Name:
Leo Haoquan Liang
Country:
China
Major:
Computer Science, 2+2 Plan
What made you choose Penn State Lehigh Valley?
The Lehigh Valley campus is in an excellent location—it is close to both New York and Philadelphia, and not far from the University Park campus. Also, Lehigh Valley is a good place to live with a lot of beautiful and historical towns. Choosing the 2+2 plan and starting at Penn State Lehigh Valley allows me to have the opportunity to attend both a small and large campus. Penn State Lehigh Valley has 1,000 students with an average class size of less than 30 students, while the University Park campus has more than 40,000 students. The Lehigh Valley is also a very safe area.
What do you love about Penn State Lehigh Valley?
1. Small class size and close connection with the professors
2. Extremely friendly community
3. Great location—close to New York and Philadelphia
4. Promenade Shops within walking distance
What is there to do around Penn State Lehigh Valley?
Across the street from Penn State Lehigh Valley there is the Promenade Shops. There are a lot of good restaurants such as Melt, White Orchid, and Red Robin. I enjoy my time studying at Starbucks and Barnes & Noble. Also, there is an AMC cinema where special movie events are held. There is also a Swim-in Zone across the street from the campus where you can swim for free as a PSU student. Finally, there are a lot of tourist spots in Bethlehem and Allentown, like the SteelStacks and Dorney Park.
What advice would you like to share with future international students?
Don’t be afraid to approach your professors. They are nice and happy to help. You will learn a lot of things outside of class if you ask them questions. By being involved on and off-campus, you have more opportunities to network, and learn about internships and jobs.
Name:
Katherine Xu
Country:
China
Major:
Project and Supply Chain Management, 2+2 Plan
What made you choose Penn State Lehigh Valley?
I first chose Penn State Lehigh Valley because of the location. It is close to big cities, such as New York, Philadelphia, and Newark. There are a lot of opportunities in this area. It is convenient to attend off-campus events and activities. I have access to many restaurants, cultural and sporting events. Also, Penn State Lehigh Valley is a welcoming campus. Students, staff, and faculty are very helpful and knowledgeable when I ask them questions. The Lehigh Valley campus has smaller class sizes, which helps me work with my professors to get better grades. My grades benefit because I get a lot of help.
What do you love about Penn State Lehigh Valley?
1. Getting involved in clubs and organizations
2. Professors are helpful
3. Great location-close to New York and Philadelphia
4. Opportunities to network and meet alumni
5. A diverse student population
What is there to do around Penn State Lehigh Valley?
There are the Promenade Shops which is a shopping center just across the street from the campus. There are also restaurants, a movie theater, and places to study at the Promenade Shops. There is also the Lehigh Valley mall which is about a 20-minute drive from the campus. Within a drivable distance, there are also amusement parks such as Dorney Park, Six Flags, and Hershey Park.
What advice would you like to share with future international students?
My advice would be to enjoy yourself and be open minded to explore the options and opportunities at the Penn State Lehigh Valley campus. You can make new friends and prepare yourself for your future. There are a ton of opportunities for fun, internships, and jobs.
