Summer session, LEAP student...? Find friends and discuss options on your thread here

Colleges & Universities Penn State
1

You’ve been admitted to Penn State, starting in the Summer session. Congratulations :clap: :tada: You’re about to learn and grow…and have the time of your life.
You want to talk with other students in that situation, to discuss LEAP (and all the ways no one seems to ever regret doing it), or anything?
This is your thread :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:
OPEN TO LEAP ALUMNI too.

2 Likes
2

Waiting to get into summer

2 Likes
3

Keeping my fingers crossed for you. I know the wait is excruciating :hugs::hugs:

1 Like
4

Thank you! We would love to connect with other LEAP students and parents on here.

5

@jlhpsu : wondering if you’d be okay popping back in just to tell your kids’ stories about LEAP and Summer session, since one got it instead of Fall (perhaps reluctantly) and the other chose to go Summer rather than Fall :grinning_face:
It may kickstart the discussion for students who were already admitted and are wondering about the experience.

6

Have you heard yet?

7

2 v 2 my friend.

8

Following this thread, as my son is really interested in the LEAP program!

2 Likes
9

Both my PSU alums were in LEAP. My (future)DiL was not. She wandered that summer, mainly alone, without connections or a working knowledge of the most basic campus necessities — but her mom had insisted she not “waste” time and money on a program the Mom perceived as less-than, for students who needed help. Even local students do LEAP.

OTOH, both my kids spent the summer with a small group of freshmen, herded around by a willing upperclass student who was paid to get them oriented, take them places, show them around, lift any homesickness. ( Two of my oldest’s cohort were just in his wedding nearly a decade later. )

Penn State is not very forgiving for new students. There’s not a lot of help for those who aren’t super organized already, or super social. LEAP is the very best program they have ever come up with and it is rare to find students who regret a summer in LEAP.

People worry about which pair of classes to take but it really doesn’t matter. That decisionis really influenced by potential major – hard sciences may want to save gen eds for an easier term later; other people may want to get those out of the way early on. In both cases, the extra credits make it possible to have a term, later, with slihtly fewer credits or fit in a minor.

2 Likes
10

this is great advice. My kids did LEAP - not because that had to academically, because they had to from parenting.

Advantages:

  • start the college process early. get those August nerves taken care of!
  • get 6 credits ahead.
  • take a hard class or an intensive class (English). get it out of the way!
  • summer is a little more relaxed. smaller classes, easier to connect with professors.
  • small cohort of students to make friends with.
  • learn campus!
  • figure out roommate life, dining hall living, and time management in a smaller environment
  • hit the ground running when return in fall

Disadvantages:

  • give up summer if that is needed for summer job or family vacation
  • cost
3 Likes
11

Thank you for this. We also required our son to apply directly to the Summer session despite his very strong academics. He does not do well with change (it takes him a bit longer than his peers to adjust) so we are hoping LEAP will help. I love all the benefits you listed. I also read somewhere that they focus on study skills and time management?

2 Likes