<p>I was recently deferred from Caltech (ugh) and I wanted some suggestions as to what to update on my application.</p>
<p> I am in the process of submitting legislation to the Ohio Senate and House, and will make a note about the updated "status" of that endeavor</p>
<p> I am taking AP Physics this year with a new teacher, and will most likely ask him to write a recommendation (only have had for one semester..do you think that'd okay?)</p>
<p> I will mostly likely have additional service hours on my midyear report (my school puts service on transcripts)</p>
<p> My SAT score is 2340: 740 V, 800 M, 800 W; 800 Chem, 770 Math II, 720 Literature. Should I take the Physics SATII?</p>
<p>I know you will probably say "Don't try to just fill up your update sheet with pointless crap," which is why I want to know what you consider to be worthwhile. Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>I think the legislation one is good, the teacher is good only if he loves you or can present a different view of you, the service hours are good if they’re significant/new/show passion, and the Physics is fine if you have nothing better to do with a Saturday morning. </p>
<p>My family has talked about why my son was accepted when so many equally-qualified people were not. We’ve come to the conclusion that it in his case, it was clear from his ECs and essays that he needs math almost as much as he needs air. And that his teachers had fantastic things to say about him.</p>
<p>Actually, what do you mean by this. Because if you are filling it out with additional awards, I would consider that something of importance. </p>
<p>I don’t think I did a very good job showing why I liked math because I only put 2 awards or so that dealt with math, leaving out other awards because I thought that it wouldn’t make a difference and that adcoms would not care for just a list. However, by doing that, I think it gave the impression that I wasn’t that interested in math, as I had only done 2 competitions, which is not true. Caltech is a little different because I think they care about why you like math/science way more than other colleges.</p>
<p>Why not put everything? I dont think having too much info can hurt.</p>
[ quote] how do you quote people on CC? [ /quote]</p>
<p>Thanks for the firsthand advice HiPeople. I haven’t done too many math competitions, since I’ve had more of a broad range of ECs and interests. To be honest, I don’t even think Caltech is the right place for me :o</p>
<p>I got deferred from Caltech as well. I wasn’t a intel/seimens guy so I guess I didn’t make the cut. I didn’t really want Caltech, but it’s deferment of me makes me more nervous for other schools</p>
<p>If you look at statistics of schools people got into, you’ll see that the same person can be accepted at many schools and rejected at peers or even “lower” schools. For all these elite schools, it’s very much lottery as well as qualifications. Don’t take a rejection or deferral at one highly selective school as much more than a coin flip for predicting acceptance at other schools. You’ll get into a lovely place, one that you DO really want.</p>