Purdue University-Main Campus Top Questions

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

Melissa

Take the time to look at different colleges and be sure to schedule tours. This decision directly affects your future. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.

Dan

Look into study abroad programs, join the greek system freshman year, enjoy every day of the best 4 years of your life.

Allyson

I would tell myself to be extremely school focused which is really hard to do in the dorms. There are always going to be people trying to get you to go out and party when you know that you have to do school work or study and you need to think about what is more important. I would also tell myself to surround yourself with people who are positive, encouraging and will be there for you in tough times and not the kinds of people who talk about people in a negative way. I would tell myself to use resources that are available to you and to always go to class. Just being there may help your grade in the class. You may think that professors do not notice if you are there or not, but they really do.

Whitney

The biggest advice I would give myself was to be more focused freshman year. I hadn't really had the partying social experiences in high school, so things got a little crazy my freshman year and my GPA suffered for it. I would tell myself that it's really important to find balance and to follow the work hard to play hard mantra because the friendships and memories that I have from the social side of my freshman year are irreplaceable and they were a very important part of my maturing and learning outside of the classroom, but I also needed to make sure my education side was just as solid.

Joshua

I would tell myself to focus more on studying hard and sticking to a schedule. I would also tell myself to do a better job of researching the type of learning environments offered at each university instead of focusing on their reputation. I say this because I could easily have graduated a year early at any other college, have learned more, and be making $80,000+ / year by now instead of fighting with professors and counselors to get into classes I need to graduate a semester late. As far as social life goes, I'd kick myself for not being more confident and getting out to explore all that life has to offer with my friends.

Sarah

When I was a senior, I was mostly concerned with getting out of the house and being an adult. I wanted to go out on my own and make my mark on the world and I thought I didn't need my parents. Looking back now, I realize I do. I would tell myself to stay closer to my family because, even though I pushed them away, I still supported me every way they could, and the still do. I would also tell myself to save more money, because college and living on your own is expensive.

Ruth

I would tell myself to take better notes in Calculus. Having old notes in any class is very helpful. I would also tell myself to pay closer attention in every class because you do not know where you are going to need to use the information you might have missed. Also, save all major homework assignments and papers and have them available when I need them. The last thing which I would tell myself is that the transition to college will only be as dramatic as I make it. And to have fun with my friends while I still can because you never know what is going to happen once everyone moves away. Some you might never see again. Cherish the moments you have with them.

Stephen

The advice I would give to myself is to LOOK AROUND! I only applied to two schools, and they were the two major state schools in Indiana. I regret not looking at schools in different parts of the country that may have offered me many new experiences. Going to school close to home, I only experience things that I had already experienced before. There is only so much you can learn in a classroom. Going out and experiencing new cultures, lifestyles, and backgrounds can give so much more life experience than a text book. A textbook can be used at any University. But the knowledge that you gain from trying new things, being out of your comfort zone, and living in a new place will be unique and last for life.

Sarah

The first bit of advice that I would give myself would be to apply for more scholarships because there are more important things to be worried about, like classes, than money. Also I would tell myself to begin working on becoming more indepent sooner. By this I mean to become more accustom to the quote adult way of life. I would also tell myself to become more self relient. This is a few of the pointers that I would tell myself about the transition into college.

Ryan

Learn valuable study skills before you go off to college because they are something you will need to use on a daily basis in order to do well in all your classes.

Kassandra

I would probably choose a different school. Purdue is a very, very large campus and it has been very hard to meet new people. I was placed in a terrible living situation my freshman year and it has been rough ever since. I would choose to go to a smaller school that focuses more on the students. With Purdue being so large, it is difficult to talk to professors and feel comfortable approaching them.

Sarah

I would tell myself to enjoy the people around me, and not bother with those who try to discourage me from trying to do my best. I would explain that in a year or so those it is likely you will not see those individuals often and will have to opportunity to meet a variety of others that will provide me with a new outlook on life. I would explain that college it hard work, and that each challenge I face may be a strugglle but it will allow me to grow as a person if I do not give up.

Lauren

I would tell myself to not worry about making friends in college- that it will happen! I was also nervous about not having anything to do so I joined some organizations really early on that I wish I wouldn't have. Just take first semester to explore and do NOT commit to anything because you could regret it later! Its easier to start being part of an organization than it is to leave one sometimes.

Kindra

Don't give into peer pressure. There are going to be those people that are going to try to get you to do something you don't want to, and the most important thing to do/remember is to stay true to yourself. Also, it's very important to get involved. College is way different in high school with the fact that not all of your friends are going to the same school as you anymore. Getting involved is not only a great way to get to know your school better, but the friends you make in those clubs/organizations become your life-long friends. Also, when they told you every A you get in high school is a B in college and so on... that is so FALSE!!! Some classes are easier in high school than in college and vice-versa. Either way, you have to STUDY! Also remember it's nice to be out on your own, but nothing beats home. :-)

Luke

Look carefully at all your options. Jump higher, as high as you can... you'll have more time to built yourself wings on the way down.

