Purdue University-Calumet Campus Top Questions

If I could give my former self advice about college life, I would tell her five things. 1)You are doing a great job at maintaining a 3.0 GPA, which says a lot about you since you are pursing higher education without any support of your family, but you have the potential to attain academic honors. So push yourself harder. 2) Starting today, set aside two weeks each semester to apply for scholarships. There are people who find joy in helping others reach their goals, so let them help you. 3) Join the American Political Science Association and the Chicago Historical Society so that you can meet people who are doing what you only see in your dreams. They would love to meet you. 4) Build relationships with your professors and allow them to get to know you. Trust me; they care more about your future than your past. 5) Go with the flow of life. You are a planner and a very goal oriented young woman. But sometimes life will take you on a whim. Don't fight it, let go and see where the ride takes you. When it stops, your schedule will still be there.

Knowing what I know now about college I would give myself plenty of advice going back to my senior year of high school. What would I tell myself? College is very important if you want to succeed in life. You have to be mentally prepared to put forth all the effort that it takes to succeed in college. Working hard and studying is key to success in college. Never be afraid to ask for additional help from professors, tutors, or even your fellow classmates. There are people who actually want to help, and those are the people who care about your education, however no one should care about your education more than yourself. The atmosphere in college is very welcoming. It’s like everyone around you wants to succeed in life so the motivation is always there. Always keep up with assignments and never fall behind, never wait until the last minute to complete an assignment. College is fun, college is great. It’s up to you how you make your college experience turn out to be. I encourage you to do well.

I know that it's big step for you to go to college. You are going to be the only person in your family to graduate high school, so going to college is a pretty big deal. I want to start by telling you that student loans are not free money. You're going to start paying them back when you're done with school and it's going to be a lot of money. Only take what you absolutely need. When you sign up for classes, be sure to only sign up for what you can handle. You'll have to work full time while going to school since you don't have anyone to support you. If you sign up for classes and fail or drop them later, not only did you waste your money, but you will have wasted time that you could have been earning a living. School will be there and even if it takes you ten years to finish, you'll still have a degree to be proud of. Everything else will be ok. Mistakes will be made, hearts will be broken and you will be dissapointed. March ahead, more enlightened than before.

If I were to talk to myself when I was an high school senior, I would stress to myself that I need to finish out strong. Finishing with a higher GPA would open up more doors for me to get into many schools. In addition, I would tell myself that I should study for the SAT. Alot of colleges has a set number of those scores and if I were to have a high one, that would most definately make applying for colleges much easier for me. In all honesty, I would tell myself to get it together and not let my chances of being a successful student go to waste. Staying focused and having my head straight for what I want to do for my future is what I want for myself.

Today I would tell my high school self that college is not nearly as scary as it was made out to be, the other students and the staff make you feel at home and you'll feel like a boilmaker on the very first day! Staying close to home was a great idea, but having your own space is amazing! There are no regrets with choosing Purdue University Calumet, it's a life changing experience!

I would simply tell myself, to keep moving forward and never ever ever give up. There'll be hard times and tough times, but there's always a flip side, just keep a level head and be thankful for what you got always. And in the end we'll be all the better for it, redemption shall be soon.

To really think about what I would want to do in life. Jumping from major to major has cost a lot of time and money.

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school senior self, I would have told myself to apply for as many scholarships as possible because you might lose some and unexpected payments may pop up. Also, to work very hard because things change all the time.

If I could go back in time I would tell myself to be patient. College is difficult and that is okay.

If I were allowed to speak to myself as a high school student I would say to be bold, take advantage of every opportunity presented and participate in as many clubs or activities as possible. I would remind myself to not make decisions based on what my peers may say and to embrace the attributes that make me different. I would tell myself to sit at a different lunch table every week and become friends with people who are different from me. I would remind myself that my parents are not the enemy and the advice they give is valuable because they want me to learn from their mistakes without having to make so many of my own. I would tell myself to complete every assignment and extra credit opportunity because they are assigned to help you grow and learn not just earn a grade. I would say to do things that make you happy and make decisions that you can be proud of. Most importantly, I would tell myself to seek God in everything that I do and if he is not there, I shouldn't be either.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.