As a part of many Penn State experiences, or even just a college experience, it is not uncommon to see students go abroad. Whether it be for a semester, Maymester or one of Penn State’s embedded course programs that allow students to go abroad for short breaks, the experience of study abroad has become very common.
While it is true Penn State has worked to achieve a great support net to ensure students interested in the abroad experience have all the resources they need, it is not a possibility for some people to get the study abroad experience. This could be for numerous reasons like excessive expenses, being too far from home or not being able to leave State College.
For those who are able to go abroad, many go with the hopes to experience new cultures/environments, meet new types of people and overall get a different experience during their time in college. Of course, going abroad is most definitely a place to check all these boxes. But it is not necessarily required to hop on a plane to Europe to fill these same desires. In fact, it could be done right here in our State College backyard.
The idea of a State College study abroad is simple. While it may seem like State College could be explored in a day, considering its small size, any Penn Stater could tell you that is not the case. But even as Penn State students, it is not hard to take for granted all the culture and new experiences wrapped within State College.
On Campus
On campus, the first step to getting the State College study abroad experience is to find new things you haven’t tried before. Join a new club. Go to a presentation or campus event going on. Play a couple rounds of pickleball with your friends, and make some new friends along the way. There is always something happening on campus — all that’s left to do is go and check it out.
Off Campus
Off Penn State’s campus, there are only more exciting adventures to unfold. Go see a movie at The State Theatre. Or, go take a pottery class with your friends. Have you tried every restaurant in State College yet? Have you gone to every store or small, unique shop?
The Bottom Line
The idea of a State College study abroad may seem silly at first. But at the end of the day, with four years in State College, many students miss out on everything it has to offer. Use the time you have left at Penn State to make the most of our wonderful college town and all the experiences it has to share.
What are you going to explore in State College first? Let us know @VALLEYmag on Instagram!
