Admission to Purdue is based on a holistic evaluation of each student’s application in the context of the overall applicant pool for a particular Purdue college or specific major. For example, admission to nursing is highly competitive because it is a small program with a large applicant pool. Minimum admission criteria are available on the . However, students who exceed these minimums are stronger candidates for admission to Purdue.
Purdue is a Common App school. Future freshmen applying to be degree seeking on our West Lafayette campus apply with the Common App; all other students (transfer, non-degree seeking, etc.) use the Purdue application.
For more detailed information about Purdue University Admissions, programs, and available majors please visit .
Applications are reviewed on an individual and holistic basis. First and foremost, applicants must be prepared academically for the rigors of college and the academic demands specific to the Purdue college, school, or program to which they are seeking admission.
Applications will be evaluated when the application itself and all required materials are received. For most freshmen applicants, required material includes the Common App online (including essay), the Common App’s Purdue-specific questions, official , SAT or ACT test score and the application fee. Additional information for international student applicants is available on the .
In its individual review of each applicant, Purdue considers the following factors:
Although not required, a letter of recommendation is strongly recommended, especially for students who want to be considered for scholarships, the Honors College or who are applying for highly competitive programs.
All applicants must graduate from high school or have successfully completed their state’s high school equivalency requirements and Indiana residents are given preference.
Most students who are admitted to Purdue exceed Purdue’s . Therefore, all students who plan to apply to Purdue are encouraged to exceed these expectations as well.
Courses that qualify for the subject categories include the following:
.
Purdue strongly encourages Indiana students to pursue the Academic Honors Diploma.
Graduate Admissions Criteria
You will find Graduate Admissions information on the Graduate School website, , under the Admissions tab. Additional admissions criteria can be found in this catalog by going to Graduate Studies, then .
Pharm.D Admission
Prior to admission into the Purdue University professional pharmacy program, students must have completed all Pre-Pharmacy program requirements, and no more than one pre-pharmacy course can be scheduled for completion in the immediately preceding summer school semester. An exception to this is Pharmacy Orientation I and II (PHRM 10000 and PHRM 20000), which are not required for admission for students who did not attend Purdue’s West Lafayette campus.
Students applying for admission into the PharmD program must complete an application through the , known as . The deadline is December 1st, for admission into the class starting in the following Fall. Students must provide PharmCAS with an updated official transcript that includes your fall semester grades as soon as they are available. PharmCAS will not release your application to us until this is done. In addition, any applicant completing coursework in the Fall but not attending Purdue University (West Lafayette, Calumet, Fort Wayne, or North Central) should submit a copy of their Fall semester grade report immediately upon receipt to the Purdue College of Pharmacy. These should be mailed to:
Chair, Committee on Admissions College of Pharmacy Purdue University 575 Stadium Mall Drive Room 104A West Lafayette, IN 47907-2091
All applicants must also complete a . The supplemental application is due by December 1st and is available through this web site. A non-refundable application fee of $55.00 must be submitted by any applicant that has never attended Purdue University (West Lafayette, Calumet, Fort Wayne, or North Central campuses). This application fee will not be waived under any circumstances, and must be paid online by credit card. If you have any questions about the supplemental application, please contact (link sends e-mail).
Two letters of reference are required in each applicant’s PharmCAS application and recommended contact information must be submitted to PharmCAS by December 1st.
Applicants must submit all materials by the December 1st deadline to be guaranteed consideration for admission. In general, late applications are not considered.
Note: PCAT scores are neither required nor used in the admissions process.
The Admissions Committee will select the best qualified applicants for the PharmD program based on a composite assessment of the characteristics stated above.
All applications will initially be reviewed for evidence of basic qualifications for admission to the professional program, and those most qualified will be invited for a personal interview. All interviews will be conducted on the West Lafayette campus in the College of Pharmacy, near the end of February through the beginning of March. Letters of invitation for an interview will specify the date and time. It will be the student’s responsibility to arrange his or her other commitments in order to be available at the assigned time. Each applicant will also be asked to participate in two brief exercises to provide evidence of extemporaneous writing and verbal communication ability.
The Admissions Committee will then thoroughly evaluate the application materials pertaining to each applicant in arriving at a rank ordering of applicants based on overall qualifications. Admissions will be granted to the 150 most highly qualified applicants at the end of March. The next most highly qualified applicants will have their names placed on a rank-ordered waiting list to compete for residual spaces available at the end of the spring semester or quarter.
Some students will not be admitted. They will be referred to appropriate advising offices for assistance in choosing other areas of study.
All admitted students will again be reviewed at the end of the spring semester or quarter. Those students whose academic performance has slipped below the acceptable level established by the Admissions Committee will most likely have their admission offer withdrawn.
If you receive a letter containing an offer of admission to the College, it must be accepted within 14 days of the date of the letter.
All students must make an advance, non-refundable deposit of $400 by May 1st. Students admitted after May 1st will have 14 days from the date on the letter of offer to pay the deposit.
Off-campus students who are admitted must submit the following to Purdue:
(link sends e-mail).
Chair, Committee on Admissions College of Pharmacy Purdue University 575 Stadium Mall Drive, Room 104A West Lafayette, IN 47907-2091
There will be an orientation program during the week just prior to the beginning of classes that all admitted off-campus students are expected to attend. Additional orientation activities will occur during the first week of classes. Admitted students will receive information on this program during the month of July.
Prior to beginning the professional program, it is necessary for students to be inoculated against and have evidence of the absence of tuberculosis, measles, rubella, hepatitis B, and varicella (chicken pox). The hepatitis B vaccine series takes 6 months and, therefore, the student may not have it completed until the middle to end of the first professional year. Students may elect to sign a waiver in lieu of receiving the hepatitis B series. Students are responsible for the arrangement and payment of any medical inoculations.
Students are required to produce a satisfactory criminal background check conducted by Certiphi Screening at a charge of $25.00 to accepted PharmCAS applicants.
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Admission
Students interested in a veterinary medical education at Purdue must complete 2 - 3 years of required course work in order to be eligible to apply to our program. Required courses must be completed with a “C -” grade (1.7 on a 4.0 scale) or better in each course and applications must maintain a competitive cumulative gradepoint average. Applicants with questions regarding the available courses to meet pre-requisites offered at their undergraduate institution should email for pre-requisite course determination. Applicants must have a cumulative GPA (including all course repeats) of no less than 3.00 to receive consideration.
For additional requirements please visit the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine website: .
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Purdue Requirements for Admission
What are Purdue's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:
GPA requirements
Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
Application requirements
In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into Purdue and build a strong application.
School location: West Lafayette, IN
This school is also known as: Purdue University
Admissions Rate: 52.7%
If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.
The acceptance rate at Purdue is 52.7% . For every 100 applicants, 53 are admitted.
This means the school is moderately selective . The school expects you to meet their requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but they're more flexible than other schools. If you exceed their requirements, you have an excellent chance of getting in. But if you don't, you might be one of the unlucky minority that gets a rejection letter.
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We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.
Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.
Purdue GPA Requirements
Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.
The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.
Average GPA: 3.74
The average GPA at Purdue is 3.74 .
(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.
With a GPA of 3.74, Purdue requires you to be above average in your high school class. You'll need at least a mix of A's and B's, with more A's than B's. You can compensate for a lower GPA with harder classes, like AP or IB classes. This will show that you're able to handle more difficult academics than the average high school student.
If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 3.74, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate . This will help you compete effectively against other applicants who have higher GPAs than you.
SAT and ACT Requirements
Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.
Purdue SAT Requirements
Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.
Average SAT: 1315
The average SAT score composite at Purdue is a 1315 on the 1600 SAT scale.
This score makes Purdue Moderately Competitive for SAT test scores.
Purdue SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)
The 25th percentile SAT score is 1210, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1450. In other words, a 1210 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1450 will move you up to above average .
Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:
600
760
600
710
1210
1450
SAT Score Choice Policy
The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.
Purdue has the Score Choice policy of "Highest Section."
This is also known as "superscoring." This means that you can choose which SAT tests you want to send to the school. Of all the scores they receive, your application readers will consider your highest section scores across all SAT test dates you submit .
Click below to learn more about how superscoring critically affects your test strategy.
For example, say you submit the following 3 test scores:
Section
R+W
Math
Composite
700
300
1000
300
700
1000
300
300
600
700
700
1400
Even though the highest total you scored on any one test date was 1000, Purdue will take your highest section score from all your test dates, then combine them to form your Superscore. You can raise your composite score from 1000 to 1400 in this example.
This is important for your testing strategy. Because you can choose which tests to send in, and Purdue forms your Superscore, you can take the SAT as many times as you want, then submit only the tests that give you the highest Superscore. Your application readers will only see that one score.
Therefore, if your SAT superscore is currently below a 1315, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it . You have a very good chance of raising your score, which will significantly boost your chances of getting in.
Even better, because of the Superscore, you can focus all your energy on a single section at a time. If your Reading score is lower than your other sections, prep only for the Reading section, then take the SAT. Then focus on Math for the next test, and so on. This will give you the highest Superscore possible.
Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.
Purdue ACT Requirements
Just like for the SAT, Purdue likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.
Average ACT: 29
The average ACT score at Purdue is 29. This score makes Purdue Moderately Competitive for ACT scores.
The 25th percentile ACT score is 27, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 34.
Even though Purdue likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 27 or below, you'll have a harder time getting in, unless you have something else impressive in your application.
ACT Score Sending Policy
If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.
Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.
This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 29 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.
ACT Superscore Policy
By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.
However, from our research, Purdue is understood to superscore the ACT . We couldn't confirm it directly from the school's admissions website, but multiple sources confirm that the school does superscore the ACT. We recommend you call their admissions office directly for more information.
Superscoring is powerful to your testing strategy, and you need to make sure you plan your testing accordingly. Of all the scores that Purdue receives, your application readers will consider your highest section scores across all ACT test dates you submit .
