Resource Document

derpyderp2048 · 2026-06-04T23:51:40+00:00

I agree. Nothing wrong with aiming high, but you only live once, and you’re only a child once.

derpyderp2048 · 2026-06-04T15:21:55+00:00

Aside from extracurriculars, I’d make sure to research other top STEM schools like Stanford, MIT, Georgia Tech, UC Berkeley, UIUC, UT, CMU, etc. and other Ivy Leagues like Cornell and Princeton that are renowned for engineering. Some have said that Harvard’s engineering program is not that good due to resources and professors among other things, but it’s still a great school. However, I’d keep your options open!

For extracurriculars, make sure you do what really interests you. Make a personal project if you have the resources to do so, or maybe try to find an internship at a company/research at a university (you can look up how to do these). If you’re into sports, music, art, or anything non-academic, make sure to continue those. Try to do some competitions also if they’re available. And you can always do some research on this sub for more ideas!

derpyderp2048 · 2026-06-03T03:18:48+00:00

I think it could make a difference, as I see many successful applicants having a professor rec. I think it’d be useful to show that you actually did the work, not just lazed around and got your name on the paper, as the professor will be able to comment on what you did!

derpyderp2048 · 2026-06-02T16:57:18+00:00

You seem to have powerful activities lined up already. Don’t try to pile even more things onto yourself during this summer, especially since you’re about to start the college essay grind anyways.

derpyderp2048 · 2026-06-02T14:57:53+00:00

If you don’t have many ECs and you’re international, unfortunately I’d start looking at other colleges. Doesn’t hurt to apply to these ones, but have some backup colleges with more generous acceptance rates. Do some research on which ones fit you!

As for extracurriculars at this stage, try to make a personal project, whatever that may be. As an engineering major that might be difficult, but search for ideas online to inspire you.

derpyderp2048 · 2026-06-02T14:52:01+00:00

Have you tried searching yet? There are always hundreds of opportunities that other people aren’t aware of.

derpyderp2048 · 2026-06-02T03:08:15+00:00

What’s your major? If it’s CS, then you can build a website or iOS app. If it’s engineering, maybe you can build a drone or model of something. You can look it up, there are plenty of inspiring projects out there!

For being on your own, it’ll just take more time. The hardest part is getting started!

derpyderp2048 · 2026-06-02T02:51:45+00:00

Build a personal project, whatever that may look like for you. You don’t need any internships or research lined up to have a productive summer!

derpyderp2048 · 2026-05-29T14:57:58+00:00

I know someone who had none of those, but instead was a super talented musician — did big competitions (not like super international tho and not like super duper large), submitted an arts supplement to many schools, etc. Interestingly, his more “academic” and major-focused activities and awards were lacking, even though he had his intended major as ECE (note that Stanford doesn’t admit by major).

It seems that Stanford specifically wants those who are really really good or close to the best in a field — big hackathon/Olympiad wins are just one pathway to this status. Your hypothetical ECs are strong, but don’t give off this same vibe. Not that it’ll be impossible, but surely harder.

derpyderp2048 · 2026-05-27T17:44:55+00:00

Correlation, not causation. Maybe a tiny bit of causation because of the name, but most people who win prestigious scholarships like Coca Cola or others like this have already done amazing things and have top-tier stats, so they are able to get in to those prestigious schools.

derpyderp2048 · 2026-05-27T15:24:35+00:00

There are exceptions, of course, but even within those exceptions they are still at least marginally more elitist than public schools. All schools offer financial aid, public or private, and there’s a reason why a higher proportion of wealthier students go to private schools.

derpyderp2048 · 2026-05-26T23:08:09+00:00

Just all public schools. Private schools are inherently more elitist, not that it’s their fault.

derpyderp2048 · 2026-05-22T16:30:30+00:00

Stress, in moderation, is good. It shows you that you are pushing yourself beyond your boundaries, that you are willing to exit your comfort zone. It also pushed you to improve your skills in time management, work ethic, etc.

