If the thought of designing bridges, developing cutting-edge technologies, or creating innovative solutions to real-world problems gets your heart racing, you're on the right path to pursuing an undergraduate engineering degree. But with the competitive nature of engineering programs, it's essential to navigate your journey with purpose and strategy. And look, you’re also probably interested in the top programs out there, like Stanford, Berkeley, Michigan, Duke, and Georgia Tech, which means you’ll need not just amazing grades and scores, but a slate of impressive extracurriculars that show your dedication to engineering. Here's your guide on how to prepare for the exciting world of engineering:
9th Grade Summer Plans: Computer Science Major
Everyone thinks of summers spent in the great outdoors — and we sure hope you’re doing cannonballs into the lake and eating ice cream every night — but if you’re an aspiring computer science major you’re probably going to want to spend some quality time inside, too. Actually, scratch that — you can go frolic in a meadow if you bring your laptop and a hotspot with you.
Rejected from Harvard Restricted Early Action 2023
Receiving that deflating rejection letter from your dream school during the Early Decision phase can be really disheartening. You’ve poured your heart, soul, sweat, and tears into becoming a standout candidate. It’s really important to keep in mind that this outcome doesn’t reflect your value or your potential. You still have a bright future ahead. College admissions have become incredibly tough. I mean, Harvard’s acceptance rate is about 3%. (3!!!) And by the way, a rejection from Harvard doesn’t mean you’re not a qualified candidate for other Ivy League universities. So, don’t get too discouraged.
Best Extracurricular Activities for Undergraduate Business School
Finance, entrepreneurship, marketing, management: there are so many different parts of business and chances are, you’re interested in at least one of them. With so many potential business-y paths for you to go down, you’re probably overwhelmed on just exactly how to build an application that proves you’re cut out for business school. We’ve got your back, just keep reading.
Best Economics Extracurriculars for High School Students
If you’d rather talk about "fiscal policy," "market forces," and the mysteries of supply and demand than catch up on the latest hot goss, you’re in the right place. We’re guessing you want to study econ in college, but you might not know exactly how to kick off your journey. Not to worry, we've got your back, and we're here to lay out the game plan.
Impressive High School Internships in Computer Science
The college application process can be very competitive. We advise our students to get ahead by developing an academic area of expertise throughout high school; a brand, if you will. This should be a specific area of interest around which your extracurriculars and classes align. If you’re interested in computer science and plan on applying to a related program, we have some advice on how to land a great internship.
Rejected from USC Early Action 2023
We know it doesn’t feel great to get rejected from your top-choice school. You spent a lot of time working to get in and really envisioned yourself there. Before we go any further, we want to make sure you know that it’s not personal. Like, really! College admissions are insanely competitive these days.
How to Write the Santa Clara Supplement 2023-2024
Santa Clara University is a private, mid-sized Jesuit university in, you guessed it, Santa Clara, CA, aka Silicon Valley. SCU is best known for its business and engineering programs. They have extended their test-optional policy through 2024, and in previous years, only around 41% of admitted students submitted test scores. Their acceptance rate has fallen to around 44%, with their business and engineering schools typically being more competitive than their school of arts and sciences.
9th Grade Summer Plans: English Major Edition
Remember 1972, when rock legend Alice Cooper infamously sang, “School’s out for summer! School’s out forever!?” Well, while we love the liberatory spirit and undeniably sick electric guitar backing this song, we are here to be the voice of reason and say: No, Alice Cooper, that’s not true. Think of the children! School’s out for summer — but school is not out forever.
How to Write the Washington and Lee Supplement 2023-2024
Washington and Lee is a liberal arts university in Lexington, Virginia. With only around 2,000 undergrads, this small school sits between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Allegheny Mountains. What we are trying to say is the area is gorgeous. The name of the college comes from George Washington, the school’s first significant benefactor, and unfortunately, Robert E. Lee… yes, Confederate general Robert E Lee was a former president of the college… However, W&L has become a far more accepting place since the 1800s.
