2012-13 Edition Profile:

Educated Quest.com Background 1 Introduction to Purdue Background About Purdue

Founded in 1869 as ’s Land Grant university, Purdue University is named for , a business leader who gave $150,000 to help start the school. The county government kicked in another $50,000 and local citizens donated 100 acres of land. The Indiana legislature, in turn, named the school Pur- Fast Facts due University, in honor of its primary benefactor. In 1874, Pur- due University conducted its first classes with six instructors 1. Purdue was founded in 1869 as Indiana’s Land and 35 students.

Grant University. In 1874, Purdue University Today, Purdue has more than 31,000 undergraduates enrolled conducted its first classes with six instructors in over 200 majors.Purdue has also been a member of the Asso- and 35 students. ciation of American Universities, a select group of leading re- search universities, since 1958. Purdue is also a Sea Grant and 2. Today, Purdue has more than 31,000 Space Grant school, attracting Federal funds for research and undergraduates enrolled in over 200 majors. It science education. can be considered the leading STEM school in Purdue can be considered the STEM school in the Big Ten; the Big Ten; nearly 40 percent of all graduates nearly 40 percent of all graduates earn a degree in science, earn a degree in science, technology, engineering technology, engineering or mathematics. Approximately 8,600 or mathematics. undergraduate and graduate students come from outside the 3. Purdue is known as the Cradle of Astronauts as United States, second (to Illinois) among public universities and fourth overall. Purdue also has one of the largest alumni bases well as the Cradle of Quarterbacks. in the country, with more than 475,000 graduates. Known as

2 the “Cradle of Astronauts.” twenty three Purdue alumni have to a national championship as a player in 1932. His letter jacket participated in America’s space program including Neil Arm- can be seen in the lobby at . strong, the first man to walk on the Moon and Eugene Cernan, Although Purdue offers highly-ranked agriculture, science and the last man to do so. Virgil “Gus” Grissom, one of the original engineering programs, as well as a strong quantitatively- seven Mercury astronauts, is also a Purdue alum. He and fel- focused business school, it is not the most selective university low alumnus, Roger Chafee, both perished on the ill-fated in the Big Ten. Nearly 31,000 people applied for approximately Apollo One mission. The university is also a springboard for 6,300 spots in the class of 2016; nearly 19,000 or 61 percent, aviators. More than 600 students pursue degree in aviation got in. Although Purdue is a university noted for math and sci- management, aeronautical engineering technology and profes- ence, 40 percent of the entering freshmen scored below 600 on sional flight technology. The first university to operate its own the Math section of their SAT, among the students who submit- airport, Purdue employed famed aviator Amelia Earhart as a ted rests from the test. However, Purdue has shown steady im- counselor for female students. Her "Flying Laboratory" at the provement in freshmen retention--the class than entered in university: a Lockheed Electra twin-engined airliner. Purdue’s 2010 surpassed 90 percent--and graduation rates over the past Research Foundation funded the upgrades Earhart needed to 12 years. Most recently, 70 percent of the class that entered in make to fly the plane around the world. 2006 completed their degree within six years, very good consid- In addition to its contributions to aerospace and aviation, Pur- ering the academic choices made by the students. due has produced three Nobel Prize winners in Physics as well Purdue appears to be less about selectivity, but more about stu- as three in Chemistry. Alumni have also risen to the top in busi- dent success and preparation for a life’s work. Purdue provides ness and politics as well as science. Popcorn personality Orville more preparation than most other public universities do. Redenbacher is a Purdue alumnus as is former U.S. Senator Birch Bayh, among many others. Purdue is also known as the “Cradle of Quarterbacks.” Three, Len Dawson, Bob Griese and Drew Brees, have led teams to Super Bowl victories. Only Ala- bama (Bart Starr, Joe Namath and Ken Stabler) has equalled Purdue’s success. John Wooden, the most successful coach in men’s college basketball history at UCLA, led the Boilermakers