Krystina

Basically I would tell myself to not be scared of my first couple weeks at college. Enjoy every moment you have your first semester and dont slack. Go to every class and if you need help dont be afraid to ask. Set priorities and goals and try your hardest to stick to them. Have fun but also remember why you are there, for an education and a buliding block for your future life.

Hannah

Don't be afraid of change. As much as you want this to not be true, you are a different person in high school as you will be in college. In high school, i surrounded myself in a comfortable circle of people, and held one set of beliefs. That changed the first day I got to college. Through the next couple years, my newer experiences helped shape the beliefs and values that i hold now. They are still the same fundamental Christian beliefs, because I am Christian, my had i not experienced what i'd experienced, I wouldn't be sitting here and writing this today. I used to think that change was bad. Well, I've come to learn that change is actually beneficial, and honestly a little refreshing. I was glad to get out of my little hole and taste a little bit of the world. I didn't necessarily always do the right things or make the good decisions, but i learned from my mistakes. Everytime you fall, you fall forward. You never ever fall backward. Looking at myself 4 years ago and myself today has come to show that even people like me can change.

Robert

I would tell myself to study harder and pay much more attension to what I was studing

Melanie

If I were to go back in time and talk to myself, I would tell myself to view more schools. When I came to Purdue's campus I knew that it was the school for me, but I wish I were able to see some smaller schools. That way I would have something to compare Purdue's size to. I would also tell myself to do the Nursing Learning Community again because that helped me transition into college very easily. I don't think I would have done as well without that community. They were there for me when I needed help with school or when I was having a hard time living on my own. Another thing I would suggest is to do Boiler Gold Rush because that was a week where I was able to get to know more people and get used to living on my own with out any schoolwork. Other than that I would say to just be myself because college is a time to start over and truly learn to become who I was meant to be.

Jessica

As a high school senior, I was naive about how much growing-up I actually had to do. If I could go back and give myself advice from the things I have learned, I would first tell myself to go into wildlife instead animal behavior. I would then warn myself that at school I will be completly on my own. That seemed very obvious to me as a senior in high school and was aslo something I was excited about but I did not understand what all of that entailed. I had to make my own class schedule, decide what I wanted to spend my money on, decide if I wanted to work or not, and take care of my own emergencies that arose. I would have like to tell myself in high school that growing-up is fun but slightly a chore (since it is much easier having Mom and Dad take care of things). Lastly, I encorage myself and say, "the road is going to be rough but you will figure it out and end up in exactly the right place."

Nicholas

STUDY MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ariana

I would remind myself to be very focused and know your first priority, which is to get good grades and set yourself up for a bright future. Once you get in the hole, it takes some time to get out. I would advise myself, and anyone else to have fun but stay focused. These truly are some of the best years of your life, if you make them that way! You surroundings only enhance the great times you can have.

Laura

If I could go back to when I was a senior and tell myself what I know now it would have been very beneficial. First of all, I kind of rushed into making a college decision. I knew I had to pick a college so I just picked one with out really looking at all my options. You should really look at all colleges you apply to, even if you aren't too keen about them at first. My cousin, for example, was dead against going to IU. He didn't like IU, he wanted to go to Michigan and that was it. When his mom made him really start to look at all the schools though, my cousin saw that IU was the best choice for him. So, he went on to go to IU and now he loves it. Another example is when I chose my first college, it was totally the wrong choice. I just wasn't comfortable at that college. I ended up having to transfer and kind of wasted my first year of college. In conclusion, I woudl tell myself to take this decision seriously and to really think about it.

Kara

College is a time for growth; academically, emotionally, and socially. Looking back on my college career, there are a lot of things I would tell myself in order to better prepare for college. I would encourage myself to study more often in high school in order to be prepared for the challenges that lie ahead. College is difficult, but with hard work and dedication to your academics, success is within reach. In addition, I would also tell myself to study hard and focus from the first day of class as a freshman. Often times it seems as if the general education classes are not important, however, the opposite is true. The classes taken freshman year are the foundation for the rest of your college career. Take them seriously and put forth the effort to be successful. As a senior, I look back on those classes now, and I realize how significant they were to my success throughout my years in the nursing program at Purdue. Finally, I would set goals for myself. By setting goals I am able to feel rewarded and achieve my accomplishments. This is how I know I have been successful.

