🍦 Today's Scoops: Mehak's Application Tips (Sep 25)

Good morning folks! Here’s what we have today:

1. Link Lounge Refresh

2. School of the Day: Purdue University

3. Hear From Your Peers: Mehak’s Application Tips

LINK LOUNGE REFRESH
New Resources & Scholarships!

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays we will be updating the Link Lounge section with links to great resources such as scholarships and tools during the college application process. You’ll find it at the top of your email on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and near the bottom during the rest of the week.

Admit Yogi (NEW) - Connect with admitted students and enhance your apps with AI

Lumos Learning (NEW) - Accessible and affordable online SAT prep courses

Sups.ai (NEW) - AI-powered guidance for essay review, college list building, and EC optimization

SCHOOL OF THE DAY
Purdue University

Every day, we cover a different school, helping you learn something new about your favorite schools or find a new school that could end up being your dream school.

📍 Location: West Lafayette, IN
🎓 Undergraduates Enrolled: 39,170
📊 Acceptance Rate: 52.7%
📝 Average SAT/ACT: 1330/31
💸 Cost: $9,992 (In-state), 28,794 (Out-of-State)
📅 Admission Options: November 1 (EA), January 15 (RD)
🏆 Top Ranking Programs: Undergraduate Engineering (#8), Computer Science (#18), Economics (#37) (US News)
📈 Most Popular Majors: Engineering (27%), Business (11%), Computer Science (11%) (US News)

Pros:

🎓 Top-Tier Engineering Programs: Purdue’s College of Engineering is world-renowned, consistently ranked among the best in the U.S. Whether you’re interested in aerospace, mechanical, or biomedical engineering, Purdue’s cutting-edge labs and industry partnerships make it a strong choice Learn more about Purdue Engineering.

🚀 Cradle of Astronauts: Purdue holds the title of the Cradle of Astronauts—with 27 alumni having gone to space, including Neil Armstrong and Eugene Cernan. The school’s connection to NASA and the aerospace industry is a major draw for space enthusiasts Explore Purdue’s Space Legacy.

👩‍💻 Purdue Polytechnic Institute: Want a blend of hands-on experience and tech-driven coursework? Purdue Polytechnic focuses on fields like cybersecurity, game development, and supply chain management, ideal for tech-savvy students Discover Purdue Polytechnic.

📊 Back a Boiler Program: Purdue’s innovative Back a Boiler program is an income share agreement (ISA) that lets students pay a portion of their income after graduation rather than taking out traditional loans, reducing financial stress during college Read more about Back a Boiler.

🧠 Research Powerhouse: From agriculture to pharmacy to engineering, Purdue has a strong emphasis on research, allowing students to tackle real-world problems with industry leaders like Rolls-Royce and Cummins Explore Research at Purdue.

🌐 Purdue Global: Purdue also offers Purdue Global, an online option designed for working adults who want to complete or advance their degrees. It’s a flexible way to earn a Purdue education remotely Learn about Purdue Global.

Cons:

📚 Intense Academic Pressure: Purdue is known for its rigorous academics, especially in the STEM fields. The workload can be heavy, which may not appeal to students looking for a more laid-back academic environment.

🌾 Rural Campus: Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, Purdue’s campus is somewhat isolated. While it’s a beautiful area with plenty of space, it can feel a bit removed from big-city life, with fewer cultural and entertainment options nearby Check Out West Lafayette.

💵 Cost of Out-of-State Tuition: While Purdue is more affordable for in-state students, out-of-state tuition can be quite high, especially for students coming from far away. However, there are scholarship opportunities available Tuition and Fees Info.

HEAR FROM YOUR PEERS
Mehak’s Application Tips

Are there any things in your high school journey that you look back upon and think, “Yeah, I made a great decision with that?”

Finding my passions and getting involved in clubs early was one of the best moves. Not only did I learn what I’m interested and not interested in, it taught me the value of learning from older students and mentors, who helped me navigate the sometimes overwhelming high school landscape. I also learned that progress, especially into leadership positions, takes time. Start early and have patience that it’ll work out.

Do you have an idea of what you want to study in college and how did you decide upon that?

I’ve explored a lot of different activities—whether it was joining the spirit team, getting involved in DECA (initially just for fun and the Disney trip!), or even starting my own club. Through these experiences, I found a balance between the social aspects I enjoyed and the skills I wanted to develop. I even tried speech and debate, but quickly realized public speaking wasn’t for me. What really helped me zero in on my interests was taking community college courses in biology and computer science. Trying different things has given me clarity on what I want to pursue—and what I don’t.

What are some strategies you use to balance school, extracurriculars, and college applications?

Staying organized has been crucial—I rely on Notion to plan my time and set realistic goals. It’s also important to focus on yourself and not get lost in the stress; taking breaks when needed has been a lifesaver. Finding a rhythm that works for me has made all the difference.

Our motto is why gatekeep, and as part of that, we try to share our strategies for tackling applications. Do you have a specific strategy or approach to your essay writing? What about college research?

For essays, I’ve found it helpful to reuse information and parts of previous essays when possible, but I always make sure to focus on key points and cut straight to the chase—no clichés allowed. When researching colleges, I look beyond just rankings. I dig into the resources each college offers, especially within the majors I’m interested in, and I consider how easy it is to switch or add majors.

Any final thoughts?

Subscribing to Scholar Scoops was one of my smartest decisions—I’ve gained so much insight. My biggest takeaway from this whole process? Take life one step at a time, and trust that everything will eventually work out.

DAILY DEADLINE UPDATES
Coke Scholars deadline coming up!

In the Daily Deadlines section, we will keep you updated on upcoming deadlines in the college admissions world. Remember to not procrastinate and stay ahead of these deadlines!

Coke Scholars Round 1 Deadline: September 30
University of Texas/UNC Chapel Hill Early Action Deadline: October 15
Most ED, REA & EA Deadlines: November 1

THE ARCHIVE
Looking for past mailings?

You can view all our previous posts at our website at https://scholarscoops.beehiiv.com

IDEAS COME FROM EVERYWHERE
Have an idea for the newsletter?

Is there a question you’ve been dying to have answered related to college admissions? Or, is there something just nagging you about Scholar Scoops that you want to see fixed soon? We want to hear from you. You can submit feedback at https://forms.gle/7Rj2eBCiauEc5oNV8. Thank you so much!