3 Competition

What does it take to get in? Who decides to go? What other schools do 2 applicants consider? Competition What It Takes to Get In It is not exceptionally difficult to gain admission to Purdue, unless you want to study engineering, nursing or pharmacy. Nearly 19,000 of ap- proximately 31,000 students who applied to the Class of 2016 were ac- cepted. The university wait listed approximately 1,400 more, though only 165 were later admitted. The freshman class had approximately 6,300 students; slightly less than a third of those admitted decided to come. Among those who did, nearly 30 percent were enrolled in the College of Fast Facts Engineering. The middle 50 percent of the entering class scored between 1060 and 1. Nearly 19,000 of approximately 31,000 students 1300 (out of 1600) on the Critical Reading and Math sections of the SAT. The median ACT score, for those who reported scores from that test, who applied to the Class of 2016 were accepted. was a 24, equal to a median of 1110 on the Critical Reading and Math 2. The middle 50 percent of the entering class sections of the SAT. Outside of engineering, nursing and pharmacy, Pur- due is a school for the very good as well as the excellent student. The scored between 1060 and 1300 (out of 1600) on more competitive majors require excellence. the Critical Reading and Math sections of the SAT. The SAT range for the engineering students was between 1160 and 1360 while their ACT range, between 27 and 32, equates to an SAT 3. However, the SAT range for the engineering range between 1220 and 1420. Engineers make up a little more than a fifth of a freshman class. The nursing program is selective because it is students was between 1160 and 1360 while their also very small; only 90 undergraduates are enrolled. The pharmacy pro- ACT range, between 27 and 32, equates to an SAT gram is also small, though it offers undergraduates a choice between the range between 1220 and 1420. six-year PharmD program and the four-year program in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Admission to the business and science programs is also com- petitive.

5 About 60 percent of every entering class comes from Indiana; it’s quite Purdue students who come from the Hoosier State have other options it possible that standards for out-of-state students to get into the engineer- they want to study engineering. Butler University, Rose-Hulman Institute ing programs are higher because of the competition for available spaces. of Technology, the University of Notre Dame and Trine University all offer the degree. Butler also offers a pharmacy degree. Outside of these The application process is straightforward. In addition to transcripts and fields, Ball State and Indiana University-Bloomington and Indiana- test scores, all students must complete an essay. Letters of recommenda- Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI) are popular options. Students tion are optional; two are optimal Students apply directly into the college from outside the state shop Purdue against other Big Ten universities, of their choice. Any student considering Purdue should know that there is most often the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Indiana considerable overlap between degree programs. For instance, a student University-Bloomington, Ohio State and Penn State. interested in computer science has options within the College of Engi- neering, the College of Science, the College of Technology and the Kran- Residents and non-residents alike choose Purdue for three reasons says nert School of Management. A student interested in business has op- Megan Dorton: academics and the variety of majors. “The students know tions in the College of Agriculture, the College of Health and Human Sci- their degree is going to be worth something,” she adds. ences as well as in Krannert. Each degree program within each school has a Plan of Study page. Next year, Purdue will move from their own application process online to the Common Application. In some ways this will make it easier for more Purdue does not require applicants to indicate a second choice of major students to apply. Butler and Notre Dame also participate as do Big Ten within a second-choice college. However, applicants are encouraged to members Michigan, Northwestern and Ohio State. Indiana liberal arts col- contact the admissions office if they learn that they might not, for exam- leges that use the Common Application include DePauw, Earlham, Hano- ple, qualify for admission to engineering, nursing or pre-pharmacy, to see ver, St. Mary’s and Wabash. if they qualify elsewhere. The problem with taking a second choice in this situation is that you must live with the second choice. At Purdue, as in Purdue does not use Early Decision or Early Action, however it is advis- other large universities, engineering, nursing and pharmacy programs able to apply early to receive the most consideration for merit-based aid. have prerequisite courses unique to their college. The degree program The deadline for the first early notification period is October 15th; stu- goes in lock step; future courses build upon these prerequisites. For ex- dents would receive a decision by December 7th. ample, the College of Engineering has two team-based courses: Trans- forming Ideas to Innovation I and II that are taken during the freshman year. A student who accepts a second choice cannot take these courses during their freshman year, even if their intention is to transfer into engi- neering.

6 Completion

Freshman Retention Rate 3 Graduation Rates Completion The Path to Graduation Since 2002 Purdue has shown steady improvement in freshman reten- tion and graduation rates.

Among students who entered in 1998, 83 percent remained to continue on their sophomore year, and less than 35 percent graduated in four years. The six-year graduation rate for these students was 66 percent, good considering the difficulty of the degree programs, though nearly 30 percent of the freshmen did not make it to their junior year. Fast Facts Among students who entered in 2006, 85 percent continued on to their 1. Since 2002 Purdue has shown steady improvement in sophomore year and about 78 percent made it to their junior year. Forty percent of these students graduated in four years, 70 percent within six. freshman retention and graduation rates. In prior years more than a fifth of a freshman class would have dropped 2. The class that entered in 2010 had a freshman retention out or transferred out. rate in excess of 90 percent, excellent for a large state Greater improvement is likely to be seen from the classes that entered university. later. 3. Forty five percent of the students who entered in 2008 • Of the students who entered in 2007, about 87 percent continued on graduated within four years, excellent considering the to their sophomore year, 77 percent made it to their junior year and focus on STEM subjects at Purdue. just over 42 percent finished within four years.

