Indiana University-Purdue University-Fort Wayne Top Questions

What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

Chris

Wow. To imagine going back in time is pretty trippy, but to talk to my high school self, I would have to steel my patience. I am a very different kind of person, now, so it is not lightly that I would consider telling my past self that he has to stop a lot of what he is doing. I would break it down this way: 1.While making people laugh and blowing school off seem great NOW, it won’t later. In my senior yearbook, I am listed as the “class clown” for my student body. I goofed off. A lot. Too much, even. Now, a joke here and there are fine, but there are opportunities I’ve missed, even at 29, because of my high school grades. I’d recommend less jokes. 2.Show a little backbone. “I’ve been to your high school reunion, me,” I might say, “and let me tell you: none of it matters. The stuff you are sweating now seems crucial, but you are living in a bubble. You’ll leave the bubble one day, and on that day, confidence is key. That’s what you’ll need to succeed: Confidence.

Angelica

If I were to go back in time i would have made sure that I wasnt influenced by others and would have attended all freshman year classes. The fact that I did take that route it made it more difficult for me when it came to my credits so while my peers were in school half day in their senior year I was stuck in school til 3. Another change I would have made if I could go back in time would be for me to prepare myself junior year seeing universities and choosing a top notch college to be accepted in after college. Now Im in my first year of community college after graduating in 2006. Im happy to have this opportunity to go now due to financial aid but I sure wish I had the full college experience and started sooner.

Nathaniel

Get a job as soon as possible because eventually you will be on your own. Once you make some money, first thing, buy a huge winter coat because it insanely cold in Fort Wayne, Indiana compared to Converse, Texas. Secondly, eat out as least as possible the cost of dinning out is only going to get higher and higher. Another good idea is to buy a lot of non perishable food (not canned foods) and have your parents or someone close to you ship them to you once you move into your dorm. After everything is unpacked in your dorm CALL EVERYONE YOU KNOW to tell them that you are settled and that you are okay and ask older relatives any questions you have about college life. Oh-ho classes, don't get any electives the first two years so that you will be accustomed to working hard for your desired grades. Ask your professors everything, I mean everything, to the point where when you want to speak, the professor will answer you before you finish what you were saying because they are tired of your relentless questions. Oh, one last thing, GOOD LUCK WITH THE BEGINNING OF YOUR LIFE.

Gavin

I would tell myself to stop worrying about time. I would remind myself about how fast high school seemed to go by, and how at any one moment it always seemed like the next school break was so far away, but when it was all done, it seemed like a blur. Furthermore, I would ask the question, "Are you happy right now?" If the answer is yes, that doesn't mean you can't be excited for the future or wish to change things, but hopefully it will stop me from worrying about how much time is in front of me. The number of days until the weekend. The number of weeks until break. The number of semesters until graduation. And so on. The future is exciting, as it should be, but I would make sure to let myself know that if I just embrace the situation I am in--as long as it allows me to be happy--I will stop obsessively looking to the future for some alternative situation that will make life perfect. I would never tell myself to stop seeking improvement, but that it's crucial to recognize the happiness that is already present.

Evette

The advice I would give myself as a high school senior, would be to never doubt myself. Doubt never gets you anywhere. You have to push through all of your insecurity, and just go for what you want. No dream is silly, and if you hold back, you'll never get to where you want to go in life. Don't listen to other people's opinions, what anyone else but you thinks, is irrelevant in the end.

Kayla

I would have told myself to start saving money. College is very expensive and most people, like myself, have to pay for it all with no help from parents or anyone. I would've told myself to get a job alot sooner than I did so I knew what it was like to work and make money and have responsabilities. Also, I would tell myself that college is harder than most people make it out to be, and to study for classes because studying really does help.

Sabrina

College provides many wonderful opportunities should you choose to seize them. There will be people who share your ideals and many others with completely opposite views on life. Show love and respect to those with different beliefs but never lose your faith. Being undecided on your major is nothing to be embarrassed about. Take classes from many different majors and enjoy discovering about yourself along the way. I know it is hard to make friends but the worst action you can take is no action. Go out of your way to join a variety of clubs and become an active member in them all. You will be surprised how much more comfortable you are when you can call out to someone on campus and they call your name back. Never take your college experience for granted. Study hard to succeed in every class and do not back down because the material gets harder. When life gets you down remember how blessed you are to be able to attend college. Try your best to stay on the sunny side and strive to succeed in all that you do. Your life has only begun and you will succeed if you try.

