Office of Undergraduate Education
Students can be a part of a tight-knit team that will welcome the next class of Penn State undergraduates
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Applications are open until Jan. 24 to become an orientation leader at the University Park campus during summer 2024. Known as the “OTeam,” orientation leaders don the pink polos each year to welcome the next class of Penn State undergraduates during New Student Orientation (NSO).
The application can be found at oteam.psu.edu. The deadline to apply is Jan. 24.
Unlike in previous years, there is no required three-credit course during the spring semester. Training for orientation leaders will begin after spring break, and all orientation leaders will be paid for training time. Also new this year, part-time orientation leader positions will be available in addition to the usual full-time positions. Pay for both positions is $14 per hour, in addition to leadership and professional development training.
Applicants must have earned at least 24 total credits by the end of the spring semester, maintained a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 and be full-time undergraduates who plan to be enrolled in fall 2024. Morning, late evening and weekend hours are required. New Student Orientation in 2024 will run from May 20-July 25 and Aug. 19-22.
Morgan Motycki, a senior print and journalism major in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, was on the summer 2023 OTeam. She said her favorite part about being an orientation leader was the connections she made with other students.
“Being able to be a role model to new Penn Staters but also become friends with many of them was such a special experience,” Motycki said. “To this day, it is still so exciting to see students who I met through NSO on campus and seeing them get involved in our community.”
She added that being an orientation leader helped her develop professional skills and better understand Penn State and its resources for students.
“Being an orientation leader was one of the most influential parts of my Penn State experience and has inspired me to continue my education after undergrad to study higher education and student affairs,” she said. “Seeing the impact I was able to have on so many new Penn Staters was so valuable to me, and I want to continue to work with students and have that impact for as long as I can.”
Brandon Stagner, interim associate director for NSO, works closely with orientation leaders to prepare for the more than 10,000 new first-year and transfer students that will attend Penn State's University Park campus each year.
“Orientation leaders light the way for new Penn Staters,” he said. “New students participating in NSO are in an unfamiliar transition period where it is important to have role models who help them learn new things, build their confidence and ease stress and concern. There is no one better to support students in this transition than current Penn State students.”
By sharing their own wisdom learned from navigating successes, failures and moments of growth and joy, orientation leaders can make a huge difference in the life of a new student and their families, Stagner said. They also get the chance to join a tight-knit team with peers from different backgrounds and experiences.
“Often I see that one of the most rewarding things an Orientation Leader gains from their time on the team is a tight-knit community of peers, even from different class levels than their own,” he said. “There is never a lack of support or shortage of laughs amongst the team as a result. Those connections that form over the summer I have seen last for the rest of their time at Penn State and beyond for many.”
Information and application sessions scheduled
Those who are interested in meeting the staff at Student Orientation and Transition Programs, which organizes New Student Orientation, can attend one or more of the five upcoming information and applications sessions.
- Wednesday, Nov. 29, 4-5 p.m.
- Tuesday, Dec. 5, 6-7 p.m.
- Thursday, Jan. 11, 7-8 p.m.
- Wednesday, Jan. 17, 12:30-1 p.m.
- Wednesday, Jan 17, 3:45-4:15 p.m.
All sessions will be in HUB 131. Attendees don’t need to stay for the entire session and can drop by to have their questions answered. This is also an opportunity to work on the application for orientation leader.
Student Orientation and Transition Programs is part of Penn State Student Affairs and the Office of Undergraduate Education.
FAQs
We are looking for diverse, dedicated, enthusiastic, resourceful, and motivated undergraduate students to serve on our Orientation Team. The application for 2024 Orientation Leaders (OLs) will be live on November 13th. To access the application and learn more, please visit our OL Selection page.
What is an orientation leader? ›
Orientation Leaders (OLs) are responsible for administering a successful New Student Orientation (NSO) and providing a welcoming onboarding and transition experience for new students who come from diverse backgrounds and experiences within the US and from around the world.
