Purdue University

About Me

Intro

I'm like a machine that cranks out engineers. I crank out plenty of other things, too, but engineers in particular love me.

Don't let that worry you, though, I'm a big school, so I have a place for nearly every type of student. I'm proud of my reputation in every discipline I offer. You can be a vet, a farmer, an astronaut, or a businessperson more successful than Donald Trump. Education majors will particularly enjoy student teaching brainy professor's kids in the Tippecanoe County school system.

I'm almost like a little town instead of a college campus. There are the usual things you find, like frat houses, bars, and plenty of libraries and study lounges, but also parks, outdoor recreational areas, and golf courses. Get ready for some visitors, because I even have an airport. They can land nearly on your dorm-step.

Also, If your roomie isn't cool with your BFF crashing in that dinky eight-by-ten room, I also have my own hotel, located in the Student Union building.

My campus may be big, but I'm still friendly to walkers and cyclists. If it's too cold and you're late to class, I've even got shuttle buses to carry you. Yeah, I'm nice like that.

Name

The Boilermaker Special, a steam locomotive, is the official Purdue mascot. Purdue Pete is the unofficial mascot who earned the honor of appearing at sporting events. Pete is a Boilermaker and goes with the train.

Hometown

Imagine the flattest, most remote part of northern Indiana—that's West Lafayette, Indiana. Purdue sprouted up in the middle of a cornfield in the late 1800s and the multitude of beautiful, redbrick buildings created wind tunnels all over campus. Being located two hours south of Chicago means lake-effect snow and cold, so pack your parka. My architects kindly placed many indoor walkways to connect buildings.

Birthdate

I was born in 1869 as a land grant university. I was named after my father, John Purdue, who generously donated most of the money needed to build me.

Body Type

I definitely deserve a place in the Big Ten; in 2013, I carried 38,788 students, with 8,500 of them working on advanced degrees.

Being a big school means freshman classes can be large, particularly in the engineering weed-out courses like Calculus and Physics. Luckily, upperclassmen can count on more personal attention once they're entrenched in their major.

I try to make professors more approachable, so the faculty invites undergraduates into their state-of-the-art research laboratories to increase chances for student interaction. It's a great opportunity to build connections, especially if you're planning on graduate school.

Current Living Situation

Freshmen usually spend the first year in one of my seventeen residence halls. Most dorms are co-ed with males and females separated into different wings, but there's one women-only dorm and two all-male dorms. You and your roomie will be getting close because the dorm rooms are a little…cozy. Some newer dorms offer private rooms and baths or spacious suites, but they're pricier.

The newest residence hall, University Towers, was built for upperclassmen. Dining courts are placed all over campus, and meal plans are flexible enough so you can eat anywhere and any time you want. Hey, eat every meal in a cafeteria if that's what you wish. Also, many students choose a dorm based on proximity to their classes.

West Lafayette offers plenty of apartment complexes and students who live in them usually have one or more roommates. These are more for the upperclassmen though; I like having my freshmen in the residence halls. I want them to get involved, meet people, and (most importantly) pass their classes. Save apartment living for after you make friends and get acquainted with college life.

If none of these housing options satisfy you, you may want to try the Big Fat Greek system. You won't be alone—30% of Purdue students join a fraternity and sorority. There are also super awesome co-ops to join if you like the idea of communal living, minus the raging parties on the weekends. I've got something for everybody here.

Relationship Status

Since before Bobby Knight threw his first chair, that nob Indiana University likes to claim the rights to basketball in the state. I hold my own as well, thank you very much. We get pretty competitive in any way we can. The Old Oaken Bucket is one of the oldest football trophies in the nation, and the winner of the seasonal football showdown between me and IU keeps it during the year.

Religion

No affiliation here. With the large population and international representation, my students are pretty diverse. Indiana residents typically come from a rural, family-values kind of background, so take your pick of the many Protestant and Catholic churches. They cater to college students—literally. They feed them. Body and soul.

You should apply to me if...

you want an affordable school that carries a world-class awesome reputation, or if you want to be an engineer of anything. Even cheese.