Kaylee

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to make better decisions when it comes to filling out scholarships. Even though I thought I had another plan in mind, I still should have made a back up plan. I would tell myself to consider other opportunities out there.

Nathan

If I could go back and talk to myself in high school, I would tell myself this one thing: Follow your intuition on every decision that you make and do not use logic, practicality, or other’s opinions to determine what you want to do with your life and career. When I entered college, I thought I had no idea what I wanted to do in life and I looked to others for advice and for guidance on the most “practical” careers to get into. The truth though, is that my heart knew what I wanted to do all along, I just didn’t listen to it because I was too scared to follow my dreams. I was too scared to follow what I knew I always wanted to be and I was too scared to make an “impractical” decision. This is awful thinking though; not following your heart and intuition IS making the wrong decision. It led me to experience immense dissatisfaction with what I was doing in college and even led to a prolonged period of depression that could have been avoided. Every high school senior needs to hear this: LISTEN TO YOUR HEART! Your heart is right.

marlese

If I could go back in time to my senior year in high school the advice I would give my self is to have mind control. Mind control means that I can be in control of any situation. If a person have mind control studying for test will not be hard. I can easily get my mind straight and tell my self that I need to study. If I have mind control I can get the things done that I need to get done, then focus on the less important things like hanging out. Having mind control will prep students for the worst. People will have a clear mind set of taking care of buisness and getting great grades. I have been struggling with staying focused and trying to study when I do not want to, it is hard. Having great mind control would have been a major key for success in my opionion.

Nicole

If I could go back in time and talk to myself about college life there are two things that I would tell myself. These two things would play a huge role in my financial future as well as my educational opportunities. The two things I would tell myself would be 1) Only take out education loans which are necessary and stay away from Private Education Loans (and) 2) Take your education serious because a 2.7 GPA will make it difficult when you try and apply to Graduate School. I made the mistake of funding most of my education and living expenses through private education loans. I was in a situation where I was not receiving assistance from my parents although I was classified as "dependant" student. Since my parents made decent money I qualified for very little in federal aid. Now I have experienced troubles paying back those high interest private student loans.

Justin

Justin, I know you've made it by through slapping things together and getting a good grade. Unfortunately, this is not gonna fly. You need to pull it together and make sure that you study and work and actually care about your classes. You also have to save your money, because without money you can't do some amazing things. Make sure to keep that drive, that fire, that motivation to succeed in your head at all times. If you lose it, you will fail. You need to stop assuming you are a one man show and actually ask for help when things get tough. Don't think you can handle something just because it looks easy. Ask for help. Don't be afraid to make friends, and stand up to people who accuse you of being less than them. Don't be afraid to join clubs and meet people. Make sure to watch your spending. Otherwise, just keep a level head and don't let anything stop you.

Christopher

Get Involved! College is a period of time that you can make mistakes, challenge norms, and re-invent/re-discover yourself and it is not only okay, it's encouraged. There are programs, clubs, events, and organizations for anything you could want to discover and couriousity of these groups is usually met with support and acceptance. Join groups that you know and find new expierences out of your comfort zone. Be a tourist for a day and visit every building on your campus, and spend a week being a tourist in your college's town. You WILL be amazed at how many awesome things that are right under your nose. My advise is to get involved and most importantly buy into your educational expierence; you will become a more well-rounded person and have a better college expierence.

Alayna

If I were a highshcool freshmen, I would take the hardest classes offered. I know now that higshcool in no way prepairs students for college, and the change is not only shocking, but very difficult. If I had a chance I would work harder at building study skills and time managment skills. I also would have worked more, and saved money so that I could spend less time working in college, and more time focusing on classes.

Valerie

Don't stay in Indiana for college!

Cayla

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school self I would give myself much advise. I would advise myself to fill out more scholarships and try to get more grants and awards. I would advise myself to chose a school in which I could get more involved in things such as soroities. Getting to know many different people starting freshman year would be great advise becasue knowing more people on this campus is a must in order to not be bored. I would advise myself to get to know my academic advisor right from the get go. Getting involved in campus activities and going to school functions such as games would have been good advise to have going into the college life. I think that if I would have gone to school functions prior to getting into the nursing program I would have many more friends at school, which would make my social life much better than it is now.

Jena

Making the transition from high school to college is hard. It's even harder going from an online high school to college. So, prepare yourself! Find out now what works for you as far as class scheduling and homework. It will make going into college so much easier! Also, take college more seriously. Put in more homework time, do extra credit, supplemental reading, anything and everything that will help. Most importantly don't put anything above your classes. Your future always comes first!

