Hello everyone! It's been a long time and it's about time your International Connection gets back on track.

I just finished a 2-month internship at a small Philadelphia start-up company. They sell detergent (yeah, you're probably thinking that's not too exciting but let me tell you that I had a great time). It was an invaluable experience. Make sure to get some internships under your belt before you graduate but by all means don't rush!! Here are a couple of pointers:

• Relax! Whether you're still in the application process or have already been accepted, there is work-stress attitude that exists within university walls. Students have this vision that they have to land the perfect job as soon as they graduate and so they have to get experience as soon as they set foot on campus. I'm a rising junior and my freshman year I didn't do anything. I took all the summer off. I just wanted to experience a 3-4 month summer- I relaxed, traveled, visited family and friends etc. Basically, everything that I couldn't do during the year. And this year I found an internship. It was no easy task but it also wasn't impossible. My experience coming into the job was what I had done during the year at Penn. And also my experience during high school- yes, that counts for the first few years in university!
  
• For your first internships consider applying for positions in smaller companies/organizations. That way you'll have more responsibilities. Of course, there will be the administrative duties but you'll have the opportunity to get more involved. I assure you. I worked in a 5-person company and I got to do everything- speaking with customers, processing shipments, designing marketing campaigns and having lunch with the CFO.
  
• Don't think that you have to have a job waiting for you once you graduate. It's OK not to have one. These days people are always changing careers and nothing is set in stone. Don't be afraid to graduate and still be in the search process. Believe me, you will find something. It will just take some time.
  
• If you're international, don't let US regulations put you down. Yes, it is harder for international students to land an internship. That's normal; you're in a foreign country. But it's also not impossible. Especially if you're willing to work for little or no money. And at you're age you can afford to do that at least once.
  

That's enough work material from me. I hope everyone is enjoying the summer. I'm still in the US, dying from the extreme heat and humidity. I'm headed to Greece (my motherland) at the end of July.

For those of you heading to Penn this coming fall, best of luck with course selection. Don't be discouraged if you don't get in all your classes. You'll always find something else if you search. The course register may become a very good friend if you use it well. I never got my first choice course but I always managed (up to now) to get into courses I liked or found interesting.

Cya soon!

Don’t over do it!!!

The time has almost come! You must make your decision as to which university you should attend. Put simply, choose Penn!! Trust me, you will not regret your decision. Whether you’re the hard worker whose only passion is work, or the work hard-play hard kind of person, or the student-athlete or the international student looking for a welcoming environment or any other type of person, you will find your place at Penn. And sooner than you think.

Said this, and assuming that anyone who reads this blog will immediately choose Penn as their destination (!), let me tell all prospective Pennsylvanians not to be overwhelmed by the College experience. Don’t think that you have to do everything your very first year. Currently I’m involved in a couple of activities, including research with a professor, but that wasn’t the case last year. Honestly, I really didn’t do much and I personally think that’s the way to go. Moving to university and adjusting to a completely new environment is of course doable but it’s no easy task. It takes time and so you don’t want to immediately have a hectic schedule. By all means, do start exploring things but make sure to keep ample time to adjust yourself and make friends. Don’t feel that you have to be the all-you-can-be right away. Take it easy, relax, do well in your courses and slowly begin increasing your commitments. You don’t want to burn out your very first year! It may be hard to resist the temptation since Penn has so many things to do and all of you were most probably overachievers in high school but try.

Ultimately, what you want do is find one or two extracurricular commitments, or even 3 if you’re that of an eager-beaver, and really dedicate yourself to them. Don’t become members of clubs just to fill your resume. You want these experiences to be memorable, meaningful and fun as well. So, start your freshman year by exploring activities: attend some meetings, send emails, talk to your Residential or Graduate Advisors, talk to your academic advisors. In short, inquire about things so that towards the end of the year and/or in your sophomore year you can begin getting involved. Keep in mind that most clubs/organization etc accept new members both in the fall and spring.

If you follow this don’t-dive-into-things-right-away strategy I’m sure you’ll have a meaningful experience at Penn.

Welcome prospective Pennsylvanians!!!

A warm welcome to all potential Penn-ers!!! Let me be one of the first, and probably only, Greek/Italian students to begin telling you that you cannot go wrong in choosing Penn as your destination for the next four years. For all students coming from abroad, I will try my best to act as an informative and reliable “international connection”. And for all those of you that are worried about making the transition to a foreign land, let me tell you that you have all the right to be horrified! The first year will seem like an insurmountable and endless obstacle and………………………………Don’t worry! I’m only joking.

I’ll admit it, my first year did present some challenges but it was also very stimulating, interesting and downright fun! The Penn community really does a lot to welcome all students and within a few weeks you’ll feel right at home, whether that home be a single, tiny room in the old, yet beautiful, Quad or a fully furnished apartment in the domineering high rises that create the infamous wind tunnel.

For my first blog I would like to offer you some advice on course selections. I know when I did that two summers ago there were a lot of questions running through my head. So here a few pointers:

1. Use penn course review but don’t abuse it. In other words, don’t shy away from courses that seem overly challenging. Just remember that some of the best courses are taught by world-renowned professors. Therefore, they’re not going to be walk in the parks. And that’s a good thing. Penn offers so many interesting courses; really try to take many of them. It’s never too early to begin trying. And if you’re still scared after all this rambling, just audit a course and see if you could a handle a semester of it.
   
2. Don’t shy away from early courses. That is, don’t select courses based on when they meet. My freshman year I had class every day at 9am. Believe me, it does get ugly but if the course is interesting you will want to make that extra effort to wake up earlier. I’m not saying to do exactly what I did but don’t set noon as the cut-off point!
3. Get to know your professors and TAs. In terms of course material, TAs are there to help you. Send them emails, talk to them after class, go to their office hours. They want to help you, that’s their job. I’ve had great experiences with all my TAs because I’ve reached out to them. Okay, maybe I’m Mediterranean and therefore that makes me a good rambler but even asking a few questions during recitations (i.e. classes conducted by TAs) is enough. And as for professors, visit them to discuss the course material in more depth. Show your passion and inquire about research opportunities if the area of study interests you. Trust me, professors love students who show an interest in their fields of research. And remember, these relationships will help you down the line when you’ll be looking for recommendations.
   

All right, that’s all for now. Be on the lookout for more posts from your very own, personal “International Connection”

And also, post up any questions regarding anything. ANYTHING: academics, social life, meal plans, sports, friends, professional work etc. You name it.

Ciao!

George/Georges/Georgos/Giorgio/Gorge/Georgios (my name has way too many versions!)