purdue honors college essays

The Admissions Strategist

How to write the purdue university essays 2020-2021: your complete guide.

Purdue University is a byproduct of President Lincoln’s signing of the Morrill Land Grant Act in 1862. A decade later, the doors were open to students, and Purdue’s legacy began.

Today the university hosts over 40,000 students and has educated innovators and inventors who will have an impact on our society for many years to come.

• Purdue has an acceptance rate of 57%.

Holding fast to ethics and integrity on the journey to innovation lies at the heart of Purdue University’s mission. The school further believes that “ Our responsibilities and obligations toward the advancement of learning, discovery, and engagement in the University and in Indiana extend to our nation and the world.”

This mission can be seen woven into the fabric of university culture.

What Are the Purdue Essay Requirements?

Purdue University gives prospective students two different options to apply for admission. You may choose to apply via the Coalition for College Access, Affordability, and Success Application or through the Common App.

Check out our advice for the Coalition App  and the Common App .

In this guide, we will focus on the supplemental writing prompts that are nearly identical on both application platforms.

Click above to watch a video on how to write Purdue Supplemental Essay.

• These responses are short –  each 100 words or less.

Before you get started, it’s important to know that Purdue University is well known for their Online Writing Lab. In fact, you have probably used this website at some point in your high school career.

On their admissions page, Purdue notes that they expect your essay to demonstrate “your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and… [to] distinguish yourself in your own voice.”

Additionally, they are looking for what “you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores”. They even suggest you seek out writing help from their Online Writing Lab .

Clearly, Purdue values writing as a skill and, therefore, the admissions committee will be looking for much more than content in your essays.

Below, we will outline advice for writing these specific supplemental responses, as well as general writing advice that will help you to tighten up the style and form of your writing.

The two standard prompts are as follows:

How will opportunities at Purdue support your interests, both in and out of the classroom? (Respond in 100 words or fewer.) Briefly discuss your reasons for pursuing the major you have selected.(Respond in 100 words or fewer.)

For reference, the first two paragraphs of this blog post are roughly 115 words.

While you may have a lot to say about each topic, you will be forced to be brief, as the online application will not allow you to break the word count limit.

If you choose a second major, then you will have to answer a prompt that is similar to the second one:

Briefly discuss your reasons for pursuing the second choice major you have selected. (Respond in 100 words or fewer.)

There is an honors prompt , which we will address toward the end of this guide:

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 word maximum)

Purdue Supplemental Essay 1: Your Interests & Purdue

How will opportunities at Purdue support your interests, both in and out of the classroom?

The first writing supplement question is the type of essay prompt that you will see asked in a similar fashion on many college applications. It’s the quintessential “ Why This College ” essay prompt.

Purdue opens your response up to elements in and out of the classroom. Since the second prompt asks specifically about your intended major, you should probably only quickly mention this in your essay in order to conserve your word count.

• First, explore Purdue’s website to learn more about the many opportunities the school provides, such as study abroad options, intramural sports, and clubs.
• Look over the activities you have listed on your admission application.
• What activities, sports, clubs, etc. interrelate?
• Are there activities that you have always wanted to try but never had the chance to? Perhaps they are offered at the university.
• For example, maybe you pursued swimming or diving throughout high school because you did not have the opportunity to pursue sailing.
• There are many activities in college, such as sailing, archery, and rifle club, which you would not usually be exposed to as a high school student.

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Next, perform the same process with researching academic programs and activities at the university.

• Are there any particular research fellowships that you are interested in?
• Did you do research in a lab during your summer breaks that got you interested in a particular field? For example, you might have competed in a science fair based upon your research in a biology research lab.
• You might be interested in pursuing similar research further with the intent of publishing, or you might be interested in pursuing something completely orthogonal. The main point here is to explain your motivations and where they are coming from.
• Any professors that you have heard about and would like to take a class with?
• How do these match up with the classes you completed in high school or topics that you are interested in moving forward?

Be specific in describing how your academic and non-academic interests align with Purdue’s opportunities.

• For example, let’s say that you have been a strong student in high school taking mostly honors and Advanced Placement/IB courses when available.
• You could have taken AP Computer Science A and then developed your own web apps or games. You could be interested in taking this further and going into software engineering principles, something you could pursue through class offerings at Purdue.
• You might be particularly drawn to the leadership opportunities available to students who are members of Purdue University’s Honors College.
• Perhaps you were in a leadership position of a service such as Beta Club in high school. You could be interested in further developing your academic and service leadership experience through similar organizations at Purdue.

In your response, link your high school experience in rigorous classes with your expectations of yourself as a college student.

• You might write about how taking classes in the Honors College would allow you to branch out of your major classes, collaborate together with other students on a team, and work on gaining leadership skills, which are important to you as an aspiring professional.

When describing your out-of-classroom interests, you might write about Purdue’s theatre program.

• In high school, you may have worked on many school plays on the technical side rigging lights.
• However, you’re excited about the opportunity to volunteer in other avenues of production, such as costume design and makeup.
• In your actual response, focus on activities that either further your current interests or allow you to try something new.

In both of the above scenarios, we chose specific examples of opportunities actually offered by Purdue University. You should do the same.

Not only will it reflect well in your essay, but it will also allow you to gain a better understanding of whether this university is the right home for you.

Purdue Supplemental Essay 2: Your Major(s) at Purdue

Briefly discuss your reasons for pursuing the major you have selected. Optional: Briefly discuss your reasons for pursuing the second choice major you have selected. (Respond in 100 words or fewer.)

This prompt is also fairly standard in the college application realm. The admissions committee is interested in understanding how your experiences led you to choose this particular major.

You do not randomly select crop science as a major; rather, you are drawn to it.

• There are many different reasons you could list for choosing the major that you have, but you should avoid simply listing money or status as your intention.
• While there is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to make a decent living, you should push yourself to list more intrinsic motivations for your choice.

