There is a lot to do when preparing to start college! The summer between high school and college is filled with excitement, nerves, and a never ending list of tasks to complete and things to buy. We understand this challenge and are here to help!

College is the perfect place to begin to understand who you are as a student--how you learn, your style of working, communication, peer connections and more. Once you step foot on campus, you may find that the student you were in high school and the styles it took for you to earn the good (or poor) grades might not be well-suited for what you face in college.

Being accepted to Penn State is a huge accomplishment and exciting time for students and parents. The horizon broadens, and all one can think of is the amazing four years they are going to have here at PSU. However, as time creeps closer, we as students find that we have a lot to manage and put in place before we ever step foot here--and fast. There’s matters of football tickets, housing, meal plans, roommates, and more--it feels like you always have to be one step ahead in your planning. This can be extremely overwhelming, for both students and parents.

Transitioning from high school to college brings varying degrees of ease for different students. While some may breeze through college exams with minimal effort, others struggle to adapt to the nuances of instruction, testing, and grading. Universally relatable among college students is the experience of failing an exam or falling short of anticipated grades, often occurring early in the semester as students navigate new class dynamics and subject matter.

Not sure what to say to your college students before the semester begins? Here’s an example of the welcome email I sent to my students as a Penn State professor, along with ideas you can adapt for your own courses.

You need to focus on these 3 sections of the syllabus.