Returning to Penn State for junior year can bring a lot of conflicting emotions. Students are comfortable with campus and have formed solid friendships by this point. They have immersed themselves in clubs and have learned solid study habits. On top of that, they are about to turn 21 years old and be introduced to a whole new bar scene.
VALLEY knows there are many positive aspects to being a third-year student, but there is also a lot of responsibility.
Let’s dive into what juggling junior year means.
Classes Get Hard
The first two years at Penn State are mostly spent getting general education requirements and easier courses out of the way. By junior year, students are starting to take their major’s 400-level classes, which can be challenging. Students are expected to dedicate a lot of time to studying and completing out-of-classroom work to secure solid grades. As juniors, they may spend much more time on homework than they’re used to.
Maggie Halbruner, a third-year engineering student at Penn State, says,
“The classes become more major-specific, which leads to harder material. For example, the first two years I took a lot of math classes, but this year as a junior, I am now applying the math I learned to material that has to do with my specific major.”
Career Fairs
This is the year students may start to realize the ultimate goal of college: getting a job after graduation. The reality that there are only two years left begins to set in. It’s time to get resumes in check and start attending career fairs. For the first time, business casual clothing has become essential.
Securing Internships
There is a lot of pressure to secure a major internship for the summer before senior year. The internship search begins as soon as school starts and can be time-consuming. The stress weighs on students as they apply to numerous companies, hoping just to get an interview.
Halbruner says, “As engineering students, we are meant to secure internships freshman year and every year following, so the pressure is on, especially as a junior. I will be attending the career fair for architectural engineering, hoping to secure a summer internship.”
Social Life
Building a social life is one of the biggest challenges freshmen face. However, by junior year, most students have created strong friendships that will last beyond college. The issue is that juniors may find they don’t have as much time to socialize as they would like. This is the year where studies take precedence, and it’s time to buckle down and focus.
Turning 21
For most students, this is the most exciting year since they will turn 21. Penn State has an exciting bar scene, and underclassmen often hear all about it from older friends. By the time students turn 21, they are eager to move away from frat parties and experience something new. The 21st birthday is one most people always remember, making junior year a fun time.
The Start of the End
People always say college goes by fast, but junior year is when students start to believe it. One day they’re moving into their freshman dorm, and the next they’re moving into their junior-year apartment. Junior year is when it hits students that college will be ending sooner than they thought.
Overall, junior year can be stressful but also one of the best years yet. It’s important to focus on school and begin thinking about future plans, but also don’t forget to have fun.
Let VALLEY know what the best part of junior year is by tagging us @valleymag on Instagram!
