<p>I've heard that most colleges like to see you showing passion for your field of study by taking related courses, etc. I'm interested in engineering, but my high school doesn't offer any kind of engineering courses. I've taken one summer course related to engineering, but what do other people do to show their "passion" for engineering? Will they see my application and reject me because i've only done one engineering-related thing? Of course, I have done many math and science courses and succeeded in those, but is that enough?</p>
<p>You can take online engineering course on Coursera and show them the certificate.</p>
<p>Because engineering is not a high school subject, taking the most advanced math and science (particularly physics) available would be the way to show interest in engineering from a course selection standpoint (of course, such courses are also what you want to take to prepare for college math and science that is needed for engineering majors). Other ways to show interest in engineering would be extracurriculars like robotics and the like.</p>
<p>Of course, not all schools consider level of interest in the major or the school.</p>
<p>You may consider doing something like robot club. My D did not do anything like that and still has no problem accepted by several top engineering schools. So it should not be too much a concern in your case.</p>
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Not surprising, since most areas of engineering take 2+ years of calculus to really be able to dig into the heart of the field. And no, you don’t need to take engineering classes in HS to convince colleges you are interested in the field! Taking math and science, and doing well in them, is what they’d like to see.</p>
<p>Show that you are good at math & physics. If you are willing to take the highest level of math & science courses offered at your school and do well, that will be good enough. One with strong passion but lacking the required ability won’t be accepted to an engineering program.</p>
<p>It maybe too late for you if you are a senior if you are not, you should sign up for summer programs that are engineering, math, science related.</p>
<p>Check if there is any summer camp offered by your local engineering school. My D’s friend went to a NanoCamp at a local in state flagship engineering school one summer. She was accepted into that school this year with an ACT score significantly below the 25%. I bet that summer activity (and her gender) help her chance.</p>
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<p>This is INCORRECT. Most colleges want you to have high marks in all fields but for engineering schools, they want you to show aptitude in Sci & Math classes and do well in those sections of ACT or SAT. 90% of engineering colleges won’t give a flip if you “showed passion” by being in Robotics club or what not. My crazy-athlete daughter has no time for engineering camps or robotics clubs or whatnot. </p>
<p>She has stellar grades & scores in a top math/sci HS – and she has many nice choices of engineering pgms ahead of her. Granted, she’s not applying for MIT, Stanford or CalTech – but she’ll do fine.</p>
<p>If you take high level math and science classes and do well in those and standardized tests you will be fine. Colleges don’t expect you to take classes that aren’t’ offered in HS.</p>