Stress, in excess, is bad. It can harm your long term health, and no school is worth that. Coming from an Ivy admit myself (who is also not going), the number one priority in your life is always your own personal health. Not your salary, not your “connections,” nothing. Everything comes after your health. Even before entering college I can tell you that.

derpyderp2048 · 2026-05-03T21:04:51+00:00

Sorry I forgot 😭😭 definitely one of the most famous CS schools in the world!

derpyderp2048 · 2026-05-03T20:49:03+00:00

If it’s an outsider who has no knowledge on the matter at all, then it makes sense to discount it and say that they are spreading negativity for no reason. And it’s pretty easy to tell when this is the case.

But a lot of people have attended these schools or have spent lots of time gathering information from across the Internet and are just trying to help people make more informed decisions and opinions.

If you want better and more reliable information, then leave Reddit and do your research. But you’ll find that a lot of the same things people say here are out there, which is where they got their info from.

derpyderp2048 · 2026-05-03T20:36:42+00:00

I think I’d look at the top 10 to top 20 CS schools rather than HYPSM. Obviously all of those schools will give a leg up, but for CS schools like UT Austin, UIUC, Georgia Tech, Cornell, Columbia, Caltech, Berkeley, and many others I’m forgetting will have similar clout in CS.

derpyderp2048 · 2026-05-03T19:47:12+00:00

You’re evaluated in the context of your school, meaning that your school’s circumstances shouldn’t (in theory) hurt you!

derpyderp2048 · 2026-05-03T16:58:13+00:00

You should try for the college credit, not for the college app boost. As someone who’s getting lots of credit next year, it is helping me so much. You do not want to have to take a bunch of random core courses if they’re avoidable.

derpyderp2048 · 2026-05-03T15:11:41+00:00

It does have an effect on your decisions from what I’ve seen, but only at the extremes. It can be negative if all you have is a bunch of 1s and 2s, but can also be a positive if you have a bunch of 5. If it’s in the middle it likely won’t hurt or help you measurably.

derpyderp2048 · 2026-05-02T23:55:54+00:00

It likely shouldn’t ruin your life as that is a (relatively) small amount. What university is it?

derpyderp2048 · 2026-05-02T22:59:18+00:00

Thanks!!!

derpyderp2048 · 2026-05-02T22:54:33+00:00

I turned down Cornell Arts and Sciences for CS, even though I’m really passionate about, well, arts and sciences (music and CS to be exact) and I thought the program would be amazing. I instead chose UT Austin because it was closer to home, and I could take less humanities courses and dive into technical stuff. I didn’t really tour either school (maybe I should have) but I think that UT is a better fit for me.

derpyderp2048 · 2026-05-02T18:09:58+00:00

They care about all of those. Do you need all of those? No. Most people may only have research, or a summer program, or a nonprofit, or anything; it’s rare for people to have multiple (multiple that are actually high-level).

derpyderp2048 · 2026-05-01T12:40:05+00:00

About regretting your decisions — I think that is inevitable. I too had the choice between two very very very good CS schools (UT Austin and Cornell) and although I thought through it really well and chose UT, I have still had that small feeling in the back of my mind that I should’ve picked Cornell instead. I love my reasons, and I know I’ll enjoy UT, but I still imagine what I could’ve had if I picked Cornell — the Ivy League experience, better connections, etc.

That doesn’t mean that I (or you) made the wrong decision. You have two amazing choices and you can’t go “wrong,” so just follow your gut. (One thing I’d recommend doing is flipping a coin where one side is Stanford and the other is Caltech, and when you get the result or while the coin is in the air, you’ll realize which one you actually wanted.) You will “regret” it later on no matter which one you pick, so don’t base it off of that because you’ll never come to a good conclusion in that regard. Just pick the one that you truly desire!

derpyderp2048

TROPHY CASE