Just like the previous question, you should make an effort to be specific.

• Being interested in crop science because you think farming is interesting and you took one horticulture class isn’t going to cut it.
• Instead, describe what it is about farming that specifically interests you – the ability to cultivate living plants, providing food for people, watching the process of farm to table, etc.
• You might personally know some farmers or been involved in your high school’s FFA (Future Farmers of America) club in high school. There are a lot of innovations being applied to agriculture, from IoT to crop growth simulation and forecasts.
• By focusing on the specifics of what interests you, you will be able to convince the reader that you are engaged in what you would like to pursue at Purdue.
• You could definitely write about that horticulture class but, instead of mentioning it in passing, add detail about what you learned , how it changed the way you think about plants, and how it opened your eyes to careers you had never even heard of.

If you are unsure of your major, you can still address this prompt.

Choose a field that you could see yourself working in. Remember, this is not a contract you are bound to for the rest of your life, so it doesn’t hurt to explore one of your “maybe” options.

Let’s say that you might be interested in pursuing a degree in an English-related field. In high school, you took three years of creative writing and joined a tutoring club, where you helped students whose first language isn’t English.

• In your essay, you could describe how much you enjoy writing and imagining landscapes but also that you felt rewarded by working with your peers.
• You could see yourself working full-time in a writing field or maybe even becoming an ESL teacher.
• Explain how you plan to explore these interests while taking introductory-level English classes at Purdue.
• You might even mention specific programs, clubs, and activities you are interested in.

It’s common to not know exactly what you want to major in during your freshman year of college. However, don’t let this be a weakness in your essay when it could be a strength.

If approached correctly, this essay could show that you are passionate and motivated to find a career that you will thrive in.

This journey, you believe, will benefit you the most if traveled at Purdue University.

Purdue Honors Essay

Now that you have more of a word count to work with, take the liberty to brainstorm a story or anecdote that connects to your desire to engage in rigorous learning and the pillars of the Purdue Honors College.

The pillars of the Purdue Honors College are leadership development, undergraduate research, community and global experiences, and interdisciplinary academics

• Perhaps you are an immigrant who appreciates the opportunity to learn more during your formative years. You want to learn more because your home country had much fewer resources for students.
• You have a secondary goal to build bionic arms and legs for kids is in Laos who’ve stepped on landmines and lost limbs. You firmly believe that an honors education at Purdue would give you the knowledge and practical expertise to jumpstart this dream.

Once you’ve found your story, connect it to how you’d take action as a Purdue honors student. In the same case as the standard two Purdue essays, do your research and list how you’d become a proactive student:

• Do you want to start a club, nonprofit, or charity on campus?
• Perhaps you want to organize town halls to discuss solutions to economic inequality.
• Is there a program or fellowship you want to take advantage of?
• Do you want to apply for a tech grant and perform research in the artificial intelligence field?
• Perhaps you want to join a study-abroad program in Guatemala that promotes the building of Internet infrastructure in villages.

Pick one or two of these actions. Then, explain their significance to you and how you’d build momentum to make a difference in the Purdue community or world at large.

Whatever you choose, focus on action. Tell the reader how you’d use Purdue’s resources and values to improve the world around you.

A good way to structure this essay is to use an example from your past – perhaps a volunteer or leadership experience – and connect it to what you want to accomplish as a Purdue Honors student.

This is what the structure of your essay could look like:

• Flashback anecdote that tells us a quick story about your past
• Tell us how your past inspired you
• Discuss what you want to do in the future and how this relates to the Purdue Honors Pillars
• State what you want to do at Purdue Honors and how you will take advantage of its resources

Conclusion: The Purdue Supplemental Essays

Once you have written a draft of your responses, it’s time to revise . At a most basic level of revision, you should:

• Spell Check
• Grammar Check (use your best judgment, since not every suggestion will be accurate)
• Ask a Peer/Adult to Review

For further impact, analyze your word choice. Have you chosen words that carefully express your ideas? In a 100-word (or less) response, this is particularly important since there is not much room for explanation.

• For example, instead of writing that “I really liked horticulture class and learned a lot of new stuff,” you might instead say, “I enjoyed horticulture and the opportunity to explore new concepts through experimentation.”

Both of these sentences are 12 words in length, but the latter is much more effective in its message.

As you can see, specific word choice is not about choosing long and difficult words to sound “smarter.” In fact, this strategy often backfires and “your voice” disappears from your essay.

Varying sentence structure is another way you can increase the effectiveness of your responses.

Avoid writing that sounds like a list or opens with the same structure.

For example:

• “I would like to become an English teacher. I think tutoring was a great experience in high school. I will be majoring in English and Education. I want to graduate and then teach at a private school.”

Instead, you should vary your sentence structure by writing:

• “I would like to become an English teacher. As a tutor, I learned about the relationship between student and teacher. It was a great experience and has led me to believe that teaching at a small private school would be ideal. Therefore, I intend to major in both English and Education at Purdue.”

The second example captures the reader’s attention. This is unlike the first example, which is boring and difficult to take seriously at an academic level.

Finally, read your responses while looking for a clear progression of ideas. Do you jump from topic to topic, or do you wrap up one idea before transitioning to the next? Consider reorganizing your sentences so that similar topics are together. Use transition words such as “additionally” and “also” to bridge your writing.

Purdue University’s advice is solid, so it is worthwhile to check out their Online Writing Lab . It has many resources that could help you to write their supplements as well as essays for other college applications (shh, we won’t tell).

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How to Respond to the 2023-2024 Purdue University Supplemental Essay Prompts

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Purdue University is a public university in West Lafayette, Indiana. Voted a Top 10 Public University in 2021, many students are hoping to gain entrance into one of Indiana’s best public colleges. This means you will have to 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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Undergraduate Admissions

Application Essays

Below are essay prompts for the 2024-2025 Common Application. First-time college students (future freshmen) will use the Common Application to  apply to Purdue .  

