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@Maame
0 answers, 0 votes
 • 4 years ago •
Admissions Advice
[edited]

Extracurriculars to get into Elite universities?
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I am planning on majoring in computer science and engineering and minoring in programming but I am going to grade ten and I am getting worried about what to put at extracurriculars mainly because most of the competitions I have done aren’t technologically based. I have been creating a lot of websites and want to know if I can put that under extracurricular. Apart from that I only have computer club to put there. All other awards and activities are language and writing based. I want to find out if I should get into more programs and competitions on STEM or if it is okay to apply to elite universities such as MIT, Stanford, Caltech, Georgia Tech and Cornell with the activities I am doing currently in the future.

computerscience
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elite
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extracuriculars
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@rrapan
1 answer, 2 votes
 • 4 years ago

CS is all about Math. You probably want to focus on Math competitions and extra-hard Math courses (Calculus BC, Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra) as part of your academics. For CS itself, there are competitions such as USACO, which could be beneficial. If you do exceptionally well, then you could be invited to the International Olympiad (just like USAMO to the IMO). Also shoot for the AMC, AIME, USAMO, IMO route. A good AIME score goes a long way at MIT, Stanford, etc.

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[🎤 AUTHOR]@Maame4 years ago

Thank you very much!

[🎤 AUTHOR]@Maame4 years ago [edited]

I have been doing some math competitions but I want to find out if I can put some websites I have created and clubs at the extracurricular options or should I ignore those. I forgot to add I want to major in computer science and engineering :)

@drewisgooden4 years ago

I would say that it all depends on how much time you've spent in said clubs, what you've contributed, etc. If you did not really participate much or spend lots of time in those clubs, then I would make space for another EC. However, if you have dedicated lots of time to those clubs and/or have contributed to them in a significant way, then it definitely deserves a place on your list of EC's!

@drewisgooden4 years ago [edited]

Regarding the websites you created -- considering the fact that this is in the context of applying to elite universities -- I would list them down only if they gained an impressive amount of followers/people using them. What (specifically) elite colleges are impressed by is you creating something that is impactful and reaches other people -- ideally, lots of other people.

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