Undergraduate
Studies Program Young Hall, 8th Floor
302 Wood Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2108
Phone: (765) 494-0843
Fax: (765) 496-1139
E-mail: usp@purdue.edu E-mail web site administrator
What are the advantages
of starting in the Undergraduate Studies Program?
If you are very interested in a certain area, especially when
it is part of a more selective school/college, we recommend
that you apply to that school/college directly. But if you
are interested in many different areas and want extra guidance
in developing academic and career goals, the Undergraduate
Studies Program is for you. For undecided students at the
beginning of their college careers, USP provides the best
guidance and the broadest overview of the range of academic
and career possibilities. We can help take the guesswork out
of choosing a major.
When
do USP students transfer to a degree-granting school/college?
USP students have up to four semesters to decide on a major,
but it generally doesn't take that long. Most students transfer
to a degree-granting school/college during their second semester
or at the beginning of their third semester.
Will
all of my credit hours count if I start at Purdue as a USP
student?
First-year students take introductory courses that are required
regardless of their Purdue major. All new students to USP (freshmen and transfer) also take EDPS 105 - Academic and Career Planning. Your academic advisor will
help you to explore courses that may fulfill requirements
for a specific major, so that once you declare a major, you
will have already completed some of the required coursework.
What
are the opportunities for honors programs?
USP students participate in the campus-wide University Honors Program (UHP). Each year, incoming students who meet the miminum requirements for acceptance in the University Honors Program are invited to apply for admission. USP freshmen who were not invited or accepted into the University Honors Program as incoming students have the opportunity late Spring semester to apply to be admitted as sophomores. Contact USP for more information.
USP students are also eligible to take
Purdue honors courses. First
semester students registering for these courses should be
in the upper 10 percent of their high school graduating class
or have an SAT score of 1150+ or an ACT score of 26+. Current
Purdue students or transferring college students enrolling
in honors classes should have at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0
scale. As a USP student, you can also earn and benefit from
University honors such as Semester Honors or the Dean's List.
Once you transfer to a degree-granting school/college, further
opportunities are available, including:
USP Ambassadors are students enrolled in USP who represent
the program at orientation and admissions programs throughout
the year. Ambassadors share their experiences with prospective
students who are undecided about their choice of major. The
program allows USP students to help other students, create
new friendships, and acquire leadership experience.
Can
I still receive assistance if I'm dissatisfied with a major
I chose?
Yes. In fact, approximately 35 percent of Purdue students
change majors at least once. The counseling staffs of all
schools/colleges, as well as the Center for Career Opportunities,
help students during the ongoing decision-making process.
Can
transfer students be admitted to USP?
Yes. Students are allowed to transfer into USP, but
the policy regarding how long they are eligible to remain in USP is different. The transfer student is allowed
to take either 60 credits with USP, or an overall total of
95 credit hours (including transfer credits), whichever limit
occurs first. All transfer students in USP are required to take EDPS 105 - Academic and Career Planning. The Office of Admissions is in charge of reviewing transfer student applications.
