2020 Caltech Discussion Thread

Last year I believe it was 500 people waitlisted and 0 were taken off. So it’s pretty much a polite rejection. @Ryud16

Didn’t think I’d ever get to do this!
Decision: Accepted!!

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 2380 superscore
ACT: 36 Composite, 36 Math, 36 Science, 36 English, 34 Reading
SAT II: 790 Math II , 800 Physics
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 5
AP (place score in parenthesis): AP Calc BC(5), AP Physics C Mechanics(5), AP Physics C E&M(4), AP Chem(5), AP Stats(5), AP Literature(4), AP US History(4), AP Government(4)
Senior Year Course Load: AP Computer Science, AP Language, AP Biology, AP Environmental Sciences
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Intel STS Research Report Badge (consolation prize haha!), NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Affiliate Winner, National Merit Semifinalist

Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
Technology Student Association (Secretary)
Mu Alpha Theta (Treasurer)
CyberPatriots
CodeTN
Science Bowl

Summer Activities:
Internship at the University of Pennsylvania (summer before senior year)
Internship at Oak Ridge National Lab (summer before sophomore year)

Volunteer/Community service: Bit of tutoring, IndiaFest, FIRST Lego League tournament

Other
State (if domestic applicant): TN
Country (if international applicant): India, but I live in the U.S.
School Type: Public
Race: Asian
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: 110k
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Nope!

Congrats you guys!!!

Some years, the WL is meaningful. I’d you have a new accomplishment, send it in. Also, think if you could have an extra LOR.

@gianthawk Haha! It’s absolutely surreal isn’t it? I used to stop myself when fantasizing about being in SoCal for fear of disappointment, but now I don’t have to!

i am really scared of the mit decision now…i already got deferred once.

I honestly never thought this would happen: Accepted Caltech yet Rejected MIT.

I really hope this helps someone as it helped me in the past years. PM me for any questions.

Decision: Waitlisted

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown M/CR/W/Essay): did not submit
SAT I superscore (breakdown M/CR/W/Essay):
ACT (breakdown): 36 (single-sitting, E: 36, M: 36, R: 35, S: 36)
ACT superscore (breakdown):
SAT II (subject, score): Math IIC: 800, Bio-M: 790
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): school does not calculate GPA, predicted IB: 40/42
Weighted GPA:
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): school does not rank
AP (place score in parentheses): none
IB (place score in parentheses): Full IB Diploma candidate + certificate in Physics
Senior Year Course Load: IB English Lit A SL, IB French B HL, IB Environmental Systems and Societies SL, IB Biology HL, IB Math HL, IB Chemistry HL, IB Physics HL, IB Theory of Knowledge, AP Comp Sci A, AP Biology, AP Physics C: E/M
Number of other RD applicants in your school: 0
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel, etc.): Research Science Institute (RSI) at MIT, Intel Science Talent Search (STS) Semifinalist, Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) 2nd place in state, United World College (UWC) International Scholar, paper published
Common Awards (AP Scholar, honor roll, NM things, etc.): none

Subjective:
Extracurriculars (name, grade levels, leadership, description): Research, educational nonprofit founder, multi-instrumentalist, varsity basketball, french drama, model UN
Job/Work Experience: Research internships here and there
Volunteer/Community Service: Founded science/education nonprofit, math and science tutor, volunteer translator
Summer Experience: Stanford EPGY, research internships, RSI

Writing (Subject, 1-10 rating, details):
Essays: Above average overall, really liked the prompts. 7/10.

Other (teacher’s subject, 1-10 rating, details):
Teacher Recommendation #1: did not read
Teacher Recommendation #2: did not read
Counselor Rec: did not read
Additional Info/Rec: did not read
Interview: N/A
Supplement: Submitted research and an additional recommendation letter from my mentor. Very proud. 8.5/10.

Other
Date Submitted App: January 3, 2016.
U.S. State/Territory or Country: International from Turkey, studying in NM
School Type: Private International, IB
Ethnicity: White (Middle Eastern)
Gender: Male
Income Bracket Range: < 20K (ayy lmao)
Hooks (URM, first generation, recruited athlete, development): first-generation college student

Reflection
Strengths: IDK… ACT? Doesn’t matter after a certain point. Maybe STS?
Weaknesses: Predicted IB, no olympiad medals, mundane essays.
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: Luck of the draw?
What would you have done differently?: Nothing whatsoever. Even if I did want to do things differently they would end up very similar if not identical.
Where else did you apply?: Harvard (deferred SCEA), MIT (accepted), Washington University in St. Louis (waitlisted), Princeton, Stanford, University of Chicago, Cornell, Colby

General Comments & Advice:
Really surprised to even get waitlisted. Oh well.

@sscharter Same here haha. Seems like most people are accepted by either Caltech OR MIT.

