What to do in High School and How to get into College

Take a look at what you enjoy doing. Do you like building stuff? Working with robots? Computers? Science?

Start career searches through websites like myfuture.com or COIN library to see what looks fun and interesting

Remember to look at other options- you might have your mind set on mechanical engineering but realize that helping the environment through environmental engineering is more your thing

Use your high school years to explore!!!

Look for opportunities in the field you are interested in –volunteer at a science center, enter a science fair or robotics competition, or join an engineering club!

If you are really interested in a field ask teachers and guidance consolers if they know places where you can internship or job shadow- seeing what a real person does is different than seeing a job description on paper!

If you want to be an engineer, math and science classes really help!

Computer programming is also becoming more common and necessary for an engineer Classes like CAD (computer aided draft) are also useful tools for

engineers If you plan on working around the world,

getting a head start with foreign language classes will also help in college and beyond!

Think about what you want from a school. Do you want a big school or smaller one? One that allows you to co-op (internship) during the year, or one that lets you travel abroad?

Search places like collegeboard, which allows you a customizable search of schools with your preferences

Visit a college, sit in on classes, or stay overnight-you want to get a feel if you think you will be thee the next four years

Most schools use the Commonapp application, which allows you to use the same information for multiple schools

However, many schools still have supplemental/extra essays. Don’t forget these! (And always write something that you are passionate about- the reader can tell.)

Alert your consular if you have applied on commonapp, so they know to upload your transcript.

Finally, make sure you revise your essays! Colleges don’t want to see silly spelling mistakes, and many parents and teachers are willing to help!

If you fall in love with a place, remember there are options like Early Decision and Early Action

Both allow you to apply earlier than regular decision and express your interest in the school, however Early Decision is binding, while Early Action is not

Many schools (such as NYU) allow students to complete a three years liberal arts/science degree, then spend another two years to get a masters in engineering

Other schools allow co-ops, where, for a semester or two, students take an internship instead of taking normal classes

Don't let rejections control your life. To "allow other people's assessment of you to determine your own self-assessment is a very big mistake," –Lee Bollinger

Make sure you have a least one or two “safety” schools that you wouldn’t mind going to. There is no shame in having a backup plan.

Pay careful attention to the deadline by which you must accept the admission offer-usually May 1.

Don’t get senioritis! –It may make colleges think twice!

According to US News, the top engineering schools are:

1.Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2. Stanford University 3. University of California- Berkeley 4. California Institute of Technology 5. Georgia Institute of Technology

1.Harvey-Mudd College 2.Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology 3.United States Military Academy 4.Cooper Union 5.California Polytechnic State University- San Luis

Obispo

Realize that you do not need to get a PhD just yet-your grad school and undergraduate may be completely different!

Nor do you have to get into the best school!

Check your college’s website first to see school specific scholarships. (Or your high school’s guidance office.)

Remember to fill out your FAFSA-many schools won’t offer aid unless you complete this!

Use sites like fastweb.com to search for other scholarships available- it never hurts to try, and it could save you money!

There is also work/study options, which allows a student to create a work schedule around their classes.

PWSEC.wikispaces.com has more information on competitions and summer opportunities

US News has college information, rankings, as well as some tips and tricks for surviving college

Collegeboard.com Fastweb.com http://www.golocalprov.com/lifestyle/coll

ege-admissions-4-tips-for-college-admissions-acceptance-month/

Commonapp.org