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Well... i'm looking into computer engineering as my future. However my schools offers very few programs for mathmatic or computer intrests as of right now. So I took up debate to fill up the free time.

Now, i'm loving debate, but it's taking up a huge section of my time.My dad is complaining about how i'm wasting my time on debate, when what i have planned for my future doesn't require a whole lot of those skills. He believe that colleges won't be too impressed by any debate awards, since i won't be majoring in anything that needs it. Instead, he believes i should seek more related activities.

So here's my questions:
1. What is the opinion of colleges on extra ciricular activities i do that is not related to what i want to go into?
2.Is a 1st place math competition award more impressive to colleges than a 1st place debate trophie, if i want to go into computer engineering?
3. Should i consider looking into other stuff that might be more relate to what i want to do in the future, even though i love doing debate?

By Dadster on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 - 09:35 pm: Edit

The answer to your question is yes and no, Min.

While colleges sometimes like to see a relation between one's extracurricular pursuits and intended major, they also like to see a passion for a student's major activity. If debate is something you enjoy, and you are good at it, I would tend to stick with it rather than trying to get involved in an activity you think will look good. Colleges DO like to see diversity of interests, too - a verbal activity like debate provides a nice counterpoint to a pursuit like computer engineering.

I wouldn't ignore your field of choice, though. Many of the applicants to strong computer programs will have had some significant computer-related experience while in high school. You might look into getting some exposure at a local college, or doing some self-guided work through the web or books. Another idea: some community service is no doubt in your plans - instead of more prosaic work, see if you can do some volunteer work helping in a hospital IT department, working on a charity's web page, etc.


Good luck!

By John Q. on Thursday, November 21, 2002 - 09:36 pm: Edit

Hi Min --

I agree with Dadster, though I would add that 'maybe' is a possiblity, too.

If you're planning on going to a large but very selective program like, say, Univ of Ill U-C, your test scores/class rank are going to be way more important than any EC's that you might have. UIUC is generally regarded as the top public ECE program in the country, and US News lists it as #3 overall of undergrad ECE programs. Subject to the usual caveat that nothing is carved in stone, if your class rank is top 5% and SAT is over 1350, you're in. If your class rank is below top 10%, EC's aren't going to help you.

On the other hand, if you're looking at one of the elite schools (ie Ivies+MIT+Stanford), you'll need the scores/gpa + exceptional EC's. If you're looking at Stanford, I would bet you that they would rank going to Nationals in debate as equivalent to winning your state science fair. If you place at Nationals, that's going to compare favorably with being an Intel Science Talent Search finalist. But then that's just my opinion.

But here's what I really wanted to write about: my advice is to do what you love. I've been an engineer in Silicon Valley for 20 years now, but in high school I did debate (went to Nationals). Your dad has no idea what your career is going to be. Debate teaches you skills that will help you the rest of your life such as public speaking, critical thinking, and getting your point across.

If your dad is worried about your career point out to him that this is preparing your for law school which you are planning on going to after you get your engineering degree. First year patent attorneys out here make $140-160K/yr. The salaries go up each year after that. You can only sit for the patent bar with an undergrad degree in the hard sciences or engineering.