<p>Ok, I don't want to be that kid who joins all the clubs JUST for college apps. I like Engineering, and I want to be an engineering major, I want to join clubs that focuses on engineering and stuff. My school has like one club that focuses on engineering (FIRST robotics, it is VERY time consuming though, 2 months at around 3-4 hours a day), and then a bunch of math and science competitions (these are dominated by upperclassmen who, logically, are better at math and science). I read somewhere that it's better to do independent activities that actually matter to you than "resume padding" clubs. My "friend" who claims to know EVERYTHING about getting into top tier colleges says to do stuff like biology olympiad (I have NO interest in biology, he doesn't listen), science olympiad, etc. Pretty much he recommends ALL the resume padding stuff, and hes ignorant if anyone says that something isn't what he thinks, he's kind of a prick. Instead of doing all the stuff he recommends, what are some good things that can focus on engineering or related things. What are some good competitions like Intel/Siemens Math,Science, Engineering? </p>
<p>Can you guys help me while I do my APWH reading =p? Lol thanks.</p>
<p>Why not do the math and science club? Of course you might not win freshman year but you can train and win in your upperclassman years. If you’re just looking for engineering fun, it’s not going to be in the math and science clubs where they’ll probably be competing in the competitions you call padding. It’s not padding. It’s proving your achievements to colleges. Anyway if you’re not interested robotics is fun but it too gets competitive at higher levels. Math Olympiad, chem Olympiad, bio, physics, something I like your friend strongly advise you to compete in one of them. Then do robotics or a more laid back fun club on the side. Intel/siemens requires intense research at an institute.</p>
<p>The independent activities thing sounds like BS to me. I’d prefer someone who’s worked in groups and clubs rather than by themselves. It shows leadership (should that be where you end up), co-operation and collaboration. If that’s seen as resume padding then that’s dumb.</p>
<p>It sounds like you know what you want to do (beware: you will probably change your mind at least once during your HS career, or at least consider it), and you’ve found activities that line up with that. So go for it. But i’d also do something you think is interesting, but something that you wouldn’t really have done without stumbling on it. For me, it was ‘some random economics competition thingy’ that my friend basically forced me to do, and I loved it. Do something out of the box as well.</p>