Do you have your heart set on becoming a Boilermaker? If Purdue University is on your college list, you’ll need to tackle a few supplemental essays as part of your application. These short prompts are your opportunity to showcase what makes you a strong fit for Purdue—beyond your grades and test scores—and highlight what inspired you to choose your intended major. In this blog post, I’ll walk you through how to approach the Purdue supplemental essays with clarity and confidence.
Purdue Supplemental Essays
Supplemental essays are writing prompts that most competitive colleges and universities require in addition to the Common App personal statement. They help a college get to know you more specifically, not only as a student but as a potential member of their community.
For more information on supplemental essays and the role they serve in college admissions, check out our Ultimate Guide to Writing Supplemental Essays.
But what exactly are the Purdue admissions officers looking for in their supplemental essays? Generally speaking, the Purdue admissions team is looking for applicants who demonstrate a strong sense of alignment with the Purdue core values and mission and who will bring individuality and commitment to their area of study. Read on in order to understand more specifically how you can best approach these essays.
What are the Purdue Supplemental Essays
The current Purdue supplemental essays consist of two separate responses, each 250 words. The questions are relatively straightforward, but in order to stand out from the crowd, you should approach them with precision and individuality.
1. How will opportunities at Purdue support your interests, both in and out of the classroom?
2. Briefly discuss your reasons for pursuing the major you have selected.
Not sure how to approach your response? This blog will delve into what each of these questions is really asking.
How to Write the Purdue Supplemental Essays
Question 1: How will opportunities at Purdue support your interests, both in and out of the classroom?
This question is asking candidates to speak specifically about their own interests and the connections that they hope to form with those interests at Purdue. It’s a classic “Why This College?” essay and is one of the most common supplemental essays.
A mistake that many students make is approaching this question too generally. Colleges expect students demonstrate that they have done significant research into their desired schools. Are there particular classes in the program that are exciting to you? Is there a professor who you are dying to do research with? Is there a prominent alumni base or significant career support for graduates? These are all starting places from which students can base their research.
There is a huge difference between responding to this question by speaking generally about your passions and providing specific examples of how the opportunities at Purdue will help you to grow.
For example, “I will play basketball on campus” could apply to any school. However, “As captain of my varsity basketball team, I’ve learned the value of both camaraderie and healthy competition, so I look forward to joining the Purdue Club Basketball team and supporting the fundraising initiatives so that more students can enjoy building community through collegiate sports” provides character insight AND shows you did your homework.
Other examples of statements that are too generic for this essay include:
“Purdue’s renowned engineering program is a great fit for me.”
“I look forward to taking a range of classes.”
“I want to join several clubs to make new friends.”
While examples that paint a vivid picture of you as a prospective student include:
“At Purdue, I’m especially drawn to the School of Mechanical Engineering’s hands-on approach, and I hope to join the Purdue Electric Vehicle Club to explore sustainable design solutions.”
“Purdue’s focus on interdisciplinary learning excites me—I’m eager to pair data science with humanities courses to better understand how technology impacts human behavior and decision-making.”
“After leading a community cleanup initiative at my school, I’m excited to join Purdue’s Sustainability Council to continue making a tangible impact and meet students who share my passion for environmental protection.”
The more specific you can be about helping the college imagine who you are and who you could be on campus, the stronger this essay will be!
Please note that the essay prompt specifically asks you to touch on experiences both in and outside of the classroom, so make sure you answer the entire question.
Question 2: Briefly discuss your reasons for pursuing the major you have selected.
This second question asks applicants to reflect upon their reasons for choosing their prospective major, otherwise known as the “Why Major?” essay.
In order to prepare a strong answer, we first need to delineate the difference between a “field of study” and a “major.” A field of study is a general topic of study, such as literature or mathematics, that may include many different sub-categories. Fields of study are always lowercase. A major is a specific program at a specific college or university. It consists of a course list, faculty members, and program goals. Therefore, majors will be capitalized in your college essays: for example, “Modern English Literature”, or “Mathematics and Logic”. This is all to say, make sure that you are discussing a major at your college and not just a general field of study.
A common mistake students make when answering this question is relying too heavily on their passion without any real evidence to back it up. While it’s great to show excitement for your prospective major, simply saying you’ve always had an interest in science, literature, or engineering isn’t enough. Admissions officers want to know that you’ve actively explored this interest through classes, school clubs, job shadow opportunities, internships, independent projects, competitions, etc. A successful essay will clearly show how you’ve engaged with the subject in a meaningful way and how those experiences shaped your academic goals.
If your passion for your major truly began in childhood, it’s perfectly fine to start with the origin story that proves your long-standing interest. However, keep in mind that the majority of your response should focus on more recent history. Write about high school experiences that demonstrate your growth, persistence, and commitment to the major.
How Long Should My Purdue Supplemental Essays Be?
The Purdue supplemental essays have a limit of 250 words. Many students have a difficult time writing responses that both meet the word limit and also thoroughly express their strengths and desire to attend Purdue.
Here’s one trick: allow yourself to overwrite. On your first draft, you should give yourself the space and freedom to thoroughly answer the questions. That may mean that your writing goes over the word count at first, and that’s okay! It can be hard to generate ideas and edit your essay at the same time, so we don’t recommend trying to do both at once. Separate your tasks as writer and editor. After your writing is done, go back in with your “editor” hat and conscientiously remove the phrases and ideas that do not directly answer the question. This should help simplify your task of meeting the word limit.
Conclusion
Making the most of the two Purdue supplemental essays means being thoughtful, enthusiastic, and specific. Remember, the goal is to give Purdue a clear picture of the kind of student you’ll be on campus, so take the time to craft responses that authentically represent you.
Still uncertain about how to best approach your Purdue supplemental essays, or college essays in general? A HelloCollege essay coach will provide guidance to ensure that your writing stays on track and that you not only meet your word limit but also your deadlines. Having an outside eye can help ensure that your responses are thorough, individualized, and well-written. Schedule a free consultation with us today!