4. Purdue’s Office of Student Success has set goals of a • Of the students who entered in 2008, over 87 percent continued on to 93 percent freshman retention rate and a 50 percent their sophomore year, almost 81 percent made it to their junior year four-year graduation rate for future classes. Within the and 45 percent finished with four years. Big Ten this would put Purdue about equal to • Of the students who entered in 2009, 89 percent continued on to their Wisconsin and Ohio State as well as incoming member sophomore year, about 83 percent made it to their junior year. Rutgers-New Brunswick.

8 • Of the students who entered in 2010, just over 90 percent continued all Living-Learning Communities where students live together in a resi- on to their sophomore year, nearly 84 percent made it to their junior dence hall. The majority of Purdue’s 82 learning communities are non- year, residential and faculty-initiated. Faculty write grant proposals to fund programming for the learning community and also receive a small sti- The university’s office of Student Success has set goals for a 93 percent pend. freshman retention rate and a 50 percent four-year graduation rate. Within the Big Ten this would put Purdue about equal to Wisconsin and • Purdue IMPACT. A cohort group course for faculty who are committed Ohio State as well as incoming member Rutgers-New Brunswick. to redesigning courses to improve learning outcomes. IMPACT Fel- lows receive a $10,000 stipend per course to support their efforts. In- Practices that Purdue has implemented to increase student success in- troductory courses in biology, botany, chemistry, computer graphics, clude: computer science, history, mathematics, mechanics, political science, psychology, sociology and statistics have been redesigned by IMPACT • 21st Century Scholars. An Indiana state government program where Fellows over the past two years. Among the innovations are “flipped” seventh and eight grade students commit to academic improvement lectures, where the main lecture is put online and the lab or recitation and good citizen to qualify for up to four years of college at Purdue section become a primary class. Students are “empowered” to attend and other participating public colleges and universities. the lecture on their schedule. • Purdue Promise. A combination of financial, academic and social pro- Graduation rates are achieved not only by considering the difficulty of gramming support to help low-income at-risk students completed their the academic programs, but also the socioeconomic situation of the stu- education. Now in its fourth year, Purdue Promise enrolls nearly 800 dent body. According to College Results Online, a database managed by students, including 21st Century Scholars. the Education Trust, a non-partisan, non-profit organization based in • Supplemental Instruction. Peer-assisted study sessions in eleven Washington D.C., 20 percent of Purdue freshmen entering in 2010 were “gatekeeper” courses in biology, chemistry, computer science, manage- eligible for Federal Pell Grants, third highest in the Big Ten (tied with Min- ment, mathematics, physics and statistics. Students who enroll in nesota) behind Michigan State and Nebraska. The successes of Pur- these voluntary sessions, on average, improve their performance by due’s efforts to improve retention and graduation rates are more impres- half a grade. sive when one considers the needs of the entering students.

• Learning Communities. Purdue takes a different approach than most large universities. While Purdue learning communities have groups of 20 to 30 first-year students who attend classes together, they are not

9 Costs

Tuition and Fees Scholarships Net Prices 4 Debt Costs Paying for School

Purdue is a very good buy--for students from Indiana as well as for out-of-state students who qualify for the Presidential or Trus- tees Scholarships.

Depending on the academic program selected, Indiana resi- Fast Facts dents have a sticker price between $9,900 and $11,500 for tui- tion and fees. Marquis Scholarships, which are merit and need- based awards for Indiana residents only (though families that 1. Purdue is a very good buy--for students from earn as much as $100,000 may qualify) knock $2,000 off the Indiana as well as for out-of-state students who sticker price, making Purdue a tremendous value compared qualify for the Presidential or Trustees with other Big Ten schools. Given the SAT and ACT ranges for Scholarships. Purdue students, an Indiana resident with demonstrated need should be a competitive candidate for a Marquis Scholarship 2. Indiana’s best and brightest who receive Trustees with a SAT (Critical Reading and Math) of 1250 or ACT of 28 Scholarships can attend Purdue for practically with a 3.6 GPA or higher. It’s difficult to imagine another least- nothing, as long as they maintain their grades. cost option, besides Indiana University-Bloomington (which of- fers similar scholarships) that would connect a resident student 3. Purdue is also a good buy for out-of-state to as many opportunities as Purdue. Indiana residents with students who qualify for Trustees Scholarships stronger credentials may qualify for Presidential Scholarships, and Presidential Scholarships. valued at $4,000 to $8,000 per year or Trustee Scholarships val- ued at $10,000 per year. A Trustee Scholar could end up paying as little as nothing for their freshman year, and as little as $1,600 if s/he is an engineering student.

