Making That Giant Leap: Tips on Applying to College

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I just completed Purdue’s First Year Engineering program last semester. After two semesters of calculus, football games, and introductory engineering classes, I can still remember the stress of applying to college. It was not too long ago that the Common App opened for me, and I sat there staring at the screen. I remember not knowing where to start. Many unanswered questions running through my head. How do I show colleges my true potential through this application? When should I be finished applying to colleges? Where can I start applying for scholarships? With this blog, I hope to answer some of your questions. I know how overwhelming this process can be. I was in your shoes not too long ago.

This is me visiting Purdue for the first time in 2022 while I was in the midst of the college application process.


Be Authentic

There are many different ways to display your passions and interests in the Common App. The extracurricular activities and volunteering portion of the application is crucial to show Purdue where your passions lie. Not all of these activities need to be engineering or STEM based, it is important to showcase all facets of your life. It is essential to demonstrate that you are involved in your school and community.


Another more obvious way to be authentic in your application is through the Common App essay. This is one of the most personal aspects of the application. In this section, you are able to choose from various prompts and write about your personality and experiences. This can be a very daunting task. My advice would be to showcase parts of yourself that would align with Boilermaker values. This essay is supposed to show Purdue that you would be an active and productive addition to the Boilermaker family… so show them!


Supplemental essays are at the very end of the Common App and are one of the last tasks standing between you and the “submit application” button. Purdue has two required supplemental essays this year:

   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.

It is easy to give surface level responses to these prompts, but I encourage you to make them as personal as possible. These essays will help set you apart and will show Purdue your potential as a Boilermaker engineer.

Recommendation Letters

Recommendation letters are an extremely important part of applying to college. You want to choose recommenders that are going to tell Purdue something about you that cannot otherwise be seen in your application. Sure… you get good grades, but you want your recommenders to be able to describe other qualities about yourself. Maybe a specific school faculty member has seen your leadership abilities through your involvement in a school sport or club? Or maybe a school faculty member has observed you tutor a student who is struggling? Choosing recommenders who can write about those types of experiences will help your application to stand out. Most importantly, once you have chosen your recommenders, ask them! The earlier that you ask, the more time and thought that will be put into your letter. Hence, be sure to ask your recommenders as soon as possible.


Deadlines

The Early Action deadline for applying to Purdue University is November 1st. This deadline must be met in order to be considered for John Martinson Honors college and merit scholarships. All applicants who apply by November 1st will hear back from Purdue on January 15th. Being a prospective engineering student, it is even more important that your application is submitted by the Early Action deadline. The first year engineering program has a “priority application deadline.” This means that Purdue will continue accepting applications after November 1st only if space allows. Therefore, it is crucial that engineering applications are submitted by November 1st.


Applying for Scholarships

There are different types of scholarships open to incoming college freshmen everywhere. Purdue offers merit scholarships based on academic achievement and community involvement. All you have to do to be considered for merit scholarships is to submit your application by the Early Action deadline (November 1st). There are also nationwide scholarships which can be found on the internet. There are thousands of scholarships available if you just search for them. Many local scholarships can be applied for during the spring of your senior year. Local businesses and organizations will often have scholarships open to local high school seniors pursuing higher education. Information about these scholarships can be found through your high school’s guidance office or local media. It is extremely important to apply to a variety of types of scholarships to increase your odds of winning.

Good Luck!

The WE Link Team and I are wishing you the best of luck during your application process! Stay true to yourself and make sure you meet all the deadlines. We are all rooting for you!


Sophia Jarc, Industrial Engineering

WE Link Leadership Team


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Email: welink@purdue.edu
Purdue Women in Engineering

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