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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
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.
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Purdue Supplemental Essays 2024-25 – Prompts and Advice
June 25, 2024
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 2024-25 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? (250 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 that will require some research. Luckily, they upped the word count from 100 words to 250 words, which means you can squeeze in twice as many details.
Examples of items that quality “Why Purdue?” essays touch upon include:
- Firstly, opportunities available through the Office of Undergraduate Research.
- Purdue’s 30+ study abroad programs .
- The 600 student organizations on campus.
- The Pathmaker Internship Program.
- Numerous combined degree opportunities for ambitious students.
- Unique academic opportunities available through your department/major of choice.
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. Finally, be sure to explain why each program/offering is appealing to you.
Purdue Supplemental Essays (Continued)
Essay Prompt #2 (Required)
2) Briefly discuss your reasons for pursuing the major you have selected. (250 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 or share one or two vignettes that illustrate your burgeoning passion for engineering, history, French, computer science, business, psychology, etc.
Essay Prompt #3 (Required if listing a second major)
3) Briefly discuss your reasons for pursuing the alternate major you have selected. (Respond in 250 words or fewer.)
See answer #2 re: your first-choice major. You are essentially repeating this process for a different field. However, avoid having 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 two 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, all three of which are designated as “very important” by Purdue.
Purdue Supplemental Essays – Want Personalized Essay Assistance?
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.
Need additional essay writing resources? Check out the following:
- Common App Essay Prompts
- 10 Instructive Common App Essay Examples
- College Application Essay Topics to Avoid
- How to Brainstorm a College Essay
- How to Start a College Essay
- How to End a College Essay
- “Why This College?” Essay Examples
- 25 Inspiring College Essay Topic Ideas
- 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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How to Write the Purdue Supplemental Essays 2024–2025
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Purdue University is a renowned public research institution especially known for their College of Engineering . Their storied alumni include astronaut Neil Armstrong, comedian Jim Gaffigan, and NASCAR driver Ryan Newman, among others. Every year, tens of thousands of applicants hope to follow in their footsteps. If you’re hoping to nail your Purdue supplemental essays, then you’ve come to the right place. Let’s dive in.
Purdue’s 2024-2025 Prompts
Purdue University only asks its applicants to write two short supplemental essays. Although these prompts may look simple, there are few tips and tricks that help you take your essays to the next level. First of all, here are the prompts:
How will opportunities at Purdue support your interests, both in and out of the classroom? (250 words or fewer)
Briefly discuss your reasons for pursuing the major you have selected. (250 words or fewer), we’ll review your essay.
Receive edits in as little as 24 hours
General Tips
The Purdue supplemental essays are academically focused, with some room to discuss other aspects of college life when responding to the first prompt. For these reasons, it’s important to focus your responses on academic topics. In addition, when possible, make your responses specific to Purdue.
The key to making your responses specific to Purdue is research, research, research . Look through course catalogs, department webpages, and other online or paper resources you have available to you. If you know any Purdue alumni, you may want to ask them questions about their experiences. Understanding the unique qualities of Purdue that will support your academic journey, and then describing those qualities in your essays, will greatly strengthen your application.
Purdue Short Essay Questions
This is your chance to show the admissions team why you’re excited about applying to Purdue. In other words, this is your “Why Purdue?” essay. According to Purdue’s Common Data Set , their admissions team considers the applicant’s level of interest when making acceptance decisions. Therefore, demonstrating how interested you are in attending Purdue could make or break your application.
How can you demonstrate interest in Purdue in this essay? First, you’ll need to clarify your interests to the reader. Then, you’ll need to point to the opportunities at Purdue that relate to these interests of yours. As discussed in the “General Tips” section of this article, research will be key to making your response to this prompt shine. When possible, name specific programs, professors, courses, or other opportunities at Purdue that will support you on your academic journey.
Ideally, you show the reader why Purdue is uniquely fitting for your academic interests and personal ambitions. What does Purdue offer that most schools don’t? Once you identify the unique offerings at Purdue related to your interests, you can explore them in your essay. If you have space, feel free to connect those opportunities at Purdue to your future career or other goals. Demonstrating how Purdue’s curriculum and extracurricular offerings will benefit you post-graduation will show the reader your forethought and maturity.
This question is simple, but difficult. Most applicants struggle to identify a particular moment when the topic of their chosen major became important to them. If you do have a particular moment in mind, then that’s great. In this essay, take the time to explore that moment and how it continues to impact your academic journey to this day.
That said, your choice of major might be the result of a series of life experiences and interests, rather than a single “aha!” moment. Moreover, many students select a major on their college application without much confidence that they’ll stick to it once they get to campus. If that sounds like you, you’re not alone! According to the National Center for Education Studies, about 30% of students change their major in college at least once.
Whatever the case, you definitely have at least a couple reasons for choosing your major. Before you begin this essay draft, try to write down ten reasons for choosing your major. That might sound like an excess of reasons, and it is, for the purposes of writing this essay. But it’s a useful brainstorming exercise. After creating your list, you might realize that some of your reasons can be recombined into a few more nuanced reasons.
You may also want to brainstorm occasions when this particular subject has brought you joy or fulfillment. In your essay, you can dive into these moments and build your narrative around them. Think broadly: has there been an occasion when you have seen someone with a degree in your field of interest make a positive impact on the world? If so, that moment could be part of your essay. You could write about just one moment, or you could cover a few. Moreover, don’t feel restricted to describing a single reason behind your major of choice. That said, there’s nothing wrong with focusing on a single source of inspiration, if that is true to your experience.
In sum, look into your past experiences, plural, to guide the progression of this essay. If you’re having trouble deciding which moment(s) to focus on, try free-writing to figure out which topics you find most meaningful to explore in your writing.
If you need help polishing up your Purdue supplemental essays, check out our College Essay Review service. You can receive detailed feedback from Ivy League consultants in as little as 24 hours.
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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, why purdue essay example.
Hey everyone! For those of you who applied to Purdue, can you help me with some ideas for the 'Why Purdue' essay? If you're comfortable sharing your essay as an example, that would be super helpful too!
Hello! When writing a 'Why Purdue' essay, it's crucial to focus on the aspects that make Purdue unique and how they align with your own interests, values, and goals. CollegeVine has a guide specifically breaking down each of Purdue's prompts: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-purdue-university-essays
Additionally, check out this article, which has three example essays submitted by real students, along with feedback on what worked well and what could be improved upon: https://blog.collegevine.com/purdue-essay-examples
Remember to focus on your individual experiences and goals, demonstrating how Purdue is the right fit for you, rather than trying to replicate someone else's essay. Good luck!
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CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.
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