For example, say you submit the following 4 test scores:
English
Math
Reading
Science
Composite
Test 1
16
16
16
20
Test 2
16
16
16
20
Test 3
16
16
16
20
Test 4
16
16
16
20
Even though the highest ACT composite you scored on any one test date was 20, Purdue will take your highest section score from all your test dates, then combine them to form your Superscore. You can raise your composite score from 20 to 32 in this example.
This is important for your testing strategy. Because you can choose which tests to send in, and Purdue forms your Superscore, you can take the ACT as many times as you want, then submit only the tests that give you the highest Superscore. Your application readers will only see that one score.
Therefore, if your ACT score is currently below a 29, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the ACT and retaking it . You have a very good chance of raising your score, which will significantly boost your chances of getting in.
Even better, because of the Superscore, you can focus all your energy on a single section at a time. If your Reading score is lower than your other sections, prep only for the Reading section, then take the ACT. Then focus on Math for the next test, and so on. This will give you the highest Superscore possible.
Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.
SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements
Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Because of this, no school requires the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but some schools do recommend certain students submit their results if they have them.
Purdue considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.
Final Admissions Verdict
Because this school is moderately selective, strong academic performance will almost guarantee you admission . Scoring a 1450 SAT or a 34 ACT or above will nearly guarantee you admission. Because the school admits 52.7% of all applicants, being far above average raises the admission rate for you to nearly 100%.
If you can achieve a high SAT/ACT score, the rest of your application essentially doesn't matter. You still need to meet the rest of the application requirements, and your GPA shouldn't be too far off from the school average of 3.74. But you won't need dazzling extracurriculars and breathtaking letters of recommendation to get in. You can get in based on the merits of your score alone.
But if your score is a 1210 SAT or a 27 ACT and below, you have a good chance of being one of the unlucky few to be rejected.
Admissions Calculator
Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are. Pick your test: SAT ACT
80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
50-80%: More likely than not getting in
20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in
How would your chances improve with a better score?
Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?
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Application Requirements
Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of Purdue here.
Application Requirements Overview
Common Application Accepted
Electronic Application Available
Essay or Personal Statement Required for all freshmen
Letters of Recommendation
Interview Not required
Application Fee $60
Fee Waiver Available? Available
Other Notes
Testing Requirements
SAT or ACT Required
SAT Essay or ACT Writing Optional
SAT Subject Tests
Scores Due in Office None
Coursework Requirements
Subject Required Years
Foreign Language 3
Social Studies 3
Deadlines and Early Admissions
Offered? Deadline Notification
Yes January 15 December 12
Yes November 1 December 12
Admissions Office Information
Address: 475 West Lafayette, IN 47907
Phone: (765) 494-4600 x4600
Fax: (765) 494-0544
Email: [email protected]
Our Expert's Notes
We did more detailed research into this school's admissions process and found the following information:
There is a November 1 deadline for consideration for merit scholarships and the honors college (automatically considered with regular application). February 1 is the priority deadline for all other programs.
Other Schools For You
If you're interested in Purdue, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to Purdue.
Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into
These schools are have higher average SAT scores than Purdue. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
School Name
Location
SAT Avg
ACT Avg
Stony Brook, NY
1396
31
Villanova, PA
1395
33
Coral Gables, FL
1384
31
Gainesville, FL
1360
30
Amherst, MA
1358
30
Santa Barbara, CA
1355
29
Austin, TX
1355
30
Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into
If you're competitive for Purdue, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.
School Name
Location
SAT Avg
ACT Avg
West Point, NY
1331
30
Washington, DC
1329
30
Storrs, CT
1315
29
South Orange, NJ
1310
30
Syracuse, NY
1310
29
Auburn, AL
1304
27
Orange, CA
1296
28
Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into
If you're currently competitive for Purdue, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If Purdue is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.
Our experts have written hundreds of useful articles on improving your SAT score and getting into college. You'll definitely find something useful here.
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Purdue Supplemental Essay 2022-2023
Purdue supplemental essay: quick facts.
Purdue University acceptance rate: 67%— U.S. News ranks Purdue as a more selective school.
Purdue application: Purdue only accepts the Common Application , not the Coalition Application.
2 (100-word) required essays
2 (500-word) Purdue Honors College essays (required if applying to the Honors College)
Purdue Essay Tip: We recommend answering both Purdue University supplemental essays comprehensively and thoughtfully, highlighting in each of your Purdue essays why Purdue is the perfect school for you.
What are Purdue University’s essays?
In addition to the Common App essay , students must also complete the Purdue supplemental essay prompts.
Required Purdue supplemental essay prompts:
How will opportunities at Purdue support your interests, both in and out of the classroom? (100 words)
Briefly discuss your reasons for pursuing the major you have selected. (100 words)
Required Purdue supplemental essay prompts for Honors College applicants are:
One Purdue supplemental essay about your vision for your honors experience at Purdue (500 words)
An additional Purdue supplemental essay about the interdisciplinary nature of your chosen field of study (500 words)
These Purdue application essays represent the final step in the Purdue application process. Strong responses to the Purdue supplemental essays can help your Purdue application stand out among the almost 60,000 applications the university receives each year.
So, if you want to get into Purdue, it’s important to spend time on your responses to the Purdue essay prompts. A solid set of Purdue application essays can make a major difference in the Purdue admissions process.
In this guide, we’ll break down each of the Purdue essay prompts and provide expert tips on how to make sure your Purdue application essays shine. Keep reading to learn how to approach your Purdue University supplemental essays!
Purdue application essay requirements
Many selective colleges require supplemental essays beyond the standard Common App essay, also known as the Personal Statement . The Purdue application requirements are no exception to this.
There are two Purdue essay prompts required of all applicants. Additionally, Honors College applicants must complete two additional Purdue University supplemental essays. Pay close attention to which Purdue supplemental essays you should complete, as it varies by program.
So, if you are applying to Purdue University, you must complete at least two 100-word Purdue essay prompts. Each Purdue supplemental essay is designed to give you a chance to show Purdue admissions officers who you are, beyond the rest of your application. You should treat each Purdue supplemental essay as an opportunity to showcase a part of yourself that isn’t highlighted elsewhere within the Purdue application requirements.
Honors College essay requirements
Like many schools, Purdue has additional requirements for the Purdue Honors College. If you apply to the Purdue John Martinson Honors College, you must complete two more 500-word Purdue Honors College essays. These additional prompts help Purdue Admissions ensure that Purdue Honors College applicants go above and beyond the typical Purdue application requirements.
You should be sure to set aside more than enough time to craft strong Purdue Honors College essays and Purdue supplemental essays.
Purdue Supplemental Essay- Prompt 1 ( Required )
How will opportunities at purdue support your interests, both in and out of the classroom (100 words maximum).
The first Purdue essay asks applicants to reflect on their academic and personal interests. Then, it asks them to explain how Purdue will help them pursue those interests. In other words, the first of the Purdue essay prompts asks why you want to attend Purdue over any other school.
You’ve probably encountered similar “why this college?” essay prompts on other applications. So, as you might expect, this Purdue application essay must be specific to Purdue. You won’t be able to copy and paste another school’s essay to answer this Purdue supplemental essay.
Brainstorming your topic
Before starting to write this Purdue supplemental essay, think about your interest in Purdue. Write down a list of reasons why Purdue made your college list. Does Purdue offer a particular program that interests you? Or does Purdue’s campus culture fit your vision for your college experience? The best responses to the Purdue essay prompts will include specific details.
Building your narrative
Once you have created your list of interests, identify several that you would like to write about in your Purdue supplemental essays. This Purdue supplemental essay doesn’t give you much space; picking one or two interests, therefore, will help you stay within the word count and give your essay some structure.
When deciding which interests to focus on, remember your other Purdue essay. You can discuss your intended major in the second of the required Purdue essay prompts. With this in mind, make sure you don’t delve into topics better suited for other Purdue essay prompts. Instead, use this Purdue supplemental essay to talk about interests that you have not discussed in other areas of your application. After all, you want each Purdue supplemental essay to showcase a different part of your identity.
Making it specific
Next, research Purdue to see how your interests overlap with opportunities Purdue offers. The Purdue essay prompts are a chance to show off the research you’ve done; for example, talking to Purdue admissions representatives or visiting campus. If any of these interactions relate to one of your chosen themes, mention them in this Purdue supplemental essay. This shows your knowledge of Purdue’s strengths as a university.
For example, a prospective student could use this Purdue application essay to discuss the state-of-the-art kinesiology labs she visited and how they would help her pursue her interest in physical therapy. Make sure you discuss what you experienced along with how it relates to your interests. Once again, the best Purdue University supplemental essays will use specific details to show why you belong at Purdue.
Writing your essay
Now that you’ve done the brainstorming and research for this Purdue supplemental essay, you can start writing. Because you only have 100 words for this Purdue supplemental essay, you need to make each one count. Avoid unrelated topics, vague wording, and forms of “to be.” Instead, use clear language and strong action verbs in each Purdue essay. Compare these two sentences below:
“There is no school that is a better fit to support my interests than Purdue University.” (16 words)
“Purdue possesses the resources to support my interests.” (8 words)
The second sentence conveys the same message as the first, but it uses much stronger language and fewer words. Specific details and short, powerful sentences will help your Purdue essay stand out.
Purdue Supplemental Essay Reflection Questions:
Does your Purdue essay refer to 2-3 strong interests from your list?
Do you present information not found in other areas of your application?
Does your Purdue supplemental essay contain specific information about Purdue based on your research?
Do you clearly explain to Purdue admissions how Purdue will help you pursue your interests?
Purdue Supplemental Essay — Prompt 2 ( Required )
Briefly discuss your reasons for pursuing the major you have selected. (100 words maximum).
The second of the Purdue supplemental essays is the typical “why major essay.” The “why major essay” is a common supplemental essay question that many schools require. Purdue is no different—they want to understand why you aim to pursue the field you’ve indicated on your application.
The reality of the “why major essay” question is that schools want to know you’ve done your research on their programs. As a result of this, your “why major essay” for each school must relate to that school’s unique offerings. While you can include some general details, you should make sure this essay remains school-specific.
