Look for details on the Schreyer session during day 2 of NSO. We will give you important information to help you transition to Schreyer and Schreyer staff will be available to answer any questions.
Move In Information
As a Scholar, you will move onto campus early, August 19, which allows you to beat the crowds and attend our two-day orientation activities. For move in and arrival information, visit Penn State's Arrival website.
Schreyer Honors Orientation (SHO TIME)
Schreyer Honors Orientation (SHO TIME) is your required two-day introduction to the College. SHO TIME is where Scholars make connections and find their communities. You'll meet other first-year Scholars as well as more than 40 Peer Educators who have recently been in your position.
SHO TIME prepares you for success on your Schreyer journey and jumpstarts your semester. Peer Educators introduce the College's mission and values, community, student life, resources, and more through two days of entertaining and interactive experiences.
If you have questions or an orientation conflict (i.e., Blue Band), please contact us at shotime@psu.edu.
2027 SHO TIME Schedule Snapshot
Thursday, August 19
SHO TIME Check-In: 3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: To be announced
Say your goodbyes and check-in for your SHO TIME experience. You will meet your SHO TIME groups and the peer educators who will guide you through your orientation activities.
SHO TIME Activities: Through 9:00 p.m.
Various Locations
Activities for new Scholars will continue throughout the evening and will include getting to know your orientation group, having a meal together, and participating in the SHO TIME scavenger hunt!
Friday, August 20
Dean's Convocation: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Music Recital Hall
Dean Mather welcomes all new Scholars to the Schreyer community.
SHO TIME Activities: Through 9:30 p.m.
Various Locations
Activities for new Scholars continue through the day, ending with an interactive game show at the State Theatre.
Foundations of Scholar Success (LA 197)
Foundations of Scholar Success is the continuation of your orientation journey. This semester-long one-credit course helps you build key skills needed for success while fostering connections with peers and Scholar mentors. First-year Scholars are highly recommended to register for this course during their first fall semester in Schreyer Honors College.
Foundations of Scholar Success is different from a first-year seminar course offered through your academic college. This experience is about finding and strengthening your community and support systems within Schreyer. It will also help you understand how to bring and apply the Schreyer mission and values to your honors college journey.
Areas of focus include:
Aligning your personal goals with external pressures and expectations
Time management tools and techniques to manage your involvement
Study tools and academic success strategies, including the use of AI
Schreyer and Penn State resources for health and wellness, career exploration, service opportunities, and more
Tackling tough topics and conflict resolution
Connecting with professors
Navigating funding, grants, and personal budgeting
Insider tips to navigate Schreyer and Penn State
In this course, taught by credentialed Peer Educators, Scholars can expect a variety of activities, including engaging discussions, reflections, and group outings. The class meets weekly for one hour throughout the fall. It is focused on discussion during class, rather than homework, and is graded as satisfactory/unsatisfactory.
How to Schedule
Log into LionPath to add an available section of LA 197 to your schedule during New Student Orientation (NSO) or after.
Peer Educators serve as trusted friends, mentors, and advocates for all new Scholars, and they are eager to engage with and support you throughout your orientation experience. If you have questions, you are welcome to reach out to them at the email address listed.
Summer Activities: I moved back to Alaska after 9 years!
Campus Involvement: Liberal Arts Ambassadors, Students United Against Poverty, Schreyer for Women, Lion's Pantry, and Multicultural Undergraduate Law Association
Ask Me About: Philosophy courses, balancing classes while having a job, and all things hockey!
Message/Advice for New Scholars: Your first year does not define the next three. Be patient with yourself as you learn and grow in this new environment!
Favorite Course: CHEM 112H: Chemical Principles II
Summer Activities: I went to China for the summer.
Ask Me About: Sports, Vacation, College Life
Message/Advice for New Scholars: Welcome, Schreyer Scholars! This is a community that truly shows up for one another—don’t hesitate to reach out and get involved.
Campus Involvement: MEP - Multicultural Engineering Program, SHPE - Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, United States Air Force ROTC Det. 720, Schreyer for Women
Ask Me About: Being born and raised Hispanic, getting through college as an international student, Star Wars
Message/Advice for New Scholars: Class of 2030, welcome to the Schreyer Honors College. I am Mariana Colon-Martinez, and I have the wonderful opportunity to be one of your Peer Educators this year. I’m incredibly excited to meet you all and be part of your Penn State experience. I have a very important yet special message for you all. Do not EVER be afraid to ask for help or assistance. As first-year students, you will struggle with a lot of things: adaptation, homesickness, making friends, new classes… It’s very important that you do not stay silent. Schreyer has endless resources and people who are willing to help you out whenever you need it the most. No matter how big or small your issue is, we will 100% be there for you. See you all in SHO TIME!
