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Best Extracurriculars for Engineering Majors
02/05/2025•23 minute read
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Engineering Extracurricular Activities
Why They Matter
Deciding on extracurricular activities when you’re a high-school student who is interested in engineering can seem challenging, but it doesn’t have to be.
Extracurriculars can include anything you do outside the classroom to engage in additional learning in your core subjects that doesn’t count toward course credit.
So really almost anything that piques your curiosity and natural interest is likely to count. Just be sure that whatever you choose demonstrates an ability to apply engineering principles, problem solve, and work collaboratively.
While the prerequisites for acceptance at a top college are always going to be a rigorous course of studies, high GPA, and excellent test scores, extracurriculars do matter. Crimson Education Specialists estimate they can account for as much as 30% of your college application.
When strategizing around extracurricular activities, reviewing the types of activities other students have included on college applications can help put things into perspective. You're likely to find more than one example that aligns with your natural interests. The following are some extracurriculars that students who were accepted at top colleges have submitted.
25 Extracurricular Activity Ideas for Engineering
| Extracurricular | Examples |
|---|---|
| Maths Competitions | Competed in various competitions, including the British Maths Olympiad, qualifying in multiple years. |
| National Ocean Sciences Bowl | Served as Team B Captain, organizing biweekly practices and preparing the team for competitions. |
| Physics Study Guide | Authored a 50-page study guide on physics concepts, reaching over 3000 downloads. |
| Mentorship Program | Established a mentorship program for underprivileged middle school students, providing academic and emotional support. |
| NGO Project | Vice Chair, supervised 20 students, collaborated with an NGO to develop a machine that converts plastics into bricks to address pollution. |
| Girls Who Code | Founded a local chapter to encourage young women to explore computer science and technology. |
| Game Development Club | Worked with a team to create a video game using Unity, showcased at a school event. |
| 3D Printing Project | Designed and printed 3D models for use in science classes, integrating technology into learning. |
| Hackathon | Participated in a 24-hour hackathon, developing an app to help students track and manage their homework. |
| Robotics Club | Lead developer, competed in national robotics competitions, building and programming robots. |
| Coding Platform | Created an online platform to teach basic coding to middle school students. |
| Machine Learning Project | Developed a machine learning model to analyze social media sentiment as an independent research project. |
| Drone Building Workshop | Led a workshop teaching students how to build and pilot drones, focusing on engineering and aerodynamics. |
| Robotics Competition | Built and programmed a robot to complete specific challenges, competing in a regional competition. |
| Chemistry Challenge | Competed in a state-level chemistry competition, solving complex chemical problems. |
| Science Olympiad | Competed in regional Science Olympiad competitions, winning multiple medals in various science categories. |
| Engineering Design Challenge | Participated in a local engineering design challenge, created a working prototype of a bridge. |
| App Development Competition | Developed a mental health awareness app and presented it at a technology competition. |
| Physics Club | Led experiments and discussions on physics topics, helping students understand complex concepts in an engaging way |
| Science Fair Project | Designed and presented an experiment to test the effectiveness of various water filtration methods. |
| Mathematics Club | Led a team of students in organizing weekly problem-solving sessions and preparing for math competitions. |
| Chemistry Olympiad | Participated in national-level competitions, reaching the finals through dedicated study and preparation. |
| STEM Outreach | Organized outreach programs in local schools to promote interest in STEM subjects, inspiring younger students. |
| Data Analysis Project | Analyzed publicly available data sets to identify trends in environmental changes, mentored by a local college professor. |
| Fun Maths Problem Solving Society | Founded and led a group of 40+ members, organizing weekly problem-solving sessions and inviting guest speakers. |
Why Extracurriculars Matter For Engineering Majors
Extracurriculars are key if you plan to apply to top schools like Ivy League colleges or Ivy adjacent. The admissions process at elite schools is extremely competitive.
These colleges receive tens of thousands of applications each year — far more students than they can accept. And when it comes to the other engineering applicants whom you will be competing with, you can assume most were top of their class in high school.
One way to stand out and make your application memorable is through meaningful extracurricular activities.
