DUS News - March 20, 2023
It’s okay, you can still schedule your classes on your enrollment date. Just follow these simple steps!
- Use the guidelines and resources on the Choose Your Courses page of the DUS website to make your initial schedule.
- Schedule an appointment with your assigned adviser, even if that appointment is after your enrollment date.
- During your appointment, your adviser will help you to identify any changes you may need to make. You have until the end of the drop/add period next semester to fine-tune your schedule.
You know that choosing your major is an important decision that will shape your education and experiences during your time at Penn State and beyond. But what about your choice of a college minor? Minors are a great way to enhance your education and have many benefits—like encouraging you to think across disciplines, supporting and recognizing your other academic interests, and setting you apart when applying for jobs and graduate/professional schools. When thinking about your minor choice, it is important to reflect on your goals, interests, and how your minor will complement your major coursework. In addition, some majors at Penn State require a minor. To search Penn State minors, take a look at the Undergraduate Bulletin for inspiration, and visit with your adviser to talk about planning a minor!
Your instructors care about your success. If they’re concerned by something you’re doing or not doing in their class—your grades, attendance, participation—they can "raise a flag" in Starfish to share their concern with you and/or your adviser. Your instructors have been invited to raise flags and send kudos (positive feedback) to students in their classes over the last few weeks. This gives you a chance to see how you’re doing and make any needed changes before the end of the semester.
What Can I Do About It?
Try these strategies to take charge of your success:
- Talk with your instructor about their concern during their office hours. Be sure to review the syllabus before the meeting and reflect on the reason(s) for their concern. While it’s normal to feel nervous about attending office hours for the first time, there are plenty of tips to help with crafting the perfect email and office hours etiquette.
- Attend a Study Smarter session to learn the most effective study techniques.
- Use FREE tutoring services on campus.
- Schedule an appointment with your DUS adviser to discuss your progress, learn about additional resources, and create a plan for your success. We care about your success and want to help you thrive.
Following up on flags can help you to achieve your full potential! Don’t know if you’ve received a progress report yet? Check your Starfish dashboard or Penn State email for progress reporting messages from notices@starfishsolutions.com.
- March 21 (Tues.)
- Pre-Law Orientation Session (In-Person)
- General Education 101 (Group Advising) - March 22 (Wed.)
- Study Smarter Workshop - March 28 (Tues.)
- Study Smarter Workshop
- Course Enrollment 101 (Group Advising)
The Division of Undergraduate Studies is devoted to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all of our students. The DUS Diversity webpage will help you connect with college and identity-specific campus resources, find inspiration from peers, and cultivate your Penn State community.
Visit dus.psu.edu/diversity for more information.
Register to attend the Pre-Law Orientation Session on Tuesday, March 21, 12:00–1:00 p.m. in the Grange Building Lobby.
Pre-Law Orientation Sessions are open to all Penn State students considering law school. First- and second-year students must attend a Pre-Law Orientation Session prior to scheduling an individual appointment with the pre-law adviser or attending the Applying to Law School Session. Topics covered in the Pre-Law Orientation Session include:
- Preparing for law school and strengthening your application now (even if you are not yet certain that you want to attend)
- Skills required for law school
- Learning about law school
- Exploring legal practice
- Deciding whether to apply to law school
- Introduction to the LSAT and GRE (brief intro to this topic – more in the Applying to Law School Session)
- Law school application timeline (brief intro to this topic – more in the Applying to Law School Session)
- Pre-law advising resources
Each spring, Penn State Startup Week powered by PNC brings together the best and brightest Penn State student and alumni entrepreneurs and innovators for a weeklong entrepreneurship immersion and celebration of the magic that happens when Penn State’s inspired doers put their great ideas into action. In its seventh year, Startup Week will feature even more exciting keynote speakers and change makers, entrepreneurial workshops, mini-pitch competitions, access to entrepreneurship resources, and networking!
There will be themed days throughout the week:
- Monday, March 20 – Kickoff Startup Week
- Tuesday, March 21 – Accelerators/Technology/Venture Capital
- Wednesday, March 22 – Social Impact
- Thursday, March 23 – Female Entrepreneurs of Color
- Friday, March 24 – Explore PA Entrepreneurship
After-hours events include: ice skating at Pegula Ice Arena, rock climbing and bouldering at ClimbNittany, a Happy Valley Improv show, and a concert featuring Corner Brothers and GoGo Retro. Register and check out the full schedule of events!
Learn how to build a strong foundation for your financial future through budgeting, credit, debt, saving, and investing! Financial Foundations is a 5-part workshop series hosted by the Penn State Sokolov-Miller Family Financial and Life Skills Center. Learners who complete the series are awarded a micro-credential badge to display to their networks. Space is limited, so sign up for a spot in the April 2023 series today!
DUS will be holding group advising sessions throughout the spring 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 visit https://dus.psu.edu/group-advising. All sessions are held in the Grange Building Lobby, unless otherwise listed on the website.
Spring 2023 Sessions
All sessions are at 4:00 p.m. ET and held in the Grange Building Lobby.
March 21: General Education 101
Please register in advance for the March 21 session.
March 28: Course Enrollment 101
Do you enjoy self-exploration, dreaming/planning for the future, and connecting with others... but also feel stuck in indecision, worried, and unsure what to do next when it comes to choosing a major or future career? If so, a Career Discovery Group may be just what you’re looking for!
During this 3-part workshop series, you will have the chance to explore what is most important to you, examine what might be getting in the way of your career decisions and actions, connect with campus-wide resources and information, and make a plan for your next steps. Register to attend!
When: Wednesdays (March 29, April 5, and April 15), 3:00pm–4:30 p.m.
Where: Bank of America Career Services Building, Room 103
If you have questions or would like to connect and learn more, please email Kelsey at kmw538@psu.edu.
Are you a first-generation college student at Penn State? Share your story! The First-Generation College Student Stories project is looking to collect the diverse stories and experiences of first-generation college students from across Penn State's University Park campus. A project by first-gen students for first-gen students, the project aims to connect first-gen students with one another, provide a platform for their voices, and educate the wider Penn State community on their experiences.
Interested in participating? Fill out this short form, and the project team will reach out to you with more information.
Contact Lillian Aronson at lza5211@psu.edu with any questions.
There are three ways you can talk with a DUS adviser at University Park (Note: DUS students at other campuses or at other colleges at University Park should check how advising services are being offered where you are):
- 20–30 minute scheduled appointment with your assigned adviser over Zoom or in person.
- Quick question advising (QQA) with any DUS adviser over Zoom or in person. No appointment is needed. Quick question advising will be held Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 1:00–3:00 p.m. and Tuesdays from 9:00–11:00 a.m. You can find the link to the QQA waiting room on the DUS appointments webpage.
- Email your assigned adviser.
The Division of Undergraduate Studies is on Instagram! Follow us @PennState_DUS to see student/alumni stories, academic tips, events, announcements, and more. Share your own DUS story with us using #PennStateDUS for the chance to be featured.