<p>I have a good GPA and tests scores, but my extracurriculars aren't as great as those of many others on this site. I'm planning to do engineering, and I'd like to know if I have any chance of getting into the following schools:</p>
<p>MIT
Caltech
Any other U.S. school that are excellent for engineering</p>
<p>I write well, so the essays shouldn't be a problem. GPA: 3.9 unweighted SAT: 2300
ECs: Black belt in tae kwon doe, volunteer work at the local hospital, volunteer in the local rescue squad, soon-to-be-certified EMT, Math Honor Society, Science Honor Society, going to be attending the Upenn Biomedical Research academy this summer.</p>
<p>I'd like to know if it's possible to get into good engineering schools without strong extracurriculars. I'd imagine that they don't put too much emphasis on them, but I don't really know.</p>
<p>From what I’ve heard, Caltech is extremely stats-based in its admissions so I think you can get into Caltech without great extracurriculars. I’m not sure about MIT but I’d think for engineering schools you don’t need particularly unique EC’s. Just make sure your EC’s show some continuity and passion for engineering/science. Also, a bit of leadership or initiative couldn’t hurt. You need to stand out somehow–there are many kids who apply each year with excellent stats.</p>
<p>Many of the best engineering programs in the country are at public universities where your ECs don’t matter at all, and the only things that are considered in the admission process are your grades and your ACT/SAT exam scores.</p>
<p>Are you male or female? Female has a slight edge at these tech schools.</p>
<p>I am male. I, too, have noticed that there are a lot of great programs for females who are interested in engineering. Are there any other particular stat-focused engineering schools that you guys would recommend?</p>
<p>“without very good extracurriculars”
yeah, your EC’s are horrible (sarcasm hand) -_-</p>
<p>Well, my ECs definitely aren’t horrible, but they’re not nearly as good as those of many of my classmates. I have a friend who was the president of at least four clubs at school and went to the governor’s school and got into Harvard and the Upenn jerome fisher program. I’m also sorely lacking in any kind of leadership activity. That’s why I was wondering if what I had was enough.</p>
<p>I forgot to mention it earlier, but the reason I mentioned that friend is that he was rejected by MIT.</p>
<p>You need a higher SAT score for Caltech. 2300 is astounding, I know I sound like a heretic. But, for caltech, you need to be 2350+ because scores are everything to them</p>
<p>Is that really true? Even if Caltech really likes high scores, a 2300 really ought to be enough. I could probably get a higher score if I retook the SAT in October, but I would rather not put myself through the stress of it. My math score was an 800, by the way.</p>
<p>Your ecs are fine. I had a fraction of that, and I got into a very good uni.</p>
<p>I agree with Jenga. A 2300 is excellent but if you have the time and ability to get above a 2350, take the SAT a second time. It’s really not that stressful to take it again and it would definitely help you, especially with Caltech admissions. Here’s a thread that made me think differently about the nuances of scores above 2300:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/865226-addressing-few-concerns.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/865226-addressing-few-concerns.html</a></p>
<p>Some perspective as a Caltech admittee:</p>
<p>Numbers seem more important at Caltech than other schools. In fact, I would posit that the unhooked candidate with high grades and high test scores will have the best shot at Caltech than other top schools. In addition, Caltech decisions are far more predictable than other top schools (IMO, atleast). </p>
<p>However, just coming back from PFW at Caltech I can also say that practically no one without research, science/math awards or other truly unique and developed (probably quirky) talents or hobbies was admitted. Also, for what it is worth, the admitted students I met at Caltech all had an aura of brilliance about them. </p>
<p>But in terms of what level of score you will need, the answer is score as high as you can in 2 or 3 attempts at the SAT as well as as high as possible on the SAT IIs. In the end, higher scores will only help you. Finally, addressing your actual topic, I do not think you have a good shot at Caltech as I cannot see any real commitment to science in your ECs. Your most impressive accomplisment that you listed was effectively the UPENN thing which I’ve heard is not competitive at all.</p>
<p>Still, if you’ve won math or science awards and are passionate about science/math, then excuse my previous evaluation as you would then be qualified for admission.</p>
<p>You’re probably right, Original. Science is my passion, but I had been considering a career in medicine for most of my time in high school, which is why I did the EMT thing. I don’t have any awards or anything like that. I guess Caltech will have to be my “reach” school. I applied to a bunch of summer programs, but only got into the Upenn one, which is not good. I have also applied to the Columbia Science Honors Program for next year, though. I’m pretty confident that I’ll get in, so hopefully that will help. I’ll have to consider retaking the SAT, I suppose. Oh, well. California’s really far away, anyway.</p>