staff writer: sophie machesky
The difference between senior year of high school and freshman year of college is overwhelming. After being in the same town and school district for most of your life, transitioning to a new and unfamiliar campus and area of town is nerve wracking.
When I first started college, I had chosen one that no one else from my high school decided to go to. I had one day on campus with my family helping me move in before I was left on my own. As someone who battled my freshman fears, I find it my duty to help you with your first semester at Penn State Fayette, the Eberly Campus.
Tip #1: Familiarize Yourself with Campus
I am the type of anxious person that needs to have full awareness of my surroundings before making any decisions. For example, if I’m going to a new restaurant I will look up how to get there, where to park, and what I’m going to order the day before. I simply need to be prepared for every possible situation. Starting at a new college is no different than that!
A few days before classes start, you should visit campus and see where every building is and where your classes are located. Your schedule should be available to you on Lionpath. After you sign in, click on Enrollment. You can then see your Fall 2024 class schedule. Here you can see your courses with the instructor’s name and when and where the classes take place. For example, a class might say Eberly Bldg 205. This means that your class is on the second floor of the Eberly building. If you’re unsure where any building or room is, make sure to familiarize yourself with your schedule before the first day of classes.
Tip #2: Introduce Yourself to Your Professors
I have found it handy to acquaint myself with my professors before the semester begins simply by sending them an email and letting them know I look forward to being in their class this semester. This is a professional way to introduce yourself and to also build a conversation about the course structure and any materials you’ll need to buy for the class. I always ask my professors what books I will need to buy before classes start in order to get the best deals.
Tip #3: Find Cheap Books
If you don’t feel comfortable emailing your professors, you can still get an idea of what books and/or materials you should buy for their classes by utilizing the online bookstore. Here, you can sign in to your Penn State account and the bookstore will breakdown what materials you should buy for each of your classes. However, you should never use the bookstore as your only source. Copy and paste the books’ ISBNs into google to find better deals. No one cares about having the newest editions of books. Scour around the internet for deals on used copies that have much better prices. I’ve also had luck using our library for rentals of some required books. Remember to only use the bookstore as your last resource!
Tip #4: Put Yourself Out There
College can feel like a chore if you’re only going to campus to attend your classes then go home immediately after, which is exactly what I did my first semester. It can be so boring to not have anything to do but study.
I think it is vital to the college experience to make as many friends as you can. The easiest way I’ve found to put myself out there is by joining clubs. The first week of every semester is Club Rush where on the bottom floor of the Williams Building you can find posters and sign up sheets for all of the clubs and organizations that Penn State Fayette offers. If you’d like to learn more about them, you can click here.
Our clubs meet about twice a month and all of them host activities that bring the members together. I thrived by joining the Roaring Lion Newspaper (i.e. the club that brings you this article!). Here I found students that I have many similarities with. I highly recommend joining a club that speaks to you. I just knew the newspaper would be right for me… and it was!
There are events constantly happening on campus, too! Keep checking your email and the Student Activities Advisory Council (SAAC) Calendar for fun events.
Lastly, if you ever have any questions, don’t be afraid to ask! All anyone on campus wants to see is your succeeding. Feel free to reach out to anyone. And if you need some friends, why not join the Roaring Lion Newspaper?
