Delco first-year students get by with a little help from 'Friends'

Media, Pa. -- The television show "Friends" featured six young characters who faced uncertain futures, but who were typically there to support each other when the going got tough. Now, the hope at Penn State Delaware County is that the television show can help incoming first-year students form relationships to help ease their transition to the college scene.

The campus will host the "Make Friends" program for incoming students on Wednesday, June 30, at 7 p.m. in the Commons Building. The idea behind the two-hour program -- during which the new students will watch a pair of "Friends" episodes and play a team trivia game based on the popular TV show -- is that students who become comfortable in the college environment early on typically adjust better and perform better than those who do not.

According to admission counselor Meaghan Sullivan, "Orientation day can be overwhelming for new students. The tendency is to throw a lot of information at them and then say, 'Hey, go meet people. Instead, we're trying to create a more seamless process from admission acceptance to when they begin classes, so they begin to become a part of the community. Making new friends definitely helps."

The "Make Friends" event is part of the "Penn State of Mind" series of programs this summer at Penn State Delaware County. A seminar on choosing a major has already been held, and a program on student use of technology, as well as a "Summer Grill and Chill" barbecue, are slated for July and August, respectively.

For more information on Penn State Delaware County, visit http://www.de.psu.edu