The best option is to start a self created project. I know these are particularly hard to start in the engineering field, and take weeks to actually put into practice. If you tried coding you might have better luck. Projects in coding, such as making a game or app, are easier to start because you don’t need other people to start these projects. They highlight initiative, focusing more on skill than a lot of other activities. Just make sure to choose a project wisely.
I’m not a huge fan of rankings but it may not be a bad place to start forming a general list, the top-10 aerospace undergrad from US News:
MIT
GTech
Michigan
Purdue
Stanford
Cal Tech
Illinois
Maryland- CP
Texas - Austin
Princeton
If you can narrow down to one of penn/rice/brown, apply there early, if you don’t get in, you can apply to a couple of the schools in the top-10 list. Purdue is supposed to have a top notch aero engineering program.
@collegeboundprogrammer I’ve actually been working on a game lately – does it really matter whether it’s successful or not? I figured it’d be pretty cool to get the experience and put something on the App Store, but I never considered it worth mentioning in my application.
@theloniusmonk That’s actually really helpful – thank you! I’ll be applying to nearly all of those schools, so at least I’ll have matches and safeties that will allow me to make the choice of mechanical vs. aerospace later on.
It does matter whether the app is successful or not: it shows that you are dedicated and you have skills.
From my experience, making an app and putting it on the app store takes a lot of time. Learning how to code the platform, coming up with an idea, designing the app, implementing, and (especially) dealing with bugs takes a LOT of time. But if you have the patience and the drive, go for it.
If you are willing to do some graphic design, then try making a computer game in either Gamemaker (for 2D games) or Unity (for 3D games). From my experience, they are a lot easier to get started.
I like all options, and I am doing all three (Gamemaker, React Native for Android, and Unity). Good luck!
I think you have good chances at these three schools, esp. w/ ED. I think that if you can make your essays compelling and interesting, you will increase your chances even more. Especially because you don’t need FA, ED seems like a good choice. If you are having a tough time deciding, research the school, visit if you can, and talk to people who know you and the school(s) well.
If you could chance me back, that would be great:
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1998481-chance-me-for-top-lacs-and-ivies-p2.html