Page 36 - Engineering Career Guide for UT Austin

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getting in strategies
have the right stuff. So, joining a robotics competition
though FIRST or Vex is a good idea. Plus, it’s fun!
Don’t overlook Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. The scouts
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, tutoring
other students, and volunteering in nursing homes. Nico-
letti also notes that any part-time job is considered good
experience. And a big thumbs-up for activities in music,
Let’s say you’ve decided to apply to engineering
schools. Here’s your checklist: A strong academic
record and good SAT scores. Heartfelt letters of
recommendation 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 Transfer
Admissions at the Rochester Institute of Technology, told
us that beyond academics, top engineering schools look
at extracurricular activities to determine which students
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