There isn’t one “correct” way to get through college. While some students finish in three years, others take five or six. The path to graduation is unique for each person; sometimes, dropping a course can be an essential part of navigating that journey. Here are some reasons students might consider a late drop (LD).

In college, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by a constant flow of small assignments—quizzes, problem sets, discussion posts, and homework. Especially in STEM courses, these tasks are designed to help you build foundational knowledge. But many students fall into the trap of doing them just to earn points and check off a box. The real problem? When you focus solely on points, you miss the chance to turn these assignments into powerful learning tools.

If you’re preparing for an upcoming exam, practice exams are a powerful tool—if you use them correctly. Many students, however, make the mistake of simply looking up answers or relying on shortcuts, which leads to poor performance on the actual exam. In this blog post, we’ll break down how to best use practice exams, why they should be a part of a larger study strategy, and how this fits into the deliberate practice method for mastering your material.

As an academic coach, I’ve seen it countless times—students relying solely on the Canvas calendar to keep track of their assignments and deadlines. While the calendar is a useful tool, it has one major flaw: not every professor uses it consistently. Some assignments, readings, or even major announcements don’t show up in the calendar, which leaves students at risk of missing important information. This can lead to unnecessary stress and last-minute panic, something we all want to avoid.

Executive functioning refers to the set of mental processes that help you manage yourself, solve problems, and reach your goals. These skills are critical in academic settings because they allow students to take control of their learning, rather than reacting to every new task or deadline as it arises.

At its core, executive functioning is about thinking ahead, planning effectively, and staying organized. The great news? Like any other skill—whether it's reading, playing an instrument, or riding a bike—executive functioning can be improved with practice. Let’s take a closer look at some of these key skills:

One of the fundamental principles I've taken from the classroom to opening Tierney Education is the importance of student buy-in. This isn't just about students showing up for sessions; it's about them actively engaging and taking responsibility for their own learning journey.

Tierney Education, a leading provider of academic coaching and support services, is excited to announce the opening of its new location at 333 South Allen Street #104, just three blocks from the iconic Allen Street Gates on Penn State's main campus. This move marks a significant milestone for the business, founded by James Tierney on January 1, 2022, following his 7.5-year tenure teaching large lecture economics classes at Penn State.

Summer and early fall semester is prime time for finance, accounting, and business students to begin searching for summer internships and new grad roles starting in summer 2025! To make the most of this busy and competitive season, here are a few key activities students should focus on:

College extends beyond just academics at Penn State. The school is renowned for its wide range of options of extracurriculars, service engagements, athletics and more. A school so big is powered by many employees, and oftentimes there is space for students to work as part of that.

One of the hardest parts about going to class and studying for exams in the spring is being cooped up inside and missing the gorgeous weather. Penn State’s campus is blooming in April and May, and a sunny day cures any academic ails. Taking your studies outside can not only make studying more enjoyable, it can also improve your mental health and frame of mind to conquer big exams. Here are some of the best locations on campus to do so!

Whether you are a rising senior, a thoughtful junior, a sophomore inquiring, or a freshman planning ahead--the question of graduating early crosses the desk of many Penn State students. While some worry about graduating on time, others ponder if they should finish early and weigh all the options. I was in this position asking this question since freshman year of college, and went back and forth all four years. I ended up landing on graduating early in Fall 2023, but there were many pros and cons debated and tweaks I had to make in my educational journey to get there.

While most students traditionally take classes in Fall and Spring Semesters, Penn State offers summer course options to all students. The reasons for taking a summer course vary: catching up on credits, graduating early, preferring an asynchronous format…the reasons are different for every student.

Navigating college is a pivotal journey for many young adults, marking their first true taste of independence. This transition into the collegiate world is a leap from the structured support of high school to an environment where guidance is available yet requires active pursuit. The leap to university life, with its reduced oversight and increased personal accountability, can be seamless for some but daunting for others. The challenge of managing academic duties alongside personal responsibilities can quickly become overwhelming, leading to potential setbacks in both academic performance and well-being.

Penn State has an amazing faculty of advisors who are dedicated to helping students navigate their Penn State journey from their first day to their last. They act as resources for all things academic, but can also guide students through other challenges or questions they may have that pop up during the semester.

College is the perfect place to begin to understand who you are as a student--how you learn, your style of working, communication, peer connections and more. Once you step foot on campus, you may find that the student you were in high school and the styles it took for you to earn the good (or poor) grades might not be well-suited for what you face in college.

Being accepted to Penn State is a huge accomplishment and exciting time for students and parents. The horizon broadens, and all one can think of is the amazing four years they are going to have here at PSU. However, as time creeps closer, we as students find that we have a lot to manage and put in place before we ever step foot here--and fast. There’s matters of football tickets, housing, meal plans, roommates, and more--it feels like you always have to be one step ahead in your planning. This can be extremely overwhelming, for both students and parents.

Penn State has endless online resources and websites for academic success and making the college experience easier to navigate. But, having so much information at your fingertips can sometimes be overwhelming and overstimulating as a student. There are thousands of engaging classes to choose from at the start of a new semester, but that also comes with many steps students must take to know what they need and register successfully.

Transitioning from high school to college brings varying degrees of ease for different students. While some may breeze through college exams with minimal effort, others struggle to adapt to the nuances of instruction, testing, and grading. Universally relatable among college students is the experience of failing an exam or falling short of anticipated grades, often occurring early in the semester as students navigate new class dynamics and subject matter.

Sleep is one of the most intriguing subjects to scientists, faceted at the intersection of Health, Psychology and Biology. While many of its components have been thoroughly studied, there is still much we don’t know about brain processes of sleep (like dreaming). One area that has been heavily researched and confirmed important in our daily lives in relation to good quality sleep is its impact on our learning processes, and ultimately, academic success.

The success of your study session can often rely on where the study session is held. Penn State Libraries are perfect because there are a multitude of study spaces that allow you to find a spot that fits your needs. These recommended and not recommended spaces are ranked based on three factors: Privacy, Noise Level, and Availability of Outlets. All of these spaces can be found at the Pattee and Paterno Library (Note: the Pattee and Paterno Library is one building and the differentiations indicate which side the of the library a space is located).