Purdue University is filled with surprises. No one would expect a school in central Indiana to be one of the most diverse, most academically rigorous, most involved, healthiest, and inspiring universities in the world. It is literally difficult to find things, social or academic, that Purdue isn't world renown for and the Big Ten nature of the school makes it home to one of the greatest times in a student's life.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Expect to be challenged, but don't let that detour you. You will find that Purdue is filled with passionate nerdy people and that even if you are a procrastinator now (I was), the enormous academic passion of the student body will help you love the challenge.
Get involved! there is over 1000 student organizations at Purdue and if for some strange reason you can't find one that suits you, you can make your own with only two members. However it is college, so no one is going to make you get involved, use the resources that are in front of you. You will be a happier person if you do.
Utilize the amazon stores to the fullest! Purdue is one of the few schools that have actual amazon stores (2) on campus. They allow for one day pickup on most things with the fantastic amazon prime discounts. They make your life easier for sure!
Visit! Before you choose a school you should always visit. Purdue tends to have a stronger name the further you are away from Indiana, so if you are an Indiana resident you should definitely visit the school before you look at other Indiana schools, to see why the name is so strong world wide. If you are like me and are an out of state student, the visit will sell the school to you in ways you can't get without the visit.
Be ready to be thrown into a world of diversity that is almost definitely different than what you are used to. Purdue has more international students than any other public university, second most to only one private school. You will meet people from literally everywhere.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
Purdue is considered the 6th most difficult school in the United States to receive an A. In other words, it is VERY difficult. However this is what makes the Purdue degree so world renown. You will learn to handle challenges that students from most places wouldn't be able to complete after they graduate. This fact can be verified by the insane amount of career fairs that exist on campus, including Industrial round table which takes place every year, one of the largest (if not the largest) career fairs in the world. We have 300% more on-campus interviews than any other university in the US. It is very uncommon for a student not to have a job when they graduate. Many majors have 100% job placement rates after graduation.
The faculty are incredible, the class sizes small, the research opportunities numerous, and the industry engagement is in-depth.
I have had multiple classes with only 5 other students and the world leading expert on autonomous aircraft as the professor. This sort of thing is not uncommon at Purdue.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
Dorm life is a good time! Granted a few of the halls have no AC and are relatively old, There are also many that have AC and other amenities, and are very new. The RAs are well trained in what they do, and every floor, as well as the entire dorms are given money to spend on fun events. A good example is my freshman year, Earhart Resident Hall, named after Amelia Earhart (she was a professor at Purdue), used their extra funds for a spring break trip. If you lived in Earhart Hall you could spend 300 dollars to go to New York City which subsidized by the Hall, covered housing, airfare, food, and events. 7 day trip, for only 300 dollars total.
I highly recommend living in the dorms as it is a great way to meet friends.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
Purdue is ranked 16th in food in the US. The food is great! With 5 differently themed dining halls, restaurants in various places, markets, a food truck, and the food in the union all accessible through the meal plan, there is excellent variety.
Meal plans are only available if you live on campus however, and I will definitely miss the dining halls when I head off campus next year.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
Purdue is a large school, so it has the large school resources. You can do just about anything. Technically it is a dry campus, so alcohol is not allowed on campus grounds. However parties do occur off campus property, and are a good time for those who drink and those who do not alike. There are tons of events year round. Concerts are a must and so massive names come through. I am a Sophomore and just in my time at Purdue we have had names like: Hunter Hayes, Waka Flocka, Panic! at the Disco, Lolo, Hoodie Allen, Small pools, ext, and this upcoming spring Cage the Elephant. As well as other shows such as illusionists and the like. Typically these are free or offered at a incredibly reduced price for students. Free movies on campus are very common and held in various places. In the union there is an arcade in a bowling alley. For the more fitness types our gym, the Corec, is a $100,000,000 facility that is about an entire block and four stories tall. Intramural sports are also very popular. We are in the Big Ten athletic conference with sports that experience various degrees of success and are A BLAST to go to. Our marching band, the All American Marching Band, is extremely popular to watch and put on incredible shows during the football games. School spirit is an enormous part of the Purdue Experience and is seen in almost everything we do, including the famous Purdue Grand Prix, a go-cart race held in the spring semester every year. Once you become 21, the bars are available to you in town including names like Harry's chocolate factory which has been ranked as the best college bar in the nation before.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
Your investment is well spent here. You will grown academically, professionally, personally, and socially here to a level you did not previously find possible. THIS PLACE WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE. You get the academics of what WSJ ranks as equal to UC Berkeley with better outcomes, and the social atmosphere as any other Big Ten University. You really can't beat it. I moved nearly 3000 miles to attend Purdue, and I can not see myself anywhere else.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Like many of the large midwest schools, we have some strange traditions. You will notice students don't walk under the famous bell tower out of fear of not graduating in four years, or clapping in the acoustically strange clapping circles. Many myths are built around our founder John Purdue, and his grave on campus. There is a strong rivalry with Indiana University and many myths are associated with them. You can see students jump in the concrete footprints of Neil Armstrong's steps on the moon, arguably one of our most famous alums. Students love doing fountain runs, where students will run through all of Purdue's many fountains in a single run. There is even a fountain with four lion's heads that spit water where students drink from as it is rumored to bring good luck for tests (don't worry the water is potable).
