<p>Hello all -</p>
<p>I am currently a Junior in High School, but I am "behind" in my mathematics and science preparation for a place like Caltech. I enjoy and am excited by science, yet failed to study adequately from a young age (fresh, soph, a little this year) and my math grades were straight B's.</p>
<p>If I can get extremely high SAT IIs (Math II, self-study Physics), high SAT Is, take a couple of college classes in the sciences/math and do well, do I have a chance at Caltech for undergraduate?</p>
<p>What's the best way to have a "dramatic turnaround"? I will be applying to college a year late in Fall of 2013.</p>
<p>I got accepted to Caltech this year so hopefully I can help. Caltech cares a lot about passion in the STEM fields and the ability to reach your full potential. That is the most important part. However, prestigious schools like to see A’s so I would advise taking your school’s most challenging math and science courses next year and doing very well in them. If you need to, you can prepare for the classes during the summer by reading textbooks or watching online lectures. Khan Academy is a great resource for this. Extremely high SAT I scores seem to be the norm for admitted students, however there is no cutoff. I got in with a 2040 so if you’re score isn’t what you want it to be you can make it up with an application that will make you stand out and also with good SAT II scores. I got a perfect score on the physics SAT II and a 730 on the Math level II which probably compensated for my relatively low SAT I score. Taking a few college classes and doing well in them would be good for showing your potential but make sure you can handle it and don’t let it interfere with your high school grades. Caltech likes to see initiative so find something you’re interested in and do something with it over the summer. For example, I taught myself the Calculus AB curriculum over the summer so I could skip the class and I built circuits and wrote computer programs. Also, make sure your application really stands out. One of the important parts is to write an essay on something that you are passionate about. The number one thing to remember is to demonstrate your passion for math/science. If you do that along with improving your grades senior year and getting good SAT test scores then yes, you will have a chance at Caltech undergraduate. Good luck!</p>
<p>It may help if you take a full load of math and science and this summer so you can catch up and sow initiative. Online, on campus, self-study and guided study with a teacher are all options. Also demonstrate a unique, productive way to use your math/science skills. Be consistent as well. Go for a high A in every class so it looks like a different person is doing the work. Cut back or eliminate anything in your life and that doesn’t support this goal or maintains your good son/good citizen status. Just do it.</p>
<p>I would second what StrikeEagle said and add that the essays are very important as they are one of the best places to talk about you passion for STEM fields. The other essays are also very important, so don’t waste them, especially the one on a moral dilemma you have faced that they will probably have. Other than that make sure to get teachers who will be able to write you good recommendation letters, especially if you can get one who had you this year and can attest to the change in work ethic and your passion for math/science (or if you have had more unique interactions with a teacher). Other than that, test scores will probably be more important than for most people just because you need to really emphasize that you can handle the math and problem solving (a good set of scores on the SAT II’s will really help). Basically grades are important, but you can make up for the earlier ones by doing well now and, more importantly, finding something absurdly awesome and really delving into it. <em>cough</em> [The</a> Quantum Mechanics of Time Travel - YouTube](<a href=“http://■■■■■■/7mnf1]The”>The Quantum Mechanics of Time Travel - YouTube) <em>cough</em></p>
<p>Also, if it makes you feel any better about your chances I have gotten a couple of B’s in classes, haven’t taken calculus based physics, don’t have nearly perfect SAT I’s (my reading was higher than math :p), and still got into both Caltech and MIT (though not the GT honors program :p). Anyway, sorry if that was somewhat incoherent and best of luck to you.</p>
<p>It helps to have high SAT math scores (790-800) but they won’t get admission into Caltech alone. Just like everyone else said, you need to find a way to show your passion for math/science. Perhaps participate in competitions (e.g. AMC, AIME, USAMO, JSHS, Intel ISEF), join a research group or internship, tutor math, etc.</p>
<p>Even then, it’s still a long shot. I had perfect SAT math and math II scores, 5’s on Calc AB/BC/Physics C, qualified to USAMO and Natl. “Who Wants to Be a Mathematician,” won a YSEA award, tutored math part-time, but still got waitlisted (then rejected) from Caltech. But with enough passion and commitment, you can make it through. Best of luck!</p>
<p>rspence, “But with enough passion and commitment, you can make it through”. You are in MIT but not in Caltech. In your case, what could you have done more to show to Caltech enough passion and commitment?</p>
<p>StrikeEagle737, I find your score 730 in SAT Subject MathII is low for Caltech.</p>