Best Hacks to Being a Grad Student at Penn GSE
1. Stay caffeinated:
The Graduate Student Center offers free coffee to all students who bring their own mug.
2. Stay fed:
Every Monday, stop by GSE for free dinner. Make sure to get there early, as lines get long.
If you’re running between classes and need a quick bite to eat, download the Honeygrow app. It lets you order ahead of time, and pick-up is right across the street from GSE classes.
3. Get the help you need:
Weingarten Learning Resources Center offers a variety of services and programs to help members of the Penn community develop skills such as academic reading, writing, study strategies, and time management. They’ll help you proof your essays and organize your written ideas.
Penn also offers a Mentor Mentee Program, which aims to provide support and guidance to current students by mentorships and connections with alumni.
Need dental help, but opted off dental insurance? Penn offers a low-cost dental clinic available to students.
4. Get your four-legged friend the help they need:
Penn Vet offers a discount rate for current Penn students.
5. Get involved:
Check out this list of Penn student community groups or GSE student organizations.
Want to get experience in research? Check out these research centers.
6. Look after your health and wellness:
All Penn students have free gym membership to Pottruck Recreation, including the basketball and tennis courts, and the swimming pool.
Penn offers a number of fitness and wellness services, including massages, rock-climbing, and group fitness classes
Need to talk to someone? Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers walk-ins and a number you can call
Meditation leads to more efficient use of study time, improved concentration, decreased anxiety, and decreased procrastination. Penn offers guided and mindfulness meditation free to students throughout the week.
7. Get to and from campus:
Penn students have access to a variety of free and reduced-price transportation offers. Check them out here.