Hooram

I had always gotten by with the minimum amount of effort up to the end of my first year. Now that I'm in higher level classes with people who are actually passionate about the subject, the getting by method doesn't work. If I could go back in time, I would try to establish a habitual study method and be more organized about every aspect of my life, like cleaning up working environment.

Lee

Do you think you can enjoy fun college life as long as you make it into college? Remember. Graduation of highschool is not the end of your life but the mere beginning of the real life!! Be prepare for hardworks. However, if you see your dream far away and aim for it, the hardworks are nothing but a part of fun college life!

Shamiah

My advice to myself, upon contemplating choosing a college, would be this; "Don't pick a school based on how far away it is from your town, your parents, and any embarrassing moments you would rather not remember. Five minutes after your parents help you move in, then drive away and leave you all alone, you're going to feel more alone, scared, and overwhelmed than you ever have before, and in that moment it's nice to be able to remind yourself that home is only a two hour drive away. Also, don't pick a school because all your friends want to go there. The friends you have in high school may not be the friends you graduate college with, you can make new friends anywhere you choose to go, it's harder to make new educational and life goals. Choose a school that offers what you want to know, not who you already know. Which brings me to my last point of advice; know what you want to know. While your major might change once or twice, five times is a bit much and it costs a bit more. Do your research, make the right choice."

Bailey

Dear Self, Hello, congradulations on being a high school senior; Keep up the good work because you are so close to being done with high school! As a senior, you are exploring the myriad of opportunities before you such as what university, major, career and so much more. While this can be stressful, keep in mind that you have the experience and knowledge to make the best decision for you. Take a deep breath and focus on how you can find a path that will help you fulfill your passion, whether through the environment, academics or extra-curriculars. Don't let the stress of find a school take over your life; wherever you end up, you will find a way to make it great. So, take a step back to explore the options and then just have fun because your senior year as well as college is the greatest time of your life!

John

John, You should put more work into your higher level classes so you won't have to work as hard in college to make up for it. You should spend more time scholarship hunting even if your guidance councilor is useless in that regard, do it yourself because depending on him will leave you loaned to death. -John

Angela

I would tell myself to make sure I really focus in classes, even the ones I except to do well in. I would encourage myself to get involved in things quickly, but don't get to caught up in social life. Keep in touch with friends from high school, and meet as many new people as possible. Take risks, but be yourself and you will do great and have fun!

Alexander

Study hard and keep your faith!

Steven

Good college courses aid you in thinking outside your comfort zone and analyzing the world around you in ways that you haven't ever tried. Therefore it is important to constantly push yourself in high school if you want to succeed in college. Also, advice that I didn't need but that others do would be to know what you want out of life and don't come to college unsure if you can help it. Too many spend time with no direction, while their life won't wait for them to figure it out. Time is going to pass, whether you are ready for it or not.

Donald

Time management. As a senior in high school, time was not that big of an issue. I was an active member in a couple clubs, I was in scouting, and I played sports year round. I managed to do just fine with all of those activities. College is way different. I thought freshman year was extremely tough and I thought I didn?t have time for ANYTHING. My sophomore year is tough too, but I?m learning how to get work done. I?m learning when to study for exams and I?m also learning how to balance my academic career with my social life. If you were to ask me to join one club during my freshman year, I would have said ?NO WAY.? I didn?t think I had enough time to breathe. Fortunately, my third semester has been a little better as far as managing time. It?s a skill that I had to learn, unfortunately, I didn?t learn it before college. As a sophomore in my third semester, I?m now the Vice President of Purdue Green Build and I am the Mountain Biking Consultant for the Purdue Outing Club. I can manage my time!

Jessica

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to spend more time applying for scholarships and to apply to everything possible. I applied to many scholarships my senior year of high school, but not nearly as many as I should have. I was awarded one scholarship my senior year, so now I have a loan taken out and the rest of my college cost was covered by federal financial aid. College is very expensive, but the degree that you get in the end is worth the time and money. It helps a lot to have scholarship money awarded to you to help pay for the high costs of getting a much needed formal education.

Arianna

Dear me, At least a month or two before you leave for college, make sure all of your financial things are worked out. Apply for as many scholarships and grants as you are eligible for, including the ones with essays. Once you get to school, do not worry about what your roommate is doing with her college life, you should get out there and get information on as many different organizations as you can. Join a few. Do not be afraid to join organizations or go to events alone, you are good at socializing. While classes are in session, make sure to prioritize as best as you can. I know it is your first semester of your freshman year and you want to party and meet new people. Make sure that you set aside time to put in work on classes, and actually utilize that time well.

