Thinking About College?

You are in your last years of high school--you have overcome challenges, have financial needs, are a good student, active in club organizations, and extracurricular activities--now you have a desire to pursue higher education. What will you do? School of Management staff can help you address some of your current concerns about:

• How Can I Get Ahead?
• How Can I Get Involved?
• How Can I Get Money?
• How Can I Find a Job?
• How Can I Get a Running Start?
• Position Yourself for Future Success

The Answer..

The Dr. Cornell A. Bell Business Opportunity Program (BOP)

How Can I Get Ahead? Check Out Purdue: You may have asked yourself, "What's the best way to get ahead--and stay there?" You've probably thought about getting a job or attending a technical school or university. Purdue University and its School of Management would like you to think about the Cornell A. Bell Business Opportunity Program (BOP) as you plan your future.

BOP is a summer program for disadvantaged high school graduates who have excelled and want to enter Purdue's business management program as freshmen in the fall. The eight-week program, directed by Prof. Cornell Bell, is very successful and so are its participants. Many BOP students have gone on to successful business careers following college graduation.

What's so special about BOP? It gives you:

• The chance to attend a first-rate university
• A running start on your college studies in a fast-growing field--business management
• Financial aid as needed while in school
• Individualized academic, social, and career support
• Excellent job opportunities during summers and after graduation

How Do I Get Involved? It's Easy--Join BOP: BOP is designed to help you get ahead academically and professionally. Since it began in 1968, BOP has introduced more than 800 students to Purdue University life and prepared them for college studies.

Before your first semester as a freshman in the School of Management, you'll come to the Purdue campus for BOP's eight-week summer session. Beginning in June, you'll enroll in an English composition class, a mathematics class, a communications course, and a computer workshop. These classes will total 13 semester hours of credit that count toward graduation and prepare you for the courses you will take your freshman year.

The relaxed summer atmosphere gives you a chance to get to know the campus and become acquainted with college life. In the fall when you return for the start of the school year, you will be introduced to the graduate students in management who are the academic and social counselors for BOP. These dedicated counselors will be available to advise you throughout your years at Purdue.

How Can I Get Money? Aid is Available: The summer session will cost you practically nothing. Your summer enrollment fees, room, and board are paid from a special fund. The BOP fund was started by School of Management faculty members. Since then corporations who want to help students get ahead have added their support. These companies include Abbott Laboratories Fund, Ameritech, Amoco Corporation, Armstrong Foundation, Caterpillar, DuPont, Eastman Kodak, EverBhan, Exxon, Ford Motor Company, General Electric, General Mills, GTE Foundation, General Motors Foundation, Hewlett-Packard, Mobil, Pepsi, Procter & Gamble, R. R. Donnelley, Union Carbide, United Technologies Corporation, and Whirlpool.

If you qualify, financial assistance for your four years of study at Purdue University may be arranged through the University's Division of Financial Aid. Federal grants, long-term loans, work-study programs, and summer employment also may be arranged to pay for your college education.

Every reasonable effort is made to help interested students find summer jobs. As you progress through your undergraduate education, you may be offered summer employment at companies such as AlliedSignal, Ameritech, Eli Lilly, Exxon, General Electric, and General Motors, where you will gain valuable career experience.

How Can I Find a Job? Career Opportunities Are Excellent: Your involvement in BOP means your chances for an outstanding future are excellent. The quality education you receive at Purdue's School of Management will help start your career in business or industry when you graduate. Many students who have been part of BOP are now employed with a number of the companies previously mentioned, as well as other major firms in consumer products, computers/electronics, auditing and consulting, oil and energy, banking/finance, telecommunications, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, and automotive industries. Other students have entered and completed master's degrees or doctoral programs in the Krannert Graduate School of Management at Purdue or other reputable universities.

Each fall the Society of Minority Managers (SMM) at Purdue sponsors a career conference attended by representatives from dozens of leading companies that are particularly interested in recruiting students for both permanent employment after graduation and for summer internships. You will have the opportunity to meet these corporate recruiters and learn about the types of jobs their companies offer. A number of the company representatives you will meet got their start in BOP.

How Can I Get a Running Start? BOP is the Answer: School of Management staff are ready to help you meet the social and academic demands of college life. There are financial aid packages and summer jobs available to help you meet university expenses. You will have the opportunity to begin your business career in a leading company when you receive your college degree. Get ahead--and stay there--with the Dr. Cornell A. Bell Business Opportunity Program at Purdue University's School of Management.

Rewards of Being in BOP: Each year many BOP students are recognized for their leadership efforts, academic achievements, and contributions to the School of Management and BOP.

Get to Know Purdue's Campus: Purdue University is located about 60 miles north of Indianapolis and about 130 miles south of Chicago. The University offers many athletic, cultural, and social events for students, faculty, and members of the surrounding West Lafayette/Lafayette community. Purdue has exciting seasons of Big Ten football, basketball (three-time Big Ten Champion), and other sports. In addition, the campus annually enjoys a series of major entertainment stars and musicians, dance and theater troupes, etc.

Position Yourself for Future Success

To request more information, please contact us at: henrydl@purdue.edu. To apply to BOP online, please use the form below.