Advising for First- and Second-Year Students
Your first years as a Penn State engineering student are full of challenges and opportunities: challenging classes, a growing social life, adjusting to being on your own, and choosing the path for your academic and professional future.
It can be overwhelming trying to figure out the best choices for you given your individual goals and aspirations.
The Engineering Advising Center (EAC) is here to help!
The EAC is your source for information about scheduling, degree requirements, entrance-to-major, and so much more. We can also help you make big decisions when it comes to your major, study abroad options, internships, and so much more!
Scheduling a Meeting
- Schedule Online: Plan ahead by using Starfish, the online scheduling system. You can schedule with any EAC adviser and can access the Engineering Advising Center for first-and second-year students service page within Starfish to see all calendars. In-major students who are beyond their second year should contact their assigned adviser in LionPATH.
- Call: Not at University Park or transferring from another college at Penn State? Call us at 814-863-1033.
- Drop-Ins. We offer Zoom or in-person drop-ins at various times during the week. See below for more details about this schedule, what is appropriate for a drop-in (10-15 minutes), and the Zoom link or office location.
You should meet with an adviser at least once per semester. The EAC is especially helpful when you are working on long-term scheduling, want to ensure that you can fit in a study abroad opportunity, or want to learn whether a specific major fits with your career interests and goals.
EAC Drop-Ins
Summer zoom drop-ins during NSO will conclude on Friday, July 31. Please use scheduled Starfish appointments for help with fall classes.
Special Zoom Drop-Ins will occur Monday, August 17-Friday, August 21 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. each day. See below for zoom drop-in link. Please use zoom drop-ins for fall scheduling help.
During the first week of class (week of August 24) all EAC advisers will meet with students in zoom or in-person drop-ins to help with fall scheduling. The hours will be 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. each day that week. Use the EAC zoom drop-in link below to access the zoom room or come to 109 ECoRE to see an adviser. There will be no scheduled advising appointments the first week of class. Regular zoom drop-ins for fall will resume on Monday, August 31.
The regular drop deadline is Saturday, August 29 at 11:59 p.m. (ET). The regular add deadline is Sunday, August 30 at 11:59 p.m. (ET).
The EAC also offers drop-in meetings throughout the fall and spring semesters. They are from noon to 4:00 p.m. (ET), Monday through Thursday. We offer in-person drop-ins every Tuesday. Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday will continue to be Zoom only.
Please use the link below to drop in for a Zoom meeting with an academic adviser. If attending a Tuesday drop-in, please go to 109 ECoRE and check in at the front desk. These are 10- to 15-minute quick-question meetings. These drop-ins are for first- and second-year students.
Engineering Peer Advising Leaders (EPALS)
EPAL drop-ins will begin Monday, August 24. Refer to link below for the full schedule closer to that date.
First- and second-year students can also connect with the Engineering Peer Advising Leaders (EPALs). These trained College of Engineering students can help answer your questions on general education requirements, academic deadlines, general scheduling questions, how to get involved, LionPATH, Canvas, and Starfish. EPALs hold in-person drop-in hours in 109 ECoRE Building. You can find the schedule and full list of EPAL representatives, including their majors, at the link above.
Faculty Advising Representatives
Faculty Adviser appointments will begin Monday, August 31. Refer to link below for the full schedule and links to schedule closer to that date.
During fall and spring semesters, a faculty advising representative from each of the College’s University Park majors offers three hours per week for first- and second-year students exploring majors. Meeting with a faculty advising representative can be helpful when you are working on long-term schedule plans (for ROTC, concurrent majors, etc.) or would like to learn whether a specific engineering major might be a good fit for your interests and goals. You can also get more detailed information about career paths, graduate school, and/or medical school from faculty advisers.
To schedule an appointment with a faculty advising representative, please click the button below to see the full schedule. You should connect via Starfish to schedule the appointment with an adviser directly. If you have any issues, please call 814-863-1033.
Faculty Advising Representatives Schedule
If you are at a Penn State campus but have been admitted into a University Park major through the early entrance-to-major process, you will continue to be advised at your current campus.