Denise

You'll hear advice from everyone you know about what path you should follow after you finish high school, and no matter what you decide, some people will disagree with it. You're probably not ever going to know exactly what you want to do, so when you're faced with large decisions, it's a good idea to just weigh the options and then make a decision. Not every decision is perfect, so don't worry. If you aren't happy, then make a change. Don't live with something just because that's what you've always done in the past. Don't settle for things that don't make you happy, because life is too short to not enjoy every minute. Work hard, but remember to take breaks to have fun, or someday you'll regret it. Meet as many new people as you can, because friends make life much more enjoyable. Most of all, be yourself, and never give up. You can accomplish anything that you set your mind to, so move forward, and make all of your dreams come true.

Carleen

I would tell myself to apply for any and every scholarship oppourtunity that arose. I've realized that paying for college is a difficult and draining experience when you do not have the funds.

Wendell

When it comes to finding the right college the best thing to do is to find out as much information about the different campuses you are interested in as possible. As for making the most of the college experience I would say that it is definitely important that one studies a lot but it is also important to get a foot hold in the campus socially because otherwise it can be pretty daunting at times. It is always good to have people there that are willing to help you do your best and be there when you are having a hard time.

Ralph

Don't skip any classes unless you're sick it can become habitual and even if it doesn't it can still put you behind in your classes.

Tracy

Find a college that revolves around what you want to do with your life the most. Also, find one that you feel most comfortable in (makes you feel like you're at home). Make sure the campus is safe too and look towards being able to afford it.

Tiffany

I would definitely make sure you will be able to finance the school you choose for 4 years.

Abigail

College is a very important time for students, both socially and academically. It is a time to make friends and connections that you will have for the rest of your life! College is a time to prepare yourself for your future career, and to make yourself stand out to future employers. Therefore, choosing the college that is right for you can seem like a daunting task. Just remember, the "right fit" for you is a combination of the school you choose and the opportunities that you seize while at school.

Brian

Make sure the degree you are seeking has really good programs and be ready to make difficult choices about leaving friends nd family.

Omar

To students i would say, "come into the school undecided and research whats out there instead of just going in to college based on info. from teachers and parents who havent experienced college for some time." To parents i would say, "relax the college experience is becoming more and more a right of passage of the newer generation. If you've raised them right then you have nothing to worry about. Let them make thier own mistakes, thats the best way to learn. If your child gets into trouble again dont over-react just think this has already happened now what can we do to fix it."

Kristin

The most important thing you can do is learn everything you can. Understand how financial aid works, investigate classes, talk to advisors, and visit the campus. Know what you definitely want and definitely don't and look into that. Speaking to upperclassmen in your intended major and out of it can help point you in the right direction as far as specialties, getting into and out of good and unneccessary classes respectively, and finding out about what activities, programs, and student organizations the campus has to offer are nearly as important. Investigate health programs, housing, food, transportation, and jobs along with everything academic.

Susan

An education is worth so much theses days. Choosing a school is an important decision one should not take lightly. You shouldn't go to a school just because you like the sports team or your dad went there. You have to visit and see if you like the atmosphere. Once you begin school, the most important thing to do is STUDY! If you are living away from home, all the new freedom may get to your head. Develop your time management skills quickly. Work on schoolwork and then you can go out and have fun. When socializing, step out of your comfort zone. Meet some international students, see a play, or attend a guest lecture. This should be an exciting time in your life, so make the most of it!

Cherrie

In finding the right college a student must decide which college/university fits them. Not their parents' dreams or following friends. If a student does not choose to live out their own dream at the college or university of their choice they can often times end up miserable or dropping out. Parents should be accepting to their students choice in college and support them no matter what they decide to do. To make the most out of a college experience a student must be willing to jump in with both feet and just try something new.

Erinn

I would tell parents that the most important factor to consider in helping your child decided which school/university to attend is that the decision should primarily be made by that child. Allow that child to make the decision on their own based on factors that positively affect the child. I would tell students that this decision can and will affect the rest of your life. Choose wisely and make sure that the school/university that you choose is one that suits you as a whole person, not one that is full of your high school friends, or one that your parents strongly push you to attend. I would tell both parents and students to work together at finding the right place to further your academic,social, physical, and emotional knowledge.

Lauren

I think that a big factor in finding the college for you is taking time to truly think about who you are and what you want to be. Take time to think about if you like knowing everyone in your classes or if you prefer a larger population of students. At the same time you have to think about what you want for your future and what school you believe is most likely to lead you to that future. I beleive that is the most important thing to think about when deciding on what college is right for you. College is about preparing for your future and discovering who you are and although the size of your school is important to how comfortable you feel in the end the size of the college will not be what you remember. You will remember the people you met and the lessons you learned.

HeeEun

Visit each school you applied and choose best school that you would like it