New Student Priority Tasks

Our first-year students offer the following advice to help ensure you make a smooth transition from high school to higher education.

Know Your People

When you first join the Purdue community, one of the most important things you’ll do is start building relationships that will help you succeed in all areas of your life—academically, personally, and professionally. The faculty and staff here are all committed to helping you succeed. By getting involved and building your network early on, you’ll have the support you need to navigate the challenges of university life and reach your goals.

Know Your Resources

By choosing Purdue, you’ve selected a top research institution known for its academic rigor, research excellence, and a ton of resources to help you set yourself up for future grad school or job opportunities. The College of Science programs are a big step up from high school—they require way more effort, strong critical thinking, problem-solving skills, active learning, and the ability to juggle time and multiple priorities. You’ll need the drive to get the work done. That’s why Purdue offers amazing resources for academics, wellness, and mental health to make sure you have the support you need to thrive and build your academic identity in such a demanding environment. Make sure to take advantage of these resources early on and create a plan for academic success to get the results you want.

Shift Your Academic Focus

As a first-year student in the College of Science, I've noticed that many of us have excelled academically on our own, relying on our intelligence, curiosity, and problem-solving abilities. In high school, the workload often allowed us to study independently without much external support. However, transitioning to the College of Science has shown me that success here involves embracing a more collaborative approach to learning. Engaging with professors, teaching assistants, advisors, fellow students, and utilizing academic support services like the Center for Academic Success have become essential. This shift from solitary study to a community-oriented learning environment has been crucial in fostering deeper understanding and academic achievement. The College encourages us to move beyond independent learning, promoting a collaborative atmosphere where everyone is invested in each other's success.

Invest in Self-Management

If you want to succeed at Purdue, it’s all about managing yourself and using your time wisely. Just like in high school, academic success takes effort and sticking to a schedule. But unlike high school, you’ll have to build your own course schedule (usually around 15-18 credit hours per week) and figure out how to balance lectures, labs, assignments, exams, and everything else going on in your life. That’s why the College of Science suggests you create a schedule that adds up to at least 45 hours a week before each semester starts. This should include about 15 hours of class time, plus 2 hours of study for each credit hour. Once you’ve got your schedule, it’s important to stick to it as much as possible, even when other things in life try to pull you away from your academic goals.

Befriend Failure

Purdue is tough… and the College of Science is even tougher. But here’s the thing: You’re here because Purdue believes in your ability to handle the challenge and succeed. The College is confident that you can do great science and bring your unique perspective and intelligence to our research efforts. So, what does success at Purdue really take? It’s about learning to embrace failure and understanding its value. It’s not about getting everything perfect on the first try or earning an A in every class. Real success comes from realizing that every effort, even the failures, teaches you something new. It’s about having a mindset that keeps you hopeful and motivated to push through tough times, knowing that each setback is just another step forward. Embracing failure is actually a key part of achieving the success you want for your future.

With your priority tasks in mind, let’s get started on the best time of your life!