Summer Activities: Interned at a lab at Hershey Medical Center
Campus Involvement: Fundraising Chair of College Democrats, Researcher at Rolls Lab
Ask Me About: How to get involved in research, how to meet new people/friends, how to find low time commitment hobbies
Message/Advice for New Scholars: Try new things you want to try. Don't get caught up chasing the "college experience" unless that's what you want to do!
Summer Activities: I went to Spain for a month to visit my family!
Campus Involvement: THON - Dancer Relations Committee, Schreyer for Women, Empowering Women in Law, Women in Economics Society, Sigma Kappa Sorority
Ask Me About: THON, the best downtown food spots, and the best places to study on campus
Message/Advice for New Scholars: Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and try new things! Schreyer is home to some of the best organizations I’ve ever been a part of, and I’ve met the most amazing people through them. The Scholar experience is truly what you make of it, so give it your all and you’ll get so much in return!
Favorite Course: MATH 140: Calculus with Analytic Geometry I
Summer Activities: This summer I did the LEAP program and took two classes, allowing me to complete one semester of my major!
Campus Involvement: Black Caucus and African Student Association
Ask Me About: Anything calculus related, how to transition to campus when you come from far away, basketball, and book recommendations
Message/Advice for New Scholars: Get involved on campus early! You are quickly going to get overwhelmed so make sure you join clubs and orgs so you have something to look forward to each week.
Favorite Course: NUTR 251: Introductory Principles of Nutrition
Summer Activities: This past summer I visited family in South Korea!
Campus Involvement: Schreyer Student Council, Culinary Medicine Club, Food Recovery Network, Penn State Club Figure Skating
Ask Me About: Schreyer Student Council, good study spots, figure skating
Message/Advice for New Scholars: It's ok to join a bunch of Group Mes to check out various student groups. Then you can decide which ones you want to get more involved in.
Favorite Course: EARTH 104N: Climate, Energy, and Our Future
Summer Activities: I completed an internship at Aqua-Conscience the summer before my freshman year, and I am hoping to study abroad in Ecuador during the 2026 Maymester
Campus Involvement: ASME, NMS, FOTO
Ask Me About: My brothers, Penn State athletics, soccer
Message/Advice for New Scholars: Take advantage of all of the opportunities Schreyer has to offer, even if they seem daunting at first. Just be willing to try any of the experiences they offer
Summer Activities: This summer, I took a solo trip to Korea.
Campus Involvement: I am an active member of the Accounting Society, Women in Business, and VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance). I am also involved in AACF (Asian American Christian Fellowship) and the fashion/art club.
Ask Me About: Accounting, Gen ed suggestions, Best food places
Message/Advice for New Scholars: Hello! I hope you’re all having a wonderful year. I’m so excited to meet you and guide you during orientation. Please feel free to reach out with any questions about school, classes, extracurriculars, and more. I’d love to help :)
Summer Activities: I went on a vacation with my whole extended family to the beach! I am hoping to get either a job or internship for the summer of 2026!
Campus Involvement: Chabad/Hillel, Singing, Club Tennis, Schreyer for Women
Ask Me About: Theater, Long Beach Island, Cruises
Message/Advice for New Scholars: It is super scary to come to college and start a new life (trust me I was terrified), but it all works out! Get involved in as many things as possible and meet as many new people as possible!
Favorite Course: ARTH 307N: American Art and Society
Summer Activities: Went to Italy and visited Rome and Florence to experience European culture and see artwork like the Sistine Chapel
Campus Involvement: Schreyer for Women, PSU Navigators, Remote Area Medical Club, Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council
Ask Me About: Academic planning for Psychology (BS) students, wellness opportunities at Penn State, how to succeed academically in your first year
Message/Advice for New Scholars: Don't be afraid to put yourself out there and get involved early. Schreyer has so many amazing resources and connections waiting to be utilized, so reach out and take chances to use those resources.