Selena

Being an international student here is definitely a wonderful experience. I am experiencing new culture and a new way of life, and the college has really helped me integrate better. The teaching system is different and I constantly compare it to my home country, it's interesting to find out what is better here or there. Also, I feel like I'm learning a lot everyday from my classes as well as from my extracurricular activities where I get to communicate with lots of different people.

Kristina

I have learned that education is valuable and should be cherished. My education is very important and I strive to get the grade I want and deserve. I have also learned that it takes alot of hard work and dedication to get everything done while you atend college. And it is very important to complete all assignments and turn everything in on time. College is dedication and it can be tuff, but I am willing to stick it out for the long run.

Justin

So far I have gotten quite a bit out of my college experience. I know feel more responsible and have a better understanding of time management. It takes a lot of thought to make sure and get all the tasks done for the week that must be completed. Procrastination is not well advised in college; the sooner I can get my projects and assignments done the better because I know the work will be better if I have more time to do it. I feel like college has given me more insight into what it will take to be able to live on my own in the real world. I must then be able to take care of myself, a family, and my job. All of which will take a good sense of how to get thinks completed in a timely fashion.

Tabitha

I have gotten a lot out of my college experience. I have changed my major five times since graduating high school and it has taught me a lot. I finially know what path I want to take in life as college has helped me decide on that. I haven't been in any clubs or events but that hasn't changed my educational experience. College has taught be to be more responsible since going to class isn't always mandatory but yet very neccessary. It has been very valuable to attend because your grades depend on it for one and for two, if you don't go to college, advancements in your life are hard to come by. A college degree means everything to me. It has mainly been valuable for me to attend not only for myself, but for my children as well. They are my motivation and I want to provide them with a better life. I also want to be a role model for them so they will be more likely to attend college.

Karena

I haven't figured that out yet!

Dannika

I have gotten a valuable education out of my college experience. I have established myself in a new town around new people and it's just a new way of life. It's very different but I have definitely gotten a new outlook of everything. My college has been valuable to attend because it's cheap, very career oriented, and very diverse. There are people just like me that are always willing to help whether they know me or not. The people are friendly and only want you to succeed. The university itself wants to see you succeed as well.

Mianna

What I've gotten out of my college experience is getting to see that hard work pays off. It also help me become more of an adult when it came for me to getting things done. College has been valuable for me to attend becuase it will give me an opportunity to have an career . It's valuable for me to attend college so I can be one of the few in my family to have a college degree. I also gotten to meet people who have a good out look on life. Without college my life would be alot hard then with college.

James

I believe my greatest college experience has been playing Division I sports. I have made some of the closest friends of my life and I will keep on meeting people from around the globe in the process. I would not change a thing if I was given the opportunity.

Sarah

I have gotten a fair amount out of my college experience academically. I have stayed focused in my classes and most of my teachers have provided the help I have needed to succeed. The courses offered here are challenging and I enjoyed working hard to learn the material. Socially, the university I attend is not very useful because most of the students live off campus, as the dorms are limited and most students live in town. The smaller university setting is friendly, however. This college of course is very valuable to attend because you can't take a college education for granted in this economy and I am very thankful to be attending here to achieve my career goals.

ADADIKE

having a college experience has taught me how to be dilligent in whatever goal that i want to achieve and it has taght me the value of having a higher education such as being able to get a step closer to my chosen field of study. College experience has taught me about growth because I have watched myself evolve into a more determined and goal oriented person. having had quite a bit of an experience with college has taught me to believe that my future will be bright if i continue to work consistently towards my goals not only in college but life in general.

kristine

College is a great way to open up to new experiences and get a feel for the 'real' world. Attending college has been a valuable lesson in learning to be on your own. Going to college will also help an individual with getting a better job in this economy.

Angela

I started college right out of high school hoping to be the first to finish college in my family. Unfortunently I had become homeless. I had to drop out of college in my 2nd year and work 3 jobs in order to pay for a motel to sleep in at night. Now Im getting back on track in life. Im working full time and going to college part time. I want a better future and a better life. I am determined to keep going in school so I can be the first in my family to have a college degree. College has give me alot of self confidence for myself and my future. I always try to encourage people to go to college because you cant get very far in life without an education.

