UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- High school students making the difficult choice of what college to attend will find friendly faces and useful advice at Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences Open House, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 25, at the Hetzel Union Building (HUB).

"Selecting a career can be tough for anyone, and it's even tougher if you're a teenager right out of high school," says Marianne Fivek, assistant to the dean for student recruitment and activities. "Attending an event like this can introduce young people to career options that they haven't thought of but might be interested in. It's great to see the light go on in a young person's eyes, as they discover a career that they might not have associated with agriculture.

"The open-house setting is relaxed and informal," she says. "About 100 faculty, staff and students from the college will be there, so visitors can get personal attention as they visit with faculty or talk with students about university life. Representatives from the Ag Advocates student organization, Ag Student Council and various other clubs, organizations and societies also will attend."

Attendees can learn about careers in agricultural and related fields and the college's 19 undergraduate majors, including agricultural and extension education, animal sciences, food science, agribusiness management, landscape contracting, turfgrass science, forest science, agricultural and biological engineering, toxicology and environmental resource management.

Visitors can get an informational overview of Penn State's admissions and financial aid process and the college's scholarship program beginning at 8:15 a.m. After a general welcome, information on student clubs, organizations and societies, internships, undergraduate research and study-abroad opportunities will be presented at 10 a.m., with explanations of the many available majors offered at 11:15 a.m. Visitors can visit select college facilities and explore the campus through an afternoon of tours. A panel discussion on student services will be held in 101 Agricultural Sciences and Industries Building at 2:15 p.m.

After the open house, families can visit the University Creamery, the Penn State Bookstore, the Penn State University Libraries and the Palmer Museum of Art. Penn State Housing and Food Services will offer students and their families an opportunity to sample cafeteria-style brunch and dinner at campus dining halls (tickets sold at the door).

For more information or to register, visit the Open House Web site, or contact the Office for Undergraduate Education at (814) 865-7521 or send e-mail to Marianne Fivek at mafivek@psu.edu.

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Jeff Mulhollem Writer/editor Phone: 814-863-2719 E-mail: jjm29@psu.edu