Freshmen 101: Always read the fine print

We at The Chronicle would like to welcome incoming freshmen to PUC with a few things we would have liked to know when we first arrived at campus.

1.       When receiving financial aid of any kind, it is imperative to know the rules and stipulations. Read through the satisfactory academic progress policy (which can be found at http://webs.purduecal.edu/ofasa/files/SAPPOLICY.pdf). Read it twice. Know what it means. Highlights include that if you drop too many classes you could lose your financial aid eligibility, and if your GPA gets too low you may lose eligibility as well. It may even be a good idea to meet with someone in the financial aid department to discuss. Just don’t pick the first week of school to meet with them—they will be swamped over there.

2.       It is important to utilize academic advisors and work with them, but do not rely on them to do everything for you. Just like everything else in college, research on your own as well as listening to what professors and advisors have to say. Advisors can help with what is needed for a program and scheduling, but it is the student’s job to make sure he or she is getting all they need out of a program and are on the right track. Advisors make mistakes, too.

3.       Know your resources. The library and its website will be your best friends here. This might seem like an obvious bit of advice, but it’s a lot easier to find scholarly journals for research and paper-writing purposes if you know where to look. Also in the resources category are the Writing Center in CLO 263, where they will read through papers and help work on writing skills, and the Academic Resource Center in Gyte 102, which offers free tutoring. Don’t be afraid to say you need help once in a while! It’s here for you. The Counseling Center in Gyte 005 is a perfect place to go when you need to talk to someone (and it is free). The Student Health Services Center located in Gyte Annex 034 offers treatment for non-emergencies.

4.       Lastly, get involved in student organizations. The Chronicle, the SGA, international and multicultural student groups around campus, fraternities and sororities. Your student email account will be full of announcements for call-out meetings for organizations and parties or get-togethers. Even for those who aren’t living on campus, these are great ways to meet people, build resumes and figure out what it is that you really want to do in life after college.