Purdue University-Calumet Campus Top Questions

What should every freshman at Purdue University-Calumet Campus know before they start?

Jacqueline M

If I could travel back in time to speak to myself as a high school senior about college I would say, "You are about to do something that will change you forever, yet never fear because it will be in the best possible way." You will become greater than you ever imagined you could be. This change will be hard, yet you will have your self, an asset whose value you will soon find out. You are about to embark on an adventure, where the monsters are your short comings and the road is invisible. When you begin to feel like you aren't going to make it, reach out. Help will be all around you. Never give up. When you do feel like it, remember that time is going to pass no matter what. The only option you have is whether time will use you or you will use time. Use time to gain the power through knowledge to be in control of your life. You will gain knowledge that will make you a valuable asset to yourself and the world. After all, education is a treasure that can never be stolen.

Stephanie

Regardless of the obstacles you may face, giving up is not an option. It is important to manage your time effectively and not fall behind. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it, people are here to help you. Be sure to stay focused, it is easy to get distracted. These four years are essential for the rest of your life. You will discover things about yourself, people, and the world, don't let these years be a waste! This is not high school anymore, no one is going to hold your hand and remind you when things are due. It's time to become responsible and mature. Most importantly, always remember, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Expect the unexpected! You are in control of your destiny. There is no such thing as success without failure, failure is giving up! The ONLY things you can't do are the things you don't start.

Alicia

You want to be a teacher. Now that you know what you want to be, I suggest you start college soon after high school graduation. If you wait too long, you will be getting married and starting your own family during your college years. College will be much easier without two children, daycare costs, and a home to maintain. Live with your parents while finishing college. Work as a tutor or supplemental instructor at the school. Not only will it be great to put on your resume one day, but it will give you invaluable experience. Take college seriously. Work hard and study. You are a very smart girl, and can easily make your way to a 4.0 gpa and the Dean's List if you put in the effort. Forget everything you learned about writing papers in high school. The first paragraph of every paper does not need to include the words all, most, and some. Words like very, quite, and really will get crossed out with a red pen. Get used to researching. You will be doing a lot of it, and will come to enjoy it. Remember, boys and partying are not important. Good luck!

Nicole

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school senior self about college, the first thing I would say is to stop procrastinating. Time will continue to move forward even if you do not want it to. The next thing I would tell myself is that college is so much better than you thought it would be and everything you thought about yourself in high school is nothing compared to the amazing individual you are working toward becoming for the future.

Nicole

Utilize all the resources available to high scholl seniors to assist you in defining your career choices. It is an advantage to begin college and be able to take the classes that are really needed. This will save you time and money. In addition, it is important to make an effort to maintain focused on the main reason why you are attending college. As a freshman, it is easy to deviate from your goals and get trapped in experiencing the freedom of being a college student. It is acceptable to combine studies with entertainment, but do not let the fun take over your studies. Adapting good study habits and organizational skills during the junior and senior years of High school will also help you tremendeously in college. Prepare yourself to be self-directed and independent with all your classes and your assignments. Most of the knowledge will depend on your own dedication, study and research.

Katherine

Stay commited! A quote that has stuck with me since I started as a freshmen. "Commitment means staying loyal to what you said you were going to do, long after the mood you said it in has left you." Throughout college you're going to have your ups and downs along with your achievements and disappointments. Stay focused on the outcome and the better life you're working towards during your college career. You're going to have days where you don't want to go to class, not want to study, quit school all together, and whine and moan about how hard it is. College is a life investment for your furture self, all those long hours of studying, writing papers and lectures will be worth it. Another piece of advice equally important is making time for yourself. School work is important yes, but college is also about making friendships and growing as a person. Things can get hectic and crazy during the next 4 years, make sure to have at least one person if not more you can confide in to help you along the way. At Purdue University Calumet, YOU'RE NOT ALONE!

Teage

Just keep going. In the beginning you are going to be completely anxious, just keep going. You will be in unfamiliar areas, just keep going. As soon as you feel comfortable you will have to move on, just keep going. Sometimes decisions will not have the intended results, just keep going. There will be moments when you feel lost, just keep going. It will feel like the state of flux is never ending, just keep going. You will feel like you worked so hard for nearly nothing, just keep going. There will be times when you want to give up, just keep going. There will be time that you do give up, you must regroup and just keep going. Eventually you will make it and everything will fall into place. You have to just keep going.

Janel

My best advice to myself as a high school senior would be to work hard. So many times I can remember cramming for a test, only to forget the information once the exam was over. College is a building block and it is so much easier to apply the knowledge you have learned when you actually learn it for life instead of learning it for a day. It is important to work hard in other areas too. Be diverse, immerse yourself in the community, become a part of the campus life. You are there for 4 years, so give to the community that you are a part of for this short time. Volunteer and give to those that need help, whether it is mentoring other students or building playgrounds for kids, it opens your heart and mind to new information and social connections. Remember to have fun. College is meant to be a learning experience not just for academics, but for learning how to get along with people that you would not have normally come into contact with. Your college experience will open doors, so recognize all the possibilities that are there for you.

Alyssa

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would simply say entering and experiencing college is not as stressful as others make it to be. As a high school senior, it can be taunting to wonder what the next step will be after graduating high school. Of course, the most obvious answer to that concept would be college. But where to start? How to pay for courses? What major will be decided while enrolled in college? All of those stressful questions could be answered even before stepping into college. There will definitely be other students who are just as nervous. However, those feelings of being nervous and "out of place" will soon wash away with the help of academic advisors, professors, and even other classmates. While high school and college can be both similar and different at the same time, it is the goal of gaining knowledge and moving up the ladder that makes every single aspect of enrolling in college all the better. Being a current college freshman has opened my eyes to what I have already accomplished, and will accomplish along the years.

amanda

I would tell myself to stay focused on my studies and not worry what others think of you. Gain confidence within yourself and know that you can achieve your goal. Nothing is impossible and the grass is green on the other side. Stay prayed up and focus on God leading you to your goals and accomplished what you came here for.