<p>SpringfieldMom. You might also want to consider the Eisenhower Deck. It's a slightly less obvious choice, but about the same distance from Thomas.</p>
<p>
[quote]
It starts at 7:30?
[/quote]
It actually starts at 8:30am, but you can come at 7:30am to check-in and get your ID card.</p>
<p>Yes rlm919; the card says plan to arrive between 7:30 and 7:45. Do you think it's training for those 8:00 classes they'll have in fall?</p>
<p>1more: I think we'll try the HUB parking deck first; it will be 7:30 a.m. at a time when most classes are not in session, after all. I can't imagine it will be full then. If it is, we'll try the Eisenhower.</p>
<p>Sounds like a really boring day to me. That's why I insisted that SpringfieldDad come with me!</p>
<p>You are lucky, SpringfieldMom; 1moredad will be away at a conference. (OTOH, I'll have to remember to snag his parking permit before he leaves.)</p>
<p>hahaha, if they are smart they won't pick the 8:00am classes.</p>
<p>Parking in lot 44 and taking the bus is no big deal. We did it last year. There are no students on campus and the buses run regularly and the stop is one of the first ones. FTCAP day is a very boring one especially if you have other children who are already in college. You can read the information just as easily. The useful parts of the day are first thing in the morning, setting up a bank account (bring your checkbook or some extra cash), getting the student id and setting up e-mail. After that the morning drags until after lunch when you go to a meeting on your child's major and then break up into small groups and finally scheduling classes.</p>
<p>Good luck everybody and have a great day. Last year I went with my son and really enjoyed the day. The campus is awesome. I spent some parent free time walking the campus, checking out the hub and and checking out the bookstore.</p>
<p>Spend some time online putting together some possible schedules that work for you prior to going. Write down all the info. from the registration site so that you don't spend as much time being confused.Do not worry too much if you don't get the exact schedule you want. As the summer rolls in kids will be changing their schedules all the time . If you stay on top of it you can find openings in the classes you want. Sometimes they open additional sections. Try to avoid the 8 am classes. Everyones sleep patterns change as you get to school and 8 am can become an insane hour to be in class after the first month or so.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info knitknee and sax, your suggestions were awesome. We've already done the Lot 44 thing, and D has refused to allow us to park there this time (The last time was for an accepted students day. It was a nightmare.)</p>
<p>Your posts raise additions questions (1) Sax: I know the kids have "homework" where they have to get familiarized with certain terminology and lingo that will be used on FTCAP day. But, how would someone know how to set up a possible schedule? Do they have lists of suggested classes for each major? I haven't been able to find the web page that has any course descriptions, and (2) Do students have to set up bank accounts on FTCAP day? D already has a PNC savings account. I've been assured by our local PNC branch that they can set up a free student checking account and debit card from our branch. This conversation came up after I was told by PNC she cannot have a checking account or debit card until she turns 18; she will still be 17 when she starts school. They are willing to make an exception for her, but told us to return in August, closer to when she'll be leaving for school.</p>
<p>When we went the scheduling was at the end; they went into a room with a bunch of computer terminals and "helpers" who walked them through the whole process. It is during the time they are with their college so everyone generally has a similar schedule.
They do it so in the future the kids know how to schedule their classes on their own.</p>
<p>And no they do not have to set up a bank account there. It is just for those who need/want to. Actually we preferred to use a bank from home (M&T) that has a branch in State College, and also has an ATM in the HUB. That way if my kid needs money I can deposit easily at my local branch.</p>
<p>Also we used the cash account on the ID the first year as well(lioncash?). My son developed a fondness for some of the eateries in East (not the dining hall) that did not accept the dining money and they gave a discount if he used lioncash. It was very easy to add cash online with my credit card.</p>
<p>Springfield mom</p>
<p>We set up an account at PNC with both our names on the account (his and mine). It works out great for us. </p>
<p>Your daughter can go to the registar site <a href="http://soc.our.psu.edu/soc/%5B/url%5D">http://soc.our.psu.edu/soc/</a> now and see all the classes offered and how many spots are left in each class and when they are offered. If she has declared a major the website for the major will have all the classes needed to graduate and often times a semester by semester suggestion of which classes to take. The school has a list of general education requirements <a href="http://www.psu.edu/bulletins/bluebook/gened/summ.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.psu.edu/bulletins/bluebook/gened/summ.html</a> everyone needs to have in order to graduate. If she has any AP credit she might get around some of these. Otherwise she could concentrate on these for her first term.Search general education requirements.</p>
<p>The Penn State website is by far the best college site I have encountered. It is easy to get around and has an infinite amount of information on EVERYTHING! And for us nosey moms the live lion cam can show you the immediate weather with a click of a button! <a href="http://php.scripts.psu.edu/dept/ur/cam.php%5B/url%5D">http://php.scripts.psu.edu/dept/ur/cam.php</a></p>
<p>heres the college paper <a href="http://www.collegian.psu.edu/%5B/url%5D">http://www.collegian.psu.edu/</a></p>
<p>and the local paper <a href="http://www.centredaily.com/%5B/url%5D">http://www.centredaily.com/</a></p>
<p>and the computer site <a href="http://www.rescom.psu.edu/%5B/url%5D">http://www.rescom.psu.edu/</a></p>
<p>When you get on the Penn State website look for the index and it really can answer any question you will have.
