A few NDSU seniors recently discussed their experiences in and out of the classroom. Read below about what made their NDSU experience unforgettable and how they think incoming students can make the most of their time on campus.
NAME: Kayla Boustead
HOMETOWN: Bismarck, North Dakota
MAJOR: Accounting and business administration
What is your advice on adapting to being a college student?
Give yourself plenty of time to adjust and do/find what you love to do. Big life changes like going to college can be overwhelming, so having hobbies or activities that you enjoy will give you a great coping mechanism as you transition to college life.
Why did you choose NDSU?
I come from a family of NDSU alumni and I think the Fargo area is great for college students. NDSU has some of the best organizations, academic programs, and professors and I wouldn’t change my decision to come to NDSU for anything.
What will you appreciate most from your NDSU experience?
I appreciate how many opportunities I have had to grow as a person. Being involved in organizations helped me grow my leadership and communication skills and gave me a much-needed push outside my comfort zone. The College of Business has shaped me into a professional and given me the opportunity to network, find jobs and be a more confident person. The relationships I’ve made here will last a lifetime. I am very grateful to NDSU for all those things.
Did you participate in an internship program? If so, describe your experience.
I was an audit intern at Eide Bailly during the spring 2022 busy season. I was so happy with how easy it was to find an internship through the College of Business. I had a fantastic experience and learned so much during my time there. I met some amazing people, and I was offered a full-time position with them when I left. I also did not take any classes during this time and this helped me focus on learning a new job and really feel disconnected from academia. It was a much-needed experience and showed me what I can expect in the real world.
NAME: Halie Van Vleet
HOMETOWN: West Fargo, North Dakota
MAJOR: Nursing
What is your advice on adapting to being a college student?
You are in control of all your time now and no one is going to make you do anything. You need to stay self-motivated. Don’t schedule 8 a.m. classes if you are not a morning person. Schedule classes with friends or meet people in your classes. It is helpful to have someone to run things by, to ask questions to and study with. Check your school email multiple times a day. It is how your professors will communicate with you. No one wants to show up to class just to learn the professor canceled it through an email you didn’t look at.
What will you appreciate most from your NDSU experience?
I will always appreciate the community that NDSU has, the lifelong friends I have found and the high level of education. I also appreciate the staff and faculty at NDSU. They are some of the most caring and supportive people I have met who truly want to help you succeed.
Any advice about living on campus? Advice about roommates?
I loved living on campus. Everything you need is close and nothing beats not having to drive to campus. Roommates can be tough, but I found it was helpful to always communicate and set boundaries.
What do you wish someone would have told you?
Your professor is not your enemy. They are in your corner and they want you to succeed.
What are your future plans?
I plan to work as a Registered Nurse in the Intensive Care Unit.
NAME: Molly Puhrmann
HOMETOWN: Stillwater, Minnesota
MAJOR: Management communication
What is your advice on adapting to being a college student?
Go to campus events. From canvas painting and casino night, to basketball games and movie showings: these events are free to you as an NDSU student so capitalize on all the experiences you can. You’ll get an email each week from Residence Life about what is happening on campus. I highly recommend grabbing your roommate and enjoying all the events that NDSU puts on throughout the year.
What is your favorite thing to do on campus?
I love going to Bison football games. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind environment. Home games on Saturday are so much fun. The Bison football games really helped me establish my sense of belonging and pride to be a Bison.
What is your favorite place on campus?
I love Minard Hall. I think it is just classic. The architecture and the layout is really unique. It is bustling with students and then completely calm during class times. It looks beautiful at night and it’s the perfect place to house the humanities that NDSU offers. Also, it’s the only place that serves Starbucks on campus.
What will you miss most from campus?
I will miss the friends and connections that I’ve made here. Over the course of my last semester, I have been trying to soak up all the fun things that college has to offer. I even made a senior spring bucket list to ensure that I made the most out of my time at NDSU. I am realizing that as you grow and finish college, all your friends and classmates will take different paths, find different jobs and move on with their lives. Enjoy the time you have here and live in the moment because it will be over in the blink of an eye.
