@lookingforward Thank you for your tips! I am trying to get more CS/eng experience, like CS/eng summer programs, community outreach programs, and learning coding on my own, but I’m not doing anything phenomenal like programming apps on the Apple Store or doing robotics international competitions. Hopefully that will suffice for mid-tier/decent unis.
@svlab112 Congrats to her! 
Thank you for sharing !
First question: what math or science activities does your hs offer? CS and engineering are collaborative fields and the top colleges want to see this collaborative stem experience. Not just home, learning umpteen languages. And they like to see how you use skills. Not just practice books. Not just web design.
You don’t need to program apps (it’s common enough not to be any tip) or do intl competitions.
@lookingforward WYSE (IL and MO STEM competition), Math Team, Robotics Team, and CS Club.
I am in all except for math team since I do not like competitive math. I am Pres of CS Club. Hoping to make varsity Robotics team this year, as well as WYSE State team.
Can’t speak for other colleges, but 1/3 of the CS freshman did not have any (or much) of a coding experience at CMU in the beginning.
IME, things that they care about:
0: GPA, obviously
1: Math grades
2: Physics grade(s)
3: Statistics grade, if you have taken it. ( DO take this at the local JC if you can )
4: Extracurricular activities/are you a well rounded person/are in a club/student leadership/etc.
(translation - works well with others)
Prior experience is not often considered as they figure that they will be (re)teaching you things “their way” anyways. 