<p>For example, the CoE’s for UMich, UIUC, and Purdue, and GA Tech as well. </p>
<p>Google the Common Data Set for each and look at section C7.</p>
<p>Completely depends on the school, which is why you should follow the above recommendation.</p>
<p>As a general rule of thumb, ECs tend to be more important the higher up you go on the selectivity scale and and also tend to be more important at private vs. public schools.</p>
<p>With schools using holistic evaluations, EC may be less important if you have strength in other areas. My D did not have much EC (1 club, no sport, no leading role, but 200 hours volunteering plus piano and orchestra) and she was accepted by UMich, Purdue, and UIUC (did not apply GA Tech) engineering.</p>
<p>@billcsho If you don’t mind answering, what were your daughter’s stats and which year did she get accepted? Just curious. </p>
<p>I’m a senior in High School, and EC’s are pretty important, if you’re taking robotics, or any other engineering related stuff, it shows that you’re determined to study in the field of Engineering, but most likely kids who are applying there have that down, making it difficult for Admissions to choose on who to admit. Best of Luck! </p>
<p>ECs are most heavily considered at selective universities where they are used to differentiate high-achieving applicants.</p>
<p>Some schools like the UC’s, even UCB or UCLA, are highly ranked and selective. However, history has shown they are not very holistic in their admissions processes and tend to admit very high GPA/test score applicants. However, similar peer institutions like USC are more holistic in their application processes, meaning they take into account at a greater magnitude your ECs and other activities.</p>
<p>Varies school by school. check common data set</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>For those schools, probably not much. They probably more focus on GPA, test scores, high school curriculum and maybe ranking.</p>
<p>They may look closely at the math ACT/SAT score and whether you took calculus and physics in high school (and your grades)</p>
<p>Are you instate for any of those schools? If not, then ask your parents if they’ll pay. UIUC and Purdue are lousy with aid. UMich is sometimes generous. GT isn’t generous either. </p>
<br>
<br>
<p>UW GPA: 4.0
W GPA: 4.55
Rank: 1/225
SAT: 2050 twice (R: 610/670, M: 790/700, W: 650/680)
ACT: taking this fall, what should I aim for?
APs: Calc AB/BC (5s), English Lang. (5), Bio (3), History (3); taking 3 more senior year</p>
<p>ECs:
Math Club (president)
Physics Club (vice president)
Academic Challenge (captain)
Key Club
Participated in multiple competitions for math/science
Doing research with physics teacher (might have something published soon)
Weightlifting
Extended range guitar
Self-teaching code (Python)</p>
<p>Work:
Calc tutor</p>
<p>Recommendations: I’m getting them from my calc teacher (PhD), bio/anatomy teacher (former doctor/surgeon), and physics teacher (PhD from Princeton)</p>
<p>Awards:
Central NJ Brain Bee Neuroscience Competition Finalist
NJSL Bio II Test certificate (top 10%)
AP Scholar with Distinction</p>
<p>Hooks: First gen. college student, low income household</p>
<p>Other: I’m about to take Calc 3 and 4 my upcoming senior year, could that give me an upper hand in regard to engineering admissions?</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>Your BIGGEST problem is that you are LOW INCOME. Purdue, UIUC, and GT will not likely be affordable. Have you run their NPC’s? Also run UMich’s. Those first 3 don’t give aid to OOS students. UMich sometimes does to students they seem to really want, but your test scores may not help with that.</p>
<p>You need a better list otherwise you’ll end up with acceptances that are unaffordable.</p>
<p>Is 1400 your best M+CR score from one sitting? </p>
<p>Just to give you an idea of how unaffordable those OOS schools are, here are the NPC results at UIUC for a 0 EFC student:</p>
<p>Estimated cost of attendance $ 49,780<br>
a. Estimated tuition and fees
b. Estimated room and board
c. Estimated books and supplies
d. Estimated other expenses
(personal expenses, transportation, etc.)
35,232
10,848
1,200
2,500 </p>
<p>Estimated grant and/or scholarship aid$ 12,445<br>
Estimated Net Price
(cost of attendance minus grant aid)$ 37,335 <<< This is the amount YOU would pay!!!</p>
<p>How you can finance the net cost (based on 2014-2015 awarding criteria)
Estimated student job: $ 2,500<br>
Estimated student loans*: $ 8,500<br>
Estimated amount that the family may need to borrow or contribute from savings and/or current earnings: $ 26,335<br>
*Loan amounts are based on freshman class standing. Transfer students may be eligible for different amounts.</p>
<p>So, you can see, these schools will not be affordable (except for maybe UMich)</p>
<p>UIUC financial aid really sucks. Purdue actually has more merit aids and also need based merit aids too. UMich does have some need based aids for low income family and that can be generous if your family income is very low.
@HumNation I will PM you the answer to your question.</p>
<p>Thanks for the answers, and @mom2collegekids , my parents have saved a lot of money for me to attend college and I fortunately have many selfless family members who are willing to help, but indeed it is true that those colleges are expensive and I’ll try to go where I can get the best bang for my buck. Thank you for posting those aid stats </p>