Favorite Course: PHIL 297: Philosophy of Neo Liberalism
Summer Activities: Interned in sales at Minitab (a local statistical modeling software company)
Campus Involvement: Student Research with the FAIR Lab, Penn State Rocket Club
Ask Me About: Music, travel, my research
Message/Advice for New Scholars: Starting college can often be intimidating and nerve wracking, but you'll quickly find your place and it will start to feel like home.
Favorite Course: BIOL 110H: Basic Concepts and Biodiversity
Summer Activities: Working at my local golf course, shadowing at the emergency room, and training for a half marathon!
Campus Involvement: Vole Dance Company, Schreyer for Women, Schreyer Student Council, Culinary Medicine Club, THON Committee
Ask Me About: Meeting new friends, how to stay active, where to find good boba
Message/Advice for New Scholars: If you ever question whether you belong, you do. You’re joining a welcoming community full of support and guidance, and your time here is about to change your life for the better.
Summer Activities: Study Abroad Maymester in Ecuador and Internship at a Civil Engineering Firm
Campus Involvement: Sustainable Solutions Club, ASCE, Chess Club
Ask Me About: Sports (specifically basketball), Engineering at Penn State (specifically Civil Engineering)
Message/Advice for New Scholars: Involve yourself in as many clubs and with as many people as possible. Do anything and everything you possibly can in your first couple semesters before picking out what specific things make you the most happy.
Summer Activities: Went on a European cruise to Greece, Italy, and Spain
Campus Involvement: Minority Association of Pre-Medical/Pre-Health (MAPS), Promoting Understanding and Leadership in Public Health (PULSE), Stem Professionals Advocating for Research of Childhood Cancer (SPARCC)
Ask Me About: How to get involved in on-campus research and tips for the REU/Research-Based Internship application process, how to branch out into different communities while staying equally involved in each, yummy, cost-effective food off campus
Message/Advice for New Scholars: Give yourself some grace — everyone’s journey looks different, and that’s okay. You’re exactly where you need to be!
Summer Activities: Worked at a law firm and learned how to play the viola
Campus Involvement: Philharmonic Orchestra, University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) First Year Council, Schreyer for Women
Ask Me About: My favorite instrument, what minor I unexpectedly added, my favorite sporting event
Message/Advice for New Scholars: Be patient with yourself! Everybody adjusts to college differently, and it may seem difficult at first, but remember to be kind to yourself and understand that sometimes good things take time.
Favorite Course: HIST 155: American Business History
Summer Activities: Traveled to Germany and Poland
Campus Involvement: Smeal Student Council, Penn State Investment Association, Nittany Markets Analysis Association
Ask Me About: Scheduling, finance and economics, and tennis
Message/Advice for New Scholars: Get involved early with a few things! It's easy to forget as the semester gets tougher, but it's important to keep up with the things you like.
Campus Involvement: User Experience Professionals Association (UXPA), Women in IST, Club Cross Country, Club Sailing
Ask Me About: Club sports (especially cross country and sailing), combining art and technology, and double majoring across colleges
Message/Advice for New Scholars: Try many new things and see what sticks! You can't continue everything, but you can always learn about new opportunities.
Summer Activities: I vacationed to Hawaii this past summer!
Campus Involvement: GLOBE Living Learning Community, Schreyer Student Council -- Service Committee, Women in Economics Society, Health Policy and Administration Club, Penn State Figure Skating Club
Ask Me About: Travel, Figure Skating, Getting involved on campus
Message/Advice for New Scholars: Congratulations and welcome to Schreyer! Both Schreyer and Penn State have so many wonderful opportunities to offer. Don't be afraid to say "yes" to the opportunities that interest you because you never know what you might learn from them.
Favorite Course: THEA 111: The Fundamentals of Singing and Vocal Production
Summer Activities: Visited Cape May, NJ, Training for Peer Action Global Learning Network, Spent lots of time with family and friends, Worked as an assistant teacher for Northeast Academy of Greater Philadelphia
Campus Involvement: Penn State Global - Peer Action Global Learning Network Leader, Smeal Ethical Leadership Challenge, Asian Student Association - Secretary, Abington Business Leadership - Outreach Officer, Finance & Investment Association - Event Coordinator, Student Government Association - Senator of Committees:
Ask Me About: Student Leadership and Campus Involvements, Mahjong, Iceland
Message/Advice for New Scholars: Welcome to the Schreyer community! Explore your passions, get involved, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Your first year is full of opportunities. I’m happy to help, so feel free to reach out anytime!
