The summer/fall 2017 application is finally available, and the time has officially come to submit your application to quite possibly the greatest school in the world (I’ll admit it, I’m biased…it’s hard to not love this place). As you’re checking off the boxes and answering the open-ended responses telling the admissions team why you should be a part of the class of 2021, you stumble upon a section that asks you what session you’re applying for: Summer 2017 or Fall 2017.
The answer might be simple to you, “I don’t want to miss out on having one last summer with my friends so I’ll apply for the fall.” When I was in your shoes, however, the possibility of starting out in the summer really intrigued me, and I’m so glad that it did.
Starting out your freshman experience at Penn State during the summer is one of the best ways to learn your ways around campus. During the summer, only 2,000 freshman are enrolled in classes compared to the 46,000 total student population here in the fall and spring. The smaller number of students really gives our school the feeling of a smaller university during the summer, which can really help you to personalize your first few weeks on campus.
While you might miss out on a few extra weeks with your high school friends, you’ll be gaining an extra few weeks to make new college friends! The university really tries to make the summers as action packed as they can with arts festivals, 4th of July celebrations, free pool days, and free movies in the HUB!
If you do decide to start the best four years of your life in the summer, I can’t recommend the LEAP program enough! LEAP is a program that gives you the opportunity to take classes of interest or in your major with like-minded students. You’ll have the opportunity to have smaller classes with your LEAP “pride” than you would without one. With a LEAP pride, you’ll have a upperclassman mentor, and 24 peers all living in the same residence hall area as you (which is perfect for study sessions and movie nights). The residence halls are conveniently located near downtown which provides you with some great restaurants to frequent with your new friends!
By enrolling for summer session, you’ll only be taking two classes. This lighter workload really helps you ease your way into college classes, while also putting you six credits ahead of your peers (study abroad anyone?). With a lighter schedule, your LEAP mentor is also there giving you a helping hand through your first few months of college! By taking advantage of their impromptu tours, and picking their brain for the best study spots on campus, you’ll know campus like the back of your hand once you start in the fall (and more importantly, you’ll know when’s the best time to go to Chipotle)!
In my opinion, having the option to start classes in the summer is one of the greatest opportunities for freshman.
By choosing to enroll in a LEAP pride, I was able to meet a great group of like-minded students who helped me make Penn State feel like home. Instead of spending the first few days of my fall semester feeling homesick, I already knew my way around making it easy for me to jump right into the swing of things and make the most of my freshman year!
If you’d like more information on Penn State’s Summer Session or the LEAP program, you can find it here!
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