Rules to Live By as a Kelley Freshman

By: Kayla Streicher

Congratulations on choosing IU and choosing Kelley! We're so excited to have you here. As you'll come to discover in just a few short days, college is a lot different (and infinitely better, might I add) than high school and it'll take you a little while to learn the ropes. Luckily, you have your trusted friends with Kelley Student Government to help you make an absolutely flawless transition!

Go to office hours.

Your parents have probably told you to take advantage of office hours and you probably told them you would to get them off your back, but seriously, GO TO OFFICE HOURS. Your professor will be a lot more inclined to answer your questions and help you out if they've actually seen you one on one versus trying to place you out of their 1200 students they see every day.

Get involved in something you actually care about.

Sign up for 37 clubs at Kelley Carnival because you can't pick just one. You have so much access to information as a freshman, and every single club is looking for fresh faces that can make their organization better. It's much better to go to lots of call-outs and narrow it down from there than it is to miss out on opportunities that might have been perfect for you. BUT: don't join because you think it'll look good on your resume. It's much easier to discuss something you're passionate about in an interview than it is to make something up on the spot about an organization you're indifferent towards.

Don't be a freshman.

Spare no expense to avoid 8 ams. You're going to think you can do it because you started school at 7:30 in high school. It is different and you'll be miserable. Don't do it. Don't be a freshman.

Just ask someone where a classroom is instead of spending 20 minutes trying to find it. Don't be a freshman.

Go to class. It can be hard sometimes (especially when it's -4 outside) but you'll really be wishing you had an absence left when you're sick or trying to get an early start to a break but your accounting discussion ends at 9 pm on a Thursday. Don't be a freshman.

Make the first move. 

Ask upperclassmen or professors if they'd like to get coffee sometime in the Kelley Cafe. A simple 20 minute conversation can make a monumental difference. Take advantage of the opportunities that come with being a newbee. You'll gain a world of knowledge, and people will probably be pretty impressed that you took the initiative to reach out first.

Take advantage of the UCSO and Kelley Advising (do this sooner rather than later).

They want to help you and get to know you, but now that you're in college, it's your job to take the time to go see them. If you've got questions or just want advice, do this as soon as you can. Advising is packed during the weeks leading up to scheduling time and the UCSO is always busy once the fall semester is in full swing. The UCSO takes appointments and you'll be amazed by how much better you'll feel after you go see them.

Make friends in your classes.

Nothing is more frustrating than having a question about your homework and having no one to ask. Find someone in your specific section if you can. This will make it easier to get your questions answered and make sure that you know your due dates. On a side note, it'll be nice to have someone saving your unassigned assigned seat, which takes me back to not being a freshman. Choose where you sit on your first day carefully: it will be your unassigned assigned seat and people really are protective over those.

Don't sweat it.

Yes, college is critical in shaping your career, and while it's important to do well, it's also important to experience being a college student. Don't freak out if things don't immediately start to go your way. College can be competitive, and you're going to be surrounded by other ambitious students going after the same goals you have. Use this to your advantage. Getting into an organization, landing an internship, and getting stellar grades don't have to be such a competition all the time. What's most important is that you pave your own path. Want to combine majors that you've never heard of being paired? Do it. Want a minor that interests you and is outside the realm of what some would consider practical? Do it. Want to create your own organization? Do it. There will be ups and downs, but ultimately, each experience you have (good or bad) will serve as a learning opportunity and maybe even lead to opportunities you've never even considered.

Make your Kelley experience truly yours. There is no one way to excel in college, so do what your passionate about, work hard, and don't forget to breathe every so often. We can't wait to welcome you all here in just a few weeks!

Things All Kelley Students Know to be True

1. You haven't lived until you've eaten a flatbread from the Kelley Cafe

2. The UCSO has the most comfortable chairs in Kelley

3. Searching for 30 minutes for an empty room is a rite of passage

4. It is worth the walk over to the SPEA cafe for the better coffee

5. All the doors at Kelley lock at 9:31pm on the dot

6. There are more companies that recruit than just the Big 4 accounting firms

7. You're most likely to run into Dean Kesner in the Kelley Cafe

8. Everyone has great memories of Vivian, even if they don't have great memories of A100

9. You're disappointed with G202 if you don't see anyone dance all semester

10. iCore is the easiest semester of your life... until you get to the exams

11. You'll find students who have never had a Friday class

12. Kelley students work hard and play hard!

Transferring is Tough

By Meghan Munson

There is no getting around it, transferring is tough and coming to a top ranked business school made it even more intimidating.  I pictured myself walking into Hodge Hall and just getting lost in shuffle.  I was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to join any of the Kelley clubs and that I would have difficulty getting caught up with the curriculum after being behind.  However my aspiration to be a member of the Kelley Business School drove me to go for it and get past those what turned out to be unfounded fears.

I remember attending the Kelley Carnival solely for information as I figured a non-Kelley student would not be eligible to join any organizations. I soon learned how welcoming the Kelley community truly is. Each booth was interested in talking with me, they encouraged me to apply and genuinely desired to help me succeed. I began attending meetings and getting to know more and more individuals as each continued to remind me of the same thing: Kelley welcomes all. Throughout the course of the semester, I was selected for a position in Kelley Student Government as well as Women in Business where I have the opportunity to meet more people and make an impact. I am currently working on a fundraising project for a local nonprofit through KISI’s Net Impact and the advisors have also welcomed me as one of their own, providing me with personalized and insightful advice.

Yes, transferring is tough and the intimidation factor of Kelley is very real, but this past semester has given me all I could’ve asked for and more. I have found mentors who challenge me, friends who laugh with me, and professors who believe in me. Not once did an individual question my worth as an aspiring Kelley student, but rather each has encouraged my efforts to make this school my own and welcomed me in with open arms. The Kelley School of Business has met and exceeded all my expectations. I have learned and grown more in one semester than I could have ever imagined.  I am so proud to say that I transferred to Indiana University and am looking forward to calling myself an official Kelley business student in the near future.