<p>I will be attending Penn State - Lehigh Valley starting this Fall. </p>
<p>I have seen many “Groups” on Facebook for the Penn State class of 2018 (my class) to talk to their future classmates and find roommates. It’s a good way to meet some people before actually starting college formally.</p>
<p>But this Facebook group seems to be centered around University Park. The overwhelming majority of posters are people looking for roommates at main campus.</p>
<p>For those going to branch campuses, I am not seeing any groups or ways for us to meet our future classmates and make friends.</p>
<p>In high school (and pretty much all of my life) I have been more reserved and have had a very shallow social life. I have never really built a social life outside of school. I want to change that in college, and it would be nice to talk to my future classmates before we actually begin college in August. </p>
<p>Does anyone know of any groups/websites/forums where Penn State Lehigh Valley (or any branch campus) students can talk with each other?</p>
<p>Make a post in the main group and ask if there are any like you. Then form a group of your own.</p>
<p>If the campus is close or there are a lot of attendees (find out) that currently live within a 30 mile or so radius you can organize a get together–a great way to get to know them beforehand.
–Or if you live near, get involved in summer activities with various organizations in advance, chances are they will be open in hopes of recruiting you.</p>
<p>Yeah, I might make a group of my own on Facebook.</p>
<p>The branch campus that I’m going to is relatively small (no more students than a lot of high schools). It has around 900 total students. More than half are probably Freshman and Sophomores, because many transfer to main campus after 2 years.</p>
<p>So even though it’s small, I could get to know many people well. I will be playing on the golf team (as long as I make it in tryouts, which the coach has already informed me that I will “fit in well”), so that’s already something I’ll be involved in.</p>
<p>I have student orientation in late June so maybe I will meet some people that way, too. But my parents will be going with me…kind of awkward.</p>
<p>Your parents will be separated from you a lot during orientation (by design), likely. :)</p>
<p>Or you can just wait till you arrive on campus, then build your friendship based on what you experience, rather than online conversation, which in itself can be a bit unauthentic to peoples true intentions.
Best of luck to you.</p>
<p>Also use freshman orientation as a way to get to know new people. Go to all the events…go down your hall and invite people to go. Gather up people to go to the dining all. </p>