Purdue University

Applications are reviewed on an individual and holistic basis. First and foremost, applicants must be prepared academically for the rigors of college and the academic demands specific to the Purdue college, school, or program to which they are seeking admission.

Applications will be evaluated when the application itself and all required materials are received. For most freshmen applicants, required material includes the Common App online (including essay), the Common App's Purdue-specific questions, official high school transcript, SAT or ACT test score and the application fee. Additional information for international student applicants is available on the International Students and Scholars website. In its individual review of each applicant, Purdue considers the following factors:

• High school course expectations

• Overall grades in academic coursework

• Grades related to intended major

• Strength of student's overall high school curriculum

• Trends in achievement

• Class rank

• Overall grade point average

• Core grade point average (English, academic math, laboratory science, foreign language, social studies)

• SAT or ACT score sent from the testing agency. Test scores must be sent electronically from the testing agency. When registering to take one of these tests, take advantage of the free reporting option to have the testing agency send your scores directly to Purdue (SAT School Code: 1631; ACT School Code: 1230). A writing score from one of these tests is not required.

• Ability to be successful in intended major

• Essay

• Personal background and experiences

• Information provided by high school guidance counselor (or other school administrator)

• Time of year the student applies

• Space availability in the intended program

Although not required, a letter of recommendation is strongly recommended, especially for students who want to be considered for scholarships, the Honors College or who are applying for highly competitive programs.

All applicants must graduate from high school or have successfully completed their state's high school equivalency requirements and Indiana residents are given preference.

Most students who are admitted to Purdue exceed Purdue's high school course expectations. Therefore, all students who plan to apply to Purdue are encouraged to exceed these expectations as well.

Courses that qualify for the subject categories include the following:

• Math - Purdue requires eight semesters (four years) of college- math. View comprehensive list of college-prep math courses.

• Laboratory Science* - biology, chemistry, physics, earth/space science, physiology/anatomy, etc.

• English - grammar, composition, literature, speech, and vocabulary, but not journalism, newspaper, yearbook, or theatre arts.

Purdue strongly encourages Indiana students to pursue the Academic Honors Diploma.