<p>I was just hoping that since an engineering major would have a built-in career path, we don't have to break our backs with spectacular ECs.</p>
<p>Let me elaborate:</p>
<p>For English/ Sociology/ many other liberal arts majors with no direct career paths, they'll need college ECs where the lead, organise, pep, co-ordinate big events.</p>
<p>Since engineering is at it's core a technical degree, our most important asset are in the actual classes in our curriculum (such as designing an electrical circuit). Does that mean we can afford more relaxing ECs like intramurals, weekly discussion clubs where members just sit around and chat. Basically just making friends and contacts for the future stuff.</p>
<p>Going for good ECs should NEVER be just for a resume in the first place anyways. If you really have a passion for something - whether it is to play in orchestra or being leader of a club, you should do it. Do what you really love and enjoy. </p>
<p>But that aside, yes, I would agree with doing fun activities for the sake of making friends outside of (and some inside) engineering. Though don’t forget - above all else - an engineer’s goal is job experience, so at the very least try to squeeze in some kind of technical job at your school possibly in something like IT, which pays VERY well or some kind of research.</p>
<p>Thanks, Man! I’ve heard much about the value of internships. Not just for future job prospects, but also to evaluate if engineering is really for you, and also what aspect of engineering you’d prefer a job in.</p>
<p>Unless you are a born event-organiser, chilling out over pizzas during a club discussion meeting is always less frenetic, less stressful and less politiking. :)</p>
<p>just to add in my two cents:
you’re more marketable as a potential employee if you also have leadership/teamwork experience. they know that you can do all these crazy calculations and optimizations, but they also wanna know that you can work well with others and actively contribute. having at least one EC like this would really help you out since it could also prove to be great interview material.</p>
<p>This is not college admissions, many employers could truthfully careless about what ECs you have. I rather have more time to focus on school and on interns than do ECs.</p>
<p>^I’m kinda with you on that, Juggernaut. An employer does not look at ‘fluffy qualitative wonder and well-roundedness’ like college adcoms do.</p>
<p>Captain of chess team, and also organised a beauty pageant for silver-haired ladies to promote inner-beauty? Many of these ECs, while outstanding and unique for college adcoms, translate into no direct economic value for employers who just want you to churn out output.</p>