aromy621

I just got accepted, but If I were to attend I'd have to start in the summer and then after the summer session i would begin the regular fall classes with the other freshman.

What do you guys think? Any personal experiences?

sax

Friends of sons initially sad over "losing" their summer. As soon as it started they were so happy and had an excellent time. Not one regretted having to go.

jcrowe

a work friend of mine in his late twenties says he wishes he had done summer session when he first went to PSU. Says many of his buddies did and that it was an awesome experience for them. That it was a really good time, and that summer session students had the upper hand over all the incoming freshman in the fall because they were totally acclimated, knew their way around when the other 35,000 students rolled in etc.. He said he highly recommends it and also said "what else would your son do but try to get a lousy summer job and hang out?" Thought that was a good point. Said some of his buds who did it are still tight...major bonding experience.

momwriter

My son started in the summer (he did the LEAP program) and initially he wasn't too thrilled about giving up his summer. He started at PSU two weeks after his h.s. graduation, and then of course there's only a week between the end of summer semester and the start of fall, so he really had no summer break at all.

However, he is now very glad he did the summer session. There are a lot of advantages. Most importantly, you get used to the campus and the college system when the campus is less crowded (it's still not empty by any stretch, but it's much less crowded than in fall). Also, you ease your way into college courses since you most likely will only be taking 6 credits. So you can get used to the workload, homework, etc. when you aren't swamped with lots of classes. It also seems easier to make friends in the summer, maybe because you are in smaller classes.

Another advantage: if you keep maintaining a full credit load after summer session, you will always be a few credits ahead of others in your grade level who didn't go in the summer. This means you will get to schedule your classes first - and, believe me, that can make a big difference.

Most of the kids I know who went in the summer later said they were very glad they did.

aromy621

thanks! i appreciate the feedback. It all sounds positive to me. I will definately consider it more now that i've heard your stories!

rodney

^^ outsider here, but IMO at a school like Penn State (or the like) summer session is usually a very social, funtime....

for some, it might be even a better choice than "hanging" out at home......

not for everyone, but definitely not a "bad" place to spend the summer; it's not called "happy valley" for nothing....

shogunzek

From what my friend has told me about summer (she just did it this summer) she had a lot of fun and the parties were definitely better than they are around here and she met a lot of cool people, she said. She only had two classes and she would be done by noon every day, and she was able to take one fewer class during the fall. Plus I'm going to be there so it'll be awesome regardless.

LTMREM

My son did LEAP this past summer and while he definetely was not happy about giving up his summer-he was very glad he did. He said that it was so much easier in the fall adjusting to everything. Plus there was a lot to do over the summer. He certainly did more things by spending his summer at school than he would have done back home. Good luck on whatever you decide.

npc109

In my opinion, unless you want to or need to be at a branch, you should want to start at UP. You shouldn't look at it like its "summer school"...You basically go to class for 12 hours a week, do some homework, and the rest of it is free time..Here you can meet other people and establish a circle of friends before the chaos of the fall semester begins. The classes that you take are like Introductory Economics and Intro English Composition...It's not like you'll be taking calculus...You can enjoy a large University that's operating at 1/3rd capacity...Play golf at the White or Blue Course, swim outside the Natatorium, play tennis and volleyball in the warm weather, go hiking or fishing at any of surrounding areas, etc...

yeah yeah I know a lot of HS kids have problems letting go for that last summer, but to start at UP as opposed to a branch is completely worth going to the summer session. PSU is half a book education and half a social education, so do whatever you can to maximize both.

If you start at UP, you will be immersed in the whole Penn State world starting from day 1. You can go to football games much more easily and become more involved in other campus sports and activities like Greek Life or The Collegian or any of the myriad of other organizations.

As momwriter says below, first priority for scheduling is also a huge +.

FYI - I went to UP as a freshman but didn't have to do summer session......

GOOD LUCK!

slipjig

If I didn't need to earn some money, I would have preferred to start in the summer.

secondonein

remember there is an extra cost to this session tuition, room & Board, books and your not earning any money! Im not a fan of summer start. Im sure you'll have a great time as it is the #1 party school in the nation!