Kari

IPFW offers so many different opportunites. I went to all the different meetings around campus and heard about the Domestic Exchange Program and decided it was something for me. Currently I'm at UMass Amherst and I love it. I never would have ended up here if it wasn't for IPFW. I learn more and more about myself everyday in college and I would recommend IPFW to everybody. There are so many opportunities there that I never would have found anywhere else. The people are nice and help you as much as you need them. College has helped me discover who I am and that is the most vaulable lessen anyone can learn.

Angela

I am a "returning adult" student who is making a career change. My college experience has given me a "boost" of confidence in myself and my (new) career. After working at the same job for 14 years and realizing that there was no more room for growth, college seemed to be the only answer to my problem. I now have the confidence that after graduation I will be able to enter into a career that is enjoyable to me and that I will have the skills needed to obtain more secure financial future for myself and for my family.

Toni

As I have just started my college experience, all I can honestly say is that this has brought me joy and excitement. I have learned that not only am i excited to further my education but I am excited to show my self and my children that it is never too late to finish school and get a career. Everyone from the admissions office to my instructors have been extremely helpful and have gone out of there way to make me feel welcome and wanted. Not only will i be attending full time but i will be following my dreams and showing my two wonderful children how important it is never to give up.

Demetrius

As a current student at I.P.F.W., I have received an affordable education. My highschool focused on educating their seniors about the importance of a college degree. Coming from a low income family, my chances of attending an university was low. However, I.P.F.W offered a reasonble price for their tuition. After three years of perseverance, I have managed to earn an associates degree and am on my way to my bachelors degree. I have gained suffceint networks for future careers. The vast networking I have establised has been the most valuble resource I have gained from attending I.P.F.W. I am confident in saying that after earning my bachelors degree, I will find a suitable career. However, if I fail to become employed, my overall experience while attending this school would sway me towards focusing on a masters degree. With a masters degreee, I would strongly think about educating future I.P.F.W. students as an I.P.F.W. professor.

Joshua

I've learned the value of being constantly prepared and organized for each and every day of classes. Also, I have discovered the importance of relying on both the advice and suggestions of my attentive and scholarly proffessors as well as the personal consultation of fellow students, friends, and family members in coping with the constant stress and hard work associated with achieving academic excellence at IPFW.

ashley

Attending college has given me a purpose. A purpose in life. I am a single mother and intend on providing a great life for my son and my education is the only way to reach the finish line. My education is valuable for monetary purposes and my persona. I want to be an example that you can be a single mother and still rise up and become somebody. I am an example for not only my son, but also my younger siblings. I want to make my parents, brother and sister, and son proud. I will be most proud of myself when I finally graduate and get my bachelors degree in business administration so that I am able to pursue my professional dreams of becoming a corporate events planner. I know this journey is a long one but I am up for the challenge because I know that I will the outcome will be most rewarding.

Jacqueline

I haven't attended college for over ten years except for continuing education courses. I believe the two+ years of college I have received have broadened my world, added to my professionalism, and made me a more valuable employee.

Stacy

IPFW has an incredible staff that helps with whatever you need. They have helped be throughout the process of choosing a major and the steps to get started. IPFW is a really great school with a lot of great opportunities. The money I put into the school is what I get out of it. The experiences have been great and I would recommend this school to anyone who would like to attend a nice sized, four-year school.

noah

Thanks to my University experience, I have gained invaluable knowledge, both educational and personal . Through working with trained and published professionals both as professors and as colleagues, I have attained a skill set crucial for a career in my field of study, visual art. Learning the history of art and becoming familiar with contemporary art and artists has enriched my vocabulary and understanding of art and its place in American and other cultures. Learning and performing the processes necessary to achieve the skills imperitive to be a successful artist was the most rewarding of endeavors. Attending a University away from home also presented many unique learning experiences. I learned how to be a productive member of a community in the dorms and organizations within the University. I learned simple but important lessons such as how to balance a checking account and live on a budget. Time management was a more difficult, but more rewarding lesson learned. Each experience has enriched my personal life and advanced my opportunities with regard to my future career.

Gwendoline

Well I am still attending college but as far I can say, college has helped me and still helps me to build myself, as a person but also as a woman. Being in college gave me the possibility to understand peers better and often to connect with one another. One thing I am sure about is that it helped me to be wiser. Any decision I make today will surely affect my future one way or another. Education is the key to a successful life I believe. I was born in France and move to the United States in 2004. To me the American Dream is not so much about having a typical house, family or pet but more about becoming successful nurse, being an independent and secure woman... Living in the United States is everybody's dream. Call it luck or destiny. I am simply blessed to be here. Attending college in the United States equals doors to great careers. I honestly could not ask for more. Now it?s all on me to work my hardest and one day reach My American Dream and that?s what I live for each day.