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Great for academically driven students, who are VERY passionate in their fields on learning in general. This university isn't for everyone, but if you love to learn you will find a home here.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
There is over 1000 organizations, literally everything you can think of. There is even a pizza debate club that debates two pizzas in formal debate style. Literally everything. As far as activities go, it would be difficult not to find something to do. Between athletics, arts, music, social events, class trips, and tons of resources and places to hang out, it is literally difficult to be bored. If that does occur however, Chicago and Indianapolis are not far away!!
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
I am not personally involved in Greek life, but I know a bit about it and my girlfriend is. There is about 50 fraternities and 30 sororities. 20% of the school in involved and they are a major presence on campus. Not major enough to where you feel like you are missing out by not being involved, but major enough where you do not feel like an outcast if you are involved.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
Have never had an issue on campus. We are the safest college in the Big Ten, and in the 13th safest college town in the Nation. There are emergency poles all over in case of an emergency. We are serviced by our own police department, as well as both west Lafayette and Lafayette PD. We also have our own Fire department and every fire fighter in it is trained in all forms of fire fighting, this includes airplane rescue (we have our own airport).
Purdue University is filled with surprises. No one would expect a school in central Indiana to be one of the most diverse, most academically rigorous, most involved, healthiest, and inspiring universities in the world. It is literally difficult to find things, social or academic, that Purdue isn't world renown for and the Big Ten nature of the school makes it home to one of the greatest times in a student's life.
Expect to be challenged, but don't let that detour you. You will find that Purdue is filled with passionate nerdy people and that even if you are a procrastinator now (I was), the enormous academic passion of the student body will help you love the challenge. Get involved! there is over 1000 student organizations at Purdue and if for some strange reason you can't find one that suits you, you can make your own with only two members. However it is college, so no one is going to make you get involved, use the resources that are in front of you. You will be a happier person if you do. Utilize the amazon stores to the fullest! Purdue is one of the few schools that have actual amazon stores (2) on campus. They allow for one day pickup on most things with the fantastic amazon prime discounts. They make your life easier for sure! Visit! Before you choose a school you should always visit. Purdue tends to have a stronger name the further you are away from Indiana, so if you are an Indiana resident you should definitely visit the school before you look at other Indiana schools, to see why the name is so strong world wide. If you are like me and are an out of state student, the visit will sell the school to you in ways you can't get without the visit. Be ready to be thrown into a world of diversity that is almost definitely different than what you are used to. Purdue has more international students than any other public university, second most to only one private school. You will meet people from literally everywhere.
Purdue is considered the 6th most difficult school in the United States to receive an A. In other words, it is VERY difficult. However this is what makes the Purdue degree so world renown. You will learn to handle challenges that students from most places wouldn't be able to complete after they graduate. This fact can be verified by the insane amount of career fairs that exist on campus, including Industrial round table which takes place every year, one of the largest (if not the largest) career fairs in the world. We have 300% more on-campus interviews than any other university in the US. It is very uncommon for a student not to have a job when they graduate. Many majors have 100% job placement rates after graduation. The faculty are incredible, the class sizes small, the research opportunities numerous, and the industry engagement is in-depth. I have had multiple classes with only 5 other students and the world leading expert on autonomous aircraft as the professor. This sort of thing is not uncommon at Purdue.
