Purdue 101

Introduction
The best advice I can give is visit all the schools you are considering. You get a completely different feel when reading about a school than when you are actually on campus. Try going during the school year because then you can also see how things flow and work. If you know some one at the school even better. Spend a day with them going to class and getting a more personal tour of campus. When I went and looked at schools the second on was on Purdue's campus I knew I wanted to go there. As dorky and corney as it sounds you get this feeling as if you belong there.

Campus Life and Social Life
The worst thing about Purdue is about ten miles either way you are in corn fields. Yes, Chicago is two hours north and an easy train ride. Indianapolis is an hour south and as long as you know some one with a car it is quite easy to get there, but there is still not an abundance to do on weeks. That is not to say people can't make their own fun. There are definately PLENTY of frat parties on weekends. It is much easier for girls to get then than guys. Purdue isn't a place that you feel totally left out if you aren't in the Greek system either, which I really like. All my friends are in the Greek system but I am not. Longer weekends and right before holidays the campus is usually dead. Right after a football loss the campus is dead too. Football is huge, most of the games sell out, however as long as you act before the season starts tickets are always available. Basketball is a joke, pretty much a waste of time. In regards to clubs and organizations, I would say there are too many. There are over 600 and coming in as a freshman that was just overwhelming. There is a GREAT freshman orientation program that really allows students to get a one-on-one look at the campus and ask any questions they have before school starts. The dorms aren't that bad. They aren't boxes, but they are suites. Compaired to many schools are food is good, it just gets REALLY old and boring. Academics
The best program at our school and the one that recieves the most attention is the engineering department. It rocks. It is in the top ten in the country and is always improving.

The next best would have to be Pharmacy and then the Business school.

Liberal Arts is the second biggest school but does not receive the same credit as engineering and there is some anamosity between the students in the two schools.

In regards to professors and TAs. I have never had a bad experience. I have heard of some bad ones and they are usually in the math and science departments. Every prof and ta is required to have office hours to help students who need it.

Class sizes aren't that bad either. Freshman year is the year when they are typically larger but after that they begin to slim down.

The workload all depends on the major. I feel like it has gotten smaller and easier. That may just be adjusting.

Student Body
The students are fine. I have found my best friends at school. A HUGE majority comes from Indiana and the next largest clump comes from Chicagoland. Purdue prides itself on having students from many different countries. There are a lot of Asians. There are a lot more guys than girls, so for the girls it is AWESOME, the guys...not so much.

In Closing...
Make sure you choose a school because YOU like it. Do not pick a school because your boyfriend/girlfriend or best friends are going there. You will regret it when you are not talking later. Don't pick a school because you feel like you have to. If you can't decide stay home and go to community college until you know what you want. You will save a lot of money that way and can transfer later. In your dorms, keep the doors open. Get to know the people on the floor, that is where I found my best friends. Have an open mind, this a time for you to grow and learn about life, there is no other time where you can screw up and still have a net to fall in. With that said, don't be so dumb that you get kicked out or something like that. Most of all have fun. Work hard and play hard. These are the last four or five years where you can balance the two. DO NOT NEGLECT school work. Get that done during the week and plan for specific times during the weekend, but make sure, no matter if it is just watching a movie, going to a youth group, or drinking, make sure you have fun. If you don't you will explode! I swear on it. Get a job, even if it is for five hours a week; employeers will be impressed. Go to the library. If you do not go to the library find some place that is quiet. Most of all be yourself. You will find people who like you for you.