As she was home last week in Berwyn packing for a family vacation and school simultaneously, Michelle Dailey couldn't wait to get to Penn State, she said.

"I'm at the point where I'm so excited to meet new people and to start a new life. I'm ready for something new," she said.

Dailey, along with 1,391 other freshman, moved onto Penn State's campus on Sunday under cloudy skies. Cars were parked along the sidewalk as the new students, parents and siblings moved boxes, bags and every type of electronic equipment into the dorms of Pollock Halls.

The number of freshman living on campus increased from last summer by 244 students. In total, there are 2,282 students living on campus, 447 more students than last summer, Associate Director of Housing Lynn DuBois said.

More students are taking part in the Learning Edge Academic Program (LEAP) this summer than in past years, DuBois said.

Both Dailey and Greg Spero (freshman-forensic science) signed up for the summer program, open only to freshmen.

LEAP provides incoming freshmen the chance to take two courses together in groups of 24 that are reserved exclusively for first-year students. Last year, 684 students participated in the program. This year, that number has risen to 724.

"We even had some students admitted for fall but wanted to join LEAP so they came in the summer instead," DuBois.

The program seems to be popular because of all that it offers, including the different classes and extra mentors, DuBois said. In LEAP a student chooses a "pride" which contains two or three courses all focused in the same area. Some of the prides include agricultural, food and environmental systems, literature and film, bioethics and education.

"I decided to participate in LEAP because it seemed like a good way, right off the bat, to get credits toward my major," Spero said.

Dailey is in the education pride because she is in the division of undergraduate studies but is leaning toward studying elementary education.

Jenn Lacock (freshman-division of undergraduate studies), on her way to get her computer set up at ResCom, said her mom wanted her to attend in the summer.

"It's a good way to get acclimated to everything before there's 42,000 people on campus," she said.

As to why she chose to attend Penn State, Lacock echoed the thoughts of many of her soon-to-be classmates.

"I wanted to go here because everyone who does loves it," she said.

Speaking from his dorm room in Simmons Hall with shouts from new friends in the background, Spero said he is really enjoying his college experience.

As far as classes beginning today, Spero had only one thing to say about his.

"I'm sort of excited to start taking classes," he said. "I'm just not excited for the homework."