PSU 4 YOU!

What is it like to be an international student?

Need some help with studying?

What is Dance Marathon?

First Year Experience - One Student's Experience at Penn State

Update on First Year Experience - Update of Karin's First Year at Penn State

Sophomore Year with Karin Kaskiel - Continuation of Karin's Experience at Penn State

Penn State is a great school for many reasons, but one of the most amazing things about this university is the diversity it has to offer!  PSU has a variety of students from all over the country and the world!  This provides amazing opportunities for both the international and American students to share and learn from each others' cultures and points of view.  Coming to a school as far away as Penn State may seem intimidating to prospective international students; however it's not as scary as it seems!  Penn State has a strong network of resources and community for international students. To find out more about what it is like to be an international student at Penn State, read on!

Meet Ishika Aggarwal, a woman engineering student majoring in Computer Engineering, Class of 2005.  She comes from Chandigarh, India, which is near the foothills of the Himalayas.  As many other women engineering students, she participated in WEPO her first year at Penn State.
 

What was your biggest challenge coming to Penn State as an international student?

"I think interacting with new cultures and people helped me a lot and was an experience that has taught me a lot.  It has made me more independent and I have learned to make my own decisions. Also for the first time I did my own laundry and dishes!"

What type of resources have been available to you as an international student?

"The one week long orientation for the international students is good because one can get easily aquatinted with the campus and make friends before the other students come in."

Ishika and her WEPO Team work on their WEPO Design Project together.

What advice would you give to a prospective international student considering PSU?

"As for the prospective international students, the only advice I can think of is to make the most out of this opportunity since very few can avail to it.  Also, never to be shy, to ask questions and as far as the studies are concerned, just be up to date with your homework and assignments."

What is one of your favorite things about PSU and why would you recommend coming here?

"One of the best things that I have experienced is that I can interact with so many people here from different countries and religions.  This gave me a chance to come out of my shell and make new friends.  It is a great experience to leave your country and live in a new one considering the culture difference.  (Though there are a whole lot of times when you feel homesick, but then the internet is always available.)"

Ishika on a Scavenger Hunt with her WEPO Team

 

Interview by: Claire Martin, Class of 2003, Industrial Engineering   Submission Date: Fall 2001

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Study Skills?

Ok so you're really excited about college!  But you are also nervous and you wonder, "What will the classes be like?  Can I really be an engineer?  Are my courses going to be impossible? Do engineers ever get study breaks?"  Well I had these same questions before I started college too. 

So here to give you some advice is former WEP Mentor Michelle Poulos, a graduate of the Penn State Mechanical Engineering Program, Class of 2002, who was a top-notch student and former head of the Women in Engineering Program's Facilitated Study Groups Program.  While at Penn State, she tutored first- and second-year women engineering students in classes that are required of engineering students and are somewhat troublesome for some students.  She has some good advice on how to make sure you do your best while at Penn State.  Learn what you can do from day one that will make a difference in your entire college career.

In your opinion what skills are important to master or bring with you in the transition between high school and college?

"Self-discipline and time-management are two of the most important study skills for a college student to have. In college, the classes are harder and the workload is heavier, but unless you have a very motherly roommate, there is no one constantly looking over your shoulder to keep you on track. So it is important for YOU to decide from the beginning that you are going to get your work done before anything else."

What is one tip you have for new students to help them stay on top of their work when they come to college?

"Buy some sort of day planner.  Use it. If you need to, plan busy days hour by hour. Even if you don't follow it to the minute, you will almost definitely get more done that day than if you didn't plan at all."

What are the benefits to being tutored?

"The well-known benefits of tutoring include getting help with tricky concepts and, in the case of study groups, getting to study and do homework with a group of peers in the same situation. The somewhat lesser known benefits include having an hour or two every week where you know you will be working on the same subject with the same people.  Getting into a routine means that the homework will get done, and studying for mid-terms and finals won't get crammed into the night before."

What have you gained from tutoring or being tutored?

"I personally have had a great experience with WEP Study Groups. As a facilitator, I got to know a group of women throughout the course of the semester, and at the end of the semester, I felt that I had made a difference in their lives, just by spending an hour a week with them. Not to mention that I got to brush up on some long forgotten differential equations!"

Interview by: Amy Brewer, Class of 2003, Industrial Engineering   Submission Date: Fall 2002

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Dance Marathon 

What is it? . . . and How does it set Penn State Apart?

If you want to know what THON is, then read on!  Former Penn State student, Rachel Ehalt, Class of 2002, Architectural Engineering, was very much involved with THON during her time at Penn State.  Below she talks about THON 2002 and shares what THON is about and how it affected her life, as well as the lives of many others.

