<p>I'm going to be a senior in a non-ranked public high school in the Chicagoland suburbs. Also, neither of my parents went to college (1st gen).</p>
<p>Academics</p>
<p>GPA: 4.27(W), 3.79 (UW)
Rank: 17/500</p>
<p>AP Scores so far: World History(5), Chemistry(5), U.S. History (5)</p>
<p>Senior Year Schedule:
AP Calculus BC
AP Physics C (independent study)
AP Biology
AP Spanish
AP English Literature</p>
<p>ACT: 35 composite; 36 math, 35 english, 35 reading, 35 science
SAT: 2190 New, 1480 Old; 800 M, 710 W, 680 CR
SAT II: Math IIC-800, Chemistry-790, Physics-680 </p>
<p>EC's:</p>
<p>Baseball: Freshman Year
Tennis: JV (sophomore year) Varsity (Jr, Sr years)
Varsity Scholastic Bowl Team (Mid-Suburban League All-Star)
Math Team
Writing Tutor (senior year)
hoping to do research this summer at local CC</p>
<p>College Plans: going to apply EA to Caltech
hoping to major in either astrophysics or chemical engineering
also applying to Columbia, U of Chicago, others</p>
<p>Any feedback on my chances at Caltech would be greatly appreciated. </p>
<p>anyone at all? i understand it's a crap shoot, but more than anything i would like information on how to improve my chances, not necessarily how good they are. thanks again,</p>
<p>Pretty nice profile in many ways; I know you only have to submit one science SAT II, but it would still help a lot if the best physics was not a 680 (since all scores show up on the sheet). That is low by Caltech standards and may get people worrying. At the very least, make sure you get a 5 on AP Physics (B or C). Other scores are great. Also don't worry about retaking if money's tight. 1st gen helps offset scores.</p>
<p>Other than that, try to focus extracurricularly on science activities in which you can get something accomplished that isn't very typical, like your own original research finding of some sort. Resume looks pretty strong, so keep cracking and you have a good chance.</p>
<p>Well, he took the SATII Physics <em>before</em> he took AP Physics class, so I don't think CalTech would be that worried. You've got great scores otherwise. Ranking may be a little less competitive, but if your B's are not in math and science and you have phenomenal recs you may have a chance.</p>
<p>Unless they've changed things, you can only take AP tests at the end of the school year, which would be too late for admissions. Depending on his pace for self-study AP physics, he could always re-take the SATII physics in November or December. I don't know what I would suggest. If you have too much to do, it's not worth rushing your study of physics. It's too important. The best thing probably would be to take it at a university over the summer or in the fall, although it's too late to sign up for a summer course at this point.</p>
<p>When my son took Physics C, he also took the SATII. He found they didnt really cover the same material, and he had to do a lot of studying to do well on the SAT II. Physics B is a much closer match for the SATII</p>
<p>It might be a very good idea to study for the SAT II in physics. You will introduced to areas not covered in the Physics C books, as well as getting a small headstart on Physics C.</p>
<p>Yep, that is something that is being discussed in another thread also. Physics C is very thorough on mech and e&m, but has nothing on optics, thermo, etc. </p>
<p>If it is feasible, I recommend getting an SAT II study book and reviewing all the SAT II Physics topics over the summer and then just taking it again in the fall and getting an 800. That would put any questions about physics to rest. But with your stellar chemistry score, even if you don't do that, you'll be doing pretty well in the scores area.</p>
<p>I agree. However, I would suggest that you get a real book in addition to the SATII prep book. SATII prep books are horrible to learn from in my opinion. Way too basic. They are better to review from and to identify topics you need to bone up on. They are also good to give you a few things to memorize on the odd topics (e.g., astrophysics for physics, minerals in the earth for chem). </p>
<p>Using MIT's OpenCourseWare for 8.01 and 8.02 would be good preparation. They have tests and problem sets with solutions as well as the lectures on video. Of course, it would help if you had the book they use as well.</p>
<p>Thanks to all who have offered insight so far. Ben, you recommended I get a SATII Physics book and take the test in the fall. This is something I am strongly considering. However, isn't there only one SAT test date before EA applications are due? I am also planning on retaking the SATI for the sake of my CR score. If there are two dates before applications are due, then everything works out fine. But if there's only one, which test should I take? SATI or SATII Physics?</p>
<p>And to add something in response to collegealum314, my rank is slightly less competitve due to mainly english classes. The only thing less than an A i've received in a math or science class was a B, and that was freshman year biology. I don't think that's too important.</p>
<p>The best review of SATII physics is using a CD called PhysicsTutor Excalibur
(~$29?) put out by Interactive Learning. We got it from Amazon. Quiz
yourself in tutorial mode. It will give you instant feedback on whether you
are getting the questions right, if you don't get it, click on "explanation".
That way you clear up misunderstandings right away. DS got an 800 by
reading parts of Giancoli (a text) and using this program without taking the
course in school.</p>
<p>They also have a chemisty CD. Too late for you - you already aced that one!</p>
<p>I would say for Caltech the Phys SAT II matters more, but for other schools, like say Princeton or Harvard, the CR matters a lot more. I would take the CR if confronted with that dilemma, assuming applications to a fairly broad range of schools and not just math-science schools.</p>
<p>True, but seeing as I will apply to Caltech early, I'm gonna take the Phys SAT II and then the SATI on the next date for my other applications. I think I can do that.</p>
It will give you instant feedback on whether you
are getting the questions right, if you don't get it, click on "explanation".
That way you clear up misunderstandings right away.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I haven't used this CD, but it sounds suspiciously like any book, where there will be exercise questions, and instant "feedback" on whether you got it right or wrong, as well as instant "answer explanation."</p>
<p>I thought taking a lot of different SAT physics exams was good practice. I'd recommend Barron's first (watch out for errors though, that was frustrating)...I also liked Kaplan for explanations, although it was a lot easier than Barron's IIRC. Anyway, just take a lot of practice SAT II physics tests. I believe there's at least one "real" one available in the book of real SAT II's, save it for last since it's probably closest to what you'll actually get. Don't buy that book by the way, get it from the library. </p>