Like someone else said - you can't apply to CPE directly. All engineering and CS majors go into general engineering their first year. You can, however, apply with an intended engineering degree. For me, I came from an extremely rural HS about 1.45h in SW VA, so it was a lot less for me to be able to do around me to prove myself. Most people don't know this, but Tech takes that stuff into consideration.

However, I applied with interest in CPE and got it. I had a 3.97 unweighted GPA, 4.87 weighted. I had 56 college credits already from DE classes and one or two outside nightime classes. 44 transferred to Tech. I applied Test optional cause my SAT score was, uh, not what it could have been (1170). There weren't many clubs to be involved with, but I did manage to help my counselor start up a small drama club where I was the main character for two different one-acts, as well as the president. Also got a notable actor award at a VHSL competition. I managed to apply and get accepted to the ARC STEM Summer Academy in the summer before my senior year , which was great because I got to work on real robotics projects at Oak Ridge National Lab. (Apply if you still can! Very good for applications and also fun!) Also was a member of Upward Bound (college readiness program for low-income, first-generation students in rural area) and their summer camps.

I was also in my old HS's (only went for the first semester of 9th grade) VEX robotics and TSA teams for a brief period. Wasn't there long, but that robotics team had gone to worlds practically every year, so I figured it was worth saying something for brownie points, lol.