<p>mmcduff -- We do have a box somewhere that says "please tell us anything else." Failing that, an email sent to the main admissions office address or a paper letter marked with your name and birthdate will get added to your file. In this document, you can explain whatever needs explaining that you didn't already explain.</p>
<p>I'd hesitate to universally suggest Essay #1 or whatever as the place to answer this, since you might want to use that for a broader, more personal or philosophical theme that doesn't deal with details like your AP scores. If it fits into an essay, great. If not, use one of the other available non-essay spaces or make your own as outlined in the first paragraph :)</p>
<p>cyprus2006 -- yes, it does help, a lot. It also would help to put in parentheses that it means the top 150 on the national exam -- you can't be assured that every reader on your application will know exactly what "with Honors" means. </p>
<p>As for the B's in humanities classes, they certainly don't help, but 3 B's in English/History is probably still better than 1 B in physics. So don't fret too much. If you rock at science, we'll be willing to forgive suboptimal grades in stuff that isn't your main focus.</p>
<p>Ben my scores just came in today.
SAT II
chem->730
Math II->660
Any point in applying this year.
Considering I havent even taken part in IOI in junior year and any result of IOI 2006 will not reach admissions in time.</p>
<p>International wtih math II 660 means the chances are almost zero... certainly no harm in trying, but I wouldn't get my hopes up. Applying next year with some olympiad achievements/better scores would be a much better investment of your time.</p>
<p>Ben, How much weightage is given to SAT reasoning results? If a student has done badly in SAT reasoning test(english part), but quite well in SAT II subs like maths 2c, phy and chem, is it worthwhile to apply to CalTech or top US Engineering Universities?
Also, do all colleges accept ACT scores in lieu of SAT Reasoning Score?</p>
<p>ronty007 -- especially for International students, the verbal reasoning scores matter much less. If you do well on the other parts, bad verbal scores (and writing, and the like) will not hurt you unless they are TRULY terrible, like 400. Even then, with a decent TOEFL score you are in good shape.</p>
<p>Pretty much all elite colleges now accept ACT or SAT, your choice. We'll take the "better" scores of the two.</p>
<p>4.0 UW GPA, all honors and AP that can possibly fit in my schedule</p>
<p>spent the summer between 9th and 10th grade at a CTY comp sci course, following 2 summers spent interning at the U of Washington oceanography dept spatial analysis lab, passed AP chem w/ 4 after month and a half of self study, pretty much a complete lack of opportunity for math and science clubs at my school (that are worthwile joining) so expect the box question to show how I engage myself in math and science outside of school. Assume good essays, what are my chances of getting in. Right now I am planning on EA, should I retake SAT 1 to raise cr and writing scores?</p>
<p>And if I switch to regular deadline, what do I do about the reccomendations already submitted</p>
<p>Your recs will go into your file regardless.</p>
<p>670cr and 690w won't be that good... low to mid 700 will be much better. oceanography lab involvement is good science extracurric.</p>
<p>with better scores on the verbal stuff, you'd have decent though not stellar chances. with the current scores, the chances are somewhat worse than 50% in my opinion.</p>
<p>Should I go regular deadline then, and retake the SATs? I did worse than I thought I would do, so I am thinking of a 25-30 point gain in the 2 verbal components (plus another shot at that frickin' 800 in math). Basically I am asking if there is any reason NOT to go regular deadline. My GPA shouldn't go down (if it does, it will be non math/sci).</p>
<p>Also, there is no true place on the application, but should I get a recc. from my boss at U of Washington, or other people w/ PhDs with whom I have worked over the years?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Also, there is no true place on the application, but should I get a recc. from my boss at U of Washington, or other people w/ PhDs with whom I have worked over the years?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yes, that would help a lot. Make sure to do so.</p>
<p>I'd say retake the tests and apply for the regular deadline. You will be better off for it.</p>
<p>From what I've read it seems as though every applicant needs some sort of participation in an Olympiad or another competition. What about students that apply from an underprivelaged country and has no oppurtunity to participate in any sort of Olympiad. I live in a small city in Indonesia and I attend a small International Missionary school. My school only offers the basic courses and one AP courses. Since there are only 85 students we have no clubs or any other activities. The only extra-curriculars that I've been able to do are voluntary service and tennis at a local club.
I dont know whether or not I will be applying to CalTech or not, but I would like to know if CalTech considers the background of the applicant.</p>
<p>Olympiad achievements are indeed important for International applicants -- since they need to distinguish themselves on an international stage to get admission.</p>
<p>As I've stated many times on this board, we do absolutely consider your background, because it would be unfair not to. However, there still needs to be evidence that you did the absolute most you could in the circumstances. There are ways to do something comparable in impressiveness to winning the IMO, without ever leaving home; of course, this is quite hard, just like winning the IMO. But that's the level of achievement you have to aim at, no matter what you use to get there.</p>
<p>Hey Ben I just want to ask. In the case of SAT I/II retakes does the previous bad score hurt a person when he is evaluated or is it ignored and only the higher score is seen.</p>
<p>Hey Ben,
I took the SAT Is and got a 790 in math and on the SAT IIs I got a 790 in Chem.. should I consider retaking this scores?! I think I can do better if I study this time..</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>PS Will taking the SAT II Chem make up for the fact that my school offers no AP Chem?</p>