The College Admissions Process for Civil Engineering

There are several universal tips that will help you in your college search. Academic qualifications and extracurricular activities are both critical to admission into an accredited undergraduate engineering program, but finding the right school is also essential.

Having the perfect grade point average is not enough when applying to college. What really matters is your performance in certain classes. Because engineering is based up the principles of math and science, you should be strong in both subject areas. However, a student who is "well-rounded" academically-with higher than average performances in non-science courses-is also viewed as a good applicant. When you submit your applications for colleges, the schools are looking for individuals who have taken certain classes. This means advanced level courses in physics, biology, chemistry, calculus, computers, English, and languages. It also means that you should do well on your SATs' especially on the math component and SATIIs' especially in science and math subject areas. You have to show that you are willing to take the harder courses, and do well in them, even if it means taking those classes in summer school, or adding more classes to your schedule. Those classes are Biology, Physical Science, Chemistry, Physics, Calculus, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Statistics, and Computer Technology; in addition to your other classes in English, History, Music, and Art.

Besides maintaining a strong academic standing, you should also find ways build upon your interest in science and engineering. Join school organizations that are intellectually challenging, or relate to your interests. If your school doesn't offer the activity you are looking for, find other students with similar interests and collectively organize a new after-school club. My own high school had an environmental awareness group, a math club, a chess club, a computer club, and a science and technology club. All of these organizations not only look good on your application, but also enable you to participate in the early stages of career networking as well as demonstrate that your interests in science and engineering are important to you. Summer internships are also a great way to learn more about civil engineering and prepare yourself for college. Approach your science or math teachers or guidance counselor to find out if any universities are offering summer enrichment programs for high school students, particularly those that focus on engineering or sciences. When it's time to begin applying to schools, you'll possess more skills and experience relevant to civil engineering.

In the college application process, the first and most important thing to remember is accreditation. Not only should the college be accredited, but so should their engineering program. Secondly, you should find out the majors offered by the engineering school. Some schools have very basic programs, while other have extensive offerings. You will also have to decide if you want to apply to a technical college or a non-technical college. The benefit of a technical school is that the entire student body shares common goals and interests in the sciences. But non-technical schools may offer more of a balance if you are looking to enroll in certain coursework outside of engineering. If the school you really like doesn't have your intended major, you should speak to the civil engineering department head to find out if you can build your own curriculum. Another concern to be aware of is the length of the engineering program, some schools offer four year programs others offer five. Some undergraduates use summer sessions to graduate early or lighten their course load through the academic year, do some investigating and find out if the school of your choice offers summer classes. You should also find out if credits can be transferred from classes taken elsewhere you don't want to spend 10 weeks in multi-variable calculus only to find out your department won't approve your credits. Another important factor to consider is co-op programs. These programs allow students to spend part of the semester working full-time for a company of their choice with pay. The rest of the academic year is spent in class. Co-op programs offer relevant working experience and also an environment to apply your academic knowledge before you graduate.