Not all students know what they plan to major in. Choosing your college major is a big decision, and it requires plenty of forethought. This Purdue supplemental essay can be especially daunting if you’re unsure of your major, so let’s explore how to get around that.
Brainstorming your major
Before starting to write this “why major essay,” think about the school subjects you enjoy. You may already identify as a lover of math or know you have the most fun in English class. However, Purdue University offers more than 200 different undergraduate majors across their 11 different colleges, so check the full list for options. This research will also help you show demonstrated interest in this Purdue supplemental essay.
When selecting a major for this Purdue application essay, think about the career you might want to pursue. You might consider the topics you have liked learning about, both inside and outside the classroom. If you’re having trouble selecting one major for this Purdue supplemental essay, choose the major you have the most compelling reasons to pursue.
Selecting a field of study for this Purdue supplemental essay might feel daunting. However, don’t be stressed about choosing a major. Instead, as you write your Purdue supplemental essay, focus on showing your intellectual curiosity and engagement with your studies. You can always change your major once you arrive on campus.
Using details
In order to write the best essay possible, include experiences that have made the biggest impact on your academic career. Have you had a teacher who drove you to explore more about their subject? Have you had work or volunteer experience that inspired you to pursue a particular major? Do you have a burning passion to support a specific cause?
Your Purdue application essay should tell a story. So, highlight stories where you’ve engaged deeply with your chosen subject, whether directly or indirectly. In doing so, you’ll help readers understand why your chosen major excites you. This can help your Purdue supplemental essay showcase your intellectual curiosity.
Whatever major you choose, don’t just discuss the basic reasons why you enjoy it in this Purdue essay. Instead, go deeper. Think of this Purdue essay as a short narrative where you share moments in your life that have influenced you. A student who wants to major in electrical engineering might talk about getting a circuitry kit for Christmas and watching his dad repair wires around the house. She might then share how she helped the school robotics club win a competition. Find those formative moments in your life and use them as the foundation of your Purdue supplemental essay. Again, the best Purdue supplemental essay will be the most specific!
Does your Purdue essay focus on the major that most interests you?
Do you use specific details about how you came to love that major?
Does your Purdue supplemental essay help your reader learn something new about you?
Purdue Honors College Essay Requirements
The Purdue Honors College is a separate program within Purdue University specifically designed for high-achieving students. Recently, the Purdue Honors College became formally known as the John Martinson Honors College. According to their website , “Martinson supports new programmatic initiatives which promote undergraduate research, scholarship and creative activity, leadership and professional development, global and community engagement, and innovative pedagogies.”
You should research the Purdue Honors College thoroughly before deciding if you want to apply. Once you make the decision that the Purdue Honors College is right for you, it’s time to crack down on the Purdue Honors College essays.
The Purdue Honors College supplemental essay requirements are:
1 (500-word) Purdue supplemental essay about your vision for your honors experience at Purdue
1 (500-word) Purdue essay prompt about the interdisciplinary nature of your chosen field of study
Now, let’s break down each of the Purdue supplemental essays for the Purdue Honors College and talk about strategies to tackle each one.
For more help on writing supplemental essays, click here . For help standing out in the college admissions process, read this article .
Purdue Honors College Essays- Question 1
Explain your vision, ideas, or goals for how you hope to shape your honors experience while at purdue. please put this in the context of the four pillars which are the foundation of the john martinson honors college. (500 word maximum).
In order to answer the first of the Honors College Purdue essay prompts effectively, you need to reflect on your reasons for applying to the Honors College. Then, you need to connect those reasons to the four pillars that express the Honors College’s values. The best Purdue application essays will directly connect an applicant’s academic goals with the four pillars of the Purdue Honors College.
Understanding Purdue
Before starting this Purdue supplemental essay, you need to have a firm understanding of the four pillars mentioned in the prompt. These pillars are: community and global engagement, undergraduate research, leadership development, and interdisciplinary academics. Reviewing the Honors College mission statement will give you more information about the four pillars. You do not need to reference all four of these pillars in your Purdue essay; instead, focus on whichever ones best fit with your future plans.
Researching the Honors College beyond the four pillars can also help strengthen your Purdue supplemental essay. Start by browsing this year’s Honors College course list . Review some of the research projects done by past Honors students. As you brainstorm for your Purdue admissions essays, look for programs and projects that connect to your interests. You might see a course or research project that lines up with one of your passions. You can use that as evidence in your Purdue essay that the Honors College will provide an ideal learning environment to nurture your interests.
Making it about you
This Purdue essay prompt asks you to imagine how you would spend your time as a Purdue Honors student. That future will likely be rooted in your past experiences. Strong Purdue application essays, therefore, should use the four pillars of Purdue Honors to connect your past experiences to your future at Purdue.
When you talk about your future, try to be as specific as possible. For instance, saying that you want to travel to India to study their culture is not as powerful as saying that you want to travel to India to research how native fashions have changed due to modern technology in this Purdue essay.
You can begin brainstorming for this Purdue supplemental essay by doing a fr e e-write based on this prompt: “If I could have any academic experience I want in college, what would it be?” Think about the questions you might explore or problems you would like to solve if you had the freedom to choose. Don’t limit yourself—the best way to start writing is to free yourself from any perfectionism.
Use this Purdue admissions essay to share the subject that you could stay up all night researching or the idea you cannot get out of your head. Let your ambition come across in your writing, using the four pillars of the Honors College as the foundation for achieving your goals. Finally, help your reader envision how you would contribute to the Honors College in this Purdue supplemental essay.
Does your Purdue essay clearly describe your goals for attending the Honors College?
Do you include references to at least one of the four pillars of the Honors College?
Does your Purdue supplemental essay indicate specific projects you might undertake or resources you might use as an Honors student?
Purdue Honors College Essays — Question 2
Please describe the interdisciplinary nature of your chosen field of study and how it complements or supports other fields. (examples: you might describe how your work in a liberal arts career may impact or inform the work of an engineer.) (500 word maximum).
The second of the Purdue application essays asks how your chosen subject connects to other fields. At first, this Purdue essay can seem daunting. After all, most high school classes are separated by subject without much room for interdisciplinary work. However, with a little creative thinking, you can develop relationships between just about any set of subjects and use those relationships to write a strong Purdue essay.
Finding an intersection
To get you started, here are a few examples of interdisciplinary study that would make good material for Purdue application essays:
Creating a business plan for a health care clinic combines medicine with economics
Volunteering at a music therapy provider combines Psychology and Music into an interdisciplinary field grounded in helping those with mental illnesses
A project about the evolution of manufacturing technology combines history with engineering
These example topics for a Purdue supplemental essay represent a tiny fraction of the ways you could answer this prompt. Each of these potential Purdue application essays could also tie in with some of your activities from high school.
You might also use your Purdue essay to consider what you have learned working with people who have different interests than yours and how you could bring that knowledge to your studies. Strong Purdue admissions essays can come from anywhere, so don’t limit yourself.
Getting creative
If you struggle to form connections between academic fields based on your personal experience, you can use your imagination to come up with hypothetical situations that might foster collaboration across fields. These imaginary situations can still make for a great Purdue supplemental essay.
For instance, as a lover of computer science, you might imagine its applications in the world of digital art to create vivid settings for a video game. The best Purdue supplemental essays will be unique and creative. Additionally, strong Purdue application essays will tell a story. The more you can use narratives to illustrate the wide range of uses for your discipline, the more successful your Purdue admissions essay will be.
Essays Reflection Questions for Purdue Honors College :
Does your Purdue supplemental essay demonstrate your enthusiasm for your chosen field?
Do you include a variety of possible connections between your chosen fields and other fields?
Does your Purdue admissions essay use stories and examples to illustrate the connections between fields?
Want more helpful tips on how to approach your Purdue supplemental essays and other aspects of Purdue University’s application process? Check out this video below from Purdue’s senior assistant director of admissions!
What does Purdue University look for in essays?
Your Purdue supplemental essays help the admissions team get to know you beyond your demographics, transcript, and activities list. Each Purdue essay also provides valuable insight into what kind of student you would be.
These specific Purdue essay prompts help the Purdue admissions committee understand how you will use your education at Purdue. Purdue looks for students who can articulate their interests and describe how Purdue’s resources will help them pursue these interests. Your Purdue application essays, then, should show the Purdue admissions team how Purdue would help you meet your goals.
Demonstrated Interest
The committee wants to see you show demonstrated interest (DI) in Purdue. DI is a gauge that universities use to determine how interested a student is in attending their school. To take advantage of this, use your Purdue application essays to explain exactly what about Purdue interests you. You don’t need to physically visit the campus to write strong Purdue supplemental essays. However, if you don’t visit , it helps to find other ways of showing your interest. These include contacting admissions officers, reviewing the school’s website, or attending a virtual information session/webinar.
The Purdue admissions team also wants to know if you can write clearly and concisely—an important skill for succeeding in college. So, ensure your writing is strong, clear, and free of any errors. Your Purdue application essays also show your attention to detail and passion for learning. Students who use the Purdue essay prompts to showcase their passions will definitely impress the admissions team.
How do I get into Purdue University?
Getting accepted into Purdue starts with filling out the Common Application and meeting the Purdue application requirements. On the Common Application, you will report your GPA, list your high school activities, and write a 250-650 word Common App essay.
For the fall and spring of 2023, Purdue is test flexible . This means if you have the opportunity to take the SAT or ACT, Purdue admissions would prefer you do. This is different from test optional because test optional schools truly have no preference for test scores. Purdue, however, makes it clear that they would like to review test scores as part of your application if possible. Strong scores will only enhance your application .
Purdue application requirements
Your GPA , course schedule, test scores, Common App essay, letters of recommendation , supplemental essays, and extracurricular activities comprise the Purdue application requirements and will all factor into the committee’s decision.
Last year, approximately 60,000 students applied to Purdue University. The median GPA range of accepted applicants was 3.5-3.9, the median SAT was 119-1410, and the median ACT was 26-33. As you can see, Purdue admits students with high scores, which contributes to the U.S. News Purdue University ranking.
