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  ege-admissions-4-tips-for-college- admissions-acceptance-month/ ege-admissions-4-tips-for-college- admissions-acceptance-month/  Commonapp.org