When applying to Purdue you should use the Common Application.

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Purdue's own  Online Writing Lab  offers advice on  writing essays for college applications .

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 can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. 

Purdue Questions 

Respond in 250 words or fewer.

• How will opportunities at Purdue support your interests, both in and out of the classroom?
• Briefly discuss your reasons for pursuing the major you have selected.

Purdue Supplemental Essays 2023-24 – Prompts and Advice

July 26, 2023

Purdue is a school where the non-scary acceptance rate figures are not truly indicative of just how competitive the admissions process actually is. This public land grant research university in Indiana is actually a draw for students from around the world—out-of-staters apply at three times the volume of Hoosier State residents. Highly renowned academic programs in areas such as computer science, engineering, and business are part of the reason that the average enrolled applicant attending Purdue today possesses an SAT of 1300+ and a 3.7 unweighted GPA. This brings us to the topic of the Purdue supplemental essays.

(Want to learn more about How to Get Into Purdue? Visit our blog entitled: How to Get Into Purdue University: Admissions Data and Strategies for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

In a competitive admissions environment, Purdue’s essay prompts are viewed by the committee as being “important” to the evaluation process. Therefore, it is vital that all Boilermaker applicants dedicate a significant amount of time to these three essays. Below are Purdue University’s supplemental prompts for the 2023-24 admissions cycle along with our advice for composing winning essays.

Purdue University Essay Prompt #1 (Required)

1) How will opportunities at Purdue support your interests, both in and out of the classroom? (100 words)

Purdue’s essay may not directly ask the applicant, “Why Us?”, but make no mistake—this is very much a classic “Why Us?” essay. This one is going to require some research and you’ll need to be judicious with your language as the 100-word count can be a bit restrictive.

Examples of items that quality “Why Purdue?” essays touch upon include:

• Firstly, opportunities available through the Office of Undergraduate Research.
• Purdue has more than 30 study abroad programs .
• The 600 student organizations on campus.
• The Pathmaker Internship Program.
• Numerous combined degree opportunities for ambitious students.

Of course, these are just five out of countless features that could be part of a successful essay. You may also wish to address items like specific courses you are excited about, particular professors, or internship/co-op placements that you would aim to take advantage of.

Purdue Supplemental Essays (Continued)

Essay Prompt #2 (Required)

2) Briefly discuss your reasons for pursuing the major you have selected. (100 words)

Share an authentic story here of why you are interested in your selected discipline. What books have you read on the subject? What documentaries have you watched? Which podcasts have you listened to? What subtopics most intrigue you? Did a teacher excite you about a topic or was it a parent or outside mentor? Do you know where you want to take this knowledge post-bachelor’s degree? Do you aim to one day go on to pursue a graduate/professional degree or is there an occupation you are shooting for right out of undergrad? Include as much detail as possible.

You can structure the narrative of this essay as a soup-to-nuts chronicling of your entire journey toward your discipline of interest (even in limited space) or you could share one or two vignettes that illustrate your burgeoning passion for engineering, history, French, computer science, business, psychology, etc.

Essay Prompt #3 

3): Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (250 words)

This may say “optional” but this essay should be considered mandatory for all serious applicants. Unlike many “optional” essays that may or may not apply to you (e.g. COVID impact, gap in education, gender identity, etc.), just about every applicant has at least one extracurricular or work experience worth elaborating on.

With this prompt, Purdue is not necessarily asking you to write about the activity where you earned the most prestigious awards or held the highest position of leadership. The university is going to see all of your activities in that section of the Common App. As such, you want to ask yourself which of your entries is crying out for more explanation and detail. Which one is closest to your heart and most representative of your unique passions? Pick the option that will allow you to deliver additional detail that may be memorable to the admissions reader. For example, you may be a volunteer EMT and have compelling, drama-filled experiences to share.

Alternatively, you may have worked in a local restaurant and learned more about the lives of your undocumented coworkers. Start this process by asking yourself, “What is the most interesting and consequential moment that I have experienced in one of my extracurricular activities?” If you can identify one clear-cut moment, that is likely the activity worth sharing with the Purdue admissions staff.

Essay Prompt #4 (Required if listing a second major)

4) Briefly discuss your reasons for pursuing the second choice major you have selected. (Respond in 100 words or fewer.)

See answer #2 re: your first-choice major. You are essentially repeating this process for a different field. However, you probably don’t want to have two completely unrelated majors/career goals. For example, if your first choice was business and your second choice was economics, it’s easy to explain the relationship. If the fields are more disparate (e.g. Dance & Chemical Engineering, be sure to provide a thorough explanation.

How important are the Purdue supplemental essays?

The essays (both the Common App essay and three supplemental essays) are “important” to the Purdue admissions committee, given the same weight as recommendations, extracurricular activities, character/personal qualities, and first-generation status. This places the essays behind only GPA, standardized test scores, and the rigor of your secondary school record which are designated as “very important” by Purdue.

Purdue Supplemental Essays – Want Personalized Essay Assistance?

Lastly, if you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your Purdue supplemental essays, we encourage you to get a quote today.

• College Essay

Dave Bergman

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).

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John Martinson Honors College

Welcome to the John Martinson Honors College

An honors-enhanced education is all about mind-expanding opportunities, innovation, and challenge. You’ve chosen to explore new horizons in learning and transformative education as a member of Purdue’s Honors College. You will have many opportunities open to you, including pursuing research, studying abroad, enjoying distinctive classroom experiences with adventurous interdisciplinary formats, and learning from each other and our world-class faculty. Being part of Purdue’s only residential college is also about becoming a member of a community of scholars and exploring ways to connect to our community to others through engaged service. We’re delighted that you’ve decided to embark on this journey, and together we will forge the future!

- Rhonda Phillips, Ph.D. Dean, John Martinson Honors College, Purdue University

View the Dean’s biography

Community of Scholars

Purdue University’s John Martinson Honors College fosters collaborative learning, promotes individual research and community engagement, and prepares students for a global world. We encourage you to participate actively in this community, both inside and out of the classroom.

