New Student Orientation is a whirlwind experience that some find overwhelming, but with three pre-orientation programs PENNacle, PennCORP and PennQuest freshmen can get a head start on college.
All of the programs began three to four days before the official start of NSO, and allowed students to meet their peers in more intimate settings while working on projects and activities of mutual interest.
"It really affected all [the] years of my life at Penn," said Wharton junior Cynthia Wong, a PENNacle staff leader who participated in the program when she was a freshman.
PENNacle is a University-run, student-led program in which freshmen learn about leadership, involvement on campus and their peers. The program, founded three years ago by student leaders, is led by 11 upperclassmen trained in leadership, with the support of the Office of Student Life.
Freshmen in PENNacle go on a three-day retreat at Camp Neumann in Bucks County where the Adventure Network experimental training company works with PENNacle leaders in hosting initiative games, panel discussions, communication activities, self-tests and leadership training and opportunities.
The program accepts a maximum of 50 students each year based on an application that is mailed to all freshmen after being accepted to Penn. This year, 49 freshmen were selected for the program, although many more applied.
Students were selected based on their past leadership experience, interests and varying backgrounds.
"We try not to take all people who have done student government," said Ty Furman, student performing arts coordinator and adviser of PENNacle.
Another pre-orientation program, PennCORP, introduces students to the Philadelphia community through community service and advocacy work. The program, founded 13 years ago by Penn's Civic House, is divided into three tracks urban poverty, education and health each of which is headed by a Penn student coordinator and led by Penn student volunteers.
College senior Patrick Ercole, the urban poverty track coordinator, believes PennCORP allows students to get out in the community before the pressures of city living and classes take hold.
The urban poverty track went into the Philadelphia community to educate and to perform service projects. The urban education track participated in an Urban Nutrition Initiative and toured local schools. Additionally, the urban health track worked at a Philadelphia food bank and the 11th Street Family Health Services.
A paint-splattered Wharton freshman Becky Haendel said that the program has encouraged her to become more involved with the community.
"Going in and tutoring kids isn't always enough for me," she said, hinting that she would like to address urban problems on a broader scale.
The last option available to freshmen was PennQuest, an outdoor orientation program led by 24 student team leaders, including three student coordinators. The program is sponsored by the Office of the Provost, the Office of Student Life and the Trustees' Council of Penn Women.
The 116 freshmen in PennQuest backpacked, camped and hiked along the Appalachian Trail for three and a half days. The students were divided into 12 groups and participated in a variety of orientation activities sponsored by the Pocono Environmental Education Center. Activities included group bonding, ropes and obstacle courses.
According to PennQuest Staff Coordinator Laurie McCall, the program was founded in 1991 by a group of students and the TCPW, and accepts students based on overall enthusiasm. Although outdoor skills are taught, the focus of the program is bonding and networking.