Getting into a select school has always been challenging, but it’s becoming more so every year. College admissions rates at top schools today are far more competitive than they were just 10 years ago.
| U.S. News Rank | University | 2024 Admissions Rate | 2014 Admissions Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Princeton University | ~3.8% | 7.3% |
| 2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 4.5% | 7.7% |
| 3 | Harvard University | 3.6% | 5.9% |
| 3 | Stanford University | ~3.9% | 5.1% |
| 5 | Yale University | 3.7% | 6.3% |
| 6 | University of Pennsylvania | ~5.8% | 8.4% |
| 7 | California Institute of Technology | ~3.1% | ~6.6% |
| 7 | Duke University | 5.1% | 10.8% |
| 9 | Brown University | 5.2% | 8.6% |
| 9 | Johns Hopkins University | ~6% | 15% |
| 9 | Northwestern University | 7.5% | 13% |
Our experts advise students to start strategizing about college applications early — ideally in 9th grade. If you leave it too late, you will miss the opportunity to choose extracurricular activities that demonstrate the teamwork and problem-solving that admissions teams are looking for in an engineering student.
We’ve been helping students get into their top choice schools for more than a decade, with amazing results. Crimson students are 6.75 times more likely to get into Ivy League or other elite colleges compared to general applicants.
| General Admit Rate | Crimson US Admit Rate | Times Better | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard | 3.59% | 23.1% | 6.4x |
| Princeton | ~3.8% | 28.9% | 7.6x |
| Yale | 3.7% | 26.7% | 7.2x |
| Columbia | 3.8% | 37.5% | 9.8x |
| UPenn | ~5.3% | 38.6% | 7.2x |
| Brown | 5,2% | 20% | 4x |
| Cornell | ~7.5% | 46.7% | 6.2x |
| Dartmouth | 5.3% | 30% | 5.6x |
To learn more about how our teams of specialists work with students to achieve such results, schedule your free consultation today.
Examples of Extracurriculars for Engineering
Engineering students need to participate in the type of extracurricular activities that demonstrate practical application of important engineering principles, problem-solving, and teamwork.
And there are many ways to do this — from clubs and competitions to DIY projects to jobs and internships to actual leadership roles in science and technology organizations.
Engineering Clubs
Clubs are among some of the most enjoyable extracurricular activities available to STEM students in high school. The most rewarding clubs are going to center around hands-on creative projects, such as building a robot or a solar car or coming up with an engineering solution to solve a community problem.
Working with your club on projects like these, you will be able to demonstrate teamwork, creative problem-solving skills, and dedication to excellence.
Plus, the experience you gain can provide a meaningful topic to write about in your personal statement or other essays for your college application.
Club participation shows a passion for your core topics outside the classroom that admissions teams particularly look for. They want to see that you’re self-driven and go the extra mile to seek opportunities for deeper learning.
If your school doesn’t have a club, consider starting one. You’ll be showing initiative, leadership, and responsibility, as well.
Finally, if your club competes for prizes (and wins), even better! This reveals a competitive spirit as well as the ability to work under deadlines and other pressures. And you’ll have measurable results to show.
STEM Competitions
If competition is something that drives you to further excellence, you’ll be happy to learn that there are numerous STEM competitions. And some of these science fairs, olympiads, bowls, and other contests actually award cash prizes and scholarships.
College admissions teams like to see engineering students participate in STEM competitions for a variety of reasons. It shows a real passion for your topic and presents opportunities to apply theory to practice in a way that reflects real-world problem solving.
You can learn valuable skills like critical thinking, problem solving, and teamwork — skills that you will need in college and beyond.
In addition, competitions afford you an opportunity for networking. You’ll meet and interact with peers as well as professionals and be introduced to a variety of engineering disciplines that can help you explore career paths.
There are also increased opportunities for mentorship, and that will be very helpful when you’re seeking letters of recommendation for your college applications.
Internships or Apprenticeships
When it comes to gaining hands-on experience, internships or apprenticeships are another extracurricular activity that is worth pursuing on so many levels. Working an internship that’s structured like a job at a corporation or government department or engineering firm will help you enter college having already tested out whether you will enjoy a career in engineering. Internships can also be a way to try out various disciplines in engineering to find your niche. In addition, they expose you to professionals across the industry, so it’s a great networking experience. You may meet a mentor who will take you under their wing and vouch for your work with a letter of recommendation for your college application.
Government departments like the Army, Navy, Air Force, and NASA offer a variety of engineering internships to STEM students who demonstrate a high degree of academic excellence. These are paid internships, and very competitive, but definitely worth competing for. They provide an excellent opportunity for students to work on real-world projects.
- NASA Office of STEM Engagement
NASA has a mission to build the next generation of “explorers,” so the department offers many engineering internships. Students get the opportunity to work at an actual NASA center under the guidance of scientists and engineers. There are also remote options.
