shanithebird

I plan on majoring in civil engineering as an undergraduate. I have not been involved in any science-related ECs (though I'm planning on joining science olympiad my senior year, which is this upcoming school year) and I'm wondering if that will hurt my chances at colleges, especially the more prestigious ones like UC Berkeley, Stanford, MIT, etc.

NeoDymium

Top ones yes, lower ones not so much.
Berkeley/Stanford/MIT have enough applicants to be able to afford to be picky.

Vladenschlutte

I can tell you at Michigan, a top-10 for Engineering, hardly anyone had science ECs in high school. I don't know about the tippy top schools, but you don't have to go far down in the rankings before it's not expected.

terenc

No. As long as you have good non-engineering extracurriculars, you should be fine. MIT and Stanford do not admit students to specific engineering "schools", they admit you to the school as a whole.

Berkeley does have a separate admissions "box" for College of Engineering students, so it might be a factor.

ucbalumnus

Berkeley College of Engineering has a threshold for each major and admits them declared in their major*, unlike Berkeley College of Letters and Science which evaluates all of its applicants in a common pool without regard to major and admits them all undeclared.

*Engineering undeclared is a "major" for admission purposes, and may be more competitive in freshman admission than many of the declared engineering majors.

boneh3ad

Other than MIT, Stanford and Caltech, it's probably a nonissue. I know at places like Michigan, Purdue and Illinois they won't care at all as long as you weren't blatantly lazy, and even then they still might not care.

terenc

Seriously.... Stanford is strong in humanities too. Stanford is not just a science/engineering school.

boneh3ad

I am not sure anyone here implied anything to the contrary.

terenc

Implying that not having science ECs would be an issue for Stanford.

Having strong non-science extracurricular activities (debate, business, community service, student govt, sports, etc), is perfectly fine for a school like Stanford.

lookingforward

Don't forget that the Common App asks you to list two probable majors. This helps frame adcoms' read on you. Having math-science ECs is one way you prove your interest, comprehension and readiness. Trust me, the competition will have these. Robotics, Olympiad, math bowl, some outside experience, etc. If any supp questions ask about your experience (more or less,) you can't be yet another engineeing wanna be who writes about Discovery Channel and Legos.

Non-math-sci are good; they show you're well-rounded, have a variety of interests. They can't be the whole story, with so much competition.

boneh3ad

You can think what you want terenc. You are obviously smarter at reading into what I really said than I am.

shanithebird

Ah, ok. So my ECs are:
Marching Band (2009-2013): Co-section leader (2011-2013)
Band Council (2012-2013): Co-President
Invisible Children Club (2011-2012): President
Knitting Needles for Knitting Needles Club (2011-2013): President
CSF (2011-2013)
Hospice of the Valley Volunteers (2012-2013)

I am interested in joining Science Olympiad next year, but I'm worried I might have my plate full. What would you recommend that I do to explore the sciences more and prove that I like it, other than taking classes?

terenc

Thank you.

shanithebird

Let's not bicker.