While some freshmen have already made the decision to spend their summer in State College (hopefully), some may still be on the fence about what to do.

Registration for Penn State’s Learning Edge Academic Program (LEAP) opens on Monday, March 15. Although it has not totally been confirmed that LEAP will happen in person this year, Penn State has started planning to get students back in the classroom this fall, beginning with a phased return to normalcy this summer.

Most incoming freshmen who will come to Penn State in the summer might still be wondering what LEAP even entails. Look no further than our brief, comprehensive guide.

What’s LEAP?

LEAP is a program that teaches incoming freshmen how to adjust to college life with the help of an upperclassmen mentor while taking smaller-sized classes.

You’ll be in a group of about 24 students with whom you’ll take the same two classes for the whole summer. Your mentor plans events to help you and your group get to know each other and acclimate to life in State College.

Where Do You Eat/Live During LEAP?

LEAP students typically live in South Halls. Most dorms at South are renovated, but there are a few stragglers that still lack air conditioning. Don’t worry, though! I survived a summer in unrenovated Simmons Hall, and so can you!

There’s no better location than living in South Halls for the summer, too. When you feel like escaping campus, downtown State College is just across the street. South is also close to the HUB and most on-campus buildings you’d need to get to.

Students always wonder if they need to move out between the summer and fall semesters. The answer is yes. However, in the past, Penn State has offered storage space in your fall dorm for those two weeks.

As for dining, you’ll have a meal plan that will provide that you can use at both Redifer Commons and Pollock Commons, which are usually open during the summer. You can also use your meal plan at the HUB and Creamery. That means ice cream for dinner every night! If you have funds leftover after the summer, those will transfer to the fall semester.

What Classes Do You Take During LEAP?

The beauty of college, freshmen, is that you get to choose your classes. For LEAP, you’ll get to choose your LEAP pride based on your academic interests.

Freshmen will only need to take two classes for the summer, though, which are mostly gen eds or entrance-to-major courses. Unlike in years past, you’ll also need to pick a LEAP pride based on whether you’ll be learning remotely from home or in-person in State College. Some LEAP prides will include a mix of both online and in-person courses.

A full list of LEAP pride courses can be found here.

Why Should You Do LEAP?

This is your last normal summer at home before friends start parting ways. But LEAP is only a six-week program, so you’ll still have time to hang out with your friends and bask in all of your graduation glory. Plus, who says you can’t go home on the weekends if you miss mom and dad?

The biggest advantage is being able to learn about Penn State and the State College area in a more quiet environment. In a typical semester, there are tens of thousands of people roaming campus, which is great when you know your way around your environment. But when you’re new to Penn State, it can be very overwhelming.

Would you rather be learning how to study and navigate campus while being swamped by 40,000 people or take your time during the summer to learn the ropes?

There is no right or wrong answer when choosing to do LEAP. Do whatever feels right for you! If you want to learn how to register for LEAP, you can visit the summer session website for instructions.

How Do I Have Fun?

State College can be a quiet town in the summer. So why not get exploring? Your LEAP mentor will typically have some fun events planned for you throughout the summer, even if these events have to be virtual this year.

During my time in LEAP, a few mentors teamed up to give us a mock tailgate outside of Pollock Commons. They taught gameday songs, let us play cornhole, and gave out plenty of free tailgate-themed food. My LEAP mentor would also plan a weekly dinner for our pride and go to IM Building workout classes with us. Other typical LEAP events in years past include attending State College Spikes games, hiking Mount Nittany, and going to Hershey Park for a day.

While you are encouraged to hang out with your LEAP Pride, there is nothing wrong with enjoying your new-found freedom. Take some time to enjoy sunny State College on the HUB Lawn or go for an early-evening stroll through the Arboretum.