11 Sticker prices for out-of-state tuition and fees range between Parents who took advantage of the Federal Parents PLUS loan $28,700 and $30,300, depending on the college. International program to fill “gaps” in college costs that could not be covered students are asked to pay an additional $2,000. Presidential by financial aid or student loans, borrowed, on average, approxi- Scholarships for non-residents from the U.S. are valued be- mately $16,000 in 2011, according to the Chronicle of Higher tween $6,000 to $10,000 per year. Trustee Scholarships are val- Education. Indiana University’s student and parent borrowers ued between $12,000 and $16,000 per year. An Illinois, Michi- borrowed, on average, about the same. However, students and gan or Pennsylvania resident who receives a Trustee award parents are likely to owe more if they chose Northwestern or No- can possibly pay about the same as s/he would pay to attend tre Dame over Purdue. their home state’s flagship university. Purdue’s endowment was approximately $2 billion as of June However, the out-of-state student who does not qualify for the 30, 2011, 11th among U.S. public universities, and the 4th high- larger scholarships or need-based aid would be encouraged to est in the Big Ten, according to the National Association of Col- shop. Attending the home state university is always an option. lege and University Business Officers. Purdue’s endowment ex- In addition within the Big Ten, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio State ceeded Indiana University’s by approximately $400 million. This and Wisconsin charge out-of-state students less than Purdue. information is important to know because the endowment is an- So do incoming members Rutgers-New Brunswick and the Uni- other source of scholarships, including merit-based and need- versity of Maryland-College Park. Minnesota, Nebraska and based awards granted after the freshman year. According to Big Ohio State offer scholarships that can lower costs further for the Future, the College Board’s Web site, Purdue students who student who would rank in the upper quarter of Purdue’s appli- qualified for need-based aid had, on average, 94 percent of cant pool. Miami University of Ohio, another fine public option, their need met. The average need-based scholarship exceeded also charges less than Purdue, and it has a strong scholarship $11,300. When compared with Indiana, Purdue was the more program, too. generous school. Indiana students, on average had 89 percent of their need met; their average need-based scholarship was According to Big Future, the College Board’s Web site Purdue around $600 less. However, 57 percent of Indiana’s need- student borrowers graduated in 2011 with an average debt of based financial aid was scholarships and grants, versus 45 per- $27,300, slightly higher than average for a state university. cent at Purdue.

12 Comforts

On-Campus Housing 5 Local Housing Market Comforts Settling In

Unlike most large state universities Purdue does not require freshmen to live in on-campus housing. However, 90 percent elect to do so, about a fifth choose to join learning communities that are based in the residence halls. Room and board charges for a double room and meal plan aver- age $10,400, about average for a large state university. It is possible to live in Purdue halls for less than $9,000 a year, depending upon the Fast Facts meal plan and hall selected. Meals are sold by the number of swipes of a meal card per week, as opposed to the number of actual meal times 1. Unlike most large state universities Purdue does not when food is served. It’s possible, for instance, to grab a cup of coffee on require freshmen to live in on-campus housing. route to a first period class at a “grab and go” convenience mart, then sit down to breakfast at a dining hall after morning classes are over. 2. However, 90 percent elect to do so. Purdue has approximately 12,000 beds in residence halls and apart- 3. Altogether, Purdue has beds for approximately 12,000 ments. Freshmen who complete their housing application by May 5th students in residence halls and apartments. and continuing students who renew their contracts between January 25th and March 31st will receive housing. Continuing students who wish 4. Room and board charges for a double room and meal to live in the same room or hall are accommodated first. Those who want plan average $10,400, about average for a large state to move are prioritized: seniors first, juniors second, sophomores third. university, though less expensive options are available. Students who live off campus and want to move on campus receive the 5. Purdue has one of the largest Greek communities as lowest priority. While not all of the rooms Purdue halls are WiFi-enabled, surprising for a school so focused on science and technology, common well as co-op living options; community leads to lower areas, libraries and study lounges, are appropriately wired. Two-thirds of living costs. the rooms in the halls have air conditioning.

Incoming freshmen have the option to live in predominantly freshman halls or mix with upperclass students. The typical freshman arrangement

14 is corridor style. Residence halls may be co-ed by wing or by floor. All- The large number of beds on campus as well as the size of the Greek male living arrangements are available in Cary Quad, a Gothic-style com- and Co-op communities makes off-campus rentals quite inexpensive in plex located near Mackey Arena and Ross-Ade Stadium and in Tarking- West Lafayette and Lafayette, across the Wabash River. It is quite possi- ton Hall, designed during the 1950‘s. All-female living arrangements are ble to share a two-bedroom apartment for around $300 per person per available in the Windsor Halls. Originally built through the 1920s and month, including utilities. All students may use local public transportation 1930s, and recently renovated, these halls were designed so that nearly for no charge, so it is better to live either within walking distance or close every room in each hall would receive sunlight sometime during the day. to a regularly traveled bus route. Parking on campus is extremely limited.

