<p>I'm a HS sophomore with a 4.0 in all honors and AP classes at a large suburban HS. I got a 35 on my first try at the ACT and am an Eagle Scout - and play 2 JV sports but am no hot shot athlete by any means. I want to pursue an engineering major but I'm just not a club/activity guy. I know my lack of EC's will ruin my chances of some top schools, but any suggestions of great engineering schools in the midwest or northeast that will overlook the lack of EC's? </p>
<p>When it comes down to it, pretty much only the ivies will be affected by lack of EC’s with your scores and GPA. You probably won’t get into any of those because everyone else applying will have your stats and additional things. Pretty much any other school you should be able to get into. There are great schools like Tufts, Purdue, U Michigan, etc that are extremely good for engineering and you’ll most likely get into. </p>
<p>What state do you live in? With these stats, you’d likely make the Honors College at your State Flagship.
Colleges actually prefer students who do a few things in depth (as Eagle Scout indicates). Just one more EC where you’re a founder or leader and you should be fine. Can you start a FIRST Robotics club, for instance?
As for now, look into:
RIT, Rose Hulman, WPI, RPI, Stevens, SD School of Mines, Colorado School of Mines, CalPoly SLO, CWRU.
And as super reaches, why not CMU, CalTech, Olin…?
For your current stats, you’d automatically get into College of Engineering and Honors College at UAlabama, with full tuition and $2,500 stipend, plus a chance to compete for one of the honors-within-honors classes.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry so much about ECs even at top colleges. Eagle Scout is a great EC: it shows commitment, leadership and community service. That’s one.</p>
<p>JV Sports is good. That’s one and a half. You should think about what you like to do when you’re not in class and how you could parlay that into an unorthodox EC. </p>
<p>EC’s do not have to be school related – like student government, varsity sports or clubs. They can be personal – like art, inventing, bird watching – something that you care about. A part time job can even be an EC of sorts.</p>
<p>You’re only a sophomore so you’ve enough time to ratchet up involvement in an activity that interests you. Then it’s up to you to communicate this interest and involvement in your application by way of essays, recommendations and resumes.</p>
<p>I don’t think your limited ECs will “ruin your chances” at top engineering programs, but all the same, have a balanced list of reach/match/safety.</p>