It's All About Discovering You: Abington Exploration Days set for Sept. 4-14

ABINGTON, Pa. — Exploration Days at Penn State Abington, set for Sept. 4-14, offers programming designed to help students focus on their interests, desired major, and dream career.

Plan on attending some of the events below to find out who you are, what you want to do, and where you want to be after college.

The Evolution of You
​Sept. 4 | 5:30 to 7 p.m. | Lion's Gate Residence Hall
College is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about who you are and how you want to make an impact in the world! Get started by creating your own vision board and developing your goals.

Strong Finish: Keys to Becoming a Successful Learner
Sept. 5 | 2 to 3 p.m. | Lubert Commons
How will you thrive in the classroom? The Abington Learning Center will help you discover the skills that will help you succeed in the classroom and throughout your life! ​

Growth Mindset
Sept. 6 | 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. | Lubert Commons
A growth mindset is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: a tendency to believe that you can grow. A growth mindset thrives on challenge and sees failure “not as evidence of unintelligence, but as a heartening springboard for growth and for stretching our existing abilities.” We will look at ways to stop seeking approval, value the process over the result, and cultivate a sense of purpose.

Decisions! Decisions!    
​Sept. 7 | 9 to 10:30 a.m. | Lubert Commons
Making decisions about yourself and your interests can be tough. Attend this workshop to learn about your decision-making style and how to overcome the challenges of indecision.

Got Interests? 
Sept. 11 | 2 to 3 p.m. | Lubert Commons
Not sure what you want to study or what you'll do when you leave college? Let us help you explore the possibilities with this engaging program where you'll participate in the RIASEC Party Game.  Participants will leave armed with tools and resources to help explore  academic and career interests. 

Uncovering Your Strengths
Sept. 12 | 3 to 4 p.m. | Lubert Commons
Learn about your top-five strengths and how to amplify them for academic and career satisfaction! Participants will take the Gallup Clifton Strengths Finder assessment.

Personality and Career Choice: Making the Perfect Match!    
Sept. 13 | 10 to 11 a.m. | 201 Lares
What is it that makes you who you are? Discover what drives you by exploring your personality and how it effects your choice of major and career.

History Program Meet & Greet
​Sept. 4 | 10:30 a.m. to noon | Banquet Room
Are you interested in working in a history-related field, like a museum or historic preservation? Or are you thinking about a career in education, law, finance or government? A degree in history prepares you for a wide variety of fields. Come talk with history faculty and current students about the major and minor! Learn about course offerings, specializations and potential career paths.

Psychological & Social Sciences Q&A
​Sept. 4 | 12:10 to 1:10 p.m. | Lubert Commons
Come hear from psychological and social science faculty and students about the major and potential careers and specializations.

Making A "Major" Decision   
Sept. 5 | 10 to 11 a.m. | Lubert Commons
Check out campus resources and online activities that will help you find the right major and career for you.

Biology & Science Major Exploration
Sept. 5 | 12:25 to 1:25 p.m. | 246 Woodland
Information and demo session in the biology lab.

Blaze Your Own Trail with a DIY Major   
Sept. 5 | Common Break | Lubert Commons
Are you not sure if you're a good fit for one of the existing majors on campus? Do you have too many interests to fit into one box? Are you looking to customize your college experience to fit with your career goals or experience? There may be many reasons why you may wish to design your own major. Find out how easy it can be to blaze your own trail.

​ACURA Colloquium
​Sept. 5 | Common Break | Woodland 112
​Sept. 7 | Common Break | Woodland 112

American Studies Program Meet & Greet
​Sept. 7 | 10:30 a.m. to noon | Banquet Room
Are you are interested in questions about American society and culture that do not fit neatly within the boundaries of a single discipline? If so, you may want to consider the American studies major or minor. Come talk with American studies faculty and current students about the program! Learn about the broad range of careers that are open to you with a degree in American studies.

Health Professions: How Do I Get There?
​Sept. 10 | 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. | Banquet Room
Is a career in the health professions in your future? Which career is right for you? Do you know what classes you should be taking and what else is required for admission into professional programs? Are there resources to help you in your quest for a health professions career? Come get answers to these questions and more.

Psychological & Social Sciences: Suicide Prevention
​Sept. 10 | Noon to 2 p.m. | Lubert Commons

Corporate Communication Meet & Greet
Sept. 12 | 11 a.m. to noon | Banquet Room
Do you enjoy writing? Creating and executing vision? Coordinating? Working with people? If so, the corporate communication major may be for you. Come meet faculty and alumni to learn what corporate communication is all about, and what kind of careers are open to you with this degree.

Meet the Majors Fair
Sept. 12 | Common Break | Lubert Commons
Meet representatives from the academic majors at Abington to get advice, tips and talk about how the major can help you get to your future goals.

Education: Serving the Community
Sept. 13 | Noon to 1 p.m. | Lubert Commons
Join faculty and students for a panel discussion to learn about the education major. You will learn how being an education major encompasses meeting the needs of all children and serves the community. Explore how this can be part of your future.

Demystifying IST
​Sept. 14 | 10 to 11 a.m. | Lubert Commons
An Introduction to the information sciences and technology major. 

Majors: Student Panel Discussion 
​Sept. 14 | Common Break | Lubert Commons
Hear from students as they explain why they selected their major, the requirements for the major, and their career goals. 

Internships Unplugged
​Sept. 6 | 10 to 11 a.m. | Lubert Commons
​Sept. 10 | 3 to 4 p.m. | Lubert Commons
Need an internship? Come to this workshop to learn how to secure an internships for credit or just for the experience!

Inside Scoop: Employer Networking & Panel Discussion
Sept. 13 | 3 to 4:30 p.m.| Lubert Commons
​Your major is only part of what employers look for when hiring. Join us for this engaging event where employers will share the inside scoop on what they really look for in candidates for internships and jobs. Participants will enjoy scoops of Penn State Berkey ice cream, of course!

Questions About Exploration Days?
Contact Kaitlyn Metzinger, program assistant, Career and Professional Development, at kmc5313@psu.edu or 215-881-7529.

About Penn State Abington

Penn State Abington provides an affordable, accessible and high-impact education resulting in the success of a diverse student body. It is committed to student success through innovative approaches to 21st century public higher education within a world-class research university. With nearly 4,000 students, Penn State Abington is a residential campus that offers baccalaureate degrees in 19 majors, undergraduate research, the Schreyer honors program, NCAA Division III athletics, and more.