Woohoo! You made it! You completed one of the most exhausting, but fun weeks ever at Purdue…Boiler Gold Rush (BGR) week! You had some awesome experiences like learning the Purdue traditions, going on the Meijer run to buy the fifth fan for your unairconditioned dorm room, meeting new friends from around the country and world, and learning about how you will succeed as a Boilermaker.

BGR was one big dance party by learning the common bond dance and doing it in Elliott or just walking to your next session. BGR was so much fun you may have forgotten that classes start next week and it might be scary. Here’s some advice for freshmen as they start their new chapter at Purdue:

It's okay to feel nervous about your first class!

My first class at Purdue was in Electrical Engineering 129 (the huge lecture hall that seats around 500 people). I won’t lie; it was intimidating at first. Coming from a high school in Indiana with about 700-750 students and a graduating class with 180 students, this was a shock. I could have fit almost three of my graduating classes in that lecture hall alone. I was nervous, but at the same time excited for this new challenge. I had never had a class with more than 30 students up until this point. However, with the help from building new friendships during BGR week, I recognized some familiar faces around me. It’s okay to be nervous, but you are going to soar!

Google maps will be your friend!

Surprise... Your TL (team leader) from BGR week isn’t there anymore to guide you around campus. It’s up to you to build in enough time so you can get from class to class. You may know the area your next class is, but it is totally different when you see a crowd of people walking towards you and you accidentally walk into the wrong Chemistry building for your lecture in 10 minutes. It’s okay to have Google maps pulled up on your phone for that first week (and if you’re me, for the first month.)

Go to call outs and get involved!

Getting involved at Purdue is crucial to be successful! Whether this is finding clubs you’re interested or getting involved with Greek life, you will find it’s an easy way to meet more people and feel more comfortable on campus. Callouts are a great way to find out information about a club and you may become interested and want to become a part of it!

Find a church!

The first few weeks can be hard at Purdue trying to find where you fit in. I have found that finding a church is a big way to calm the nerves and homesickness. My advice is get involved as early as you can. Go to church on the Sunday before classes and see if any of your floormates or hallmates want to go with you. Then, ask them to go to brunch after! This is a way I have found my group of friends at Purdue and I do not regret it at all! It’s probably the best thing that has happened to me since I have gotten to campus.

Enjoy campus!

Purdue’s campus is beautiful and there are always new things to discover when you walk around. Grab some Starbucks and do homework by a fountain. Walk back to your dorm instead of taking the bus. Go to “On the Go” for dinner and eat outside. Listen to the Boilermaker Special as it rides past your window. Enjoy and find comfort in the small things at Purdue!

Relax!

Being a freshman at Purdue can be scary at times and you may feel very overwhelmed in the beginning. Know that there are 7,000 other Boilermakers in the same shoes at you. You may not have all the answers right now, and that’s okay! These next 4 years will be worth it and you will realize picking Purdue University as your college was one of the best decisions you have ever made.