Dorm life is a good time! Granted a few of the halls have no AC and are relatively old, There are also many that have AC and other amenities, and are very new. The RAs are well trained in what they do, and every floor, as well as the entire dorms are given money to spend on fun events. A good example is my freshman year, Earhart Resident Hall, named after Amelia Earhart (she was a professor at Purdue), used their extra funds for a spring break trip. If you lived in Earhart Hall you could spend 300 dollars to go to New York City which subsidized by the Hall, covered housing, airfare, food, and events. 7 day trip, for only 300 dollars total. I highly recommend living in the dorms as it is a great way to meet friends.
Purdue is ranked 16th in food in the US. The food is great! With 5 differently themed dining halls, restaurants in various places, markets, a food truck, and the food in the union all accessible through the meal plan, there is excellent variety. Meal plans are only available if you live on campus however, and I will definitely miss the dining halls when I head off campus next year.
Purdue is a large school, so it has the large school resources. You can do just about anything. Technically it is a dry campus, so alcohol is not allowed on campus grounds. However parties do occur off campus property, and are a good time for those who drink and those who do not alike. There are tons of events year round. Concerts are a must and so massive names come through. I am a Sophomore and just in my time at Purdue we have had names like: Hunter Hayes, Waka Flocka, Panic! at the Disco, Lolo, Hoodie Allen, Small pools, ext, and this upcoming spring Cage the Elephant. As well as other shows such as illusionists and the like. Typically these are free or offered at a incredibly reduced price for students. Free movies on campus are very common and held in various places. In the union there is an arcade in a bowling alley. For the more fitness types our gym, the Corec, is a $100,000,000 facility that is about an entire block and four stories tall. Intramural sports are also very popular. We are in the Big Ten athletic conference with sports that experience various degrees of success and are A BLAST to go to. Our marching band, the All American Marching Band, is extremely popular to watch and put on incredible shows during the football games. School spirit is an enormous part of the Purdue Experience and is seen in almost everything we do, including the famous Purdue Grand Prix, a go-cart race held in the spring semester every year. Once you become 21, the bars are available to you in town including names like Harry's chocolate factory which has been ranked as the best college bar in the nation before.
Your investment is well spent here. You will grown academically, professionally, personally, and socially here to a level you did not previously find possible. THIS PLACE WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE. You get the academics of what WSJ ranks as equal to UC Berkeley with better outcomes, and the social atmosphere as any other Big Ten University. You really can't beat it. I moved nearly 3000 miles to attend Purdue, and I can not see myself anywhere else.
Like many of the large midwest schools, we have some strange traditions. You will notice students don't walk under the famous bell tower out of fear of not graduating in four years, or clapping in the acoustically strange clapping circles. Many myths are built around our founder John Purdue, and his grave on campus. There is a strong rivalry with Indiana University and many myths are associated with them. You can see students jump in the concrete footprints of Neil Armstrong's steps on the moon, arguably one of our most famous alums. Students love doing fountain runs, where students will run through all of Purdue's many fountains in a single run. There is even a fountain with four lion's heads that spit water where students drink from as it is rumored to bring good luck for tests (don't worry the water is potable).
Great for academically driven students, who are VERY passionate in their fields on learning in general. This university isn't for everyone, but if you love to learn you will find a home here.
There is over 1000 organizations, literally everything you can think of. There is even a pizza debate club that debates two pizzas in formal debate style. Literally everything. As far as activities go, it would be difficult not to find something to do. Between athletics, arts, music, social events, class trips, and tons of resources and places to hang out, it is literally difficult to be bored. If that does occur however, Chicago and Indianapolis are not far away!!
I am not personally involved in Greek life, but I know a bit about it and my girlfriend is. There is about 50 fraternities and 30 sororities. 20% of the school in involved and they are a major presence on campus. Not major enough to where you feel like you are missing out by not being involved, but major enough where you do not feel like an outcast if you are involved.
Have never had an issue on campus. We are the safest college in the Big Ten, and in the 13th safest college town in the Nation. There are emergency poles all over in case of an emergency. We are serviced by our own police department, as well as both west Lafayette and Lafayette PD. We also have our own Fire department and every fire fighter in it is trained in all forms of fire fighting, this includes airplane rescue (we have our own airport).