I took this last winter break, my first as a Kelley student, to reflect on my experiences from the past few months. My first semester at IU was a roller coaster. Like every other freshman, I had my ups-and-downs. The people I have met are extraordinary individuals, the classes I have taken have been inspiring, and the food has been, well, let’s not talk about the food. Kelley has been one of the best things to have happened to me as a young adult, and I can guarantee that it will be the same for you. Yet, while my experience has been incredible, there are some things I wish I’d been told before I applied. In this article, I will list out five things that I wish I’d known before my first semester came to a close, and I sincerely hope that it can help you have an even better first-year experience as you join us in this four-year journey at IU.
- Accounting Should Be Taken In Your First Semester
The one thing I would have changed in my first semester at IU would have been to take BUS-A100 in my first semester. Kelley allows you to take Financial Accounting/Managerial Accounting in either your freshman or sophomore year, but both require A100 as a prerequisite. By knocking out Basic Accounting in your first semester, it gives you the chance to get one more I-Core requirement out of the way.
- Finite Mathematics
Someone once told me that college is like looking both ways before you cross the street, only to get hit by a plane. Well, Finite is that plane. If you take this class at IU, there will be blood, there will be sweat, and there will be enough tears to end the Californian drought for the next decade. Trust me, I have seen it firsthand.
- Extracurriculars
Not only are they a great way to make you a more well-rounded professional, but they also offer you the chance to interact with a lot of like-minded people. There is an organization for everyone out here at IU, and if you make the effort to take part in one of them you will create lifelong friendships while pursuing something you are passionate about at the same time.
- Hodge Is As Open As iHOP
Wells Library is a safe haven for studious college students. It provides a peaceful, relatively open environment for students to grind out a few hours of work. All of this is true – unless you’re studying for a test in a class that is an I-Core prerequisite. Before A100, K201, Finite, and Calculus exams, Wells is more packed than your local Walmart on Black Friday.
So when I conveniently found out at the end of the semester that almost every room in Hodge Hall is accessible by admitted Kelley students, it was a bittersweet moment. Yes, you heard me, almost every room in Hodge Hall is available to admitted Kelley students. Do you feel like studying in an empty room with no distractions? Hodge Hall late at night. Do you feel like wandering around aimlessly with nobody around? Hodge Hall late at night. Do you want to lecture your little group of people on rainbows and unicorns without being judged? Hodge Hall late at night. It is one of the most serene environments for a person.
- Step Out of Your Comfort Zone And Meet People Outside the Business School
A lot has been said about the ‘Kelley Bubble,’ a phenomenon where Kelley students interact with other Kelley students, and only other Kelley students. The truth is that a lot of Kelley students, especially those in the KLLC, will end up interacting purely with other business students. However, this doesn’t have to be the case.
In my few months here at IU, some of the best friends I have made come from places outside of the business school. I have gotten to know education majors, pre-med majors, social work majors, music majors, and more. Interacting with people pursuing different passions offers you a far broader perspective of the world and pushes you to think differently. If you lose yourself in the bubble, you will lose the chance to be inspired by thousands of people here at IU. If you take this chance to step out of your comfort zone, you will be amazed, you will be inspired, and most importantly, you will grow.
Udi Lal
Business Management Major, Class of 2021
Kelley School of Business Class of '21
I'm a freshman at IU. I've been raised around the world, but Dallas is home for me. I spent countless hours on this blog before I came here, and the writers on this site helped advise me on things I would never have found elsewhere. I hope something I write has an impact on you and helps you through some of the decisions you have to make here at IU!
