Purdue University

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Introduction from the Author

Upon hearing the name Purdue University for the first time, I thought it was an Ivy League school. Later, after I selected this Big Ten school for my college career, I was often rewarded with the question, “So, what type of engineering will you be studying?” As a native Michigander, I have often had to defend my University to the die-hard Michigan State University and University of Michigan fans in my home state. However, people who are aware of Purdue’s accomplishments, beyond just stereotypes, will nod knowingly and murmur praise when I proudly give the name of my alma mater.

Purdue University, sometimes mistakenly identified as being Ivy League owing to the lack of a “State” attached to its title, is mostly known for its Big Ten athletics and its world-class School of Engineering. But, Purdue also carries an academic reputation that potential employers are sure to recognize, not only for engineers, but graduates of all its academic divisions.

Statistics can paint a portion of the picture that is Purdue. It’s hard for rankings to describe the atmosphere of a school comprised of 30,000 people your own age. It is difficult for numbers to explain the pride that swells through a Boilermaker’s heart when his or her football team heads off to yet another bowl game. It’s nearly impossible for dry data to present what it is like to watch a world-class performance at Elliot Hall of Music, dancing until dawn on Thursday nights, or being a part of an academic tradition that has been around since 1869.

Chances are, if you are holding this book, you probably already know all the impressive statistics that the other guidebooks give, or that the Purdue admissions office sent you in a nice, fat packet. What you want to know now is whether or not you want to spend the next four years at an institution whose official mascot is a train. Hopefully, the information presented within these pages will give you an insightful—and slightly tongue-in-cheek look at what it means to be a student at Purdue University.

Abigail Bender, Author
Purdue University