Campus visited: Purdue University
Location: West Lafayette, Ind.
Distance from Chicago: About 130 miles
Number of Students: 30,468 undergraduates this school year
Tuition and fees: In-state, $7,750 per year; out-of-state, $23,224 per year
What I saw: I visited what’s considered to be one of the nation’s best engineering schools. There was a building dedicated to astronaut Neil Armstrong, who graduated from Purdue. There was a very active student life outside campus, and the city is built around the university.
What I liked: When I first saw this university, my impression was that I was on an amazing campus. On the second day of my visit, I saw how much the city revolves around the university. There were stores and coffee shops there for the students. Although West Lafayette is much smaller than Chicago, it’s very student-friendly. I was told that’s one of the unique things about this school. Because it’s located in a smaller city, campus life is very different than compared to, say, Columbia University in New York, where the university was built into the city instead.
This school might be good for you if: You want to stay close to home, but not too close. Also, if you are interested in engineering, Purdue would be one of the top schools to attend nationwide. The campus is roomy, and life outside school is endless. Partiers can be suited with late-night clubs near campus, but even the most studious people have a place to go with the city’s great, quiet coffee shops.
Overall impression: The campus is surrounded by a community that takes so much pride in its school. I personally could see myself attending Purdue. However, the one reason I might not is because I’ve always planned to stay very close to home in Chicago. The 2 1/2-hour drive really made me think about that.
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Nadia Khan