"Thanks so much for asking me about THON!  As you may have guessed, it’s one of the few things I’m truly passionate about, and I am always MORE than willing to answers THON-related questions.  I tend to get a little emotional about THON.  :o)

This year [2002] Penn State Inter Fraternity Council (IFC)/Pan-Hellenic Dance Marathon will be held during the weekend of February 22nd.  THON (as it is affectionately called) is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world.  It is a 48-hour event – no sitting, no sleeping, no kidding!  All the funds raised on behalf of Penn State Dance Marathon go toward the Four Diamonds Fund of Hershey Medical Center to help pay for pediatric cancer treatment and research.  Last year’s THON [2001] brought in over $3.6 million for Four Diamonds, making it the largest annual donation to date.  Throughout the 30-year history of THON, over $17 million has been raised in the effort to conquer childhood cancer!

THON is undisputedly the most unifying event on the Penn State campus.  Although it is sponsored by IFC and Pan-Hellenic, the list of student organizations active with THON stretches far past the Greek system.  Athletes, academic clubs, volunteer organizations and the Commonwealth campuses are just some of the other groups that participate in Dance Marathon.  THON is the collective effort of over 4,000 students who plan and coordinate for an entire year to make this event possible.  The popularity of being a THON dancer has grown so much that the number of dancers has been limited to approximately 700.   A friendly competition within the organizations has fostered positive results, including incentive for raising money, and dancers who are happy to stand on their feet for 48 hours. 

My involvement in THON has been very extensive over the last five years.  I initially got involved when my roommate’s tutor encouraged us to apply for positions.  For two years I was on the Operations committee, the set-up and clean-up crew for THON.  My junior year at Penn State I was chosen for the Morale committee, which is the group appointed for ensuring the dancers stay happy and awake.  I also served as the THON chairperson for the Society of Women Engineers.  This meant I was the liaison between the overall committee and our organization.  My fourth year at PSU, I chose to dance, which I still regard as the biggest accomplishment of my life thus far.  And finally, I have spent the last six months as a Receptions Captain.  Our committee was in charge of the First Annual THON 5K, the Family Carnival, and the Kick Off Dinner, all of  which promote THON and raise awareness for the cause.

I regularly give prospective students tours for the Admissions office, and my favorite portion of the tour is always the part where we highlight Rec Hall, the current venue for Dance Marathon.  What is even more fun is when a fellow tour guide and I fight over which one of us will be the lucky person to tell everyone about this remarkable event.  As you may have guessed, the spirit of Dance Marathon is highly contagious.  If I had to pick one word to describe THON, which is certainly no easy task, I would have to say “magic.”  The extensive involvement, determination, and commitment of the students who are, literally, from all aspects of campus life, is breathtaking.  It’s inspiring.  It’s invigorating.  It’s the best thing Penn State has to offer (in my opinion).  Among all the unique experiences that have come out of THON for me - getting to design the 5K logo, meeting the children, saying I stood up for 48 hours, standing in the middle of a highway asking for money - my favorite thing about THON remains to be the compassion that is illustrated through the course of the event and its planning.  To me, seeing all these people unite for this one special cause is incredible.  Or in another word, magic.

Hearing and reading about Dance Marathon will never amount to actually witnessing Dance Marathon.  If you have the opportunity to be at Penn State during the weekend of February 22nd [or any THON weekend], I would say, hands down, this could be the opportunity of a lifetime.  It can take a lot of convincing for a person to make a 3-hour drive just to see a bunch of college kids stand around on a dance floor, but I can guarantee that it is much more than that.  For me, if I had been a high school student deciding between Penn State and another school, and I had stumbled upon the Penn State Dance Marathon, it would not be a decision anymore.  I would be going to Penn State!  As I approach graduation in May, I am able to reflect upon my time here, and I can say whole-heartedly that being involved in THON has been one of the most influential milestones of my life, and I will forever associate Penn State with the selfless commitment of its students. 

Submitted by: Rachel Ehalt, Class of 2002, Architectural Engineering   Submission Date: Spring 2002

This past year, 2003, THON raised a grand total of $3,600,793.18, an amazing amount of money, especially for one event.  As you can probably tell, THON is a BIG deal at Penn State and I hope every one of you will get involved during your time at Penn State.  If nothing else, stop in and see for yourself what all the hype is about, and maybe make a donation to the cause.  You can even make donations online at the THON website.  For more information on THON, please go to their website.

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First Year Experience

"Hello!  My name is Karin Kaskiel and I am new member of the Women in
Engineering Program.  I am writing to tell you of my wonderful experiences on the PSU campus.  My hometown is Harrisburg, PA.  Although in the College of Engineering a major is not declared until the end of the third semester, I am
heading in the direction of Mechanical Engineering.  After much thought, I decided on this major because it involves design and creativity.  This was a plus for me because I have a great interest in art and design as well as math and Physics.  So far the major seems to be fitting my interests perfectly.
 

