Social Lives of Purdue Students

When deciding what colleges to apply to, there are so many factors to consider. Academics and location are very important, but it is necessary to find colleges that can cater to your social wants and needs as well. Purdue has a wide range of ways students can get involved and interact with fellow students, including:

Greek Life:

Greek life is a great way to meet and bond with other students on campus. Students can rush any year in their college career, and there are opportunities to join throughout the semester without having to rush. Sororities host many meetings during the year and have a live-in requirement, so members have plenty of opportunity to bond with other students. My friend joined a sorority her sophomore year and met so many amazing sophomores during the rush process as well as countless freshmen. Overall, Purdue is an amazing place to join Greek life because it is an inclusive and safe space.

Social Clubs:

Purdue has a club for almost any interest, and they are all a great way to branch out, meet new people, and refine or develop a hobby. The social clubs at Purdue range from very niche interests like bass fishing, to clubs that explore a wide range of interests, like the Everything Club of Purdue, where members explore a new activity every meeting. Students do not even need to be full members of a club to try them out. Last year I was a member of Boiler Bakers, a baking club, and that was it, but I went to meetings for the Board Game Club, Purdue Outing Club, Society of Women Engineers Grand Prix, and Night Train, a swing dancing club. I was able to focus on my baking hobby while also getting to experience new things!

Cooperatives:

A great alternative to regular housing or Greek life is cooperative housing. Purdue has 11 cooperative houses on campus where students live and work together to maintain the house with a very affordable cost. Students in cooperative houses form a very close knit community with those who live in their houses and have opportunities to apply for up to $15,000 in scholarships each year. Cooperative housing is a great way to make lasting connections with other Purdue students and give back to the community with their numerous service projects.

Academic Clubs and Programs:

Along with Purdue’s extensive number of social clubs, there are many academic clubs and support programs that allow students to hone their professional skills for internships and future employment. These clubs can bring students together from a common major, focus on projects throughout the semester, or develop specific technical skills. Specifically, the Women in Engineering (WiE) Program fosters connections between women across all fields of engineering and prepares them for careers through seminars, workshops, volunteer events, tutoring, and more. I was in the WiE seminar my freshman year, and I found it very helpful for understanding the professional environment and expectations more after having very little career exposure outside of part time jobs prior to coming to college.

Learning Communities:

Learning communities are a great way for freshmen to meet other students in their major from day one on campus. Each learning community is located in a specific dorm so students are able to study together for their similar classes and hang out together without having to go very far. I was in the Women in Engineering Program learning community my freshman year and ended up meeting my entire friend group in Meredith South where the community was located. The learning community made it easy for me to connect with those around me because we all had something in common, and now I will have a lasting relationship with many girls who lived in my building because we are in the same major.

Club and Intramural (IM) Sports:

Club and IM sports are great ways for Purdue students to continue playing sports they participated in in high school, or even learn for the first time. Club sports are organized by Purdue and students who join will play against other schools, while intramural is just groups of students who organize themselves to play against other groups of students. While some of the clubs require prior experience, many do not, so it is a great way to branch out when coming to college. The first semester of my freshman year I joined Purdue Crew, a rowing club, even though I had never even seen a person row before. Within the first two weeks of joining, I was rowing on the Wabash and built a lot of new friendships.

This is just a peak into all Purdue has to offer when it comes to extracurriculars. Social life is very important for having a positive experience in college so it is important to make sure the schools you apply for will fit your hobbies and passions.

Madison Meunier, ChE '27

Recruitment Project Committee

Stay Connected With Purdue WiE Program!

Facebook: Purdue Women in Engineering

Instagram: @purdue.wie

Blog: purduewiep.blogspot.com

Email: welink@purdue.edu

YouTube: Purdue Women in Engineering Program - YouTube

Use the hashtag #PurdueWiE on Facebook and Instagram!

Purdue Women in Engineering