What is...Purdue Questions Answered
Do you have questions about Purdue Engineering? If you do, you are definitely not alone! When deciding whether I wanted to attend Purdue, I scoured the internet, looking for all the answers to my many questions. Even though I was able to find some answers, I wasn’t completely satisfied. I appreciated all of the information provided on various Purdue websites, but what about the student perspective? What was it truly like to be an engineering student at Purdue? As a Purdue engineer myself, I wanted to answer some of the most common questions about Purdue and the engineering program in an autocomplete-inspired format!
One of the things Purdue University is known for best is its engineering program! Ranked 8th in Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs by US News, it is no surprise that many people, including myself, come from around the country and the world to attend Purdue and study engineering. Even within a specific engineering field, Purdue is very well known and regarded in their respective fields: Purdue is ranked 3rd in Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering, 4th in Civil Engineering, and 1st in Biological Engineering among many top 10 rankings. Although ranking is not the only factor that demonstrates the quality of a program, these high rankings show the quality engineering degree you will receive when you attend Purdue!
The official mascot of Purdue University is a locomotive train known as the Boilermaker Special. The locomotive became the official mascot of Purdue in the 1930s as a symbol of Purdue’s engineering and agriculture fields. A train was specifically chosen by alumni working in the rail and automotive industries. Since then, Purdue has been associated with the locomotive steam engine, going so far as to have an operational steam engine for research in the 1890s. Purdue currently has 2 active locomotives, the Boilermaker Special and the Boilermaker Xtra Special, a smaller version of its more famous brother. You can often find the Boilermaker Xtra Special wandering around and playing music on academic campus at the end of each day.
Purdue students, faculty, and alumni are referred to as Boilermakers based on a football game against Wabash College in 1889. When Purdue obliterated Wabash College (18-4), a newspaper referred to Wabash’s defeat by the “Burly Boiler Makers from Purdue,” based on our locomotive mascot. From that moment, all students and alumni who have received their degrees from Purdue have been known as Purdue Boilermakers!
Purdue also has another mascot that is more often found at sporting events. Purdue Pete joined Purdue in 1940 when California artist Art Evans was asked to draw a logo for the University Bookstore. From then, Purdue Pete has gone through multiple revisions until the mascot we have reached today. If you see Purdue Pete at any event, don’t be afraid to ask for a picture!
Although you may hear very different answers from various people, one of the reasons why I believe Purdue Engineering is so good is the world-renowned faculty you will have. Purdue employs professionals who are known to be the best in their respective fields. Similarly, Purdue professors are constantly receiving awards for their work and teaching, so you know you are learning from the best of the best in engineering..
In addition to the amazing faculty, there are lots of opportunities to involve yourself beyond the classroom. Purdue has so many clubs, both engineering-related and not, that provide you with the space to grow your skills and knowledge. These other opportunities give you additional skills that aren’t usually found in the course curriculum, such as building and testing designs or 3D modeling a new device.
Lastly, Purdue stands out from other engineering schools because of the encouraging and collaborative student community. Everyone is always willing to help, whether you are stuck on a homework problem, trying to find the room for your next class, or looking for resources to apply for internships. Everyone wants to see each other succeed, and there is never any competition in earning your degree.
If you are nervous about the challenges of studying engineering, you are not alone. High-school-senior-me was in the same boat. I spent hours looking for answers all over the internet. Everybody is nervous on the first day of their engineering class, and the professors know this. Therefore, I want you to know that you are smarter than you think you are. I doubted my knowledge when I first started here, and the imposter syndrome of being in engineering was overwhelming during the first weeks of school. Just give it a few weeks to get used to, and you will realize that you were meant to study engineering and will become a successful engineer soon!
Beyond the classroom, there are so many opportunities to be hands-on. Many engineering clubs and organizations allow their members to be working and building their project, such as model rockets, carts for Grand Prix, and more! At Purdue, there is no lack of opportunities to be working directly on the project, so I encourage you to get involved as much as you can.
I always like to answer this question of why Purdue and Purdue Engineering. Especially being an out-of-state student, I get asked this question a lot. I always boil my answer down to two main reasons: education and community. As I’ve talked about previously, you will be receiving a reputable engineering degree after your time here at Purdue. There is a reason why hundreds of engineering companies know about Purdue and come to campus each semester to recruit students for internships. It’s because the quality of our education is so good, and companies know they will be hiring a qualified candidate who will be able to provide meaningful contributions to their project. Having a reputable degree will allow you to have the necessary knowledge to succeed, both as an engineer and a professional in industry or academia.
The second reason is community. A quarter of Purdue’s undergraduate students are within the College of Engineering, so there are thousands of students on the same journey as you. I have met a lot of my friends through working through the engineering curriculum together, and these are the bonds and friendships I will have for life. At Purdue, I have found my community of people and friends who I can rely on, both with academics and just being friends. Everyone is amazing and you will truly feel at home here at Purdue.
I hope that answers some of your questions! If you have any other questions, please feel free to reach out to the Women in Engineering Program through our email or social media platforms as we are always happy to help! Boiler up!
Madeleine Yee, AAE '26
Recruitment Project Committee
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