Tips for the first day of school at University of Pennsylvania

I am a full time International student. If you are like me, it would be the same for you as it was for me last year. You would just be coming to the United States to start your first day of school as an Organizational Dynamics student. Welcome. Here are ten survival tips to help you adjust to your new life at Penn. 1. Get your immunization shots as soon as possible at the Penn Student Health located at 3535 Market Street. There are ten or more vaccines to be spread out in six months. If you do not schedule and take your shots, your enrollment would be placed on hold and you would not be able to register for Spring. Do not be afraid. The nurses are kind. You can even sing while they give you your shot. 2. The cheapest place to buy ready to eat meals is at the Food Trucks located in front of the Wharton School Huntsman Hall. There is a choice of Chinese, Japanese, Indian, or Italian. Four dollars would give you a full meal. The nearest McDonald’s is located at 40th Street beside Fresh Grocers where you can buy your groceries. When you have the time, you can go to Chinatown where you can find an assortment of cheap stuff as well. 3. You would need a good winter coat, gloves, caps, thermal wear, and boots in time for the heavy snow. GAP goes on sale for winter coats just before Christmas. The store is located at Walnut Street. 4. Take advantage of the online Library resource as well as the brick and mortar Library– there are three libraries at the University. You can even ask for help regarding references to consider for a particular paper topic from the reference librarian. You submit your topic and in a few days you can get your complete list of references related to your topic. Online is much faster of course. Good references are a mark of a good paper. 5. After sitting with Benjamin Franklin and taking your historic photo, near the Chemistry building there is a secret place where you can sit and meditate. Here there is a pond with ducks, turtles, and a lone swan. Warning, please be careful going home after our night classes. Do not put yourself at risk while going home. You can ask for security escort service while walking to your car or walking home if you live on campus. In any emergency, just lift the blue phones on the sidewalks and security will come. 6. You have free access to Morris Arboretum, the garden of the University. Although it is outside the University grounds, it is worth seeing the flowers and the trees, all 22,000 species of plants in times of fall and spring. 7. There are two Starbucks outlets in case of emergency. One in Chestnut street, and another in Walnut street. They are wifi ready for your mobile devices. 8. Souvenir for the family back at home is available at the Penn Bookstore. You will find Penn shirts and other items like diaries, sweatshirts, notebooks, etc. with the University logo. Items with the Organizational Dynamics logo are given exclusively by the department. 9. Choose your adviser/mentor as early as possible so you can take advantage of the learning opportunity. Have conversations with the faculty and your classmates while having dinner at the Inn at the Penn. Attend the special lectures open to OD students. That is what life at the University of Pennsylvania is all about. Send colleagues and teachers emails with your thoughts and ideas. Blog here. Believe me, the University of Pennsylvania is committed to ensuring your academic achievement. 10. Attend orientations, parties, brunches, Thanksgiving day, Passover, and other networking events. You will never feel alone that way.