Rejected from Purdue University?

Applying to College
1

So I applied Regular Decision, OOS to Purdue University for the Engineering program, and my summarized credentials were as follows:
2190 SAT
4.0 GPA UW
4.4 GPA W
Rank 3/200
NMSQT commended student
AP Scholar With Distinction
I took 6 AP classes in past years and I’m taking 5 this year: AP Euro - 5, English Language -5, Spanish Language - 5, Calculus AB - 5, Physics 1 - 4, US History - 4. This year: AP Chem, Calc BC, English Lit, Spanish Lit, US Gov
I scored the highest in my state (VA) on the National Spanish Exam
Governor’s Foreign Language Academy
Marching/Concert Band - 4 years, also serving as a section leader and making a top spot in the All-District Band
Varsity Indoor Track - 3 years, distance captain
Varsity Outdoor Track - 4 years
Cross Country - 1 Year
President of Spanish Honor Society
Treasurer of Spanish Club
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Fabricator for the local Robotics team

I also had 300+ community service hours through churches and other projects
My letters of recommendation were written by the 2 best teachers I knew and a lawyer/entrepreneur
My essays were (in my opinion) personal and engaging, at least sufficient for their standards

Their engineering acceptance rate is above 60%, so I’m definitely confused as to how I got rejected from their program. I think it might be because they already accepted enough people through Early Action, while I finished my entire application a bit less than a week before the RD deadline. Although it’s definitely strange…I was offered a waitlist with my rejection, but that’s not the same

2

If you really want to go there and can afford it, take that waitlist spot. Many accepted students won’t end up going and you might receive an offer.

3

Wow you should have been accepted. I got a 1660 and was accepted(though I have a high GPA and rank)… Purdue isn’t really that hard to into tbh. I would take the waitlist spot, you really should have gotten in. Did you apply too late?

4

Here is what I think happened. Engineering is very popular at Purdue. I think your stats would indicate you are a good candidate for Purdue however I am guessing their FYE class filled up by the time you applied. They put you on the waitlist because many of the students accepted will go to other schools. I believe Purdue is rolling admission and their classes Fill up as the applications come in and are accepted. It is indicated On their website that FYE Undecided is a closed major.

Purdue doesn’t really have EA and RD. What it has are dates required to be considered for the major scholarships and the Honors College. Unlike true EA and RD schools whose decisions come out at specific times Purdue’s go out as they evaluate them. If a major is specifically popular they can close it.

5

You can’t assume you will get off the waitlist just because some students decide to go to other schools. Colleges assume this will happen and offer more acceptances than they have spaces. They may or may not go to the waitlist. And they have their own unknowable processes for picking from it if they do.

If you are still very interested, accept the spot on the waitlist. If it is truly your first choice school, tell them that. If you are keen to get off the waitlist, send them
any updates on your accomplishments and ask them to consider them as they make waitlist acceptance decisions.

6

Purdue has the reputation of being easier to into than get out of which may be true among top engineering schools. Many top students perceive it as a “safety” because of this. It looks like in 2014 about 1/3 of the students who accepted a spot on the waiting list (about 1200) were later accepted off the waiting list (a little under 400). I know Purdue had about 7.2% more applicants this year than last.

7

If going there truly is your preference, please contact them when you accept the WL spot. Purdue COE has rolling admissions. My kiddo got in during the earliest rounds last year – but eventually turned down the offer. At a prior info session, they said the avg ACT of admitted students was 31. But the avg ACT of matriculated students is 28. That indicates a huge falling off of higher scoring applicants who are using PU as a fallback.

8

What is wrong with going to VT or UVA?

9

^ Very good point! At Purdue, you’ll likely get little Fin Aid as an OOS applicant.

10

Since you’re in-state for VTech, it’ll cost less and will provide the same education. Purdue likely knows this, too, and put you on the WL because why offer a spot to someone who’s likely to choose another, similar, cheaper school?

11

http://www.collegedata.com/cs/data/college/college_pg02_tmpl.jhtml?schoolId=1753 indicates that Purdue does consider “level of applicant’s interest”, so the thing described in #9 is a possibility.

12

you are Impossible to get rejected. I had 3.5 GPA, 1980 SAT and got into Aerospace Engineering

13

Not impossible - if you apply later in the cycle you can easily get waitlisted or rejected even with good stats. They close most engineering majors in early January. So applying after that for engineering is not useful.

14

@Anticommunism this is from your post two months ago:

That does not square with your post #11.

15

I did apply to UVA and Virginia Tech. Purdue has a higher ranked program and was an opportunity to expand my horizons. Oh well. Purdue wasn’t my first choice and I did apply mid January, so it makes a little more sense now

16

That is typical for rolling admission. In addition, late applicant also indicates lack of interest.

17

Rolling Admissions. Makes sense

Closed Program - Undecided in Engineering (First Year Engineering)

18

Op, I have very similar stats to you (3.9UW, 33ACT) and I also got rejected from engineering. I also applied around the same time, so my guess is they are just out of spots.

19

I think the OP has his/her answer. You’re very qualified for Purdue CoE. Indeed, your stats are ABOVE the typically enrolled Purdue CoE student. However, with later application to the rolling program along with fantastic and less expensive options nearby, you were only offered a WL spot.

It’s not a judgment on your academic potential (I can certainly sympathize with your “what?” response). But you’ll do fine. Enjoy VTech or UVA. I’m sure you’ll run into many Purdue engineers in your career – don’t hold it against them! LOL