Decision: Accepted

Objective:
SAT I superscore (breakdown M/CR/W/Essay): 800/790/720

SAT II (subject, score): Math II: 800, Chem: 800
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): school does not calculate GPA
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): school does not rank
AP (place score in parentheses): Chem, Engish Language, Microeconomics: 5
Senior Year Course Load: AP (Eng Lit, Calc BC, Physics C, Bio), French, Compsci

Major Awards (USAMO, Intel, etc.): IChO Silver (Top 20%), 1st and 2nd in two national chemistry competitions, 1st in a debate, design and programming competition, but all in grade 9-10

Subjective:
Extracurriculars (name, grade levels, leadership, description): founded global issues educational club (9-12) , Student Council Grade Rep (9-12), global ideas institute participant (11), school dance coordinator (11-12), poltiics columnist in school magazine (11-12)

Job/Work Experience: none
Volunteer/Community Service: Community Team Leader for Liberal Election Campaign, Assistant Instructor for Science Camp
Summer Experience: Yale Young Global Scholars, DEEP at UofT, Mathzoom

Writing (Subject, 1-10 rating, details):
Essays: 7-8

Other (teacher’s subject, 1-10 rating, details):
Teacher Recommendation #1: from chem teacher, strong
Teacher Recommendation #2: from politics teacher, strong
Counselor Rec: probably strong
Additional Info/Rec: from IChO mentor and Chemistry Professor, probably good
Interview: N/A
Supplement: Submitted my 3D design project posters and some code from an app I coded

Other
Date Submitted App: Nov 1st
U.S. State/Territory or Country: Canada
School Type: Private
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Male
Income Bracket Range: High
Hooks (URM, first generation, recruited athlete, development): None

Reflection
Strengths: IChO is well regarded. I also love humanities, which I really brought out in essays
Weaknesses: Wrote supplementals in 4 days
Why you think you were accepted: IChO + Unique take on science + humanities + teachers super involved in my achievements
What would you have done differently?: Write supplementals more in advanced
Where else did you apply?: MIT Waitlisted

General Comments & Advice:
Hi, if you know me, well, that’s awkward, now you probably know me a bit too well. Yes, I AM Asian. Surprise!

Have any accepted 2020 students received physical acceptance letters?? Thanks!

Caltech doesn’t send physical acceptance letters. I found out from the Caltech Class of 2020 Facebook group. You should consider joining it. It’s a useful source of info. You can ask admitted and current students questions.

Decision: Accepted

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 2360 (800 CR 800 Math 760 Writing) - 1 Sitting
ACT (breakdown): didn’t take
SAT II: 800 Math 2, 800 Physics, 800 Chem
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): -
Weighted GPA: -
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Not ranked, but Top 10/500 (Highly competitive school)
AP (place score in parenthesis): -
IB (place score in parenthesis): 45/45 Points (7 HL Physics, 7 HL Chem, 7 HL Math, A Physics Extended Essay)
Senior Year Course Load: (Did the IB Diploma) HL Physics, HL Chem, HL Math, SL Economics, SL English A, SL Hindi B
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): 1st - Odyssey of the Mind World Finals, Gold - Singapore Science and Engineering Fair

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Theater, Odyssey of the Mind, Scouts, Student Council, Materials Science Research, Developed Apps
Job/Work Experience: None
Volunteer/Community service: Minor stuff
Summer Activities: See Extracurriculars.
Essays (rating 1-10, details): (I don’t want to reveal my identity so I’m not going to be very specific)

  • My commonapp essay was good but not awesome
  • The three activities showed off my curiosity and initiative
  • The ‘what do I do for fun’ essay had nothing to with science/technology
  • The ‘Why Caltech’ essay was my best - I think I really showed a genuine love for Caltech and what it stands for
    Recommendations (rating 1-10, details): I’ve absolutely no idea, but I’m guessing they were good.
    Additional Rec: None

Other:

Applied for Financial Aid?: No
Intended Major: MechE, Applied Physics
State (if domestic applicant):
Country (if international applicant): In South East Asia
School Type: Private
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: 200,000 (They didn’t ask)
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None

Reflection:

Strengths: Great test scores (though I guess that’s the norm), interesting blend of science and theater activities, passionate essays
Weaknesses: Had no international olympiad or science fair experience. The acceptance rate for international students is also apparently much lower.
Accepted: Yale, UC Berkeley EECS, Columbia, Georgia Tech, CMU
Waitlisted: Cornell, U Chicago
Rejected: Stanford, Harvard, MIT

General Comments:

Completely unexpected after being rejected EA by Stanford, especially considering I don’t have any spectacular achievements in science or technology.

@gianthawk well well well…never thought I’d end up being your roommate, you BEAR. Incredible coincidence, considering I’ve only ever posted TWICE, you only replied to ONE person on this thread, and we lived in different countries. Second only to the coincidence of me having followed your blog and ended up taking 4 online astro courses that your fb page recommended even though I had never met you in my LIFE…magic does happen.

In any case check out the blog! It was one Facebook recommendation that I do not regret following and captivated me from the start:

Wordpress: https://stemgirlblog.■■■■■■■■■■■■■/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stemgirlblog/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/foobmoobloob

In the meantime, check out this Twitter account of our mishaps at tech!

https://twitter.com/chemlabmishaps