I started my college career at a Top 10 business school in the Midwest. While it was my first choice, once I arrived there, I realized the culture was more intense than I expected. I didn’t like that aspect—I valued a collaborative environment with more creative freedom. A business program combined with technology is something that interested me, so I looked into different business schools that would cater to my goals. I ultimately chose Purdue, where my mother is an alumna, and my brother is a master’s student.
I immediately liked Purdue. The business school prioritized collaboration, which is what I wanted in the first place. Everyone here is so kind and humble, including both the students and the professors. Purdue’s business school is open to more than just finance, and that’s exactly what I was looking for while selecting the school I wanted to attend.
Before coming to Purdue, my biggest expectation was that I would feel more at home than I did at my previous university, and I was right. Purdue does a great job of making people feel like they belong here—it's so inclusive. The business school is amazing at overlapping with the other schools at Purdue. It’s not an isolated part of Purdue; instead, I feel like I’m able to connect with students at other parts of the university.
I also like that the business school focuses on the math and analytical aspects of business. When I first joined, I was only an economics major, then added a computer science major. I was looking forward to seeing how these two fields would intersect at Purdue. These majors complement each other, especially in the data mining field. I appreciate that I was able to get an education where my two interests overlapped.
I think I was a little surprised at how much I liked Purdue—once I settled on campus—because I
originally wanted to go out of state to explore something different than what I grew up with.
Even though I ended up returning to school in-state, I encountered a lot of diversity within the campus. Purdue has students and professors with so many different backgrounds. I expected to be surrounded by only people from Indiana or the Midwest, but that’s not the case at all. A lot of people are from different states and even different countries, which only enhanced my experience here. I’m glad that I could also enjoy unique events that were happening on campus.
One thing I wish I could’ve explored more is the extracurricular aspect of college. I was so focused on my jobs and my two majors that I felt like I didn’t have enough time to spend getting involved in organizations at the business school and outside of it. Regardless, I was still able to make connections with so many other students and professors, and I’m glad I was able to do so. The advice that I have for any students thinking of transferring to Purdue is that you should definitely come visit the school before making any decisions. It’s such a great place to spend your college years.