Purdue University Application
In 2022, U.S. News assigned its Purdue University ranking among national universities at #51 overall. US News also named Purdue as one of the Top 10 most innovative universities in the last four years. Among public universities , the Purdue University ranking is #18 in the country. Purdue University’s top academic programs include Aerospace Engineering (where the Purdue University ranking is #5) and Biological/Agricultural Engineering (where the Purdue University ranking is #2). This makes Purdue a great fit for students specifically interested in those fields.
Finally, the Purdue University ranking attracts many applicants who view Purdue’s rankings as a sign of prestige. This means that Purdue supplemental essays will be used to determine which students are interested in attending for reasons beyond the Purdue University ranking. Remember, your Purdue supplemental essays are your chance to show the admissions team your genuine interest in the school.
Looking to put your best foot forward when filling out the Common Application and writing the Common App essay? Check out this guide for helpful tips.
Top 5 Purdue Supplemental Essay Tips
How to write an outstanding purdue supplemental essay:, #1 – start early.
Be sure to leave yourself time to edit and revise each of your Purdue University supplemental essays. You don’t want to be drafting and editing a Purdue supplemental essay down to the wire.
#2 – Look at the big picture
When writing your Purdue supplemental essays, consider your application as a whole. Make sure that each Purdue supplemental essay explores something new about you.
#3 – Be authentic
Don’t lie or exaggerate on your Purdue University supplemental essays. Each Purdue application essay is a chance for you to showcase who you are.
#4 – Show your unique self
These Purdue supplemental essays are an opportunity for you to stand out to Purdue admissions. Don’t generalize in your responses to the Purdue essay prompts. Instead, get specific about your experiences. Use the opportunity to not only demonstrate who you are, but also to show off your writing style.
#5 – Proofread, proofread, proofread!
Edit your essays . You don’t want to craft a stellar Purdue supplemental essay, only to have it marred by poor grammar or a spelling mistake. Have another person look over each Purdue supplemental essay before you submit it.
Purdue Supplemental Essay — Final Thoughts
Although each Purdue supplemental essay is short, they are also incredibly important. Don’t think that a short essay will take you less time to write—often, short essays are the hardest to write. Given the Purdue University ranking, you should use every chance you get to stand out. This includes crafting strong Purdue supplemental essays.
Be yourself
The Purdue essay prompts help the admissions committee get to know the person behind the grades and test scores. Make sure that your Purdue supplemental essays are full of anecdotes and stories that show why you will succeed as a Purdue student! Let your readers know in each Purdue supplemental essay that you have done your research and thought about why you want to attend Purdue.
Ask for help!
And finally, seek help from trusted sources with editing your Purdue supplemental essays; sometimes a second opinion can help you improve your Purdue essays in unexpected ways.
This Purdue supplemental essays guide was written by Laura Frustaci. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.
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How to Write the Purdue University Supplemental Essays 2020-2021
We’ve updated this post! Read the 2021-2022 Purdue essay guide .
Purdue University, home of the Boilermakers, the “world’s largest drum,” and an expert-approved writing lab , remains today as one of the most innovative schools in the country. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, Purdue has come a long way since its founding in 1869.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has called Purdue the number one destination for international students studying STEM, and Purdue’s engineering and agriculture programs are also both world renowned. What’s more, Purdue was the first university in the world to offer a degree in aviation, and it even has its own airport on campus (the second largest in the state of Indiana).
Many of Purdue’s 30,000+ undergraduate students describe it as a place of opportunity. Purdue’s reputation precedes it as a haven for undergraduate research, but it also provides students access to a wide variety of pre-professional opportunities like co-ops and Fortune 500 internships.
As a member of the Big Ten Conference, Purdue’s campus lights up with school spirit, especially during rivalry games. Ever since 1891, the winner of the annual Boilermakers vs. Indiana Hoosiers football game has taken home the Old Oaken Bucket, an iconic rivalry trophy.
Purdue is highly coveted among high schoolers all across the nation. With an acceptance rate of 58% , admission is somewhat selective. Writing strong essays will certainly help you stand out, and we at CollegeVine have provided several tips below to help as you undertake the Purdue supplemental essays. Want to know your chances at Purdue? Calculate your chances for free right now.
Purdue University Application Essay Prompts
How will opportunities at purdue support your interests, both in and out of the classroom (100 words).
The primary purpose of this prompt is for you to pinpoint specific programs at Purdue and why you wish to take advantage of them. The key to answering this prompt will be making sure you balance discussion of your interests/accomplishments and the unique offerings at Purdue.
One easy mistake you could make here would be focusing too much on either one of these two facets . For instance, not focusing enough on Purdue-specific programs might convey a lack of knowledge, but mentioning too many of them would not leave room to explain why they’re relevant to you. Because the word count is so restrictive, concision is key.
Regarding concision, make sure your introductory sentence gets straight to the point. Unless you’re extremely crafty, don’t try to set up an extended metaphor. Additionally, don’t concern yourself with elaborate transitions between sentences (keep them brief). It is best to be direct and methodical here.
In terms of structure, here is a general outline:
Introduction (0-2 sentences).
You most likely won’t need two sentences to introduce your response here. If you’re choosing to write about organizations that relate to just one interest, you might consider making an umbrella statement about that interest here.
For example: “My friends call me a political junkie.” This is a concise statement that allows the writer to pick out different programs at Purdue University that relate to politics and explain their value.
Don’t do this: “Purdue is a great school with a plethora of organizations I want to join.” This sentence is 14 words long, but it adds nothing to the response following it. This author now has an 86 word limit! General statements like this aren’t necessarily bad writing, but it’s much better to just dive right into the content.Unless you feel strongly that the introduction warrants its own paragraph, try to keep the entire response just one paragraph long. If your introduction doesn’t allow you to directly segue into a specific program or interest, it can likely be deleted without changing the meaning of the essay as a whole.
Body (5-7 sentences)
The sentence count here isn’t exact since it largely depends on how long your sentences are. In this section, you need to answer the question point blank. One useful strategy here is to couple specific programs with descriptions of how they relate to your interests. Strive to alternate between the two. Here are some examples:
“I find the social aspect of singing enriching, so I hope to join one of Purdue’s many acapella groups.”
“I’ve always been fascinated by the effects of pesticides on crops. That’s why I want to conduct research under one of Purdue’s brilliant agriculture professors. This will enable me to pursue a career as an agricultural specialist.” (Side note: Don’t mention a specific professor for the sake of name dropping them; only do so if you are very familiar with their work.
“I want to join the Honors College, where I hope to immerse myself in a group of similarly motivated scholars.”
“I’m hoping to be the starting running back for the Boilermakers one day. I’ve played football for eleven years, and it’s always been my dream.” This is a good method to ensure balance. The only risk you run here is saturating it with too many disparate interests. While you should avoid complicated transitions, you should still include them, so the essay flows well. Also, make sure you always clearly explain the connection between each respective interest/activity. You might have multiple activities that go with each interest, or multiple interests that culminate in one activity. Both of those are perfectly fine.
Conclusion (0-1 sentences)
The conclusion is the most skippable part of this supplement. Only make a closing remark if it is powerful and gives the essay a greater sense of overall cohesion. Don’t bother with it if you included a larger variety of interests.
Good example: “Through these medical programs, I will strive to make the world a more healthful place.” This would enhance what is likely a more focused essay by giving it some broader global context.
Don’t do this: “All of these programs will make my Purdue experience truly one of a kind.” This is a sweet sentiment, but it’s just adding extra words. Instead, begin the last interest/program pairing with a transition like “finally” to signal the end of the essay.
Briefly discuss your reasons for pursuing the major you have selected. (100 words)
Ah, it’s the classic “Why Major?” question. This time, however, you hardly have any space to answer it! These types of questions are deceptive, because they actually require you to complete two objectives. Primarily, you need to explain what compelled your choice in major, but you also need to demonstrate that you understand what that major involves moving forward.
Often times, college coursework in a given subject is vastly different than its high school counterpart. Make sure you show that you know what you’re getting yourself into. For instance, psychology in high school might just be learning vocabulary, but it will involve observational studies and statistical analysis in college.
Because of the word constraint, you won’t be able to give the full history of your experiences with the subject at hand. Instead, focus on what motivated you most directly. This inspiration can come in many forms. It is often helpful to frame it within the context of one or two activities, classes, or experiences. Specific turning points in your education (both in and out of class) are often the most powerful.
Here are some examples:
You had a medical internship where you witnessed a surgeon conduct heart surgery. This inspired your long-term goal of attending medical school and saving lives. Thus, you want to major in biology with a pre-med concentration.
You always hated math until you got to AP Calculus. You couldn’t believe it at first, but when you caught yourself thinking about velocity graphs while driving, you knew you had discovered your true passion.
Growing up, you were a huge tennis fan. You loved playing and idolized the pros, but it broke your heart whenever any of them would get injuries. That’s why you want to major in sports medicine and eventually work alongside of them at the ATP World Tour.
You felt so inspired by your first Model UN conference that you just knew you had to go into diplomacy and international relations. You began reading official UN resolutions in your spare time.
One important caveat to all of this is that you need to focus on how your unique experiences impacted your choice in major. Use lots of emotionally charged language. The more in touch with yourself, the better. It is not enough to superficially mention your involvement in something. For this prompt, depth is better than breadth.
You have more room to be creative with the formatting of this one. If your essay truly has two distinct sections that focus on different ideas/parts of an idea, it’s okay to break it into two smaller chunks. For instance, the first part might be an anecdote, while the second is a declaration of how you plan to act accordingly.
Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or experiences. (250 words)
Here’s another college application staple: the “elaborate on an extracurricular” prompt. This time, however, you actually have some breathing room.
Compared to Purdue’s other prompts, this one is more straightforward. For this essay, you should expand one extracurricular activity beyond the scope of what is listed in your activities section or resume. Bonus points if you can convey personal growth.
