UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Choosing which college to attend can be a difficult decision for high school students, but Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences is trying to make it a little easier with its Open House and High School Senior Day, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 1, at the University Park campus.

"Thinking about college?" asks Marianne Fivek, assistant to the dean for student recruitment and activities. "This is your chance to find out about majors in animal sciences and preveterinary studies, biomedical and food sciences, environmental sciences and natural resources, engineering and technology, plant sciences, and business and education.

"It's hard for anyone to choose a career path, but even tougher for students still in high school," adds Fivek. "Attending an event like this can introduce young people to majors and career options that they haven't thought of but might be interested in."

The open house will begin with visitors receiving an overview of the College of Agricultural Sciences including majors, minors, student organizations, internships, undergraduate research and study-abroad opportunities. Other topics covered in the first morning session will include Penn State's admissions and financial aid processes and the College of Agricultural Sciences scholarship program.

At 10:15 a.m., prospective students can choose from among faculty-led information sessions on the college's 21 academic majors. Tours of various college facilities will follow at 11:15 a.m.

Penn State Housing and Food Services will offer students and their families an opportunity to sample dining commons lunch in Finley Commons at 12:15 p.m. Visitors will be accompanied by Ag Sciences faculty and current students.

The rest of the afternoon will be filled with walking tours of the University Park campus from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., as well as additional tours of college facilities from 3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. Visitors will be able to explore such areas as the Berkey Creamery; the Valentine Turfgrass Research Center; the School of Forest Resources; equine, dairy, beef, sheep and poultry research facilities; the HUB-Robeson Center; the Penn State Bookstore; the Penn State University Libraries; and the Palmer Museum of Art.

For more information or to register, visit the Web at http://students.cas.psu.edu/openhouse, contact the Office for Undergraduate Education at 814-865-7521 or send e-mail to Marianne Fivek at mafivek@psu.edu. The registration deadline is September 24.

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Writer: Bethany Fehlinger

Editor: Chuck Gill 814-863-2713 cdg5@psu.edu