DUS News - February 8, 2021
As you reflect on the connection between your interests and particular majors, we ask you to consider how the process of major choice connects to a career. Choosing a major is not the same thing as choosing a career path. Rather, a well-thought-out choice in major, coupled with meaningful experiences outside of the classroom, can lead to a whole host of career paths directly or indirectly related to your major title. Search career options and interests through My Next Move, and see how alumni connect their major to careers through LinkedIn to start your exploration today.
To Do:
- Browse the My Next Move resource and write down a list of careers to talk about with your adviser
- Create a LinkedIn profile
- Filter through over 420,000 Penn State alumni to see their major to career connections
- Make an appointment with your adviser to discuss your findings
- Utilize Career Services for help in building your LinkedIn Profile
Last week's topic: How Do I Connect My Interests to Penn State Majors?
Next week's topic: How Do I Make Decisions?
You can schedule an appointment with your DUS adviser (at University Park and at some campus locations) online via Starfish. To do this, log in to Starfish, and click the "My Success Network" icon on your homepage to display your personalized network. This channel lists the people and resources that are available to assist you, including your assigned DUS academic adviser. If online scheduling is enabled, you will see a link to make an appointment (if not, you can always contact your adviser or your advising office directly). For more information or step-by-step instructions, please visit the Starfish Information website.
- February 9 (Tues)
- Wellness Day - NO CLASSES - February 11 (Thurs)
- DUS Success Series - Leverage Your Involvement - February 15 (Mon)
- Return to in-person classes, where applicable - February 18 (Thurs)
- DUS Success Series - Fellowships 101
Are you considering law school? If so, you may know that law schools do not have any preferred majors or require any pre-requisite courses. DUS students interested in law school should work closely with their advisers to find a major that is a good fit for their strengths and interests that will help them build strong reading, writing, and critical thinking skills.
Pre-Law Advising is housed in DUS and has resources available to all students who are interested in law school. Start learning more about law school and how to prepare by attending a Pre-Law Orientation Session. To find out about other law-related events across the University, sign up for the Pre-Law Advising listserv.
Do you want to develop leadership skills while helping other exploratory students find their niche in college? Do you want to give back to the DUS community while gaining professional communication skills? You may want to learn more about the DUS Leadership Council. To be invited to apply for the Leadership Council, you must be nominated by your academic adviser no later than Monday, March 1, 2021. Make an appointment with your adviser before this date to learn more about the opportunity and to ask to be formally nominated.
Eligibility requirements and more information can be found on the DUS Leadership Council website.
The Presidential Leadership Academy (PLA) is seeking 30 inquisitive, diverse, and hard-working first-year students to join in the legacy of many successful and ambitious student leaders. Some benefits to joining the program include critical thinking classes led by President Barron, access to research and travel funding, and fully funded field trips to cities like Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Nashville, and more. Applications are due February 8 by 11:59 p.m. To learn more, go to the Presidential Leadership Academy prospective student page. For questions email mif3@psu.edu.
DUS will be holding group advising sessions throughout the semester as a way to discuss popular advising topics with groups of students. These sessions are open to all DUS students and will help you to learn more about the topic and to ask questions in a friendly, open environment. For more information on each session, including dates and times, visit the DUS Group Advising website. All sessions will be held via Zoom.
Upcoming Spring 2021 Sessions
February 11, 4:00 p.m.: DUS Success Series: Leverage Your Involvement
February 18, 4:00 p.m.: DUS Success Series: Fellowships 101
Interested in becoming a resident assistant (RA) at University Park? The Office of Residence Life is opening the application process for new RAs. To qualify for the program, students must have completed 12 Penn State credits upon application (does NOT include advanced placement, transfer, or current semester credits). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate good academic standing with at least a 2.40 cumulative GPA.
To apply to be a part of the spring 2021 process, you must attend one of the RA information sessions via Zoom webinar. Session dates and additional information can be found on the Resident Assistant website.