Our mission is to create and foster well-rounded, well-educated global leaders. We work to create student leaders on campus who impact society from their very first semester. The four pillars, our primary tenets, come together to help us accomplish this mission. They are: leadership development, undergraduate research, community and global experiences, and interdisciplinary academics.

Leadership Development

• Opportunities and Experiences - Numerous opportunities and experiences exist for students to develop leadership skills crucial for academic and professional success.
• Student Organizations - Our student-driven organizations provide opportunities to make a difference in the Honors College, the campus, surrounding communities, and beyond.
• Interdisciplinary Teamwork - Living and learning in an interdisciplinary environment fosters increased involvement and helps develop problem-solving skills.
• Student Mentorship - Peer mentors help in facilitating the first-year course and lead groups of students working on projects.

Undergraduate Research

• Undergraduate Research - Undergraduate research is a built-in component of honors learning, broadening each student’s understanding of global issues.
• World-class Faculty - Honors students have the opportunity to work with the top instructors on campus, most of whom are award-winning professors.
• Scholarly Project - The scholarly project involves students in the creation of new knowledge.
• Interdisciplinary Breadth - Interdisciplinary seminars help students understand the many complexities and issues crossing disciplines.

Community and Global Experiences

• Global Experience - Students engage with visiting scholars and international classmates from across the world, creating intercultural bonds of friendship.
• Collaboration - Hailing from diverse geographical and educational backgrounds, honors students practice the collaborative skills and approaches for addressing issues in the global economy.
• Faculty Engagement - Our faculty is engaged with the students both inside and outside the classroom.
• Honors Activities - Honors College activities provide ways to forge friendships within the community as well as to develop a culture of giving and engagement.

Interdisciplinary Academics

• Interdisciplinary Thinking - Honors courses are comprised of students from all disciplines from across the university, allowing for open dialogue and collaboration.
• Lateral Learning - Through discussion-based honors courses, students learn from one another daily.
• National and International Scholarships Office (NISO) - The professionals at NISO mentor students through the application process for prestigious scholarships.
• Global Learning - Students are exposed to a variety of global travel opportunities that lead to academic and personal growth.

Contact Information

To learn more, schedule a campus visit, or meet with a current Honors College student, please contact the John Martinson Honors College main office at 765-494-2929.

Purdue University John Martinson Honors College

Honors College & Residences 1101 Third Street West Lafayette, IN 47906

Phone: (765) 494-2929

• •  Honors College Requirements

HONR 12000 - Introduction To Research

Honr 19900 - interdisciplinary honors - introductory seminar, honr 19901 - honors first yr experience i, honr 19902 - the evolution of ideas ii, honr 19903 - interdisciplinary approaches in writing, honr 22000 - community of inquiry, honr 22100 - exploring place, honr 22200 - solutions lab global, honr 29500 - interdisciplinary honors - independent experience, honr 29900 - interdisciplinary honors - experiential learning, honr 29901 - interdisciplinary honors - honors mentors, honr 31000 - space-time, honr 31100 - replicants, honr 31200 - jazz, honr 31300 - science, technology, & society, honr 31400 - the human epoch, honr 39500 - interdisciplinary honors - independent study, honr 39900 - interdisciplinary honors - special topics seminar, honr 46000 - technological justice, honr 46100 - well-being, honr 46200 - protein design with foldit, honr 46300 - research thinking portfolio, honr 46400 - scholarly project, honr 49500 - honors independent research, honr 49900 - honors research project, honr 59901 - research mentorship development program.

What are your chances of acceptance?

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Extracurriculars.

3 Purdue University Essay Examples

Home of the Boilermakers, Purdue University was established in 1869 and is steeped in history and tradition. From the first 39 students to attend in 1874, to over 33,000 in attendance today, Purdue is matched in tradition only by innovation. Known for its world-class faculty, curricula, and facilities, Purdue attracts many future engineers.

As it is a selective university, you will need a strong application to stand out. A crucial aspect lies in your essays. To get some inspiration for your Purdue essays, we will be sharing three essays by real students who applied to Purdue in this post. We will also go over what they did well and where they could’ve improved. 

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Read our Purdue essay breakdown to get a comprehensive overview of this year’s supplemental prompts. 

Essay Example #1

Prompt: Briefly discuss your reasons for pursuing the major you have selected (100 words)

To most Gen Z, life without computers and smartphones is like life without food: it’s impossible. However, I only started to appreciate the work behind the scenes (and screens) in the summer of 9th grade, when I created a small chatting program to exchange jokes with my sister in the next room. Through programming, I have found a clear and compelling way to reach the world beyond my fingertips. By majoring in computer science, I hope to build a solid foundation in AI, algorithms, UX design and more, with which I’ll help bring society a new generation of digital food.

What the Essay Did Well

This essay is short and sweet; every sentence is intentional and conveys a new idea clearly and concisely. Comparing their generation’s reliance on technology to “ life without food ” speaks volumes more than the three words it takes up. They simply explain what they did and why without any extraneous fluff or flowery language: “ I created a small chatting program to exchange jokes with my sister in the next room. ” Getting creative with your prose is great for a longer essay, but this is not the time or place, and this student understood that. They also get straight to the point when discussing what they hope to gain and achieve from a degree in computer science—another plus.

Despite the limited space, this student still manages to work in some of their personality. The analogy of smartphones being as crucial as food is a humorous example of hyperbole that helps humanize the student.  The phrase “ behind the scenes (and screens) ” is another way of them expressing their playful side while also adding a rhyme to make the essay more interesting. Including these little crumbs with humor, coupled with the knowledge they learned to program to share jokes, makes the student come across as a fun person admissions officers would want on their campus.

