<p>I'm 99% sure I want Mechanical Engineering, but I see that is a popular option. I've worked the past two summers at a Water Resources Eng. firm. Would it help my chances if I just apply as Undecided? Or hurt?</p>
<p>In this case, I’d say hurt.</p>
<p>I totally disagree that it will “hurt”. Write about what you know specifically - from your summer experience - and write about why you think mechanical engineering might suit you specifically. High school kids don’t have any idea what all is available and what’s out there based on experiences and high school curriculums. The main thing is to sell why you are interested in the broader engineering field. If your academic profile match (math/science achievement), then you can say you’re open to learning more about what’s out there…most kids change majors once they get to college anyway - it’s the same for engineers. You might be civil, you might be mechanical, you could get there and find operations research the most interesting. I’d say, PROVE you’re engineering material. Mechanical engineers take a lot of civil engineering classes the first two years (one of my sons is a mechanical engineer and I was civil, so I know). Good luck! Show passion and a specific interest in what Cornell can offer you.</p>
<p>Thanks, Swim. My hobby is working on cars (mechanical) so I can tie that to my interest in engineering, too.</p>
<p>That’s a perfect essay topic, in my opinion! It could stay just a hobby if you wound up in biomedical or computer science, but it’s the perfect topic for now. Not many kids are involved in that, so I think it would stand out.</p>
<p>It is really my passion right now but I know I don’t want to do it for a living. I’m self taught, too, which I’ll talk about. Stats are okay - 3.92 GPA W. 34 ACT, and I just earned 3 hrs credit for Calculus III at Colorado State (but got a B). So I’m hoping the application Reader is into cars!</p>