Students thinking about going to law school should sign up for an information session before scheduling an individual appointment with the pre-law adviser. Two kinds of sessions are available throughout the semester: “Pre-Law Orientation” and “Applying to Law School.” See details, dates/times, and registration instructions at Pre-Law Information Sessions webpage. All of the sessions will be held via Zoom webinar this semester. Note: These sessions fill quickly.
Have a question that can be resolved in a short 5–10 minute conversation? Join us for quick question advising via Zoom on the dates and times below. Some of these topics include: discussing adding/dropping courses within deadlines; getting a form signed; using LionPATH; reviewing entrance-to-major requirements; learning about general education information not related to schedule planning; and transferring credits. Quick question advising is not intended for in-depth conversations.
For students enrolled in DUS:
- Click here for quick question advising via Zoom - Please note that a DUS adviser is only available during the times listed below. All times are Eastern Time.
Monday 1:00–3:00 p.m. Tuesday 9:00–11:00 a.m. Wednesday 9:00–11:00 a.m. Thursday 1:00–3:00 p.m. Friday No Quick Question Advising
For students not enrolled in DUS:
- Use our online form to submit a question. Use your Penn State email.
Passionate about health and wellness? HealthWorks, a peer health education outreach program in Health Promotion and Wellness, is currently recruiting student volunteers to become Peer Health Educators for the 2021–22 academic year. The deadline for applications is March 5, 2021. Students from all majors are encouraged to apply.
The HealthWorks program offers student volunteers two unique opportunities to share and promote health information on campus. These opportunities include:
- One-on-one wellness services for students
- Outreach activities and educational workshops
To learn more about the Peer Health Educator position or HealthWorks, visit the HealthWorks website.
Looking for help with your courses? Penn State Learning (PSL) is offering their tutoring and guided study groups both online and in-person this semester.
Guided Study Groups (GSG): Access the date, time, and Zoom link for the GSG through Canvas.
Tutoring: Students can get tutoring for math and writing through PSL. Students can reserve a tutoring time through Starfish by clicking on the appropriate service tile under “Your Services.” Language tutoring has been temporarily suspended.
Visit Penn State Learning's website for more information.
Interested in a degree in public policy? The School of Public Policy is hosting a series of virtual info sessions about Penn State's Master of Public Policy (MPP) program. The sessions will include a current student, director of advising, and director of professional development and student engagement. They will discuss curriculum, degree requirements, career options and earning potential for graduates, programs for undergraduate students at Penn State (IUG programs), the program's unique professional development and career placement programming, and more. Info sessions will be held throughout the semester beginning Wednesday, February 3, 2021. Complete details on the virtual events, including schedule and registration links can be found on the School of Public Policy's website.
Interested in doing undergraduate research but not sure where to start? Students looking to learn more about how to become involved in research as undergraduates are encouraged to attend workshops organized by University Libraries and Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Mentoring.
The workshops cover everything undergraduate students need to know, including defining research and discovery opportunities, using research ethics and emotional intelligence, designing an effective research poster, and preparing to present at the Undergraduate Exhibition.
Research opportunities are available for undergraduates in all fields of study. While inquiry in the social sciences may look different from the arts, which looks different from engineering, the process of discovery and asking questions is similar across the disciplines. Previous experience with research is not required to participate in the workshops.
For a full list of research and fellowship opportunities, visit the Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Mentoring website.
Smeal Student Mentors is an organization dedicated to assisting first-year students in Smeal with their transition to college. If you are a current sophomore with a 3.2 GPA or above and have a conditional or permanent offer to a Smeal major, consider applying to become a Smeal Student Mentor! In this role, you will help answer first-year students' questions about academics, getting involved, and taking advantage of Penn State's many opportunities and events. For more information and to apply to be a mentor, visit the Smeal Student Mentor website. Application deadline: March 1, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. EST.
Tip: This application requires an instructor or adviser recommendation. Set up an appointment with your intended reference, and give them at least two weeks prior to the application deadline to complete the endorsement form.