WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Princeton Review has named Purdue University among the top 20 colleges in the nation in a variety of campus-life categories, including best athletics, best college newspaper and best campus food.

In January, Purdue ranked in Princeton Review's 100 best value colleges for 2009. The education services and test-prep company said the rankings were an attempt to highlight schools that offered high-quality education at a reasonable price.

Purdue ranked 15th for its intercollegiate and intramural sports and 19th for on-campus food. In addition, The Purdue Exponent ranked 17th among college newspapers.

The ratings, published in Princeton Review’s “The Best 371 Colleges – 2010 Edition,” are based on surveys of 122,000 students at colleges across the United States during the 2008-09 and/or previous two academic years.

In January, Purdue ranked in Princeton Review’s 100 “best value” colleges for 2009. The education services and test-prep company said the rankings were an attempt to highlight schools that offered high-quality education at a reasonable price.

For the most recent ratings, respondents were asked about themselves and their school’s academics, administration, campus life and student body. Princeton Review did not rate academic programs, but rather created 62 rankings based on students’ campus experiences and other institutional data.

“These ratings bear testimony to the excellent quality of student life Purdue offers,” said Randy Woodson, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. “Purdue offers a world-class education, and campus life is an integral part of that. We work hard to ensure student life is enriched through the residential experience and extracurricular activities.”

Princeton Review reported students saying: “Purdue boasts an ‘absolutely amazing’ freshman orientation program, and, with more than 800 clubs and organizations, ‘there is something for everyone.’”

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Nearly 5,300 new students will arrive Saturday (Aug. 15) at Purdue for Boiler Gold Rush, a weeklong student orientation program that includes presentations, international student check-ins, a University Resource Fair, and welcome lunches and dinners.

New students and incoming freshmen cross the tracks at Boiler Gold Rush (Photo via Purdue University)

“Boiler Gold Rush provides new freshmen and transfer students with an opportunity to learn about Purdue’s array of resources, make connections with faculty and staff, make friends and get to know the campus,” said Andrew Koch, director of Student Access, Transition and Success Programs, the department that coordinates Boiler Gold Rush. “Research shows that students who attend Boiler Gold Rush have significantly higher retention rates than those who opt out of the program.”

Purdue President France A. Córdova will address new students at an opening ceremony, which starts at 9 p.m. Sunday (Aug. 16) at the Elliott Hall of Music.

All freshmen and transfers who plan on living on-campus and are participating in Boiler Gold Rush will move into university residence halls over the weekend, said Barbara Frazee, executive director of University Residences. The remaining residents, including freshmen who did not participate in Boiler Gold Rush, will move in Aug. 17–23, she said.

Boiler Gold Rush events include:

• Boilermaker Basics, 10:15-11 a.m. Monday (Aug. 17) at the Slayter Center will give students an overview of Purdue’s athletic traditions, including the “All-American” Marching Band, Purdue Pete and cheerleaders. If it rains, the event will be moved to the Elliott Hall of Music.
• FreeZONE presentation, 2:25-3:20 p.m. Tuesday (Aug. 18) at the Elliott Hall of Music is a student-written and performed theatrical session about diversity at Purdue.
• Purdue 101: How to be a successful Purdue student, 2-2:30 p.m. Wednesday (Aug. 19) at the Elliott Hall of Music is a session with Marcy Towns, associate professor of chemistry, and Mick La Lopa, associate professor of hospitality and tourism management.
• University Resource Fair, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday (Aug. 19), is at the South Ballroom of the Purdue Memorial Union. Resources include Study Abroad, Diversity Resource Office, Women’s Resource Office, Student Employment, Purdue Libraries and others.
• Student groups will discuss themes in “Stealing Buddha’s Dinner,” the University’s Common Reading selection, from 4-5 p.m. Aug. 19 at various campus locations.