Purdue University-Calumet Campus Top Questions

Take your education seriously! There are many people who find themselves in unfulfilling careers, who did not take their education seriously enough to work hard at it, and either drop out or are administratively removed for unsatisfactory performance. The great Blues artist B.B. King stated, "An education is something that nobody can take away from you," and I wholeheartedly agree. Never give up when classes get difficult, there are people there to help. Our society is getting to the point where people are going to need a degree to work for a minimum wage job, and the higher you can go in your education, the better off you will be.

As a senior high school student there are many changes that I should have made. If I could go back and change something’s, I would have first graduated with a better GPA. Before I went to Purdue Calumet I had to begin at a Community College because my high school grades were awful. I had horrible study habits and I was not saving any money for college. I would first started by saving my money towards college so I could have afforded my books, and tuition. Because GPA is everything in college, I would have aimed for the highest GPA possible instead of "just passing the class". I never realize that test taking skills as well as your GPA is vital when it comes to entering into your program of study. In high school I absolutely hated science, not realizing that if would have work for an A instead of a “just passing score” in biology that I would have been exempt from college biology. In college just passing isn’t enough, and because of this attitude I had to retake this same biology class in college. In college just passing isn’t enough, but dedication and commitment is.

I would tell myself many things. First of all, I wouldnt tell myself to be so cocky because cockiness in college is a huge detrriment. It is great to be confident but not taking college seriously because you think you can just breeze by is not called for. Secondly, I would tell my high school self to study, study, study. Studying is imperative it to success in college. You can not expect to succeed in college without diligent studying unless you are extremely smart or you utilize your classroom time to its full potential. Thirdly, I would tell my high school self to just be ready for the big transition. College and high school are very different. Even though at Purdue Calumet you are not a statistic, it is still less personalized than college. You have to keep track of all your stuff in college and you cannot expect reminders from professors.

At first the transition from high school to college might seem like a big change, and for the most part it is. However, it gets better. Making new friends seems scary at first, but its a little easier when you participate in fun school activities. Indepedence is a hard thing to accept, especially since you have been under your parents' wings for the past 18 years. After the first couple weeks, you begin to enjoy the independence and accept that you are an adult now. Sometimes classes are tough, but don't sweat it. Professors are available during office hours outside of class, tutors are available to assist you in certain subjects, and you will build strong friendships to help maintain your general sanity when the going gets rough. In addition to studying and doing your homework though, you should concentrate also on having fun and enjoying the college experience. Join some clubs, make new friends, and ultimately have a good time!

The advice that I would give an incoming high school senior who is interested in attending college would be to stay motivated. College is a place where individuals from all walks of life, geoeconomical backgrounds, and gender stratification come to learn those skills and experiences that will help make them better citizens.

I would tell myself stay focus and go straight to college and enjoy the experience of college life, enjoy the partying and studying because college is a great way to experience all of that and above. I would also tell myself to wait on the two kids that I have now, even though I love them, I think waiting until I had a career first would have been a better choice and less of a struggle.

I would tell myself not to be so nervous about college because making the transition was not nearly as diffucult as I thought. However, I would tell myself to be ready to work hard and put a lot of effort, on a consistent basis.

If I could tell myself anything it would be not to stop. My oldest son in eight years old and I stopped college with the hopes to return when he was older and it would be easier. It does not get easier! Now that he is older I have to jugle his schedule and mine in order to study and go to class. As an infant it may have been more difficult to study when he was awake but it was managable. Now that he is older it is almost impossible because I just dont have the time or energy after doing his homework with him and making dinner. So my advice is never stop, it may seem hard now but as life goes on its only going to get harder.

Do not, I repeat DO NOT take a break from school! The best students have transfered just out of high school. It is so much easier to go while the information is fresh in your head, instead of having to re-learn all of it, why not just go while you are still young and have the knowledge. School is not as scary as you may make it out to be, it is actually very rewarding. Please don't be lazy and take a break inbetween high school and college, it will be one of the worst mistakes of your life. Going to college and making something out of yourself is the most important thing you can do for yourself and your family, so why put off the inevitable when you can just get it done now and get a head start on your future. You can do it, no matter what have faith in yourself and keep that faith, it will take you right where you need to go.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to be more outgoing and less of an introvert. Although college has brought out the "extrovert" within me, having that quality before my college years would have boosted my confidence prior to the major transition into adulthood. If I could go back, I would tell myself that I can talk to anybody without feeling awkward and enjoy other's company; because in college, finding people like myself and those who are very different from me help me see everything in a different light and help me feel more comfortable talking to individuals (an important quality to have in life).