While freshmen may apply for suite-style living options, they face compe- One caution. The population of West Lafayette drops in half during the tition from returnees who have already selected their housing. Forty two summer months; the students are more likely to go home or to work else- percent of Purdue freshmen opt to return to the residence halls for their where. However, off-campus landlords ask for security deposits and 12- sophomore year. Two halls, Hawkins and Purdue Village, are reserved month leases, though some units offer more amenities than university for students over the age of 21. Purdue Village, an apartment complex, housing as well as incentives to sign a contract. But it is more difficult to limits that further to married undergraduates. Hilltop Apartments, which sublet an apartment further from campus if the buses go on a summer include a common kitchenette and bathroom, are available to unmarried schedule. upperclass students. They are an attractive living option because they require no security deposit and only a nine-month contract.

Aside from the residence halls and apartments, Purdue has other on- campus and off-campus housing options. The university has one of the nation's largest Greek communities. Approximately 5,000 students be- long to the 48 fraternities and 32 women's sororities on campus. In addi- tion, there are 12 cooperative houses, seven all-female, five all-male, where students share in house management including cooking and cleaning. Like fraternities and sororities, the co-ops have a rush and pledge period to consider prospective members. They also have their own association and competitions, much like a Panhellenic council. Co- op living is the lowest cost option at Purdue; rents range between $300 and $350 per month including utilities and meals, billed for only eight months per year.

15 Community

Campus Environs 6 School Spirit Community Life On and Off Campus

Covering approximately 2,500 acres, the Purdue campus is one of the largest in the Big Ten. It includes its own airport, the first on a U.S. college campus as well as the second-busiest in the state of Indiana. Easily walkable, the academic campus, divided by West State Street is easily split between science and engineering Fast Facts buildings to the north, agriculture, business and veterinary medi- cine to the south. Residence halls, apartments, co-op houses and 1. Covering approximately 2,500 acres, the Purdue Greek houses are primarily northwest of the academic buildings. campus is one of the largest in the Big Ten. Ross-Ade Stadium, where Purdue plays football, and the Mackey Arena, which hosts indoor sports and concerts are at the northern- 2. Purdue has its own airport, the first on a U.S. college most edge. Like most flagship university campuses Purdue is campus as well as the second-busiest in the state of lined with symbols and statues; one of the most recent is of Neil Indiana. Armstrong, Class of 1948 and the first man to walk on the Moon. 3. Public spaces in all Purdue buildings are spotless as Take a few short steps from his statue and you can plant your feet are the campus grounds. in his bootprints. The landscaping here is impressive; at many points on a tour you will not realize that you are walking by large 4. Athletic, cultural and recreational facilities are science labs that had been constructed before World War II. extensive and impressive.

5. Purdue is one of the few universities that has neither a Public spaces in all Purdue buildings are spotless as are the cam- human nor animal mascot. Instead it has the pus grounds. Pedestrians would be embarrassed to drop ciga- , a replica of a 19th century rette butts or food wrappers here. There is genuine respect for locomotive. history and property. And while Purdue is not noted as a perform- ing arts school, the university’s seats 6,000

17 spectators while Stewart Hall has three campus theaters, one, the Within the Big Ten, Purdue is known as the “Cradle of Quarter- Loeb Playhouse, has more than 1,000 seats. These facilities as backs.” The Boilermakers became better known for throwing the well as Mackey Arena are large enough to accommodate any football in a conference better known for running it. Thirteen Pur- speaker, performer or concert act that could want to come to cam- due quarterbacks have played in the National Football League, pus. The university has also made a major investment in a new five were first-round draft picks. Bob Griese should be considered recreational facility, the France Cordova Recreational Sports Cen- the most successful member of the Cradle. He led Purdue to their ter, for students, faculty and employees. Additional opportunities last Rose Bowl victory in 1967, then he later led the Miami Dol- for recreation and serenity are plentiful on campus as well as phins to two Super Bowl championships. While Purdue has nearby state parks. Purdue is also one of the best marked cam- fielded decent football teams since 2000--the Boilermakers have puses for bicyclists. One rare amenity: Purdue has two golf appeared in nine bowl games since then--the university has courses. achieved more success in basketball. The men’s team has won 22 Big Ten championships; they also won the tournament title in Starting with Gold Rush, aka first-year student ori- 2009. In 1989, they were runners-up for the NCAA title. The entation, students become quickly acclimated to Purdue tradi- women were NCAA champions in 1999. They have appeared in tions. Purdue is one of the few universities that has neither a hu- three Final Fours, won seven conference titles and eight confer- man nor animal mascot. The “Boilermaker Special,” a five-ton rep- ence tournaments. Boilermakers have also succeeded in other lica of a 19th century locomotive, is not only the largest mascot sports. This season, the baseball and women’s golf teams won on a college campus; it also celebrates the excellence of the engi- Big Ten titles; the women went on to win their first national cham- neering programs. The Reamer Club, a student organization, is pionship. Overall, the Boilermakers play 18 varsity sports. responsible for the maintenance of the Special. Reamers also ap- pear at sports events to provide fans with directions and assis- Students have the option of purchasing tickets for the revenue tance. “,” a cartoon character resembling a boiler op- sports: football, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s volley- erator, leads cheers. They wear hats covered with buttons of all ball and wrestling individually or as a package for all five. Sadly, things Purdue. April is a fun time to be on campus for Springfest, football attendance has slipped over the past three years, averag- Gala Week and the Grand Prix, a 50 mile go-kart race run by stu- ing slightly more than 45,000 in a 62,000 seat stadium. This may dent teams who also raise money for scholarships. indicate that the students are more fair-weather than the commu- nity at large when the team does not win. However, the commu-

