What is the "Boilermaker Family"?

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When trying to decide where you plan to call home for the next four years, something that should really be considered is the campus culture. Personally, I wanted to attend a school where I felt both challenged and well-supported by my peers and professors and wanted to avoid a cut-throat environment where I didn’t feel comfortable trying new things. I can’t tell you how many tours I went on where the tour guide said something along the lines of, “here at [X] University, we are like a family,” when describing campus culture. However, out of all the schools I visited, Purdue was the one that made me feel already part of their family, even as a prospective student. Now having been a full-time student here the past three years, I fully appreciate what that statement means and can’t imagine going to a school without a culture where everyone has each other's back like a family the way Purdue does.


What stood out to me about Purdue compared to all the other schools I had applied to was how comfortable and at-home I felt when I visited campus. Purdue attracts the kind of people who look out for one another. Before you are even a student, the people here want to see you succeed. Everyone was just so friendly and helpful when navigating campus and asking questions. Before I even became a student, I knew Purdue would have my back. Even after my visit, I felt extremely well-connected to the university. The Women in Engineering Program especially made me feel welcome as I officially became a part of the Boilermaker family. From sticker packs to video chats, I felt heard, seen, and cared for. Their frequent emails helped me feel connected and learn more about Purdue and college at a time when I had so many questions. Purdue really had my best interests in mind.


The most amazing part about all of this was those experiences before coming to Purdue were just the tip of an iceberg of support and an incredible community that you become a part of once you are a student here. I describe this community as the Boilermaker Family. Here at Purdue, you are welcomed with open arms from the moment you step on campus. If you decide to partake in the Boiler Gold Rush (BGR) orientation program, the staff and volunteers who run this event do a really great job not only at introducing you to campus but also to your classmates and fellow Boilermakers whom you’ll be spending the next four years with. Your Team Leader (TL) who is either a sophomore or an upperclassman is a great resource for getting acquainted with student life. Students here have so much good advice and wisdom they can share with you like an older sibling would to make your four years in college the best years yet. Right away, Purdue wants to help you feel a sense of belonging in this family.


I have experienced this feeling of family almost every day of my Purdue career. It would be dishonest to hide the fact that college can be challenging sometimes, but college luckily is a safe place to learn how to persevere through these challenges. It makes it even easier when you have people alongside you supporting you each step of the way. I remember there were many ways I felt challenged by my coursework freshman year. However, I knew that if I had any questions about homework, wanted to talk through concepts on an upcoming exam, or needed help troubleshooting issues with projects I could rely on my community to get me through. There were many nights I found myself with 8-10 other students in one of the lounge spaces in my dorm debugging code or trying to figure out where I was getting stuck in a homework problem. The Boilermaker family is a community where everyone helps everyone. Instead of competition, there is collaboration so everyone will succeed which has really helped me learn and grow throughout my collegiate career. I never realized how important this kind of culture was until I needed it most.


One of the people I work with recently said this about Purdue’s community: “A lot of schools will say they act like a family. Here at Purdue, we don’t need to say it, we just do it.” It’s not advertised as something we do because it is what we are, a family. Boilermakers support each other and help each other succeed. We have so many resources, connections, and much support for you to take advantage of and explore endless opportunities for you to find your fit. So when you are trying to decide on what school you are going to attend for the next four years, ask yourself, what kind of community do you want to be a part of?


Becca Jennings, MSE '24

WE Link Leadership Team


Stay Connected With Purdue WiE Program!

Facebook: Purdue Women in Engineering

Instagram: @purduewiep

Blog: purduewiep.blogspot.com

Email: welink@purdue.edu


Purdue Women in Engineering

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