The biggest challenge here will be choosing the right activity to write about. You don’t necessarily want to choose your most impressive one. Often times, writing about your personal experience with something more grounded can be just as effective.
If your application has a central theme (like commitment to service, intellectual fervor, or social activism), you might consider using an activity that relates to this theme, even if it is only tangentially related. This will uphold the overall cohesion of your application.
On the contrary, it can be good to demonstrate your capacity to engage with the world in multiple, often contradictory ways. A diverse portfolio can be a good indicator of a mature thinker, capable of seeing multiple perspectives.
Which of the following major/activity pairings do you think would be most effective:
A political science major who writes about student government
A biology major who writes about ceramics
A linguistics major who writes about ice skating
A statistics major who writes about social science research
An English major who writes about HOSA
The truth is, all five pairings have equal potential to be great! It just depends on your unique circumstances and how you wish to frame your response.
While you have liberty with subject matter, don’t just write anything. Make sure your response to this question provides new information. Adcoms will be able to see what accomplishments are on your application, so you need to focus on specific tasks within these activities and why they were so impactful.
This essay isn’t lengthy, but it’s still a chance to be creative in terms of content/structure. Try to begin with an interesting hook that leaves the reader begging for more.
Two examples :
Good example – “‘Point of order! The delegate from Germany forgot to state his name!’ In the heat of the moment, I was thankful for those lessons in parliamentary procedure. Model UN certainly taught me to choose my words carefully, but it also bolstered my confidence and informed my overall worldview…” This student begins with an exciting anecdote from their time in committee and proceeds to set up further discussion regarding their personal development through Model UN.
Bad example – “The decision to join Model UN was the best one I ever made. I learned so many invaluable lessons there. I also learned a number of crucial skills during my time in committee…” This essay is not off to a good start. Not only is it uninteresting, but it’s also lacking in focus. It’s unclear where this essay will go, and it shows no signs of going beyond surface-level observations.
Of the three Purdue essays, this is the one where you have the most freedom. Despite this, make sure your response adds value to your overall application. Purdue admissions are competitive, so you need to capitalize on every chance to present yourself as a complex, mature individual. Essays are a perfect place to do so!
Some Final Words
Writing college supplements can be tricky, but if you follow our tips, you should be just fine. You’re probably really stressed out right now, but just remember to breathe! It might not seem like it, but the college application process does, in fact, come to an end. Everything will work out, and you’ll feel so relieved once it’s all over.
The biggest thing about writing college essays (whether for Purdue or any other school) is to make sure your unique voice resonates. If you’re worried about this, ask friends or family members to read over your essays. They know you best, and they can tell if your work actually sounds like you . Outside opinions are always useful in the writing process!
Want help on your college essays to get into your dream schools? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses, as well as our Essay Manager.
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How to Ace the 2024-2025 Purdue University Supplemental Essay Prompts
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Purdue University is a well-known public university located in West Lafayette, Indiana. To be admitted, you should use your very best writing skills and personal creativity to help you stand out in the Purdue supplemental essays.
The Purdue University supplemental essays
For the regular undergraduate admissions application, you will have two 100 word prompts to write, and an additional optional 250 word prompt. It is always a good idea to write the optional essay, because this gives the admissions team at the university a better idea of the type of person that they could potentially be adding to their community and demonstrates your interest in attending.
Supplemental prompts on the traditional application focus on why you think Purdue would be a good fit for you, whereas the Honors College prompts are more focused on discovering what you may offer the college. Let’s break down the prompts for each application to give you a thorough idea of how to respond to all of them:
Also see: How to respond to the Common App essay prompts
If you are applying with the traditional application
How will opportunities at Purdue support your interests, both in and out of the classroom? (250 words or fewer)
This prompt is a classic, as it can tell the individual reading your application more about you as a person than your transcript can. This is your opportunity to highlight what makes you you . There are multiple facets to this question, and although both are important, the “in the classroom” part of the question is going to tell Purdue what you can offer them academically.
Every person has something different to offer, but there are some things that you want to avoid writing about that are seen as cliche. Think about what makes you interesting that is different from what makes your peers interesting. You could talk about how learning a foreign language in high school has inspired you to study international affairs at Purdue, or how the musical instrument that you decided to pick up during the pandemic made you decide to pursue a degree in music.
Questions to consider
What makes you interesting as a student?
What interests have you pursued in and/or out of the classroom?
In what ways have you pursued those interests and how would you continue that pursuit at Purdue?
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Briefly discuss your reasons for pursuing the major you have selected. (250 words or fewer)
Every person chooses their major for a reason. Whether it is something you have wanted to pursue your entire life, or it was a recent find that sparked your interest, now is time to tell the story of how it came about.
You want to draw the reader in with something enticing that makes them want to keep reading. Making sure to add specific details is something that will make you stand out among other applicants.
Questions to consider:
Did you choose Purdue for the program you want to go into?
What made their program stand out enough for you to decide to apply?
What are you passionate about academically?
What does your desired major say about you as a person, academically or extra curricularly?
Related: Show, don’t tell essay primer
If you are applying with the honors application*
Explain your vision, ideas, or goals for how you hope to shape your honors experience while at Purdue. Please put this in the context of the four pillars which are the foundation of the Honors College. (500 words)
The honors application prompts can look like a doozy at first glance, so let’s break it down. Ultimately, they want to understand how Purdue will benefit from you being a student there. This may sound intimidating, but realistically, most colleges want to know that when looking for students to accept. How will you use what you already know to further not only your education, but also the people around you and your university?
The four pillars of Purdue’s John Martinson Honors College are leadership development, undergraduate research, community and global experiences, and interdisciplinary academics. Visualize what you want for your future and how those goals align with what Purdue looks for in a student attending their Honors College. Let those goals guide your writing.
What career path do you want to pursue and how did it lead you to Purdue?
How will your career benefit from your time at Purdue and from the opportunities offered by the Honors College?
If you imagine yourself as a Purdue student, what do you see yourself doing?
Please describe the interdisciplinary nature of your chosen field of study and how it complements or supports other fields. (Examples: You might describe how your work in a liberal arts career may impact or inform the work of an engineer.) (500 words)
This is a unique question, but an important one to answer. They want to know if your mind works like a team player. Are you able to think about how what you do affects others, or is your mind a one way road looking at just your journey through college and into your career? Take this question and run with it.
You want to think of a career that compliments yours well. For example, if your major is journalism, talk about the ways that a major like food science or history can impact your work, and vice versa. As a journalist, it is important to have sources, and on the other careers side, they need journalists for publicity. This can go both ways for any career, just try to be creative with it.
What career compliments yours best?
Is there another major that you would want to work closely with?
What goals can you accomplish better if you worked as a team?
* Students must select “yes” on the last question of the Purdue application (“Are you interested in applying to the Honors College?”) for the two Purdue Honors College questions to appear.
Summing up the Purdue supplemental essay s
We made it through all of the Purdue supplemental essays! In general, for any essay that you choose to write for college admissions, you want to be open and honest about any and all experiences that you write about. Admissions readers will be glad to hear your honesty and transparency, and they will value that in the long run. Make sure to read over your responses and consider giving your essay to a peer or advisor to read over before you submit it. We also recommend taking a break from your essay and going back to it another day to get a fresh pair of eyes.
Other colleges to apply to
University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)
University of Illinois (Urbana-Campaign, IL)
Pennsylvania State University (Throughout PA)
Additional resources
While you continue your college decision process, you have a lot to think about. Let us take some of that pressure off of your shoulders, and check out some of our helpful resources that can help alleviate some of the stress! Learn about how many colleges to apply (including reach, match, and safety schools ) and what looks good on college applications . When it comes time, learn how to choose the right college ! Throughout the process, make sure that you apply to all the scholarships you qualify for!
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Purdue University 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide
Early Action: Nov 1
Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 15
Purdue University 2024-25 Application Essay Question Explanations
The Requirements: 2 short answers of 250 words
Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why , Short Answer
How will opportunities at Purdue support your interests, both in and out of the classroom? (Respond in 250 words or fewer)
This is basically a super short Why essay and the best way to answer it is to do your research. If you set aside an hour to crawl through the school website and jot down the things that appeal to you, you’ll end up with a pretty comprehensive list of things that are relevant to your interests. Write down literally everything: courses, professors, clubs, traditions, you name it! You’ll put this information to good use in this essay and the next one. When you’ve finished your research spree, group your notes thematically, and pick a small cluster to cover in this brief essay. For example, let’s say you love creative writing (we get you). You might describe how taking a combination of English and history classes will help you write the Great American Novel, while joining an improv group in the meantime will sharpen your wit and creative thinking. College is a time to explore, so show admissions just how you plan to do that. Space is limited, so don’t worry about getting too detailed about your major and professional goals. You’ll have an opportunity to do that in the next short essay you write.
Briefly discuss your reasons for pursuing the major you have selected. (Respond in 250 words or fewer)
We told you! Can we predict the future? Did we read all the questions before writing this guide? Who is to say? At any rate, now is the time to get nerdy. This prompt is all about your intellectual curiosity, but also your ambition for the future. There are so many reasons to pursue a degree in economics: because you’ve always wanted to apply your interest in math to the real world; or because you’re gunning for a career in finance; or even because you want to make policy one day. No one is more or less valid than the other, so first and foremost, be honest about your reasons. Then refer to your notes to fill in the details with colorful examples. In a short essay like this, you’ve got to shoot from the hip, so be specific and succinct. What makes Purdue the ideal place to pursue your dream? How will their offerings and opportunities inch you towards your goal?
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Maximize your opportunities for admission and scholarships and ensure that your transition to Purdue is as smooth as possible by paying attention to and meeting deadlines and important dates for applying and enrolling at Purdue University.
Deadlines are 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the posted dates.
Future freshmen apply using the Common Application .
If you're a high school student, you should apply early in your senior year; admission will be much more competitive if you apply later. The freshman application is available beginning August 1 .
To meet a deadline, your application must be complete , which means we have received all required material. See Completing the Application below.