18 nity promotes Purdue sports as aggressively as larger cities fayette has an impressive mix of upscale restaurants, antique would promote their association with professional teams. Online stores and entrepreneurial retail businesses. The downtown busi- marketing for Lafayette and West Lafayette comes under the Wed ness community hosts several festivals each year. Downtown address HomeOfPurdue.com. Students may also select from ap- West Lafayette, being closer to campus, has more of a college- proximately 900 organizations to join on campus. oriented retail mix including the Triple XXX, a drive-in featuring the Duane Purvis burger, an award-winning hamburger topped As is the case on other campuses, liquor law violations were most with peanut butter and Harry’s Chocolate Shop, a bar that fronted commonly reported crimes at Purdue, according to the univer- as a chocolate shop during Prohibition. sity’s Clery Report. Trends in these crimes have shifted over the past three years from arrests to disciplinary referrals. For exam- About two hours south of Chicago and one hour north of Indian- ple, in 2009 there were 230 arrests and 302 disciplinary actions apolis, Purdue is in a good location for students who would like to related to alcohol. By 2011, there were 47 and 600 respectively. work in either city, or alumni who want to come back to relive their The total number of incidents rose; the decision on how to act fun. For those students who acquire the right credentials and upon them shifted. Drug-related arrests were few here; they de- want to stick around, Lafayette hosts major manufacturing opera- clined from 94 to 87, very low for a school of Purdue’s size. No tions for Alcoa, Caterpillar and Subaru as well as several start- disciplinary acts related to drugs were reported in 2009, though 9 ups that have licensed technologies developed at Purdue. The were reported in 2011. Again the total number of incidents rose university also has a research park on the southwestern edge of while the decision on how to handle them changed. Incidents of campus. burglary and robbery were minimal for a school of this size. In ad- Overall, Purdue is a pleasant campus in a relatively pleasant dition, nine sexually-related offenses were reported over the past place. The area is more immune to recession than most in the three years. Midwest due to the presence of the university as well as its ac- West Lafayette and nearby Lafayette collectively have just under cess to the larger cities. While most Midwestern manufacturing 100,000 residents, excluding Purdue students. While the univer- centers lost population from 2000 through 2010, Lafayette grew sity is the major source of culture and entertainment, downtown from approximately 56,000 people to more than 67,000. Lafayette has experienced a major revitalization that also encom- passed the Wabash River waterfront. A county seat, downtown La-

19 Curriculum

Academics Honors Programs 7 Experiential Learning Curriculum Academic Opportunities and Options

Purdue requires every student to complete between 46 and 49 credits of General Education Requirements, though each undergraduate col- lege sets their own policies as to how these are to be fulfilled. Every- one has to take or demonstrate proficiency in English Composition and Communication as well as earn credits in math, science, humani- Fast Facts ties and social sciences. Some learning communities offer credit- bearing courses to help students fulfill a requirement. But courses that might be accepted in one college might not be accepted in another, so 1. At Purdue each undergraduate college sets its it’s essential to learn the catalog and stay on top of academic advis- own General Education Requirements. ing. In addition to setting course requirements and grading policies, the individual colleges reserve the right to set standards for admission 2. Students can find several ways to fulfill an to majors. It is not unrealistic to see faculty raise standards for pro- academic or career interest, especially in grams that are in high demand. The university will be launching a new General Education core within the next two years. This will include a business and STEM subjects. Leadership Engagement Opportunity for each student; a new Leader- ship Center is being built to support these opportunities. 3. Purdue will be launching a new General Education core as well as a new Honors College Because requirements and grading policies vary between colleges, over the next two years. Purdue does not offer a “University 101,” an credit-bearing introduc- tion to the university and its vast resources. Boilermaker Gold Rush, 4. Purdue offers a selection of attractive options for the freshman orientation program, helps in this regard. Other colleges have developed an academic introduction. For example, the College co-op and internship assignments in the U.S. or of Engineering has a first-year core requirements, Transforming Ideas overseas. into Innovation, where students who are interested in different engi- neering fields work in project teams.

