10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Coming to Purdue

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Starting college for the first time can be a little scary, but knowing the right information can help a lot. Here is a list of ten things that we wish we knew before coming to Purdue to hopefully make your transition easier!
1. You are now in control.
In high school, we had teachers who took attendance and parents to tell us to finish our homework. However, in a lecture hall of 400 students, the professor won’t notice when you’re gone or if you don’t submit an assignment; the responsibility to keep up your grades is entirely on you. Make sure to keep yourself accountable and that you are spending your time wisely.

2. Have a planner or calendar to record your daily tasks.

There are many things to keep track of in a typical day. On top of attending classes, you will have homework, projects, essays, and exams to manage. Planning ahead is helpful towards staying on top of all the work you have to do. It will be important to be able to manage your time and balance academics and extracurriculars.

3. There will be tough classes.

College is very different from high school. Not only is the material more difficult, it’s harder to ask the professors questions in class because most beginning courses are set up in large lecture halls. However, that does not mean your courses are unmanageable. Purdue is very good at supporting their students; there are a lot of resources to help you get through the classes. Make sure to manage your time accordingly and put a good amount towards studying outside of class to retain the information talked about in class.  

4. Go to office hours and attend supplemental instruction sessions.

If you are stuck on a homework problem, a good resource to use is office hours and supplemental instruction sessions. These sessions are held by students who have already taken the class and go over the material in a smaller setting. The professors and TAs will announce them at the beginning of the course, so make sure to write down the times and take advantage of them.

5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

During the first semester of college, there were a lot things that we had no idea how to do. Not just regarding academics but also living on our own and taking care of ourselves. If you ever feel lost, you are more than likely not the only one. One thing we love about Purdue is how willing everyone is to help each other out. Just ask and you might make a new friend along the way. Reach out to your advisers or professors because they are all here to help you.

6. Get credit for classes you took in high school

By getting credit for high school classes whether it be from AP, IB, etc., you can get ahead in classes. Even if the credits don’t directly transfer, they count as undistributed credit. This can bump you from a freshman to sophomore or even higher by credits, and you will receive earlier registration which is useful during class and housing registration.

7. Learn your study habits.

Purdue has many libraries and buildings with quiet study places or group study areas. It may take a while to figure out what studying strategies work best for you; what worked in high school may not work in college. A great piece of advice we were once told was to work smarter and not harder. Creating studying groups is a great way to learn and also make new friends!

8. Take classes that interest you.

You will have to take a lot of general education classes your freshman year, but it is also important to choose some classes that you will enjoy. Purdue offers thousands of classes to choose from. Learn a new language or take a class on something totally unrelated to your major.

9. Join a club or just try something new!

A great way to make new friends in college is by joining a club and meeting people who are interested in the same things you are interested in. As cheesy as it sounds, you will do miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. College is full of opportunities to try something you may have never even heard of; take advantage. Don’t be afraid to make a mistake because we all do. Step out of your comfort zone!

10. Everything will be okay. Just breathe.

Going to college is definitely a huge step and you will experience a lot of changes. There will be some rough days (Purdue academics are known to be rigorous), but you will get through them and learn a lot in the process. All of this is just to build a better you, so don’t worry too much and enjoy the college experience. Don’t be afraid to take breaks when you need to and make sure to take care of yourself. College is an exciting growth and learning experience and it will be some of the greatest years in your life!
Christina Yu and Yourong Tang, First Year Engineering
WE Link Recruitment Project Committee -- Blog

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Purdue Women in Engineering

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