Page 36 - Engineering Career Guide, 4th Edition

getting in strategies
PL LANNING AHEAD
et’s say you’ve decided to apply to engineering students have the right stuff. So, joining a robotics com- schools. Here’s your checklist: A strong academic petition though FIRST or Vex is a good idea. Plus, it’s fun! record and good SAT scores. Heartfelt letters of rec- Don’t overlook Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. The scouts
ommendation from teachers. A well-written essay. But how can you set yourself apart from other students?
First, show your interest in engineering by taking pre- engineering courses like those offered by Project Lead the Way, if your school offers them.
Marian M. Nicoletti, senior associate director of Trans- fer Admissions at the Rochester Institute of Technology, told us that beyond academics, top engineering schools look at extracurricular activities to determine which
who achieve the highest ranks — Eagle Scout or Gold Award — will have worked on a substantial community service project, which Nicoletti says, is “looked at very favorably.”
But any kind of community service is a plus. Examples include: volunteering as a Big Brother or Big Sister, tutor- ing other students, and volunteering in nursing homes. Nicoletti also notes that any part-time job is considered good experience. And a big thumbs-up for activities in
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