What Could Be Improved

Although the opening line about Gen Z is a chance for the student to inject some of their personality, in reality it is not the best use of space. As we said above, every word counts in an essay this short, and although the observation about Gen Z did contribute to the essay, it’s not as crucial to include as additional details about the student.

They could have kept the analogy to food, but instead of generalizing to all of Gen Z, this student should have made themselves the focus of the sentence. For example, they could say something like this: “ At this point my phone is a permanent appendage of my hand; life without it is like life without food. ” This sentence focuses the attention on the student right from the beginning, telling us about their phone addiction rather than everyone else’s.

Essay Example #2

How much duct tape would my boat need to stay afloat?

I will never forget my first Do-It-Yourself Project of building a boat with cardboard. While the outcome of the project was bitter-sweet as my boat sank, my passion for engineering surfaced. Subsequently, I voyaged across countless pursuits until I reached an epiphany while developing a customized voice assistant for an enterprise; I was fascinated by the multifaceted applicability of technology. Hence, I intend to pursue Computer Engineering because the skills from this major will enable me to pursue my widespread goals of lobbying for technological advancements in under-developed societies.

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 language with lines like “ my passion for engineering surfaced ” and “ I voyaged across countless pursuits. ” This is a creative way of linking the main points of their essay with their anecdote.

The student’s realizations are a bit underdeveloped. They don’t explain how they realized the “ multifaceted applicability of technology ” or why exactly they want to lobby “ for technological advancements in under-developed countries. ” They could’ve perhaps been better-served by eliminating the boat anecdote and beginning with the voice assistant story, which would allow them to explain their realization and goals. 

A common mistake students make with this prompt is that they think they have to include the very moment they got interested in the major. You certainly can use this technique, but it may not always be the best way to approach this essay, especially when there is such limited space. Instead of starting with the introduction, students should first focus on writing the reasons they like the major and what they hope to accomplish with it, and find a story or moment that flows with these points.

Essay Example #3

Prompt: How will opportunities at Purdue support your interests, both in and out of the classroom? (100 words)

The Computer Engineering course at Purdue has a dynamic combination of fundamental courses and enthralling electives such as ‘Engineering Environmental Sustainability’, allowing me to apply my engineering proficiency to resolve complex global issues such as technological disparity. Furthermore, by joining the Engineers Without Borders – Purdue organization, I will gain first-hand experience in tackling real-world humanitarian problems and push my intellectual ability to higher stakes. Having followed EWB- Purdue’s pioneering Bolivia project, I aspire to contribute in both the Technical and the Leadership team. Hence, Purdue is the best institution for me to grow as an enthusiastic humanitarian engineer. 

Right off the bat, the student is specifically noting courses the school offers that they are eager to take. This is great! They show that they’ve been following a specific organization within the school, and already have ideas as to how they could contribute. They really specified why they wanted to attend the school, and personalized the essay accordingly. 

This student also chose two opportunities at Purdue that seamlessly fit into their future career. They want to be a humanitarian engineer, so discussing a class about environmental sustainability and an organization that creates solutions to humanitarian issues around the world is a great way to demonstrate their affinity to their career throughout the essay. When they tell us their career aspirations at the very end of the essay, it makes perfect sense to the reader based on the 100 preceding words we just read.

The main issues in this essay come from minor grammatical mistakes that could confuse the reader. For example, the first sentence covers too much ground: The Computer Engineering course at Purdue has a dynamic combination of fundamental courses and enthralling electives such as ‘Engineering Environmental Sustainability’, allowing me to apply my engineering proficiency to resolve complex global issues such as technological disparity. Instead, the reader should separate these ideas into two sentences. In the first sentence, the student can explain the courses they are interested in, and the second can give reasons why and explain what the student’s career goals are. Overall, it very clearly addresses the prompt, shows the student has done their research, and shows their ambitions after graduation. It is very well done. 

Where to Get Your Purdue Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your Purdue essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Calculate for all schools

Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, answering purdue supplemental essays.

Hey, I'm a junior and starting to think about the college application process. I'm really interested in Purdue, and was wondering if anyone has any tips on how to tackle their supplemental essays? What are they looking for in applicants? Thanks in advance!

Hello! Purdue is a wonderful choice, and it's great that you're preparing for their supplemental essays. Here are some general tips to help you craft strong responses:

1. Be specific: Dive deep into your interests and experiences that align with Purdue's programs and opportunities. Show that you've done your research, and explain why particular aspects of Purdue make it the perfect fit for you.

2. Demonstrate your passion: Make sure your essays reflect your enthusiasm for your intended major or field. For example, if you're applying to the College of Engineering, talk about a project you've worked on or a problem you're passionate about solving.

3. Focus on growth: Purdue values students who embrace challenges and learn from their experiences. Share how you've grown or what you've learned from your past experiences, whether it's related to academics, extracurriculars, or your personal life.

4. Highlight leadership and collaboration: Purdue is known for its emphasis on teamwork and leadership. Mention instances where you've stepped up as a leader, and also demonstrate your ability to collaborate well with others.

5. Showcase diverse experiences: Share unique experiences that have shaped you and give a better understanding of who you are as a person. These could be about a hobby, a challenge you've faced, or a meaningful event you've participated in.

6. Utilize CollegeVine's resources: CollegeVine has a blog post breaking down each of Purdue's supplemental essays, including those for the honors college ( https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-purdue-university-essays). You won't want to start actually writing your essays just yet, as the prompts for the 2024-2025 application cycle won't be officially released until August 1st, but this post can give you a general initial sense of what you might be writing about. Additionally, remember that CollegeVine offers both a free peer essay review service and paid reviews by expert college admissions advisors, if you want a second opinion on your writing once you do have a draft in hand.

Now, let's talk about what Purdue is seeking in their applicants. They typically look for:

- Strong academic achievements and rigor: Purdue values students who challenge themselves academically and excel in their coursework.

- Demonstrated interest: Show your genuine interest in Purdue and how it aligns with your academic and career goals.