Deferred by Yale — Now What? (2023-24)
You’ve been deferred by Yale, and that’s a major bummer. It’s ok to sink into your couch and eat a pint of ice cream while drowning in self-pity. Once you hit the bottom of the pint, though, it’s time to get to work. There are things to do. Yale doesn’t just defer people for fun, after all, and they didn’t defer you because they don’t want to disappoint you. They made the choice for a reason, and now the ball is in your court.
Best Common App Essay about a Job
We have many rules of thumb when it comes to writing an excellent Common App essay. That’s because we take all of our clients’ writing—every word that they put on an application—very seriously. College admissions have gotten to be incredibly competitive, verging on absurd. And whether or not you think it’s morally correct that it’s so hard to get into an elite school these days, if that’s where you want to go, you have to stand out above thousands of other qualified applicants.
Impressive High School Internships in Business
We advise all of our clients to develop an academic area of expertise throughout high school. This should be highly specific. For example, politics is too broad, but American policy or local government is a good start. If you’re interested in business, you should make sure your classes and your extracurriculars align. Get specific. Finance, entrepreneurship, and tech are all good possibilities. Next, your goal should be to land an internship where you can actually be involved and work. It doesn’t help much (for your resume or your development) if you’re at a major investment bank but you’re just getting coffee all summer.
Deferred by Stanford — Now What? (2023-24)
You got the news, and it isn’t what you wanted. Stanford deferred your early application to the regular decision pool, and now you have to wait to see what happens and submit a bunch of applications you probably weren’t planning to send. It’s frustrating and bruising, we know, but after you take a moment to wallow in your disappointment, there’s work to be done — and we are here to help.
How to Write the SMU Supplement 2023-2024
Southern Methodist University, often called SMU, is a private research university in Dallas, Texas. SMU is surprisingly non-sectarian in its teaching… aka not as methodist as its name suggests. The school has become more buzzy over the years, partially for its undergraduate business school and campus traditions. They have extended their test-optional policy for another year and have around a 47% acceptance rate.
Rejected from Duke Early Decision
Getting rejected can be really awful. We know you had your heart set on Duke, but it’s important to remember that the college admissions process is extremely competitive. So much so that Duke’s acceptance rate is about 6% these days. That’s crazy low! The good news is, things aren’t hopeless. You’re still going to get in and go somewhere great. Yes, it’s going to take a bit more work, but you can do it. (And a lot of the work is already done). Here are our tips on what to do next:
Deferred by Harvard — Now What? (2023-24)
If you’ve been deferred by Harvard, you are not alone. Harvard is notorious at this point for deferring an enormous percentage of early admission applicants. While most elite colleges with early admissions programs, like early decision and early action, only defer students they are seriously considering for the next freshman class, the statistics Harvard has released on early admission suggest that they take a very different approach.
How to Get Into Undergrad Biology
THE MITOCHONDRIA IS THE POWERHOUSE OF THE CELL!! If this rallying cry excites you (instead of triggering fearful flashbacks to middle school science), then you’re in the right place. You've set your sights on pursuing a biology major in college, but you might be feeling a bit uncertain about where to kickstart your journey. We got you.
Rejected from Michigan Early Decision 2023
Getting rejected from your dream school can be really tough. We want you to know that admissions are really competitive. In fact, the admissions rate for the University of Michigan is only 18%, and that includes in state. It’s a lot harder now than it was a generation ago. Additionally, we have some thoughts on what you should do next and in the run-up to your next round of applications.
How to Write the TCU Supplement 2023-2024
TCU, or Texas Christian University, is a private research university in Fort Worth, Texas. The school is popular for its Greek life, sports culture, and school spirit. While the school is Christian (c'mon, it’s right in the name,) you do not have to be Christian to attend. You are not required to go to the on-campus Chappel or participate in school Christian events; however, you must take one religious studies course to graduate. The school has about 10k undergrads and has extended its test-optional program through 2025. Last year, they had a 41% acceptance rate.