For students who wish to attend college after high school, here is a wealth of information about college life.
What is college?
A college is simply an educational institution beyond high school that grants academic degrees. A university is an institution of higher education and research that also grants academic degrees.
What are professors?
A professor is an expert in a particular field of study. Professors teach college classes and many conduct research as well.
When do students go to class?
Classes will be held on campus during the academic year. During the academic year at Penn State, there are three semesters: fall, spring, and summer. Breaks occur in between semesters. Fall semester runs from August through December. January to May makes up the spring semester. Summer semester, late May to mid-August, has two sessions and each session condenses a regular semester into just six weeks. At the end of every semester and session is a final examination period.
What is a major?
A major is what a college student’s specialization. Each major has specific requirements to fulfill before graduation. If a student has completed all of the requirements to the satisfaction of the college, the student will be granted a degree.
What is a degree?
A degree is given to a student after the student has successfully completed the requirements of the major the student had chosen. A degree means that the student is qualified to obtain work in the field the student studied in college. For example, if a student majored in Marketing, the student will be qualified to obtain a job in the field of marketing upon graduation.
Degrees awarded vary depending on the program you study. Most students attending college for the first time will study four-year programs, which will lead to a bachelor’s degree upon graduation. Some students may choose to study a two-year program; this leads to an associate’s degree.
What classes do students take?
Students take a variety of classes while working towards a degree. Some of these classes will be required for a major while other classes may be electives that spark other interests outside of the major. For example, a student in Marketing may take a course in art because the student enjoys painting.
What are finals?
“Finals” is how students refer to the final exam period at the end of each semester or session during the academic year. Typically, professors administer exams that test students’ comprehensive knowledge of information covered during the course.
Where do students go for help with their assignments?
Professors will help you out if you are having trouble with an assignment. Some professors have teaching assistants (graduate students who are capable of providing help to the professor and to the class) who will also help you. In addition, some colleges have learning centers that offer tutors in subjects like writing and mathematics.
Where do students live while in school? What about food?
Students may have a variety of housing options depending on where a particular college is in relation to home. For those students who attend college near home, they may opt to continue living at home while in school. For students who live too far to commute daily, many colleges offer on-campus housing during the academic year. Off-campus housing (typically not affiliated with a college) is a popular option. In all of these scenarios, you may have to live with a roommate so check out our tips for a successful roommate experience.
If you choose to live on campus, colleges provide dining options for on-campus residents. Some colleges may require you to purchase a meal plan, which will give you access to their available dining options. Depending on the setting of your college, a nearby town may offer additional, off-campus dining choices. Of the 20 Penn State campuses, 10 of the campuses offer on-campus housing and dining for residents.
What do students do outside of class?
Depending on the college you choose, your school could offer a multitude of activities, including volunteer work, sports, clubs, Greek life, and honors societies. Penn State offers over 1,200 clubs and organizations in all of these areas and more. Please visit Campus and Student life for more information.
What do I need to do to go to college?
Of course, in order to get into college, you may have to fulfill some requirements before you arrive. Penn State has requirements and recommendations for all students applying for admissions. Check out our Recommendations if you would like more detail about choosing the best high school schedule to prepare you for college coursework.
Remember, an important part of your application is grade point average (GPA). Most colleges consider your GPA from ninth through eleventh grades when making an admissions decision. At Penn State, your GPA accounts for two-thirds of that decision.
Also, a strong application many times may is not complete without additional information such as extracurricular activities or a personal statement. Penn State does not require but strongly recommends that you submit a list of your activities and a personal statement.
NOTE: Some programs have additional requirements or special admission requirements. For example, if you are interested in majoring Marketing at Penn State, you will need to complete one-half unit of trigonometry or a higher-level math within the required three units of math while you are in high school.
Recommendations:
If you are thinking about attending college after high school, schedule college preparatory courses. If your school offers honors, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate courses, you should consider scheduling these courses to prepare yourself for the rigor of academics in college. Keep in mind this list of requirements and recommendations for admission:
- four units of English are required;
- five units in any combination of foreign language, social studies, arts, and humanities are required, though we recommend at least two units of the same foreign language;
- three units of mathematics are required, though four units are recommended;
- three units of science are required, but four units are recommended, especially for those students interested in sciences and engineering;
- additional courses as your academic interests determine; for example, take art and music courses if you are considering attending college for these subjects.
I have lots of interests, so what should I study?
Typically, colleges offer an array of majors for students to study. Penn State offers over 160 different majors from Accounting to Women’s Studies. If you would like to explore various careers, visit the Exploring Career Information map provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Also, talk to your high school counselor and your parents about your academic interests. Furthermore, job shadowing may provide you with more insight into majors or careers you are interested in.
What happens when I graduate?
Most colleges offer both four-year and two-year programs. Four-year programs will lead to a bachelor’s degree while two-year programs will lead to an associate’s degree. Admission requirements vary slightly depending on whether you choose a four-year program or a two-year program.
For example, if you choose to major in Marketing, you will be in a four-year program; when you graduate, you will have a bachelor’s degree in Marketing. If you choose to major in a two-year Science program, you will graduate with an associate’s degree in Science.
Many schools offer career services that will help you locate a job before and after graduation. Penn State’s Career Services offers recruiting tools to students in an effort to help them find a job, which includes online job postings to Nittany Lion Recruiting and job fairs.
If you choose to continue your education in graduate or professional school, career services and academic departments will also help you choose the right path. Penn State offers career counseling and online resources to aid students considering an advanced degree.
How do I start a career?
If you are in high school or a recent college graduate, starting a career may seem like a daunting task, but there are many on-line resources that could help you. CareerShip helps you to match your interests with careers you may enjoy. Also, job shadowing in your area may also help to narrow down your choices before applying for employment.
How do I pay for college?
Paying for college is simple if you have done your research and prepared well in advance of the first day of class. Your first resource may be to start an interest-bearing savings account. If you have a part-time job, try putting some of your paycheck into a savings account regularly.
529 college savings plans may be offered by your state. 529 plans allow investors to save money in an account in which the earnings will grow free from federal income tax and, when used to pay for higher education expenses, may be withdrawn federal income tax-free.
Loans, grants, and scholarships are commonly used to pay for education. To qualify for these resources, you need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) after you have applied to college. Though the FAFSA is not necessarily required to receive scholarships, it is recommended that you fill out the form regardless of eligibility. Penn State's Office of Student Aid has some suggested private scholarship search engines.
How do I get more information about Penn State? Can I visit?
If you would like more information about Penn State, please visit Undergraduate Admissions. To schedule a visit at one of the campuses, you can use our interactive map. If you have any questions not addressed on this website, please call the Undergraduate Admissions Office for further assistance.