- Naval STEM Interns Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program
High school students on an engineering track are paid during this eight-week internship at one of many research labs across the US. This is mentor-led, and students gain exposure to a variety of engineering professionals and disciplines.
- Air Force Research Library
Under the tutelage of engineers and scientists, you will work on real aerospace and mechanical design research projects and learn valuable skills.
- Army Educational Outreach Program
This nationwide program provides students with the chance to do paid work alongside real scientists and engineers at Army research labs. Students gain real-life experience participating in STEM fields.
- NASA STEM Enhancement in Earth Science
This is a mentor-led program in earth science engineering. Students work with professional engineers, data analysts, and scientists supporting actual research projects.
- NASA DEVELOP
This is a team-based internship program with projects available in multiple fields, from energy to water resources. Students help solve real-world environmental problems and develop skills in research, communication, and teamwork.
- GeneLab for High Schools
This is less an internship and more a study program, however, the experience is phenomenal. Students learn to apply scientific theories, develop hypotheses, and produce research proposals based on their findings. There’s a biological data focus on analyzing complex data and applying it. The program is sponsored by NASA’s Ames Research Center.
In addition, some corporations and engineering firms also offer internships:
- Lockheed Martin High School Internships
Students gain hands-on experience working in a corporate engineering environment. They get exposed to cutting edge aerospace and defence technologies.
- Fermilab Quarknet Summer Research Program
Though research-based, this program provides real-world lab experience. Students work on particle physics and accelerator technology research under the supervision of scientists.
- Boeing
High school students work on aircraft design projects. They’re also introduced to aviation technologies and fabrication and manufacturing processes.
If travel isn’t possible for you and a local internship is preferable, NASA’s Space Grant program is country-wide. Beyond that, it pays to cold call smaller local engineering firms to ask if they have internships. It will take a bit more legwork, but try searching for engineering firms in your town, using Google Maps. Or search for internship job posts online through sites like Handshake, LinkedIn, and Indeed. You can also search local company sites; look for internships under their careers section.
Finally, remote internships are offered by some firms, such as Simons, EnergyMag, United Planet. NASA also sponsors virtual internships.
Leadership Roles in Organizations
To show leadership, you need to have extracurricular experiences that you can talk about that show you taking initiative, organizing others, and having a real impact.
Traditionally this has been through leadership positions in student government, clubs, sports teams, National Honor Society, volunteer programs, competitions, school newspaper, and other things like peer mentoring.
For example, if you become president of your student government, you might initiate a composting program in your school lunchroom, work through all the logistics, get volunteers to help, and in the end donate the compost to a community garden project.
You would then be demonstrating leadership, people organizing skills, and community impact. A triple whammy.
What you want to avoid is taking on a role where you simply hold the title, but the organization meets infrequently and has few measurable accomplishments.
DIY Projects
Sometimes clubs will be out of reach, depending on your schedule. Or perhaps you simply want to pursue a topic on your own. If you are self-driven and can hold yourself accountable to deadlines, a DIY Project can demonstrate that you have skills in problem solving, product design, and mechanical construction.
Maybe you have an idea about how to build your own drone or want to pursue a 3D printing project. DIY projects are valuable in that they show admissions teams you are self-motivated to seek additional knowledge in and outside of the classroom.
Some ideas that students have submitted on their college application include:
- Renewable energy device, such as a solar-powered charging station
- Robot that can perform complex tasks or play games
- Device that aids mobility or accessibility
- Using a 3-D printer to create a prototype
- A bridge or other construction where the building components can be easily delivered and the end product is sturdy and holds a lot of weight
Final Thoughts
Whether you decide to join a club, lead an organization, compete in contests, or get a few hands-on internships under your belt, the main takeaway for high school students on an engineering path is what you get out of it.
Not only do you want to engage in extracurriculars that demonstrate their skills in practical application of engineering principles, problem-solving, and team collaboration — you want to be able to describe your personal growth. Extracurricular activities, and how you talk about what you learned from them, can help you stand out and can make your college application memorable.
The best extracurriculars offer the opportunity to align with your personal interests, demonstrate community impact, and put theory into practice. In addition, some will provide valuable networking opportunities, introduction to mentors, and great recommendation letters.
Determine the perfect extracurricular profile for you by working with one of our expert strategists. Students working with Crimson are 7x more likely to gain admission to their dream university!
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