What if youve done somthing real?

Applying to College
1

<p>I was just wondering if admissions consider things done outside the scope of extracurricular activities, standardized test scores, essays and grades. For example for my job I've had to create a java based GUI that connects some fortran based research models that are used by BSU's civil engineering department to monitor waterflow in the snake river basin, and then based on the results allocate water resources to things like recreation, industrial and municipal use, and power needs. Basically it makes their modeling quicker, easier and user friendly.</p>

<p>Assuming that this GUI actually works as intended and does a good job would any college admissions actually give a crap about it? I'm really curious as to how real life, "tangible," accomplishments are factored into admissions decisions because it seems to me that clubs and activities, while important, can create somewhat of a facade as to how capable someone in "real life situations". AKA people that just join clubs to put them on their application and then dont actually participate.</p>

<p>Anyone tossing in their two cents would be greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>PS sorry in advance about bad spelling and the over-usage of commas, its been known to happen :P</p>

2

<p>It means you may have a chance at top schools along with all the researcher, book-writers, and other prodigies.</p>

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<p>So admissions offices actually care about that sort of thing?</p>

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<p>I think projects like these are more impressive than being a member of 25 clubs, or quadruple-checking your work so you get an A+ instead of an A in all your classes (the students’ views in that thread are a little warped wrt that). I’m pretty sure college admissions offices agree with me.</p>

5

<p>Yes, yes. This is very important and you should write about it and possibly get a recommendation from BSU to vouch for it, too.</p>

<p>I actually find it pretty sad (not on your part, OP, but on the whole process) that someone has to wonder whether their actual, impressive accomplishment means more than being a nominal member of a bunch of clubs and playing a sport.</p>

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<p>A LOR written by your BSU supervisor should reflect your contributions to the project you mentioned above. Additionally, you can expand on your personal essay what you have learned or gained from this work experience. The success of the model is not important, what is important is your experience and knowledge gain from the process. Good luck.</p>

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<p>You sure impressed me! If you don’t include it in your apps, you are an idiot…which you clearly are NOT…so include it!!! ;)</p>

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<p>why would adcoms care whether or not you did something meaningful? </p>

<p>silly question!</p>

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<p>You wrote it in Java. Telling them might damage your chances of admission.</p>

<p>Just kidding - it sounds like a great thing to put in. It could be a grea source for recommendations too.</p>

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<p>haha thanks for the feedback, yea i was just worried because whenever i read the posts about people with 2400 SATs, Straight As and 20+ Clubs and the like, they never list anything that they have actually “done,” so i wasn’t entirely sure how important stuff like my java GUI is, also i haven’t looked very closely at this but I’ve just never really seen a place for your real world experience in the list of things you should have for a college app.</p>

<p>Glad to know that this will be more then just a summer job</p>