Before coming to college, many are told that it is going to be ”the best four years of your life.” Although that saying is said to get you excited, it can also be a bit daunting. How exactly am I supposed to make these next four years “the best of my life”?
I had the opportunity to ask three Penn State alumnae for advice. Although two of them, Jill and Ali, are twins, they all shared unique stories and advice that I believe will help current and incoming students find their way to the “best years of their lives.”
- “What bars have the best dance scene?”
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If you are looking for a place to dance, go to The Phyrst, The Lion’s Den or The Gaff. Although The Phyrst and The Lion’s Den may have the best dance scenes, The Gaff has the most lively music to dance and sing along to, and you can’t forget about the colorful pitchers that will keep you there all night long.
Amy reminisces on the late nights she would find herself with a colorful pitcher in her hand while singing “Dancing Queen” at the top of her lungs. A notable mention from Ali was a nightclub, “Indigo,” that closed in 2018.
- “As a nursing student, what was your experience at the Hershey campus?”
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Amy describes the Hershey campus as a cluster of apartments across the street from Hershey Medical Center. There is a building with laundry and a gym for students and staff. There is also a library located in the hospital, which is great for late-night studying.
The apartments were very simple, consisting of four bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom and a living room. She had three roommates with whom she grew very close.
Amy says that she understands why students do a year in Hershey, as her pediatric clinical and others were much better than they would have been at University Park. But, from a social standpoint, there was not much for the students to do.
There are no extracurriculars offered in Hershey like there are at University Park. It was a slow year compared to Amy’s years at the main campus.
Amy said that students filled their time with studying, training for half marathons, working out, jobs, crocheting and watching TV. On weekends, the students would clear out and head to State College or sometimes home.
Amy mentioned that Hershey caused her to become very close with her classmates. With her new friends and a slow year, Amy was refreshed and ready to head back to State College for her senior year.
- “How important is it to get involved in clubs?”
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A big reason why people want to get involved in clubs is to meet new people. The alumnae mentioned that clubs are a great way to make new friends, but another way is through your dorm or apartment.
Meeting new people is not the only reason why someone would want to get involved in clubs. Some other reasons why alumnae think it is important to get involved in clubs are to explore their different interests, buff up their resume and make connections.
The alumnae enjoyed participating in clubs that don’t have affiliation with their majors, such as club cheerleading, theater and intramural sports. This was a good way for the alumnae to continue the interest they pursued in high school in a less intense setting.
Joining clubs can also help students build their resume. Being a part of organizations that are affiliated with your major, such as SNAP (Student Nurses Association of PSU) for nursing majors, allows you to continue to learn and gain experience outside of the classroom. THON was another organization that all the alumnae were a part of, which allowed them to pursue leadership skills and teamwork.
The connections made through clubs can be both social and academic. Students need to make academic connections while still in school, as it will be beneficial to already have a network of people in their profession once they graduate.
It was also noted that clubs help students become well-rounded, as they give them opportunities to socialize, strengthen their academic and professional skills and practice time management. Clubs at a school as big as Penn State also help make the school feel smaller and give students a sense of community.
- “How was your Penn State experience while not in a sorority?”
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None of the alumnae were in Greek life or interested in being in a sorority, but were glad that Penn State had other social opportunities for them to fill that void.
Amy said that SNAP felt very similar to a sorority, as the organization was a group of nursing students who raised money for different events and had socials with fraternities.
Ali recognizes that a lot of people join Greek life for the philanthropy aspect of the community. She talked about how she was able to find philanthropy opportunities elsewhere, such as THON and Pink Zone, which she believes were good alternatives to Greek life.
- “What was your favorite memory at Penn State?”
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It was hard for Jill and Amy to pinpoint one specific memory they would consider their favorite. They both agreed they loved going to tailgates, going to the bars with friends and being involved in their respective organizations.
Amy also enjoyed dancing on the floor for THON and practicing with Harmony. The showcases she enjoyed putting on the most with Harmony were “Frozen” and “Beauty and the Beast.”
Ali was able to pinpoint a favorite memory. One night, her cousin Ben invited Ali, Jill and their friends over to his apartment for a pool party in the middle of January.
Ben and his roommates made a homemade pool with their living room furniture and a tarp. They filled the “pool” with pitchers and bowls of water. They were only able to fill the pool up to their ankles, but they all had a great time.
Another notable memory from that night was the walk to and from the apartment. The cold walks with friends filled with laughter and falling due to ice were fond memories.
Not only did Amy enjoy the laughter-filled walks with friends, but she also enjoyed the silent walks after a long night of studying at the HUB or library when the campus was asleep.
We may all read these alumnae’s advice differently, but what I took away from them is to find your community within the big Penn State community and pour into one another, and create memories that’ll last a lifetime. Within your time at Penn State, there is time for both academics and fun. You must take advantage of both.