Incoming First Generation College Student Questions & Concerns

College Life
21

Starting in Exploratory studies rather than directly in Engineering is risky, right - since it’s competitive to switch from Exploratory to FYE?
Are you currently enrolled in Calculus?
If not, can you not graduate this December and take Dual Enrollment calculus at a nearby community college or equivalent?
Have you taken AP Chem? If not, could you take Dual Enrollment Chemistry 1 at a nearby CC?
ChemE is no joke, the better prepared you are for that, the better off you’ll be, and since you havea semester to prepare, why not use it to the max for free courses that’ll help you at Purdue?

(Are your parents kicking you out of the house in December? If that is the case, do you know anyone who’d let you stay in their basement so that you can NOT graduate till May 2022 and use that extra semester to take free dual enrollment math&science classes? I assume that since you’ve completed your HS requirement, you could take the 2 DE classes + 2 fun classes like Culinary Arts which will bevery useful when you live on your own + anything else…)

1 Like
22

I’ve been a professor for about 20 years and I can try to answer some of your questions and give some advice for a successful transition to college and a successful college career. I can’t speak to a STEM major specifically.

Most professors will use the first week to go over the syllabus, but not all. Be prepared for both.

Make sure you stay on top of what you need to do to graduate. Know what the requirements are for your major and for the University. Know what courses will satisfy those requirements. You will hopefully have an advisor that is knowledgeable and helpful, but that advisor will likely have a lot of other people they need to take care of, so it’s ultimately up to you.

Use a calendar to keep track of all important dates. At the start of the semester, look through your course syllabi and schedules and write down all due dates, scheduled quizzes, exams, papers, and presentations.

Also, know the dates of administrative deadlines and windows. That includes when you can register for courses, the drop-add period, the last day you can drop a course without penalty, financial aid deadlines, etc.

Read the course syllabus carefully for every class at the start of the semester. Know the requirements of your class, how you will be graded, the late policies, attendance policies, etc… One pet peeve of many professors is that students ask questions about things that are clearly laid out in the syllabus.

However, don’t be afraid to ask questions (even if something is in the syllabus). Ask for help and clarification as needed. Most professors will be happy to help. Sure, there will be some who aren’t, but you still need to ask questions if things are unclear. I tell my students I can’t help them if they don’t ask for help.

Don’t wait until the last minute on anything. I know this is a tough one in some cases (we’ve all pulled all-nighters to get papers in on time), but do your best to give yourself a buffer as much as possible.

Get to know at least one other person in each of your classes…hopefully more than one. It’s good for study help as well as for getting information you missed if you can’t make it to a class meeting.

Know what your professors are looking for in assignments and tests and then give it to them. Read all instructions carefully. For written assignments or test questions, that includes all the formatting guidelines (font, spacing, word or page length, how to cite your sources, etc.).

Listen carefully to what your professors emphasize in class. If you don’t do as well as you would have liked on a test or writing assignment, ask what you could have done better. This is especially important at the beginning of the semester. Try to figure it out as early as you can.

Make use of your college’s writing and study centers. Even if you’re a great writer and very organized, see what resources are on their website.

Be excited about college!

9 Likes
23

FYE requires a 2.0 GPA to be admitted on a space available basis.

24

Is that just for spring admits or does the same rule apply to students who enter in the fall?

25

spring

26

Thank you.

27

Purdue doesn’t allow first time freshman to start directly into engineering in the spring. I am currently enrolled in AP Chemistry. My high school would not let me take 2 math classes at once so I have to take PreCal/Trig H. I wouldn’t say my parents are kicking me out of the house in December but I have to leave the house and go to college in the spring for personal reasons I can’t disclose online. I asked my other family members on both my mom and dads side of the family and they said no about moving in with them so I can take CC classes before going to Purdue.

28

I am very sorry your relatives couldn’t help you.
What about friends who might have a spare room or a finished basement?
:frowning: I know I’m reaching but it might help you show what you’re capable of.

“on a space available basis” is the crux though, not the 2.0.
Do you have a plan B if you can’t switch to FYE?

2 Likes
29

I dont have those type of friends who would do anything like that. I also wasn’t allowed to take Algebra 1 Honors in 8th grade because my racist teacher wouldn’t let me but I did do well in math 9-12 grade so I hope I’m not at a disadvantage. I’m kinda scared right now as a first gen.

30

Speaking of a backup plan just incase I don’t get into FYE. here’s the thing, i have my heart set on ChemE & i dont see myself doing anything else besides ChemE unless its an anesthesiologist.

