Transferring to a new university can present many hurdles. But some students know that a different program, taught a different way, might be a better match for them. Purdue Polytechnic's transfer students-like Brayden Bowman and Nakori Cachiguango-often make the switch because both the degree programs and teaching methods work better with their specific career goals.
Brayden Bowman was originally at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and he moved on to study aeronautical engineering technology at Purdue. He initially trained to become a pilot in Arizona but realized he preferred the mechanical side of aviation.
"I remember when I was filling out my weight and balance in the hangar, I'd always look over at the mechanics working on the student planes," Bowman said. "I would ask my CFI about how specific parts and systems of the plane worked, and he'd often be like, 'We're pilots, not engineers.' That was definitely a key moment for me."
Nakori Cachiguango transferred from Purdue Fort Wayne to Purdue University in Indianapolis. She originally studied interior design but wanted a curriculum that emphasized structural engineering and industry software. She switched her major to interior architecture.
"I missed that technical, construction part," Cachiguango said. "I totally understand that different programs work for different people. For me, it's just that I felt like I needed to be pushed harder in certain areas to learn what I wanted to learn."
Both students faced their fair share of hurdles during the transfer process. Bowman advised incoming students to research housing options and credit transfers meticulously; he lost a precalculus credit during the move and navigated a difficult off-campus lease after encountering waitlists for on-campus dorms.
"Coming in from an institution where [waitlists] weren't an issue, I had underestimated the difficulty of it all," Bowman said.
Cachiguango faced academic challenges upon arriving in Indianapolis. The university did not offer the exact sophomore-level prerequisites she needed because the interior architecture program was new to the location. Her advisor placed her directly into junior-level courses. These classes required knowledge of advanced design software such as Autodesk's Revit, which Cachiguango had never used before.
She worked with a senior student as a tutor, met with the department head, and caught up on the material. Cachiguango said the abrupt transition forced her out of her comfort zone and taught her to ask for help.
"I am not a person who likes to just jump in and not know anything," Cachiguango said. "I put myself out there, and I reached out to tutors."
Both students ultimately found the career-focused opportunities they originally sought despite the initial obstacles. Bowman recently applied for a rotational internship with GlobalX airlines, a company that specifically recruits Purdue students.
Cachiguango has worked hard to build a community in Indianapolis. She became a Polytechnic ambassador, secured a campus job, and founded Hispanos Unidos, a Hispanic culture club new to Purdue University in Indianapolis. She advised future transfer students to actively advocate for themselves.
"I definitely did not want things to just be handed to me," Cachiguango said. "Put yourself out there. Talk to people, email people, you might even have to pester people-that's all part of the process."
Bowman noted that the long-term career benefits justified the temporary complications of the transfer process.
"[It] was worth the payoff of being able to attend Purdue and pursue my selected major," Bowman said.
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