Any student can describe their Penn State experience using time as your organizational strategy. For first year students who are undecided or don't know much about degree programs, this is a pretty safe first step. Use these three categories to help you organize and present a chronological description.

Category 1: Looking Back

Previous Evidence and Experiences

- What previous evidence can you point to about what you know, can do or value? These might be things that you did in high school.

- What previous experiences were influential? What happened?

Interests

- What personal interests did you have? How did you get involved in these interests.

- What academic interests did you have? Was there one subject area that stood out more than others? How did you pursue this interest?

Reflective Statement

Write a short narrative that reflects upon your previous experiences. Is there additional context that another reader would need to understand what has happened in your past?

Next, include in the narrative the meaning those events/experiences/evidence has for you? Why do you value these?

Finally, write about what implications your previous evidence and experiences have had or are having on what you are doing today, or might do in the future?

Category 2: Looking Around

Look around at your Penn State experience. Provide a meaningful context for your reader by sharing the following information:

Your Program

• Describe the School or program that you are enrolled in (or will potentially enroll in). How does your program differ from other programs of study?
• What are you learning about in the courses that you are currently enrolled in?
• What degrees are offered by your program?
• How would you describe the value of a degree from this program?
• Describe the types of tasks, projects, teams, activities etc. that students in the program get involved in.

Write a Academic Plan. Your Academic Plan should include the type of evidence that you will need to collect along with a list of the experiences that you should get involved in.

Yourself

• How well are you suited for study in this program? What evidence can you provide for this?
• Are time management skills important? How do you manage your time?
• Are study skills important? Which skills do you use already?
• Are there other skills or values that are important aspects of this program, (i.e., writing, technology use, leadership, etc.)? How proficient are you in these areas?

Write a Personal Plan. Your Personal Plan should include a list of the personal attributes that you will need to work on along with a list of the professional attributes that area valued in your field.

Reflective Statement

Write a short narrative that reflects upon the information you shared above. Is there additional contextual information that another reader would need to understand you as a student at Penn State now?

What does this mean to you? How would you characterize the value you place on your current experience or
what you have recently learned? Why?

Finally, based on what you know about your program and what you are finding out about yourself, what implications does this have on your plans for the future?

Category 3: Looking Ahead!

You can't do a really good job of looking ahead without first "Looking Back" and "Looking Around"!

Penn State Resources

• What information resources are important to become familiar with in your program of study?
• Who are the important contact people to get to know in your program?

Career Paths

• Describe the professional skills necessary in your field.
• Describe the types of jobs and the working conditions that are available.
• Which contacts, networks, professional organizations are important?
• What resources are available for professionals in your field?

Write a Professional Plan. Your Professional Plan should state your professional goals and summarize the important requirements, resources, contacts and experiences involved. Conclude with a list of Action Steps that will move you in this direction.