NAME: Shan Donovan
HOMETOWN: Onamia, Minnesota
MAJOR: Biological sciences
What is the best thing about being a first-year student at NDSU?
My first year at NDSU provided an environment that allowed me to grow as an individual at my own pace. I was given so many opportunities to get involved right away and provided campus resources to keep me on track to becoming a successful student. Everyone was so willing to reach out to me to get a jump start to a positive college career.
Any advice about living on campus? Advice about roommates?
Talk to your roommates about your living condition early and frequently before you room with them. You might think that you have the best roommate because they are your best friend but know that best friends don’t always mean they are the best roommates. It's OK to be just roommates and not best friends. If anything starts to bother you, you need to talk it through.
What will you appreciate most from your NDSU experience?
I will appreciate the number of connections I made at NDSU. Every activity or organization I have participated in on campus, I have made some sort of connection with the other students and faculty members. I value those connections because you never know when you might need their help or if you will be the one to help them out.
What is your general advice for new college students?
When you step foot onto campus, don’t be afraid to start talking to people. Get to know them and see what you all have in common. Reach out with questions that you may have. It’s OK to not know much about campus or what is going on right away. Start getting involved with organizations and activities. It will benefit you by jump starting your resume and it will get you seen on campus for future leadership roles.
NAME: Justin Shamberg
HOMETOWN: Grayslake, Illinois
MAJOR: Construction management
What is the best thing about being a first-year student at NDSU?
The best thing about your first year is all the new opportunities you have. Starting off with Welcome Week and move-in weekend, there are events every day that are purely opportunities for creating new connections in college. Everyone is trying to start fresh and create new friend groups.
What is your favorite place on campus?
My favorite place on campus is the Memorial Union. It is a central hub of campus and always filled with student life. It’s an amazing place to crank out homework with friends. Upstairs is always filled with club or organization meetings or really fun campus events. The lower level has places to eat like Hoagie Hut, which is one of my favorite places to grab lunch on my busy days.
What do you wish someone would have told you?
I wish someone told me the importance of getting help early and often. There are many academic resources like your professor’s office hours, ACE Tutoring and the Center for Writers. The people with the highest grades in a class are the ones who seek help. Also, as a person who used to be a professional procrastinator, college assignments require more time. If you let a few two or three hour-long assignments pile up, you might lose a weekend that good time management could have saved.
Why did you choose NDSU?
One of the biggest reasons is the value of the degree. It is a high-ranked university but is at a lower tuition compared to many schools. Also, it is the perfect sized school. It’s not too big, where it feels like you have to fend for yourself and it’s harder to feel a sense of community. But it’s also not small where there are not enough clubs or opportunities. Finally, just the atmosphere. Campus has small-town friendliness with large-city opportunities.
NAME: Peyton Rohloff
HOMETOWN: Hancock, Minnesota
MAJOR: Physical and health education
What is the best thing about being a first-year student at NDSU?
The best thing about being a first-year student at NDSU is you get to experience everything the university has to offer for the first time. There are a lot of things to do on campus as a student. You will never be bored. Not only does NDSU have a lot in store for all students, but the entire Fargo-Moorhead metro area has a lot of fun things to experience.
Why did you choose NDSU?
I chose NDSU because of the how welcoming it was. From the admission staff on my first visit to my professors during my four years, I truly felt welcomed and felt I belonged here. I saw it as a home away from home.
What will you appreciate most from your NDSU experience?
I will appreciate the experiences and opportunities that I have been given. Through all of them, I have met some of my closest friends and colleagues whom I know will always be in my life.
What do you wish someone would have told you?
It is OK not to know fully what you want to do. I switched majors the second day of my freshman year, and that is totally OK. It is better to do something you are going to love forever than do something that you are going to regret forever.
What is your general advice for new college students?
Get involved as much as possible. Whether it’s clubs and organizations, intramurals or just with people in your residence hall, get involved.