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Students who meet the Early Action deadline will have an admission decision on January 15 .
Application deadline to be considered for Purdue's full range of scholarships and the John Martinson Honors College .
Priority application deadline for biomedical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, engineering (first-year), flight (professional flight technology), mechanical engineering, motorsports engineering, nursing, and veterinary nursing. Priority means we will continue accepting applications after this date only if space allows — if applying for one of these programs after November 1, check the closed programs page first.
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Students who apply by the Regular Decision deadline will have a decision by March 31 .
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If you're applying to begin in the spring term, submit your application as early as possible prior to the start of the term . Some majors are not available for students to begin in the spring — the closed programs page will help you identify those.
If you're applying for the spring term, the transfer application is available beginning September 1 . If you're applying for summer or fall , the transfer application is available beginning January 15 .
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Readmission students – see readmission deadlines .
For other application types (all applications except those for degree-seeking freshmen and transfers as well as readmission students) the application deadline is the Monday before the start of the academic term to which you are applying . See Purdue’s academic calendars.
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It is important to keep in mind that some Purdue colleges use the Departmental Scholarship Application to identify recipients for scholarships that have very specific criteria, including financial need. It is recommended that students submit both a FAFSA and any Departmental Scholarship Applications by February 2 . More information is available on the scholarship webpage.
Future freshmen who apply by the November 1 Early Action deadline will have a decision on January 15 .
Future freshmen who meet the January 15 Regular Decision deadline will have a decision by March 31 .
Transfer students and other applicants can expect an admission decision about 12 weeks after their application and all required material have been submitted .
NEW BEGINNERS – Deadlines to accept your offer of admission:
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The on-campus housing contract is available via myPurdue to students who have accepted their offe r of admission.
The priority application deadline to request roommates and submit housing accommodation requests to the Disability Resource Center is April 15 . Requests received after this date will be considered based on available space, but there is no guarantee. There is a short delay of approximately 2 days between the time you accept your offer of admission and when you can access the housing contract in your myPurdue portal. Therefore, accepting your offer by April 11 should ensure the contract is available to you by April 15.
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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, examples of successful purdue supplemental essays.
Hello! I'm working on my Purdue supplemental essays and I could use some inspiration or guidance from successful ones. Can anyone share their essay or some tips on what made it stand out? Thanks!
Hello! It's always helpful to see what others have done, but remember that your essay should be unique to you and your experiences. With that in mind, here are some general tips for crafting a strong Purdue supplemental essay:
1. Answer the Prompt: Make sure you understand the prompt and focus your essay on answering it clearly. Purdue prompts usually focus on why you're interested in your chosen major, your future goals, and how Purdue can help you achieve them.
2. Be Specific: Show that you have done your research about Purdue and its programs. Mention courses, faculty members, clubs, or research opportunities that align with your interests. This demonstrates that you are serious about attending Purdue and that you have taken the time to learn about the university.
3. Show Passion and Drive: Successful essays often showcase the author's passion for their chosen field or subject. Try to share experiences or anecdotes that illustrate your dedication and excitement. This could be a project you've undertaken, an event you've attended, or a skill you've developed.
4. Focus on Growth: Highlight how you've grown or changed as a result of your experiences. Talk about what you learned, how you overcame challenges, or how your interests evolved. This shows your resilience and adaptability, qualities that colleges appreciate in their students.
5. Be Clear and Concise: A strong essay is well-organized and easy to follow. Use clear language and avoid using overly complex phrases or jargon. Your essay should tell a coherent story and make it easy for admissions officers to understand your point of view.
6. Edit and Revise: Take the time to proofread your essay and correct any errors in grammar, punctuation, or spelling. It's also a good idea to have someone else read your essay to help identify any areas where the structure or clarity could be improved.
For examples, look at this blog post: https://blog.collegevine.com/purdue-essay-examples
While specific examples from other students' essays can be helpful, it's essential not to just copy these ideas or rely on someone else's essay to guide your own. Use these tips as a starting point and focus on crafting an essay that uniquely reflects your experiences, voice, and goals. Good luck!
About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.
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‘We were each other’s driving force’
Caleb and Rebecca Ortiz say their motivation was built into their Purdue Global experience by completing their degrees together. (Purdue University photo / Kelsey Lefever)
How Purdue Global graduates and married couple Rebecca and Caleb Ortiz earned their degrees and a strong purpose
When Rebecca (BS human services ’23, Purdue Global) and Caleb Ortiz (BS human services ’23, Purdue Global) concluded that they’d both need degrees to move forward with their careers, they decided on Purdue Global, and they jumped in with both feet.
Both of them. Together. At the same time.
Crazy? Maybe. Their family life isn’t exactly quiet — they both have full-time jobs, and their five kids are all tweens and teens whose activities range from riding bikes to learning to drive cars. But the way they tell their story, it wasn’t so much a choice they made despite the scheduling challenges. It was because of those challenges.
“We knew college wasn’t going to be easy, especially with everything we have going on — I was coaching wrestling and football, she was working after hours; we’ve got to divide and conquer, going every which direction with the kids,” says Caleb. “So we really just wanted to be a support for each other.”
Sometimes that support was just good, old-fashioned competition. And whether it’s cheering on football teams or facing off for better grades, a little competition made the journey fun.
“(We competed) especially when we were in the exact same class. We’d try to one-up each other, who got the better score on a test or who got more replies on the discussion boards,” she says, both of them laughing.
But it was all for a common goal. Caleb says their careers intersected at a critical moment.
He was a self-employed massage therapist with an associate degree in management, so when he was finally forced to address chronic pain he’d been experiencing in his wrist and hands, their livelihood was threatened. Of course, it posed a threat to their immediate income, but the long-term outlook worried him even more. So he looked to his wife. Her work had always inspired him.
Rebecca, whose background is in early childhood education, had an associate degree and was working for Child Protective Services. She loved feeling like she was making a difference in the world. Caleb wanted that, too.
“I applied for a job with Child Protective Services in 2022, but I didn’t get it because I was considered underqualified,” he says.
Combined with Rebecca’s drive to grow in her role, they knew it was time to take the leap, together. They decided to earn their bachelor’s degrees in human services from Purdue Global.
And it was the best choice they could have made.
An online education that honors experience — no matter where it comes from
Among the schools they considered, Purdue Global quickly rose to the top when they realized how much credit they’d be able to start with.
“The big selling point was the credits we were able to transfer over from our previous schools,” Rebecca says.
Transferable credit was one of the things that made the Ortizes feel like this was an online university truly built for people like them. Purdue Global’s average bachelor’s degree graduate saves 50% on tuition with credit for prior learning . Work experience can even be honored as academic credit when students submit a prior learning portfolio through a portfolio development course. Those who submit portfolios save an average of $11,000.
Life’s not easy. There are going to be challenges. But we’ve shown our kids they can make it through no matter what. Caleb Ortiz BS human services ’23, Purdue Global
As someone who had already spent years in her field, Rebecca was no exception.
“I was able to petition to waive 10 courses, and I was approved to waive seven,” she says. “It saved us a lot of time and money.”
Caleb didn’t have the relevant work experience Rebecca did, but his academic credit was honored, and it shaved some time off for him, too.
“Every course I took in my associate degree program transferred either into my core courses or into electives. It took away a lot of the burden of trying to retake classes that weren’t going to transfer at other colleges,” he says. “Purdue Global made it really easy.”
The Ortizes say that Purdue Global is tuned in to the needs of its working adult students long after getting started, too — they saw the same awareness and understanding from each professor.
“Hands down, I think these are probably some of the best professors I’ve had. If you ever reached out to a professor, they’d connect with you as quickly as they could,” Caleb says. “They always just wanted you to be able to do better for yourself, so they were willing to do anything they could to help you progress.”
It paid off.
Walking forward, together
Now that their coursework is complete, they’ve crossed the stage together (both wearing summa cum laude cords) to collect their diplomas. But they both say that’s not all they’re walking away with.
Rebecca says she’s excited that her clients are getting a better version of her.
“Attending Purdue Global gave me a stronger foundation to meet the needs of my clients and make sure they have the appropriate services in place to help them be successful,” Rebecca says.
But it makes a difference in her perception of herself, too.
“I’m a first-generation college graduate,” she says. “It was a big accomplishment for me to be able to earn my associate degree back then, but for me to be able to go back and get my bachelor’s now means a lot to my family — my parents and my sister and my kids. To have my kids see firsthand that no matter what life throws at you, you can still follow your dreams. You can still accomplish what you set out to accomplish no matter how old you are.”
Caleb, also a first-generation college grad, agrees.
“Obtaining this degree has given me a sense of self-worth,” he says. “It’s allowed me to see that I can make a difference not only in my own kids’ lives, but all the other youth I work with, too.”
For both of them, knowing they’ve gained something for themselves and their own kids is just priceless.
“Life’s not easy,” he says. “There are going to be challenges. But we’ve shown our kids they can make it through no matter what.”
Attending Purdue Global gave me a stronger foundation to meet the needs of my clients. Rebecca Ortiz BS human services ’23, Purdue Global
Maura Klopfenstein
As a writer who consistently works to be a more effective ally to marginalized groups, Maura is passionate about creating inclusive messaging that resonates with a diverse audience. By age 5, Maura knew she wanted to be a storyteller. She’s never known anything else.
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Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts
Writing Essays for Exams
Welcome to the Purdue OWL
This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.
What is a well written answer to an essay question?
Well Focused
Be sure to answer the question completely, that is, answer all parts of the question. Avoid "padding." A lot of rambling and ranting is a sure sign that the writer doesn't really know what the right answer is and hopes that somehow, something in that overgrown jungle of words was the correct answer.
Well Organized
Don't write in a haphazard "think-as-you-go" manner. Do some planning and be sure that what you write has a clearly marked introduction which both states the point(s) you are going to make and also, if possible, how you are going to proceed. In addition, the essay should have a clearly indicated conclusion which summarizes the material covered and emphasizes your thesis or main point.