31

I’m sure Purdue has extra support available for first generation college students. That could mean a mentor or a support group or any number of other resources.

4 Likes
32

Chiming in to say I suspect there are a bunch of us on this thread pulling for you. CC can be a very helpful resource, and I encourage you to keep reaching out, even if it’s “just” for moral support.

4 Likes
33

Here you go:

5 Likes
34

I can understand. That’s why I was trying to think of some buffer.
BUT
Purdue has excellent resources - people, plans…; - for first gens.
Dive into…

(I see that @cinnamon1212 posted it but it can"t hurt to post it again)
Contact them - if you need help wording your first “professional sounding” email, people here can help.

2 Likes
35

thank you… I’m reading it right now

3 Likes
36

I took a quick look and they really have a lot of support. Since you are doing so much of this stuff on your own without help, this is exactly what you need. I would contact the office asap and see what they can do for you.

4 Likes
37

I’m going to change my name to The Repeater, because I just want to make sure this spot on advice is heeded.

@unknowncreature , please reach out to that office ASAP. This is going to be a whole new experience for you and you’re heading out with only a piece of a map. That First Gen office could be a treasure trove of information and help for you. Honestly it could be the difference between a relatively smooth start to college and a very bumpy beginning. Please don’t dismiss this as something you can do without - maybe you can do without it, but as with tutoring it is better to discover that you don’t need it after you try it, than to realize you need it after you’re already struggling.

5 Likes
38

OP- it’s fantastic that you’re focused on Chem E right now. I’m not patronizing you.

But I’m going to guess that there are hundreds of careers out there that you’ve never heard of, and dozens of majors that you might love. So don’t miss the forest for the trees… getting a college degree is a marathon, not a sprint. Having a backup plan doesn’t mean you won’t get into chemE, it means you’re being smart and prudent!

Without knowing anything about you- if you love aspects of engineering, you might love urban planning. Imagine being part of a team which is figuring out how to upgrade a 19th century public transportation grid with 21st century technologies. Imagine helping the people who manage airports adapt to new transportation models- where does someone with an electric car park, where do the vans which are partially solar charged park, how does freight enter and exit the airport?

Cybersecurity- how do you help a retail company prevent attacks on customer credit card information? How do you help a hospital keep patient records private?

Sustainability-- how should a city price it’s garbage collection to make sure that “every bottle goes back”, and how can factories convert their solid waste systems so that they are putting less usable material into landfills?

Public Policy- how do you make staying in HS a more attractive option than dropping out? What impact has marijuana legalization had on the opiate addiction problem- up or down? Do needle exchange programs reduce disease or just make people think they do?

Epidemiology- how do we plan for the next pandemic, why are some strains of infectious diseases easier to transmit (like the common cold) but less deadly than others (like Ebola)?

I don’t know you or your interests- and have spent less than five minutes. You can probably invest a few hours in coming up with a viable plan B just so you aren’t putting all your eggs in one basket.

Forensic accounting- the teams that go around the world uncovering hidden/looted/stolen assets after a revolution, coup, or a genocidal/terrorist attack. Follow the money- where did it come from, where is it hidden?

statistician- how does a drug company make sure that a clinical trial is representative of the population which will take its drug? Do women respond differently to a drug than men? Do people with high blood pressure need a bigger or smaller dose?

Stop me!

4 Likes
39

Yes!
I saw that one of the programs is being matched with a faculty mentor. That would be amazing and especially helpful to navigate getting into the major you want.

4 Likes
40

Answer 1 - It shouldn’t be much different than Fall

Answer 2 - A full load (15 hrs) is the equivalent of a 40 hr a week job. The best way to balance is to keep school as the priority and use time efficiently.

Answer 3 - I’m not sure about high schools nowadays, but a college syllabus is usually fairly straightforward. Do the reading, attend class, and do the assignments on time. Some professors don’t even give assignments, just 4 tests and a final.

Answer 4 - Most every class has a textbook. Some are physical books, others are digital. Professors give reading assignments, and usually lecture straight out of the book anyway. Take notes, and compare notes to to what’s in the book. Some professors like to throw in test questions on things only covered in class. It’s an incentive to keep student attending classes.

Answer 5 - That’s a pretty broad question. The best answer is to study one class at a time. Every class will have homework assignments based on the textbook with practice exercises.

Answer 6 - Avoid partying, especially as an engineering major. If you’re working and going to school, you likely won’t have time for that anyway.

1 Like