Purdue undergraduate admissions application, steps change
Posted on
July 7, 2008
By Staff Reports,
Purdue University News Service
Filed under Purdue News,
163 views
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Several significant changes to undergraduate admissions will affect students who apply to Purdue University for 2009.
Additions to the application for admission include a required personal statement, dedicated space for students to list their activities, honors, and accomplishments, and questions regarding previous criminal offenses or academic misconduct.
In their personal essay, students have the option of addressing one of three topics: how a college education will help them achieve personal or professional goals; how they used and learned from someone’s advice; and how they reacted to and learned from a setback in their life. Essays must be 500 words or less.
The essay adds to the University’s holistic approach to admissions, says Pamela Horne, assistant vice president for enrollment management and dean of admissions.
“Through their essay, students will have the chance to tell us about themselves in their own words,” Horne says. “This gives Purdue the opportunity to look beyond the numbers when considering applicants.”
Also for 2009, students must answer personal conduct questions regarding criminal offenses or academic misconduct. Most Big Ten peers have similar questions on their applications.
Horne anticipates that most reports won’t affect the applicant’s admission decision.
“Purdue recognizes that an educational environment characterized by safety, respect, honesty, and integrity enhances learning for all students,” she says. “We’re not trying to focus on youthful indiscretions, but instead on whether the person might jeopardize that educational environment.”
Beginning with students who apply for 2009 enrollment, there will be multiple advantages to applying online, Horne says.
Applying online expedites the application process. In addition, students can confirm online that their application is complete as well as check for an admission decision.
Purdue has moved back its release date for admission decisions from September to December for students applying for fall 2009. The University will begin releasing decisions online after 5 p.m. Dec. 5 and begin mailing decision letters on Dec. 8.
Decisions are not guaranteed by Dec. 5. After Dec. 8, decisions will be on a rolling basis — released as applications are completed and decisions are made.
“Moving the release date to December will allow for a more thorough evaluation of a larger pool of applicants prior to releasing decisions,” Horne says.
As application volume has increased nationwide, many other large universities have moved to later decision dates, including Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio State in the Big Ten.