And to get back to the first page click on the Penn State logo. HAVE FUN!</p>
<p>THANX SAX (I couldn't help that one). The website is so large (and so easy to get lost in) I didn't know where to start. I'm going to give these pages to my D; she's the one who needs to figure out what she wants to take in the Fall, after all. She needs to get crackin'!</p>
<p>Good luck when you go. When we went two years ago, we got there around 3:00 the day before. We were able to go to the hub, at the PNC there and open a bank account for my daughter. And we were able to get her Penn State ID also the day before. It saved alot of time and long lines the next day. When everyone was waiting in lines early in the morning we got to sleep an extra hour. </p>
<p>Also don't worry about the parking. We parked at the football stadium, and they had several shuttles waiting. It was very organized. One thing we didn't do was go back to the HUB for lunch. We ate on the main street. But people told us there were booths set up with different clubs and information.</p>
<p>Yeah, we wanted to stay overnight, but unfortunately D's H.S. has Senior Activities Awards the night before, so we'll have to get up @ 4:00 a.m. to get there on time. I didn't want to change the date, because it's on a day she has off from school anyway.</p>
<p>As for parking, in theory it should work, but you don't know SpringfieldGirl!</p>
<p>Last year, after we registered for classes (in the afternoon), we stopped by the Willard Building for cheap student software. They give students the whole Microsoft office package for about $69. Much better price than ordering it from Dell or whatever computer dealer you use. You have to be a registered student though - so don't show up early. They're open 9-5. Great deal...
Also, we picked up season football tickets at the HUB but I don't think they're doing that this year.
Enjoy! We had a really nice visit last year - didn't think it was boring at all.</p>
<p>SpringfieldMom,
You could always drop SpringfieldGirl off at the Thomas Building and then go park. I did that last year with my d, and by the time I parked the car and returned on the bus, she had checked in, gone to the Hub for her id card, set up her computer access account and even opened a bank account (because they gave her a free tee shirt...) Getting there early made it easy for her to get all that done quickly, before the lines started forming. Don't worry if you're late, though...you can do those things anytime during the day. Everyone is very helpful and accommodating, so try to relax and just enjoy the day. My only disappointment about the whole experience was that I wasn't the one going to college!</p>
<p>Did anyone do the two homework assignments for FTCAP yet? One of the questions in the first homework assignment asked if there are any classes that fulfill BOTH your general requirements and requirements for your selected major. If you answer yes, they ask you to write the course name down on the space provided. What do they mean by this? How do I find out if there are any classes that fulfill general requirements and requirements for my major (aerospace engineering)?</p>
<p>Gee, I'm no aerospace engineer, but won't you have to take Math and Physics for your major? And don't some Math and Physics courses satisfy Gen Ed requirements?</p>
<p>page 2 will tell you semester by semester courses for your degree</p>
<p><a href="http://www.psu.edu/bulletins/bluebook/gened/summ.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.psu.edu/bulletins/bluebook/gened/summ.html</a>
gen, ed requirements...may be somewhat different for a.e. but it will be explained in above (first link)curriculum guide.</p>
<p>lil killer: eng15, physics211, chem, math, are all required. If you like gym this is also required (fencing, judo, snowboarding etc) all fun stuff</p>
<p>yes, yes, they want to to be a little prepared before you go in to register. The afternoon FTCAP session is info presented by advisors but not a lot of one on one time. Then you go in to register, again with student helpers but again there are a lot of others there and it helps to know what you want when you go in.
One thing about Penn State, they do have advising but there is not a lot of hand holding. You are ultimately responsible for making sure you fulfill your degree requirements. That is what they are attempting to get through to you starting now.</p>