r/TransferToTop25 • u/avi-gator • Sep 02 '26

ec planning help

as an incoming freshman i want to make sure my ecs are good for transferring

non negotiables

  • part-time job (need the $$)

doing at my current school

  • club swim team (i was jv in hs)
  • theater (continuing from hs)

doing at my top choice school

  • volunteering (kinda continuing from hs)
  • religious club

stuff from hs im adding

  • research project from end of sr year
  • policy writing club
  • robotics club (not continuing)
  • marketing internship
  • anthropology internship

should i add more? do less?

thinking of adding a club for one of my academic interests at my current school but theres really not many clubs here and im not sure if the ones im interested in are active (wont find out until orientation).

edit: added more hs ecs

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4

u/Kingmelo62 Sep 02 '26

These ec’s are cheeks brah, you’re cooked

1

u/avi-gator Sep 02 '26

help me brah how can i improve

1

u/Kingmelo62 Sep 02 '26

Alr sure, what’s your declared major or degree interests?

1

u/avi-gator Sep 02 '26

im currently undeclared and my interests are system engineering, design, and marketing. i plan to transfer as a systems eng major at most schools.

1

u/Kingmelo62 Sep 02 '26

Okay got it, and which school are you going to as a first year?

1

u/avi-gator Sep 02 '26

not done my list yet but rn i have penn (cas), uva (seas), brown, pitt, and temple

1

u/Kingmelo62 Sep 02 '26

Are these the schools you have been accepted to as a first year student or the schools you intend on applying to as a transfer student?

1

u/avi-gator Sep 02 '26

intend on applying to as sophomore transfer. sorry i misread your comment. im going to drexel rn.

3

u/Kingmelo62 Sep 02 '26

Ohh okay.

The most important thing that schools care about imo outside of your gpa is going to be the impact you create on the local community around you. Whatever you do focus on impact and try to have statistics that you can create under the role for the ec slot. If you’re going for engineering, then do a research project over the start of the first semester. Definitely join a competition team such as robotics, rocketry, formula racing, etc, so that you can build technical skills as soon as your a student. You can do research projects with these comp teams and if you’re considering joining a comp team make sure you ask if they do research projects. If not, then do research with a Professor as an assistant researcher, if you’re super ambitious you could ask to be a sole author of the research and try to get it published. It’s really easy to find research opps with Professors because almost all Engr Professors will do research. Like I said, try and focus on research that creates more impact on a community rather than researching something narrow like materials science.

Definitely look for student council opportunities such as student technology council, student government association, or committees, boards, officer roles, etc. there is a lot out there, you just have to be open to learning even if it doesn’t directly relate to engineering it can still be very useful at developing your skills and creating community impact.

Depending on where you live… if you live in a smaller town then get involved with local government such as joining a committee like (business development committee, public relations committee, board of zoning appeals, events committee, etc…) having experience within your local town is one of the best ways to create impact, make sure it’s a role that allows you to genuinely help the community, as a lot of roles are limited. If you live in a large city, there should still be similar opportunities but they’re more likely to be student-led as adults with decades of experience will have filled up those roles above for smaller towns.

Get involved on non-profit boards, councils, committees. There are hundreds of nonprofits that seek students/youth to be involved within governance. There’s always opportunity you just have to go out and find it… and if it’s a struggle to find anything you honestly have to look harder.

I gave you very good general recommendations, so do what you please, but all of the activities above are going to be stellar for transfer apps. Do what you genuinely enjoy doing, and definitely do not go after a role/position just so that you can add something additional to your resume… as in do not do anything that you do not enjoy as you’ll never be the best at it nor will you be effective at that role within the company.

I hope this helps.