- Passion for your intended major: Highlight your dedication and interest in your chosen field of study.

- Research and collaboration skills: Purdue emphasizes research, innovation, and teamwork, so demonstrating your abilities in these areas is important.

Finally, make sure you follow the specific prompt requirements for each essay and stay within the word limit. Give yourself plenty of time to brainstorm, write, and edit your essays. Good luck with your application process!

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.

April 19, 2024 - Environmental and Ecological Engineering - Purdue University

April 19, 2024

Seee instructional excellence award - voting (re)opens today, closes 12pm april 25 .

Each year SEEE recognizes a faculty member or someone that holds continuing lecturer appointment in EEE for their excellence in teaching and dedication to EEE students.  If you participated in the previous survey, please re-submit your response.  The winner will be announced at the EEE Recognition Night on April 25, and the recipient will receive a plaque at a later date. This award is completely voted on by students, so please take the time to vote!  Voting re-opens today and closes at 12PM next Thursday, April 25.   

Access the voting link -  https://forms.gle/1gR9ejtUZySmJH8x9

Chris Dunlap, SEEE President

Fall 2024 Registration - Open Registration begins 4/22/24

Read the  Fall 2024 Registration newsletter  that covers specific instructions and now has info add concerning Open Registrations and resources to help students needing to refine their schedules.  

EEE 48001 Senior Design and EEE 48100 Reflective Practitioner

EEE 48001 Senior Design : Current EEE juniors may be wondering about Senior Design next year. The mainstream senior design course for EEE is EEE 48001/48002. Students take this course sequence in their final full academic year (fall-spring) and work on the same team with the same sponsor/client through that year. Projects are coordinated, and teams formed, by the instructional team. This year the instructional team is Prof. Nies, Prof. Mulrow, and Ms. Whelton. You can learn more about projects from over the years on the EEE site at  Senior Design . 

EEE 48100 Reflective Practitioner : Rising EEE seniors are also welcome and encouraged to enroll in EEE 48100 Reflective Practitioner, a 1 credit course taught by Prof. Lindsey Payne this fall.  See the  attached course flyer  for more details. Specific course content questions can be directed to  Prof. Payne .  If interested in enrolling, speak with your EEE advisor about the course during your registration appointment.  EEE will count EEE 48100 as Technical Elective. 

Summer 2024 Registration - Open Registration in Progress

The full Summer 2024 Schedule of Classes is now posted in your myPurdue portal. Students can view the full list of online courses on the Think Summer website. Students manually schedule themselves in the Schedule Assistant for summer session (not PreRegistration/Batch process). How to register and find dates of instruction - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsbdWFDOX6Y 

The summer PIN will be needed and it is the same as the spring PIN that you received for Spring 2024. Students are welcome to make an appointment with their primary advisor in BoilerConnect if they are unsure what courses to take, but students are not required to do mentoring.  

BIOL 11200 in Summer 2024

BIOL 11200 has recently been added to the Summer 2024 Schedule of Classes. It is ASYNC during 06/10-07/30.  It requires departmental permission so submit a request, and EEE students will be prioritized.  There are 15 spaces available.

Summer Internships: EEE 39699 Professional Practice Internship Course

Recently, Purdue has waived fees associated with coop/internships so there’s a new philosophy to enroll students so that Purdue can ensure students have a valuable work experience.  Students enrolled in EEE 39699 will have tasks in a Brightspace course that Ms. Whelton administers. This is a 0-credit course that will allow you to document your work experience on your Purdue transcript, with a time commitment of approximately 2-3 hours total.  See EEE 39699 flyer  or the following for further explanation on transcribing work experiences:  https://www.opp.purdue.edu/our-programs/academic-internships . Email Ms. Whelton ( [email protected] ) with questions.

There are several benefits of registering for EEE 39699 while completing a Work Integrated Learning Experience such as Co-op or Internship.  Students enrolled in the course will be able to:

Identify and articulate their individual growth in specific technical and professional skills as a result of the experience.

Create a record of what was gained through the experience, which will be beneficial for future interviews, resume writing, the overall job search, etc.

Receive valuable feedback from their employers.

Stay connected: During the internship or co-op experience, students are connected to campus via their course instructor.

Provide feedback to Purdue about workplace satisfaction, salaries, benefits, etc. 

Help Purdue become the #1 university in the U.S. for co-op and internship programs, increasing the value of the Purdue degree.

In addition to registering internship experiences, students may later become eligible to enroll in the co-op program and earn a co-op certificate which will show on the transcript. 

One working session has to happen in the fall or spring

Two working sessions need to happen with the same employer

More information on the co-op program can be found here

Job Corner with Ms. Whelton, PE

If you don’t have a summer job opportunity there is still plenty of time! Check the CCO out for positions. I will continue to email and update opportunities after the semester ends. 

For those of you with established engineering internships, see the above section about enrolling EEE 39699. The course begins June 10 so if you get an internship before then you can still add the course!   

As we near the end of the semester I want to congratulate all of you, in particular our graduating seniors-you have had quite an unusual collegiate career, but you have persevered.  Congratulations to those of you who have opportunities lined up following graduation or for the summer. I know there are some of you who are still looking for opportunities. You may be tired of applying and not hearing back from companies or sad about the position you didn’t get after a great interview.  Don’t give up-believe in yourself! If a company isn’t interested in you then it is best you didn’t get the position.  

Some things to keep in mind while looking for opportunities that I found on LinkedIn from motivational speaker Brigette Hyacinth: 

1. You can be the best candidate and still not get selected. 

2. If you didn't get the job, it was never meant for you. 

3. You weren't rejected, you were redirected. 

4. Your value does not decrease based upon someone's inability to see your worth. 

5. Believe in yourself and keep trying, the right door will open for you.

“Not getting something you’ve always wanted is a chance to try out something new”. Tim Herrera recently wrote a great article for the NY Times on thinking differently about rejection ( https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/17/smarter-living/seeing-the-bright-side-of-missed-opportunities.html ).  

