Information for First-Year Families

The summer before starting college is filled with mixed emotions. Your student will be excited to start this new chapter, but they might get sentimental as they pack up their belongings and say goodbye to their friends and family.

Your student will become increasingly excited as they make concrete plans for their first year. They will likely speak with their academic advisor throughout the summer as they finalize their class schedule. The housing application for living in Penn’s College Houses will open in late spring, and your student will receive both their housing and roommate assignment in early summer. Your student will also receive their Move-In timeslot and it is then time to make travel plans and book hotels! 

Fall semester can go by in a blur for students as they acclimate to a completely new lifestyle. They’ll get to know their roommate, campus, and Philadelphia. They may join student groups or clubs, or even find an on-campus job. Despite the many exciting changes in their lives, your student may find themselves missing home. It is important to remind your student that you are there to support them and set expectations on how often you would like to communicate with them. There are also opportunities for you and your student to visit each other during Fall Break, Family Weekend and Thanksgiving Break! 

Joining the long list of “firsts” for your student will be a first round of midterms and finals. As your student learns how they best study, they may seek out academic resources like the Weingarten Center and tutoring services. After finals and the fall semester wrap-up, your student will come home for a well-deserved Winter Break.

With a full semester under their belt, your student will have better footing at the beginning of the spring semester. They may become more independent and rely on you a bit less as they begin to understand the wide variety of resources at the University. They may even take their first big trip without you during Spring Break!

Your student will also begin planning for their summer and next academic year. Room Selection for their second year housing will open at the beginning of the spring semester. If your student decides to find an internship or research position for their first summer, they might reach out to Career Services or Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowship. They may also decide to take advantage of Penn Summer’s offerings and take classes on campus, virtually, or even abroad. As their first year at Penn comes to a close, your student will pack up their belongings in the College House, say goodbye to their new friends, and enjoy their summer break.