Amber

What I have gotten from my college experience is friendship and networking. As a returning student that has been out for over 15 years, it has been so nice to be accepted and make new friends. I assumed I would be considered the "old lady" but everyone has made me feel welcome. It has been valuable to attend college again because I am going to be able to further myself and then help others as I finish the counseling program. I cannot wait to graduate and hlep others!

Amber

I have made many new, great friends during my college experience. They are from all over the country and from foreign countries too. It has taught me about the different cultures of the world and to appreciate each and every one. Also, I have learned a lot about who I am and what I want in life because I am growing up and having to take care of myself.

Steven

The most I have gotten out of my college experince is the fact that all the decisions are up to me. If i dont want to go to class I don't have to, if i don't want to do my homework than I dont have to. This is different than highschool because you had to go to class and do your homework.

osbaldo

i would tell myself that be ready for college, because college isn't high school no more. and that ill need to put my game

Erin

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself that in order to acclimate to college life, I should get involved. And the sooner, the better! I was involved in high school, but I assumed that college would be different. I thought I would need to spend all my time studying; I didn't think I would have time for extracurricular activities. Fortunately, I started to get involved on campus during the end of my freshman and beginning of my sophomore years. I became active in a couple campus organizations and played intramural tennis. During the latter half of my undergraduate career, I traveled to Europe with the educational travel program, worked two campus jobs, became an officer for two student organizations, and attended campus activities and artistic productions. It was this involvement that made IPFW feel like a second home; it gave me a sense of belonging and community. These were the most stimulating and rewarding semesters of my college career because those activities introduced me to some of the most interesting and engaging people I know and gave me insight into what I might do after graduation.

Erica

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to take school more seriously. In earning a college grade, you have to sincerely read the required readings and complete the homework. Also, you should take advantage of your teachers' knowledge. They know a lot and are able help answer any unsure questions about college and studying methods. Participation in class is the most useful concept that I have learned throughout my semesters in college. If you plan to participate in class, you will most likely succeed. Preparing for class goes hand in hand with achieving that "A". If other students are expecting you to participate, you will need to make sure you did your homework. This also helps teachers recognize that you are devoted to the coursework. Having that professor-student interaction is benefitial in many ways. They help you not only with a particular course, but can give you insight for your future and open up doors for you. I recently had several professors willing to write me a recommendation letter for overseas study. This would have been impossible without them.

Matthew

I would tell myself to take math my senior year, instead of taking classes just to fill time. I would also tell myself to work on my writitng more and prepare myself for college instead of taking it easy my senior year. Finally, the most important thing I would tell myself is go into college with a plan knowing what I wanted out of it. Going into colleg undecided makes scheduling classes difficult and could make fall somewhat behind early.

Jasmine

If I could go back in time knowing what i know now the advice i would give myself is create study habits. Coming from the high school i graduated from it was a breeze. I was a smart kid so i figured why study i can just do my work whenever. Now that im in college and studying is the key to everything, i now have to create a habit that should have been broke. Its hard but in order to pass classes it's what you have to do because it has to be done in order to be successful.

Michelle

There is so much that I wish I would have known. I wish I would have known that the classes in college are not as hard as they are made out to be. I was told that for every hour you are in class, you were going to have 2 hours worth of homework. I really stressed myself out during my senior year of high school and although my good grades paid off, I wish I could go back and tell myself to have fun and, while focus on my grades because they are the most important things, to let loose once in a while and allow myself to relax because I really needed it. If I had just relaxed once in a while during my senior year of high school, I believe that I would have enjoyed it much more than I did and I believe that I would have been less stressed about the transition to college as well, along with not worrying about how hard the courses were going to be.

Samantha

This first thing that I would do would be to take more classes my first year. That first year is really all review from High School. If you take more than 12 credit hours you will have a better chance of getting your degree done in 4 years instead of 5 or 6 years which is what is normal now a days. I would also take summer classes. Even if it was one or two. This will also help speed up the process of getting your degree faster and getting out into the work place faster. One more thing that I would change would be making friends. As a freshman I did not want to hang out on campus or talk to anyone. This would have helped me out. I could have formed study groups and make friends that could have helped me out all through college. Like they say you live, and then you, learn.

Kaleb

Know how to study and understand that high school is nothing like college. It is nothing you can prepare for but just be sure to stay in school and make the best of it. Work harder at it than you did in high school and keep your GPA up!