So don’t give up! There are still plenty of opportunities out there.  Keep applying online, checking and applying to opportunities via the CCO, LinkedIn, and my emails.  I’m here all summer if you need to talk about your resume, opportunities, etc.  We can talk via email, over the phone, through zoom, or you could come to the office.  Come up with backup plans-remember any experience is good experience in regard to internships on your resume.  Have a great summer. 

Engineering Design Expo - Wednesday, April 24 from 1pm-5pm in the Armory

This is a showcase and celebration of the engineering design efforts across the college.  This is a great opportunity for students to see what they can get involved with, both in their majors and within cross-cutting programs like EPICS and VIP.  

EEE will have two of our EEE 48000 Senior Design teams at this event.  Go support them!

Event details at  https://engineering.purdue.edu/Engr/Academics/Design-Expo

CARES Hub Grand Opening - Wednesday, April 24 from 3pm-4:30pm in the Armory

Please join us to celebrate the Community, Assistance and Resources for Engineering Students (CARES) Hub grand opening!  We will hear opening remarks from Dean Raman, Associate Dean Alexeenko, Purdue Engineering Student Council (PESC) members, and our inaugural CARES Hub Director, Dr. Kristy Eaton.  Remarks will be followed by afternoon refreshments, music, and well-being activities on the Armory front lawn.  Enhance your well-being with some yoga (mats provided), meditation, and yard games.  Don’t forget to pick up a CARES Hub stress ball, vinyl cling, and t-shirt while supplies last.  See you there! 

Sur-thriving Week

Sur-thriving Week is a well-being initiative during quiet/dead week where engineering orgs hold distressing events to help boost student morale before finals! We have a lot of orgs participating this year and are hoping for a solid turn out. PESC is the main organization planning the event and we are hosting Kona and Kritters on Friday.  

Click here for a full list of events ! 

Panel Discussion: Careers Outside of Academia

Join Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant staff as they host a panel discussion with individuals who completed advanced graduate degrees and then secured jobs outside of the traditional academic track. Panelists will share how their career path brought them to their current position, and audience members will have an opportunity to ask questions. The event will take place April 30 on Zoom from 3:30-4:30 PM. Register here .

Earth Month Celebration

The Purdue community is invited to attend various events in celebration of Earth Month, an extended celebration of Earth Day. Events include the Earth Day Fair on April 18 and a day of service for tree planting on April 26. Find more information on the events offered here .

Systems Summit 2024 - April 29

Both Graduate and Undergraduate students from every college are welcome to register for the Purdue Systems Summit, organized by the Purdue systems Collaboratory. Registration is free! See the attached flyer and agenda . 

Spring LEED Training Opportunity 

EEE students should understand that LEED is one professional certification. Earning a PE license in engineering requires considerably more education, knowledge and experience, and all EEE graduates are qualified to eventually earn a PE license, which is significantly more valuable. On occasion, an EEE student will ask about LEED. LEED is more within the domain of the Arch Engr group within Civil. The LEED Green Associate (GA) credential is the only entry level sustainability designation and shows employers and clients that you have certified knowledge in the green building industry. Most people can take a short course and pass the LEED certification test. As a courtesy, the following info is being provided. It is not required or necessarily endorsed.

LEED is simply a sustainability scorecard for green buildings. Buildings can become LEED Certified; people can become LEED accredited! LEED Green Associate (GA) Training - Webinar and Online self-paced options:

• April 13 2024 - 1:00PM-5:30PM EDT
• May 11 2024 - 1:00PM-5:30PM EDT
• June 8 2024 - 1:00PM-5:30PM EDT
• On-demand recordings at your own pace

The above options (1-4) are identical.

Resister for a live webinar or start with our on-demand recorded workshop completed anytime at your own pace here:  https://leadinggreen.com/online-leed-green-associate/

This course is instructed by a USGBC Faculty member and is the most effective way to pass. The USGBC charges a $100 (reduced for students) fee for the actual exam which can now be taken online from home.

Course cost: $300- students can use the coupon code 'green' for $100 dollars off (Discounted course price $200)

Please contact the instructor Lorne directly with any questions at  [email protected]

Student Success Resources

Campus Resources

Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)

Supplemental Instruction (SI)

Academic Success Center

Academic Success Workshops

Shovel App - Time Blocking Study Planner free for all Purdue students

College of Engineering Resources

FYE-EBEC Coding and Debugging Studio - Need help with your code? Open to any undergrad student in the CoE.

College of Engineering Academic Advising Resources – Degree Maps, EAI Calculator, and Advisor Shout Outs

Project Bloom – Wellness and Success

Tutoring for Engineering students

Engineering Academic Support - Resource Webpage

Did you know the College of Engineering has a webpage dedicated to listing academic resources for classes, such as Supplemental Instruction, resource rooms, and how to find a free tutor for some key engineering classes? Free tutoring is available for some CE and ME courses. Tutoring sessions are scheduled through BoilerConnect , choose Polytech Engineering Tutoring appointment type to schedule. Visit https://engineering.purdue.edu/Engr/InfoFor/CurrentStudents/index_html to see what else is available to you to help.

Peer Tutoring for CE Core Classes

Free peer tutoring is available for anyone enrolled in core civil engineering courses, including CE 21101, CE 27000, CE 297000, CE 29800 and CE 34000. To learn more and make an appointment, see the attached  flyer . 

EEE Main Office in POTR 364: Hours of Operation

The EEE main office is located in POTR 364. Office hours are currently: M-F 8am-4pm. Unscheduled “drop-ins” are discouraged. Instead, make an appointment with your EEE advisor via BoilerConnect. For other staff or faculty, reach out direct via email to arrange an appointment.

POTR Building: Hours of Operation

POTR building hours of operation are 6am – 11pm, 7 days a week.