Well Supported
Do not just assert something is true, prove it. What facts, figures, examples, tests, etc. prove your point? In many cases, the difference between an A and a B as a grade is due to the effective use of supporting evidence.
Well Packaged
People who do not use conventions of language are thought of by their readers as less competent and less educated. If you need help with these or other writing skills, come to the Writing Lab
How do you write an effective essay exam?
Read through all the questions carefully.
Budget your time and decide which question(s) you will answer first.
Underline the key word(s) which tell you what to do for each question.
Choose an organizational pattern appropriate for each key word and plan your answers on scratch paper or in the margins.
Write your answers as quickly and as legibly as you can; do not take the time to recopy.
Begin each answer with one or two sentence thesis which summarizes your answer. If possible, phrase the statement so that it rephrases the question's essential terms into a statement (which therefore directly answers the essay question).
Support your thesis with specific references to the material you have studied.
Proofread your answer and correct errors in spelling and mechanics.
Specific organizational patterns and "key words"
Most essay questions will have one or more "key words" that indicate which organizational pattern you should use in your answer. The six most common organizational patterns for essay exams are definition, analysis, cause and effect, comparison/contrast, process analysis, and thesis-support.
Typical questions
"Define X."
"What is an X?"
"Choose N terms from the following list and define them."
Q: "What is a fanzine?"
A: A fanzine is a magazine written, mimeographed, and distributed by and for science fiction or comic strip enthusiasts.
Avoid constructions such as "An encounter group is where ..." and "General semantics is when ... ."
State the term to be defined.
State the class of objects or concepts to which the term belongs.
Differentiate the term from other members of the class by listing the term's distinguishing characteristics.
Tools you can use
Details which describe the term
Examples and incidents
Comparisons to familiar terms
Negation to state what the term is not
Classification (i.e., break it down into parts)
Examination of origins or causes
Examination of results, effects, or uses
Analysis involves breaking something down into its components and discovering the parts that make up the whole.
"Analyze X."
"What are the components of X?"
"What are the five different kinds of X?"
"Discuss the different types of X."
Q: "Discuss the different services a junior college offers a community."
A: Thesis: A junior college offers the community at least three main types of educational services: vocational education for young people, continuing education for older people, and personal development for all individuals.
Outline for supporting details and examples. For example, if you were answering the example question, an outline might include:
Vocational education
Continuing education
Personal development
Write the essay, describing each part or component and making transitions between each of your descriptions. Some useful transition words include:
first, second, third, etc.
in addition
Conclude the essay by emphasizing how each part you have described makes up the whole you have been asked to analyze.
Cause and Effect
Cause and effect involves tracing probable or known effects of a certain cause or examining one or more effects and discussing the reasonable or known cause(s).
Typical questions:
"What are the causes of X?"
"What led to X?"
"Why did X occur?"
"Why does X happen?"
"What would be the effects of X?"
Q: "Define recession and discuss the probable effects a recession would have on today's society."
A: Thesis: A recession, which is a nationwide lull in business activity, would be detrimental to society in the following ways: it would .......A......., it would .......B......., and it would .......C....... .
The rest of the answer would explain, in some detail, the three effects: A, B, and C.
Useful transition words:
consequently
for this reason
as a result
Comparison-Contrast
"How does X differ from Y?"
"Compare X and Y."
"What are the advantages and disadvantages of X and Y?"
Q: "Which would you rather own—a compact car or a full-sized car?"
A: Thesis: I would own a compact car rather than a full-sized car for the following reasons: .......A......., .......B......., .......C......., and .......D....... .
Two patterns of development:
Full-sized car
Disadvantages
Compact car
Useful transition words
on the other hand
unlike A, B ...
in the same way
while both A and B are ..., only B ..
nevertheless
on the contrary
while A is ..., B is ...
"Describe how X is accomplished."
"List the steps involved in X."
"Explain what happened in X."
"What is the procedure involved in X?"
Process (sometimes called process analysis)
This involves giving directions or telling the reader how to do something. It may involve discussing some complex procedure as a series of discrete steps. The organization is almost always chronological.
Q: "According to Richard Bolles' What Color Is Your Parachute?, what is the best procedure for finding a job?"
A: In What Color Is Your Parachute?, Richard Bolles lists seven steps that all job-hunters should follow: .....A....., .....B....., .....C....., .....D....., .....E....., .....F....., and .....G..... .
The remainder of the answer should discuss each of these seven steps in some detail.
following this
after, afterwards, after this
subsequently
simultaneously, concurrently
Thesis and Support
"Discuss X."
"A noted authority has said X. Do you agree or disagree?"
"Defend or refute X."
"Do you think that X is valid? Defend your position."
Thesis and support involves stating a clearly worded opinion or interpretation and then defending it with all the data, examples, facts, and so on that you can draw from the material you have studied.
Q: "Despite criticism, television is useful because it aids in the socializing process of our children."
A: Television hinders rather than helps in the socializing process of our children because .......A......., .......B......., and .......C....... .
The rest of the answer is devoted to developing arguments A, B, and C.
it follows that
A. Which of the following two answers is the better one? Why?
Question: Discuss the contribution of William Morris to book design, using as an example his edition of the works of Chaucer.
a. William Morris's Chaucer was his masterpiece. It shows his interest in the Middle Ages. The type is based on medieval manuscript writing, and the decoration around the edges of the pages is like that used in medieval books. The large initial letters are typical of medieval design. Those letters were printed from woodcuts, which was the medieval way of printing. The illustrations were by Burn-Jones, one of the best artists in England at the time. Morris was able to get the most competent people to help him because he was so famous as a poet and a designer (the Morris chair) and wallpaper and other decorative items for the home. He designed the furnishings for his own home, which was widely admired among the sort of people he associated with. In this way he started the arts and crafts movement.
b. Morris's contribution to book design was to approach the problem as an artist or fine craftsman, rather than a mere printer who reproduced texts. He wanted to raise the standards of printing, which had fallen to a low point, by showing that truly beautiful books could be produced. His Chaucer was designed as a unified work of art or high craft. Since Chaucer lived in the Middle Ages, Morris decided to design a new type based on medieval script and to imitate the format of a medieval manuscript. This involved elaborate letters and large initials at the beginnings of verses, as well as wide borders of intertwined vines with leaves, fruit, and flowers in strong colors. The effect was so unusual that the book caused great excitement and inspired other printers to design beautiful rather than purely utilitarian books.
From James M. McCrimmon, Writing with a Purpose , 7th ed. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1980), pp. 261-263.
B. How would you plan the structure of the answers to these essay exam questions?
1. Was the X Act a continuation of earlier government policies or did it represent a departure from prior philosophies?
2. What seems to be the source of aggression in human beings? What can be done to lower the level of aggression in our society?
3. Choose one character from Novel X and, with specific references to the work, show how he or she functions as an "existential hero."
4. Define briefly the systems approach to business management. Illustrate how this differs from the traditional approach.
5. What is the cosmological argument? Does it prove that God exists?
6. Civil War historian Andy Bellum once wrote, "Blahblahblah blahed a blahblah, but of course if blahblah blahblahblahed the blah, then blahblahs are not blah but blahblah." To what extent and in what ways is the statement true? How is it false?
For more information on writing exam essays for the GED, please visit our Engagement area and go to the Community Writing and Education Station (CWEST) resources.
Writing a Successful Purdue Application Essay. Tips & Help
thesis statement for argumentative essay: Purdue OWL // Purdue Writing
Purdue OWL: APA Formatting
COMMENTS
Application Essay
The Common Application Freshman Essay Prompts. Required minimum-maximum word count: 250-650. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter ...
Freshman Admission Criteria
Here's what you need to know when preparing for admission to and success at Purdue: ... This application also requires you to provide an essay and answer Purdue-specific questions. ... While this does not guarantee admission to Purdue, those who earn this diploma are generally stronger candidates and better prepared for the academic rigor of ...
How to Write the Purdue University Essays 2024-2025
How to Write the Purdue University Essays 2024-2025. Purdue University, home of the Boilermakers, the "world's largest drum," and an expert-approved writing lab, remains today one of the most innovative schools in the country. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, Purdue has come a long way since its founding in 1869.
Purdue Supplemental Essays 2024-25
Essay Prompt #3 (Required if listing a second major) 3) Briefly discuss your reasons for pursuing the alternate major you have selected. (Respond in 250 words or fewer.) See answer #2 re: your first-choice major. You are essentially repeating this process for a different field.
Apply to Purdue
Apply Now Application Essay Freshman Admissions Criteria. The steps to apply to Purdue are relatively simple. Complete and submit an online application. Pay attention to and meet application deadlines. Make sure we receive all material required for your application to be complete.
Purdue Admission Requirements 2023
Purdue SAT Requirements. The recommended SAT requirements for Purdue are a 1300 to 1350 composite score, combining the reading and writing, and math sections together. You will need a moderately high SAT score in order to get into Purdue. If your SAT is lower than suggested at the time you apply, you may have to perform above average on your ...
Purdue Supplemental Essay: 4 Top Tips for Writing Yours
How to Write a Great Purdue Supplemental Essay: 4 Tips. To wrap up, here are four tips to help you write a great supplemental Purdue University admission essay. #1: Write Succinctly and Purposefully. All three Purdue supplemental essays you need to write are pretty short, with one 250-word essay and two 100-word essays.
Admissions
For most freshmen applicants, required material includes the Common App online (including essay), the Common App's Purdue-specific questions, ... Students interested in a veterinary medical education at Purdue must complete 2 - 3 years of required course work in order to be eligible to apply to our program. Required courses must be completed ...
Advice for Writing Application Essays
Don't use boilerplate essays. That is, resist the urge to reuse the exact same essay for different schools if each of them is giving you a slightly different writing prompt. You can, of course, adapt the same essay for similar prompts. Many schools do allow you to use the Common Application essay for admission to several participating schools.
Starting Your Application & Asking for Letters of ...
Ideally, you should try to include letters with all of your applications, but, of course, prioritize the ones that require them. Ask your potential recommender politely whether they would be willing to write you a letter of recommendation. Make sure that you give your recommenders the opportunity to politely decline.
