn State are more than willing and eager to help each student find their passion and pursue it. Along with the academics, Penn State offers career services helping kick start your career while you’re still in college. From finding internships to revising cover letters and resumes, Penn State has every tool you need to succeed. Because the university is so large and is set in State College, there is a plethora of job, internship, and research opportunities close by. Whatever you choose to explore academically, Penn State has not only the opportunity but also the help you need to find it. Academic advisors and career advisors are within walking distance and can be reached by email, phone, or simply stopping in the office. Penn State also hosts career fairs during the fall and spring semesters where companies with recruiters come to meet with students to make connections and network. With the largest alumni population, Penn State can be found almost anywhere in the world. Everything you need to reach your goals is available at Penn State.

While college academics are among most students’ priorities, the number of activities and student groups at Penn State is also something to consider. There is a club or society for just about anything, and if there isn’t, students can start their own. Regardless of your major, you will find that you can join almost any type of organization you might be interested. Are you interested in giving back to the community? THON is the largest student-run philanthropy hosted by Penn State every February. Are you an athlete who chose not to compete at the varsity level? Club and intramural teams compete during each semester according to season. Maybe you’re into media and journalism? Penn State has several media outlets including a print newspaper- The Daily Collegian, an online blog- Onward State, and a magazine- Valley, among others. The involvement fair held in the beginning of the year hosts each student organization where students can learn more about a club or anything they might be interested in. Going along with the outstanding academics Penn State offers, there is also room for you to create your college experience according to what you love to do most.

Something that all Penn Staters have in common is their school spirit, which is what actually defines the Nittany Lions. No matter what path you chose at Penn State, you will find people equally as passionate as you and that is what makes Penn State what it is. The students and faculty who work tirelessly to achieve excellence is what makes us who we are. You have the opportunity to join this community and become a part of a place that consequently becomes a part of you. By choosing Penn State, you become a voice among thousands who declares “We Are…”