"Because of its excellent location, I chose to live in West Residence Halls.  There aren't many freshman here but the majority of the Engineering classes are nearby.  The rooms are also larger and the food is great here!  I chose PSU because I had always felt very comfortable with the campus and it was always so exciting to me.  When I decided to major in Engineering, my
decision was reaffirmed since the program at Penn State is so prestigious.

"After my first few days of school, I knew that I had made the right choice.  My classes fulfilled my desire to learn and challenged me.  I met a lot of great professors while meeting many new students with similar career goals.  In a nutshell, Penn State has already offered me everything I could possibly ask for in a college: great professors, wonderful social life, extensive learning, and so many resources at the tips of my fingers.  I am certainly glad to be here!"

Submitted by Karin Kaskiel, Class of 2005, Mechanical Engineering   Submission Date: Fall 2001

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After a semester at Penn State, Karin was asked for an update on how she was doing adjusting to college life.  It seems that she has been very busy!  Read on to find out what Karin has been up to.

"Hello.  Its Karin Kaskiel, the Mechanical Engineering student here to tell you what is up with me.  It is finally  springtime and I am still just as happy as ever with PSU!  The semester started off with 17 new credits and a move to Pollock halls.  My classes include Math 231, 221, Bio 141, Physics 211, Philosophy 5, E G 497, and S T S 497. (I'll explain the last two later).  Boy was it good to get back into the swing of things!  I noticed immediately that classes were a bit harder and required a lot more work.  I did not particularly enjoy last semester's experience in chemistry so I opted to take Bio 141 instead, which is physiology.  This class is tough but very interesting.  The Philosophy 5 course is an elective and focuses a lot on art, music, and film.  It is a lovely break from all the math and science I am surrounded by.  I began my WISER (Women in Science and Engineering Research) program with Dr. Dhushy Sathianathan.  Currently I am enrolled in the previously mentioned E G 497 which is a graphics class dedicated to the basic learning of the program ProENGINEER 2001.  This is similar to CAD but more efficient and more widely used in industry.  I will be doing individual work with Dr. Sathianathan when I conclude the tutorial.  The S T S 497 class is a Global awareness class that is required for any overseas interning or school sponsored trips.

"I will be going to France in May for industry tours.  This is as a result of my ED&G 100H class last semester.  Our final project was in a design competition with students in France and my group won!  We were all awarded the opportunity to go to France to tour the industry at the Univercity de Artois in Bethune.  I, of course, jumped on the opportunity.  For now, I am working harder than ever but loving it.  Spring break is coming up soon and I am very excited about my plans to visit a friend at USC in South Carolina and then head to Myrtle Beach.  As for social life here, I would be a fool to complain.  Opportunities just keep presenting themselves to me and I can't wait to see what other doors will open for me in the future!"

Submitted by: Karin Kaskiel, Class of 2005, Mechanical Engineering   Submission Date: Spring 2002

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Sophomore Year with Karin Kaskiel

"Hello.  My name is Karin Kaskiel and I participated in PSU4you when I was a freshman.  I have just began my junior year here at Penn State and a lot has happened since!  Sophomore year flew by with all of the activities I involved
myself in.  I started the year as a WEPO rover, or a "go to girl" for Women in Engineering Program Orientation 2002.  That got me ready to jump into my semester with my first taste of actual Engineering classes.  I lived in the dorms on my sorority floor, which is always bustling with activity.  For example, I was elected Greek Sing Chair.  In this position I was to coordinate part of a musical (we did The Wizard of Oz) to be performed in front of a large audience by members of my sorority and members of one fraternity.  It was hard work but truly and unforgettable experience.  I also became the PSU Dance Marathon (THON) Assistant Chair for my sorority.
 

"Another opportunity I jumped on was the Instructor Training Program (ITP).  This was a gym class that teaches people to become fitness instructors for the Penn State Fitness Program.  It was a very rigorous training program, but a lot of
fun too.  It included five hours of class per week and the attendance of three additional fitness classes each week.  Later in the fall I was elected my sorority treasurer, which is a great honor and a great responsibility.  In this position I am in charge of 85 members' dues and all the chapter finances.

"Before I knew it was the Spring semester.  I had a few more engineering classes to add to the list but was ready and excited to take them on.  Acting as treasurer I had to attend weekly executive board meetings for my sorority to discuss important chapter decisions.  To further involve myself in THON, I joined a Communications Committee that dealt with Residence Halls' awareness of THON.  Because I had completed the first part of ITP, I was able to become a
junior instructor.  I had one class to myself to teach and a few others to slowly takeover as a senior instructor.  I also applied for and got appointed to be a WEPO mentor for 2003.  As the year flew by I decided to stay at Penn State for the second summer semester and catch up on two classes that I needed to take.

"Now I'm back at PSU and I'm as busy as ever.  Don't get me wrong though, I like all the activity. It's just so great being at a school were there is so much to do."

Submitted by Karin Kaskiel, Class of 2005, Mechanical Engineering   Submission Date: Fall 2003

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