How to Get In: Purdue Admission Requirements
You must take either the SAT or ACT to submit an application to Purdue. More importantly, you need to do well to have a strong application. Purdue SAT Requirements. Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score. Average SAT: 1315
Purdue Supplemental Essay
Purdue University acceptance rate: 67%— U.S. News ranks Purdue as a more selective school. Purdue application: Purdue only accepts the Common Application, not the Coalition Application. Purdue supplemental essay requirements: 2 (100-word) required essays. 2 (500-word) Purdue Honors College essays (required if applying to the Honors College ...
3 Purdue University Essay Examples
What the Essay Did Well Starting the essay with a question is a great way to catch the reader's attention in a short amount of space. Right off the bat, we are asking ourselves why are they using duct tape, what's the boat for, how much duct tape do they need, all of which get us engaged and excited for what is to come.. The student also does a nice job of incorporating sailing-related ...
How to Write the Purdue University Supplemental Essays 2020-2021
Read the 2021-2022 Purdue essay guide. Purdue University, home of the Boilermakers, the "world's largest drum," and an expert-approved writing lab, remains today as one of the most innovative schools in the country. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, Purdue has come a long way since its founding in 1869.
Purdue University's 2023-24 Essay Prompts
Honors College Short Response 1. Required. 500 Words. Explain your vision, ideas, or goals for how you hope to shape your honors experience while at Purdue. Please put this in the context of the four pillars which are the foundation of the John Martinson Honors College. Read our essay guide to get started.
How to Ace the 2024-2025 Purdue University Supplemental Essay Prompts
The Purdue University supplemental essays. For the regular undergraduate admissions application, you will have two 100 word prompts to write, and an additional optional 250 word prompt. It is always a good idea to write the optional essay, because this gives the admissions team at the university a better idea of the type of person that they ...
How to Write the Purdue University Supplemental Essays: Guide
Step #3: Decide if you want to include a specific thesis that explicitly states your central argument—in this case what you want to study and why. This thesis can be at the beginning, middle, or end of your essay. Step #4: Write a draft! Here's an example for this prompt written for when the word count was 100 words:
Purdue University 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide
The Requirements: 2 short answers of 250 words. Supplemental Essay Type (s): Why, Short Answer. How will opportunities at Purdue support your interests, both in and out of the classroom? (Respond in 250 words or fewer) This is basically a super short Why essay and the best way to answer it is to do your research.
Essay Writing
Essays are shorter pieces of writing that often require the student to hone a number of skills such as close reading, analysis, comparison and contrast, persuasion, conciseness, clarity, and exposition. As is evidenced by this list of attributes, there is much to be gained by the student who strives to succeed at essay writing.
Deadlines & Dates
Decision Release and Accepting Your Offer. 12 weeks after their application and all required material have been submitted. NEW BEGINNERS - Deadlines to accept your offer of admission: by April 24. If you're admitted after April 24, you must accept within three weeks of your admission decision.
Examples of successful Purdue supplemental essays?
Hello! It's always helpful to see what others have done, but remember that your essay should be unique to you and your experiences. With that in mind, here are some general tips for crafting a strong Purdue supplemental essay: 1. Answer the Prompt: Make sure you understand the prompt and focus your essay on answering it clearly. Purdue prompts usually focus on why you're interested in your ...
Argumentative Essays
The argumentative essay requires well-researched, accurate, detailed, and current information to support the thesis statement and consider other points of view. Some factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal evidence should support the thesis. However, students must consider multiple points of view when collecting evidence.
'We were each other's driving force'
How Purdue Global graduates and married couple Rebecca and Caleb Ortiz earned their degrees and a strong purpose. When Rebecca (BS human services '23, Purdue Global) and Caleb Ortiz (BS human services '23, Purdue Global) concluded that they'd both need degrees to move forward with their careers, they decided on Purdue Global, and they jumped in with both feet.
Writing Essays for Exams
Most essay questions will have one or more "key words" that indicate which organizational pattern you should use in your answer. The six most common organizational patterns for essay exams are definition, analysis, cause and effect, comparison/contrast, process analysis, and thesis-support. Definition. Typical questions.
IMAGES
COMMENTS
The Common Application Freshman Essay Prompts. Required minimum-maximum word count: 250-650. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter ...
Here's what you need to know when preparing for admission to and success at Purdue: ... This application also requires you to provide an essay and answer Purdue-specific questions. ... While this does not guarantee admission to Purdue, those who earn this diploma are generally stronger candidates and better prepared for the academic rigor of ...
How to Write the Purdue University Essays 2024-2025. Purdue University, home of the Boilermakers, the "world's largest drum," and an expert-approved writing lab, remains today one of the most innovative schools in the country. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, Purdue has come a long way since its founding in 1869.
Essay Prompt #3 (Required if listing a second major) 3) Briefly discuss your reasons for pursuing the alternate major you have selected. (Respond in 250 words or fewer.) See answer #2 re: your first-choice major. You are essentially repeating this process for a different field.
Apply Now Application Essay Freshman Admissions Criteria. The steps to apply to Purdue are relatively simple. Complete and submit an online application. Pay attention to and meet application deadlines. Make sure we receive all material required for your application to be complete.
Purdue SAT Requirements. The recommended SAT requirements for Purdue are a 1300 to 1350 composite score, combining the reading and writing, and math sections together. You will need a moderately high SAT score in order to get into Purdue. If your SAT is lower than suggested at the time you apply, you may have to perform above average on your ...
How to Write a Great Purdue Supplemental Essay: 4 Tips. To wrap up, here are four tips to help you write a great supplemental Purdue University admission essay. #1: Write Succinctly and Purposefully. All three Purdue supplemental essays you need to write are pretty short, with one 250-word essay and two 100-word essays.
For most freshmen applicants, required material includes the Common App online (including essay), the Common App's Purdue-specific questions, ... Students interested in a veterinary medical education at Purdue must complete 2 - 3 years of required course work in order to be eligible to apply to our program. Required courses must be completed ...
Don't use boilerplate essays. That is, resist the urge to reuse the exact same essay for different schools if each of them is giving you a slightly different writing prompt. You can, of course, adapt the same essay for similar prompts. Many schools do allow you to use the Common Application essay for admission to several participating schools.
Ideally, you should try to include letters with all of your applications, but, of course, prioritize the ones that require them. Ask your potential recommender politely whether they would be willing to write you a letter of recommendation. Make sure that you give your recommenders the opportunity to politely decline.
You must take either the SAT or ACT to submit an application to Purdue. More importantly, you need to do well to have a strong application. Purdue SAT Requirements. Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score. Average SAT: 1315
Purdue University acceptance rate: 67%— U.S. News ranks Purdue as a more selective school. Purdue application: Purdue only accepts the Common Application, not the Coalition Application. Purdue supplemental essay requirements: 2 (100-word) required essays. 2 (500-word) Purdue Honors College essays (required if applying to the Honors College ...
What the Essay Did Well Starting the essay with a question is a great way to catch the reader's attention in a short amount of space. Right off the bat, we are asking ourselves why are they using duct tape, what's the boat for, how much duct tape do they need, all of which get us engaged and excited for what is to come.. The student also does a nice job of incorporating sailing-related ...
Read the 2021-2022 Purdue essay guide. Purdue University, home of the Boilermakers, the "world's largest drum," and an expert-approved writing lab, remains today as one of the most innovative schools in the country. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, Purdue has come a long way since its founding in 1869.
Honors College Short Response 1. Required. 500 Words. Explain your vision, ideas, or goals for how you hope to shape your honors experience while at Purdue. Please put this in the context of the four pillars which are the foundation of the John Martinson Honors College. Read our essay guide to get started.
The Purdue University supplemental essays. For the regular undergraduate admissions application, you will have two 100 word prompts to write, and an additional optional 250 word prompt. It is always a good idea to write the optional essay, because this gives the admissions team at the university a better idea of the type of person that they ...
Step #3: Decide if you want to include a specific thesis that explicitly states your central argument—in this case what you want to study and why. This thesis can be at the beginning, middle, or end of your essay. Step #4: Write a draft! Here's an example for this prompt written for when the word count was 100 words:
The Requirements: 2 short answers of 250 words. Supplemental Essay Type (s): Why, Short Answer. How will opportunities at Purdue support your interests, both in and out of the classroom? (Respond in 250 words or fewer) This is basically a super short Why essay and the best way to answer it is to do your research.
Essays are shorter pieces of writing that often require the student to hone a number of skills such as close reading, analysis, comparison and contrast, persuasion, conciseness, clarity, and exposition. As is evidenced by this list of attributes, there is much to be gained by the student who strives to succeed at essay writing.
Decision Release and Accepting Your Offer. 12 weeks after their application and all required material have been submitted. NEW BEGINNERS - Deadlines to accept your offer of admission: by April 24. If you're admitted after April 24, you must accept within three weeks of your admission decision.
Hello! It's always helpful to see what others have done, but remember that your essay should be unique to you and your experiences. With that in mind, here are some general tips for crafting a strong Purdue supplemental essay: 1. Answer the Prompt: Make sure you understand the prompt and focus your essay on answering it clearly. Purdue prompts usually focus on why you're interested in your ...
The argumentative essay requires well-researched, accurate, detailed, and current information to support the thesis statement and consider other points of view. Some factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal evidence should support the thesis. However, students must consider multiple points of view when collecting evidence.
How Purdue Global graduates and married couple Rebecca and Caleb Ortiz earned their degrees and a strong purpose. When Rebecca (BS human services '23, Purdue Global) and Caleb Ortiz (BS human services '23, Purdue Global) concluded that they'd both need degrees to move forward with their careers, they decided on Purdue Global, and they jumped in with both feet.
Most essay questions will have one or more "key words" that indicate which organizational pattern you should use in your answer. The six most common organizational patterns for essay exams are definition, analysis, cause and effect, comparison/contrast, process analysis, and thesis-support. Definition. Typical questions.