If doors are locked during these posted times, contact the Purdue Police non-emergency number at 49-48221.

EEE Computer Lab in POTR 360

The EEE Computer Lab is available for all EEE students and is located in POTR 360; next door to the main EEE office.  See attached agreement  for student conduct and use protocols.  

**Key Pad Entry Code – 643756 which corresponds to NiesLo  for Prof. Loring (Larry) Nies. Prof. Nies instructs EEE 355 in fall semester, is EEE 480 course coordinator, as well as wears many other hats for EEE!

EEE maintains this computer center for academic & social activities. Its use is a privilege reserved for EEE students and those enrolled in EEE courses to work, study, and access dedicated EEE computers. There are 12 desktop computers with internet access and a printer/scanner. The room contains additional tables, chairs, and whiteboards.

Hand sanitizer has been placed by each computer station.

In general, be respectful to others and the property.  Always log off of computers before leaving the room.  Do not lock a computer for later use.  Do not move or alter any of the computer systems.

If you wish to place items on the wall, ask in the EEE Office for appropriate tacky putty.  (No tape or staples.)

Use discretion when determining  if  to print and  how many copies  to print.

Please report any room or equipment issues to  [email protected] .

How to Schedule an Appointment with EEE Advisors

EEE and other Engineering students can access the Environmental and Ecological Engineering appointment calendar via BoilerConnect. EEE currently has  In Person  and  Virtual  appointments, depending on the time and day.

There are training resources available to students in  BoilerConnect  on the login page. Click ‘For Students.’  Advisors and service offices across campus use BoilerConnect for making appointments, so these instructions are generalized. 

Student Self-Help Guides:

• How to Schedule an Appointment  (video)
• How to Schedule an Appointment (pdf)
• How to Cancel an Appointment
• How to Reschedule an Appointment
• Responding to an Appointment Request  (video)
• Responding to an Appointment Request  (pdf)

EEE Student News Submission

Did you win an award/scholarship, land some funding, go to a conference, or do something else amazing? EEE wants to know about it! Fill out  this form .

Registration Troubleshooting

Having trouble registering, adding, or dropping? Need an override for a class? There are many resources on the  EEE Registration Tools page , such as instruction links for Scheduling Assistant:

Scheduling Assistant - How to ADD

Scheduling Assistant - How to DROP

Scheduling Assistant - How to Submit Registration Error Override Request

The Registrar page also has links for most common registration issues at   https://www.purdue.edu/registrar/currentStudents/index.html

Did you miss a previous newsletter? Click  here .

Attachments.

• Description_StudentAdminAsst_2024-25.pdf
• EEE Social Media_Connect with us.pdf
• POTR 360_EEEStudentRoomAgreement.pdf
• PSCSummit2024_Flyer.pdf
• PSC_summit_Agenda_2024.pdf

Purdue Women in Agriculture team seeks 2024 nominees for annual awards

• Ashvini Malshe
• April 17, 2024

WIA annually recognizes three Indiana women who are leaders and innovators in their fields and have contributed to the success of Indiana’s agricultural industry. Nominees for the annual awards are considered in three categories: leadership, achievement and emerging women in agriculture. The Emerging Women in Agriculture Leadership Award specifically honors high school and undergraduate college students.

This year’s winners will be recognized at the Indiana State Fair.

Jenna Nees, WIA awards co-chair and Extension agriculture and natural resources educator, Putnam County, says, “We are excited to continue our tradition of highlighting the many accomplishments that women have made to the agriculture field in Indiana. These awards are given to individuals who harness their skills, abilities and strengths to instill a passion for agriculture in others, making a lasting impact.”

Interested applicants can nominate themselves or be nominated by someone else. Eligibility information can be found   online . To apply, submit a completed   nomination form   with two letters of support to Beth Vansickle, WIA awards co-chair and Extension educator, at   [email protected]   or 765-641-9514.

Applications and letters of support must be received by May 1.

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Assistant Professor of Learning, Design, and Technology Ela Castellanos-Reyes Wins May Kay Sommers Dissertation Award from Purdue University 

Ela Castellanos-Reyes , an assistant professor of learning, design, and technology in the NC State College of Education, has received the Mary Kay Sommers Dissertation Award from Purdue University, where she earned her doctoral degree. 

The Dissertation Award recognizes an outstanding dissertation from a recent graduate based on its contributions to the field of education, quality and strength of the dissertation, and quality of writing demonstrated. 

“Receiving this award means the world to me. It is evidence of God’s support throughout my academic journey by opening doors considered unachievable for migrant women like me and giving me the courage to pursue complex methodologies,” Castellanos-Reyes said. “My dissertation work is a small step in the field of distance learning but a huge milestone for me!”

Entitled “Evolution of Social Presence: Longitudinal Network Analyses of Online Learning Peer Interactions From a Social Learning Analytics Perspective,” the award-winning study examines how online students’ social presence evolves over time to shape their online learning behaviors. Castellanos-Reyes’ dissertation was supported by the National Academy of Education Dissertation Fellowship and the Bilsland Dissertation Fellowship .

The study consists of three articles, the first of which explores social presence through clickstream interaction, or the number of replies received and sent in an online discussion, and found that dropout rates could be lowered if social presence affordances are used purposefully and that adding social media characteristics to discussion boards inhibits conversational behavior. 

The second study used peer-nomination data and a scale to investigate the spread of social presence perceptions in online networks of students over three consecutive courses. Although there was no evidence of social influence, the study found that online learners who nominated more peers were more likely to report higher social presence perceptions over time and that students were not more likely to share with those who showed similar levels of social presence. 

The final study is a conceptual framework that integrates network theory and the online learning literature into a new perspective to analyze learners’ online behaviors and interactions under the light of social presence theory. 

“The findings of this dissertation improve educational practice by identifying behaviors that harm online social presence and providing specific actions for online instructors and instructional designers to promote social presence in online learning,” Castellanos-Reyes said. 

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