21 There is considerable overlap within Purdue’s undergraduate aca- Purdue community. Students may take EPICS multiple times for demic offerings. For example, students interested in computers can credit. EPICS projects have also been used to fulfill the Senior Design study Computer Science in the College of Science, Computer and In- capstone course in the College of Engineering. There is also an EP- formation Technology in the College of Technology, Computer Engi- ICS Learning Community on campus for freshmen engineering stu- neering in the College of Engineering, or Management Information dents. More than 300 students participate in EPICS projects each Systems in the Krannert School of Management. Anyone considering term on one of more than 30 project teams. Purdue should first look to see which major(s) best fit their interests before they come. The greater number of choices makes it more likely Purdue is in the process of upgrading its Honors offerings. Next year, that a student will find the most appealing program or that s/he will be honors students will have the option of being part of an honor’s col- confused by the differences between programs. Some of these pro- lege with 21 new courses created by university faculty. Next year, it grams, such as majors in the College of Engineering, have unique will welcome 500 incoming freshmen. It will be an attractive option for first-year courses--Transforming Ideas to Innovation I and II is the ex- students who are interested in conducting original research--Purdue ample here--that, if taken after the freshman year, can force students also offers students opportunities to work with faculty on approximatelt to stay an extra year or more to graduate. However, the introductions 2,000 projects--and possibly continuing their education in research as to the various engineering fields do not take place during the fresh- well. man year, so progress might not be impeded for the more ambitious. Purdue’s student-faculty ratio is 15 to 1, very low considering the size Purdue excels in options for internships and cooperative education. of the student body and the number of large introductory courses in Through the Office of Professional Practice, students may choose the sciences, economics and management. This ratio is calculated by three-semester or five-semester assignments; the latter alternates counting all of the full-time faculty as well as one third of those who school with paid periods of employment and requires five years to teach part time. complete a degree. U.S. and overseas assignments are available as Purdue students gave their faculty a rating of 3.70 out of 5 on are individual semester or summer internship programs. Students who RateMyProfessors.com, lower than students at Michigan (3.75), Wis- choose the five-year options, whether to pursue a U.S. or an overseas consin (3.80), Ohio State (3.82), Penn State (3.71), Indiana (3.76) employment opportunity, do not pay for a fifth year’s tuition. Students rated their faculty, but about the same as students at Illinois (3.69) ad may apply as early as the first semester of their freshman year. and Iowa (3.70) rated theirs. They also rated their faculty lower than Another rewarding. credit-bearing opportunity is called Engineering students at Northwestern (3.92) and Notre Dame (3.90). Projects In Community Service (EPICS) where teams of students in multiple majors complete projects for non-profit organizations in the

22 Connections

Alumni Relations 8 Career Services Connections Building a Network

With nearly 420,000 alumni on the main campus, Purdue has one of the largest networks in the country. The university also has the the 7th largest dues paying alumni association in the nation.

The Purdue Alumni Association runs a student membership pro- gram where all students are eligible to join from their first days on Fast Facts campus. It is one of very largest student groups on the West Lafay- ette campus and is called PASE (Purdue Alumni Student 1. Purdue has nearly 420,000 alumni from its main Experience). The association also partners with the Purdue admis- sion office on a program called PART (Purdue Alumni Recruiting for campus. Tomorrow). This program augments the recruiting work of the admis- 2. The Purdue Alumni-Student Experience (PASE) is sions office by coordinating alumni volunteers to staff college fair events around the country. The Purdue Alumni Association man- also one of the largest student organizations on ages one of the largest college communities on LinkedIn with campus. 34,000 members. The also have searchable alumni databases that are accessible to dues-paying members of the Purdue Alumni Asso- 3. Outside of Chicago and the larger cities in ciation. Purdue’s Center for Career Opportunities is the only career Indiana, Washington D.C. has the largest center to offer alumni full career service delivery free of charge.

concentration of Purdue’s young alumni. The cities with the highest concentrations of recent Purdue gradu- ates are: Indianapolis, Chicago, Fort Wayne (IN), Washington, D.C., 4. Year-to-date, Purdue has hosted approximately Detroit, Cincinnati, Phoenix, Louisville, Los Angeles and Houston. 800 employers on campus, more than many large universities host in a full school year. In addition to the alumni association, Purdue has two parent’s or- ganizations. One works with student affairs to handle student en- gagement, fundraising and online communications between the uni-