Who are the orientation leaders at Penn State? ›
- Kate Lundy. Matt Machovec.
- Becca Mariner. Rosy Mejia.
- Casimir Morgan. Morgan Motycki.
- AJ Wentzel. Pilar White.
Penn State University Park Acceptance Rate Trends
| Class of | Number of Applicants | Number of Admitted Students |
|---|
| 2026 | 78,578 | 45,269 |
| 2025 | 73,861 | 40,031 |
| 2024 | 71,903 | 35,302 |
Jan 24, 2024
Center for World University Rankings 2024
Penn State is ranked 56th among the best universities in the world out of 2,000 ranked, placing the University in the top 3% for the quality and research prowess of its faculty, by the Center for World University Rankings for 2024.
Why would you like to be an orientation leader? ›
Answer: 1. I am interested in becoming an Orientation Leader because I believe in the power of a positive and supportive introduction to college life. I want to help new students navigate the challenges of this transition and create an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcomed and valued.
What are the 6 types of orientation? ›
The six types are Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. The theory classifies people into their respective categories by evaluating how a person approaches life situations — and most people fall into more than one category.
What position is Penn State known for? ›
Penn State is a top-ranked research university and Pennsylvania's sole land-grant institution, founded with a mission of high-quality teaching, expert research, and global service. Discover a community—more than 775,000 strong—driven to make a difference.
What is new student orientation Penn State? ›
New Student Orientation (NSO) is a program takes place at the campus of admission prior to a student beginning their first semester at Penn State. Students will schedule a time to attend NSO typically during late spring or early summer.
Who are the early signees for Penn State? ›
Sixteen of the signees will be early enrollees in January – Liam Andrews , Antoine Belgrave-Shorter , Eagan Boyer , Josiah Brown , De'Andre Cook , Cooper Cousins , T.A. Cunningham , Xavier Gilliam , Ethan Grunkemeyer , Jaylen Harvey , Kari Jackson , Quinton Martin Jr. , Jon Mitchell , Luke Reynolds , Garrett Sexton and ...
You're correct that some public universities may favor in-state applicants, but Penn State is one of the public universities which tend to attract a good number of out-of-state students as well.
What GPA do you need to get into Penn State? ›
(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA. With a GPA of 3.68, Penn State requires you to be above average in your high school class. You'll need at least a mix of A's and B's, with more A's than B's.
What major is Penn State known for? ›
The most popular majors at The Pennsylvania State University--University Park include: Engineering; Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; Social Sciences; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; ...
Is a degree from Penn State respected? ›
Penn State is generally regarded as a reputable and respected institution. While it may not hold the same level of prestige as Ivy League schools or some top-tier private institutions, it is still a well-regarded public university with a strong academic reputation, especially in certain fields.
What is the hardest Penn State college to get into? ›
Smeal is by far the hardest to get into. Most students would be better off applying DUS then, if they get the required stats (specific grades in some classes, overall GPA) can get into Smeal for their major.
Why is Penn State so popular? ›
Why is Penn State so popular? Penn State offers a high-quality education and a variety of highly regarded academic programs. Penn State is also known for its sports teams, extracurricular activities, and clubs.
What is the meaning of leadership orientation? ›
A leadership orientation has to do with how much one leans in the direction of a specific leadership style. To be a task-oriented leader, one needs to be focused on goals, deadlines, and steps to get to those goals. Task-oriented leaders are likely to expect their employees to stay accountable for assigning their work.
What is employee orientation leadership? ›
Employee-oriented leaders are portrayed as empowering and sup- porting their subordinates, showing respect and concern for their person- al needs, and caring about their well-being (Bass, 1990; Judge, et al.
What does orientation mean in position? ›
the act or process of orienting or the state of being oriented. position or positioning with relation to the points of the compass or other specific directions. the adjustment or alignment of oneself or one's ideas to surroundings or circ*mstances.
Does orientation mean I'm hired? ›
A job orientation does not always mean you got the job. This means you have been selected to come in and see the facility and work.