24 versity and parents. The other represents the residence halls. regular stop for the Fortune 500, especially firms that have opera- These two groups will be combined into one over the next two tions within the region including heavy industries such as automo- years. bile and machinery manufacturing, chemicals/pharmaceuticals and consumer products. However, employers on both coasts as well as Purdue’s Center for Career Opportunities (CCO) provides interview- Texas also interview here. A 2010 Wall Street Journal survey of cor- ing opportunities to companies seeking interns for non-academic porate recruiters seeking to fill entry-level positions ranked Purdue credit experiences and also provides career counseling and job fourth among all universities surveyed, public and private. The uni- search assistance to intern candidates. versity ranked first in the recruitment of Management Information Career counselors frequently speak with prospective students and Systems graduates, 2nd for engineering and 8th for computer sci- their parents. Once enrolled, they often engage students the first se- ence. mester of their freshmen year in providing career exploration assis- Since the start of the 2012-13 school year approximately 13,000 tance and help with choice of major. CCO counselors also serve as jobs have been posted that are targeted to the Purdue community. faculty fellows in the residence halls. These interactions are essen- Purdue is a also a part of the national NACELink Network, which as tial at a university that has so much overlap within academic pro- of Nov 2nd, provided approximately 175,000 internship postings grams. They are needed for skill assessment as well as direction. and more than one million jobs to college students. Each year, there Nationally, Purdue University is considered to have among the high- are more than two dozen career fairs hosted on the West Lafayette est volume of employers visiting campus. Since mid-September of campus by the career center, individual colleges and academic de- 2012, Purdue has hosted more than 800 unique employer organiza- partments. Purdue is a founding member of the HireBigTenPlus Con- tions on campus, with more expected to recruit during the Spring sortium that includes Big Ten Schools along with Notre Dame, U of 2013 semester. Chicago and DePaul. As a consortium, these groups host live events and virtual career fair events to targeted audiences. Disciplines within the Colleges of Engineering, Technology and Man- agement and other fields of study including Computer Science at- Purdue graduates are more likely to go to work than continue their tract the greatest numbers of employers. In addition Purdue col- education immediately after college. According to the Center for Ca- leges of Agriculture, Health and Human Sciences and Pharmacy reer Opportunities the ratio of graduates accepting employment ver- draw upon long-term relationships they have built with employers. sus continuing their education normally runs 3.5 to 1. Being in a central location within the Midwest, Purdue has been a

25 Conclusions 9 Summing up Conclusions To Sum Up Purdue is an excellent value for Indiana residents as well as non-residents who qualify for the larger scholar- ship programs. It is an even better fit for students who are extremely career-oriented in the STEM fields, agricul- ture or quantitative business subjects. The Professional Practice options as well as the Center for Career Oppor- tunities are among the best on any university campus.

Purdue is an attractive option for any college-bound stu- dent who wants the Big Ten experience: football, Greek life, traditions. However, those less inclined towards a major in one of the university’s academic strengths will find that Indiana offers attractive options at a similar price. Out-of-state students will also find that other Big Ten schools, and comparable institutions carry a lower sticker price, unless they qualify for one of the more gen- erous scholarships.

Anyone considering Purdue should take a long walk around campus before they commit. While the university offers over 200 academic options, the campus is domi- nated by the agriculture, science and engineering build-

27 ings. At Purdue the mysteries of the universe are more Ed Quest’s Report Card likely to be contemplated by prospective astronauts and Purdue University scientists than by prospective philosophers. Four-Year/ Freshman Six-Year Costs Comforts Community Curriculum Connections Retention Grad Rates

B+ A B+ A A A A

Strengths Weaknesses

Over 200 major options. Plenty of overlap to High sticker price for out-of-state students accommodate many student interests

Serious football fans might want to look Respect for history and traditions elsewhere

Less “liberal arts” than other Big 10 universities. One of the best career services among target Most students are in a STEM-related program. schools as well as strong Professional Practice The business program favors the program mathematically inclined

Difficult school for students who are One of the most pedestrian and bicycle-friendly exceptionally undecided on a major. This is a campuses in the country better school for students who enter with two or three similar options before beginning classes.

Impressive resources in all disciplines, especially engineering, sciences, quantitative Alumni association is dues-based versus free business subjects

Great value for money for Indiana residents and students on scholarship

Impressive number of low-cost housing options on campus and within an overbuilt rental market

Much for students to do outside of classes here; excellent recreational facilities, choice of extracurricular activities

Huge global alumni base

28 The End

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