awkward situation

Colleges and Universities A-Z California Institute of Technology
1

<p>I'm applying to Caltech (obviously), and I have a few questions concerning my chances getting in (I know everyone's sick of these already... sorry)</p>

<p>I have a few good statistics in physics and math, such as:</p>

<ul>
<li>APs: Calculus BC 5, Stats 5, Phys C Mech 5, Phys C E&M 4</li>
<li>have taken the following math classes: multivariable calculus, linear algebra, discrete mathematics, differential equations, and I mentioned on my application how I know abstract algebra, probability theory, and number theory, despite the fact that I haven't taken those classes (I learned them on my own)</li>
</ul>

<p>However, the SATs are where things get messy. I took the SAT my junior year and was pretty sick the day I took it. I failed miserably (Math 670, Reading 560, and Writing 660). I didn't take the SAT again. I did, however, take the ACT - and I got a 35 math, 31 reading (I missed a pre-algebra question, even though I got all the trig problems right -- these problems have killed me in the past with standardized tests). This is approximately equal to a 780 math, 700 english, so I didn't feel a need to take the SAT again since the ACT is more advanced than the SAT in math and missing one silly question shouldn't hurt me that bad.</p>

<p>In addition, I took the SAT IIs and must've made more stupid mistakes, as I got a Math Level 2 770 and Physics 740 (I didn't know optics anyway; I mentioned this on the application, as well).</p>

<p>So as for my standardized test scores, what will Caltech do about them? That is, will they look at my ACT and take it over my SAT or what? I know that SATs are more traditional in the west, but are they really that harsh toward accepting only an SAT score opposed to an ACT? Are SAT 2s weighted more than SAT 1s, and how are APs weighted?</p>

<p>In addition, I'm a first-generation student from a residential high school in the midwest. Will these help my chances any?</p>

<p>My ECs are:
- Anime Club, president
- Go Club, officer
- Japanese Essay Contest, top 10 in the nation
- various math/physics contests, although no major prizes won
- track, basketball, and soccer</p>

<p>Also, how understanding would Caltech be of, well, mental problems? I have Asperger's Syndrome and ADD and I think due to this fact, I can't get above a certain marker on standardized tests, especially multiple choice tests. I find multiple choice tests extremely distracting, and even though I can ace my multivariable calculus and differential equations tests (they're all free response) along with the AP Free Response section, I just can't do well on multiple choice.</p>

<p>If you take my ACT score as an anomaly and take out all other factors, my multiple choice results come in at about 75% - 85% no matter what the difficulty is, which is why I was able to get 5s on my AP tests despite getting mediocre scores on other standardized tests. I mentioned in my application that having Asperger's and ADD may be a factor, but I really don't know how Caltech, or any college, would take such a thing, especially seeing as how Caltech seems to be really obsessed with statistics. Especially, I'd like to see this question answered: Since I got 5s on my APs, is this evidence enough that I've mastered the material presented on the SAT? You really can't do Calculus (or any of the other stuff I've done) without having mastered this material, right?</p>

<p>(By the way, I've looked through Caltech's math classes at <a href="http://www.math.caltech.edu/courses/1term06.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.math.caltech.edu/courses/1term06.html&lt;/a>, and I can do all of the problem sets of Calculus, Abstract Algebra, Diff Eq, and Discrete Mathematics easily. I just don't know whether or not this will all be cancelled out due to the fact that I can't do multiple choice tests due to a mental problem. -_-)</p>

<p>Any comments would be appreciated.</p>

2

<p>Hi there.</p>

<p>Caltech accepts the ACT and will take your scores on the ACT as authoritative. Your SAT II scores are fine. Your bad SAT scores will probably not enter into the process. Caltech likes to see high scores, but within the mid-high 700 range, we're happy. Don't worry.</p>

<p>Overall, your independent study of mathematics shows a lot of initiative and intelligence, and Caltech respects that. Your ECs are fine, not outstanding. Your chances are good, although of course admissions is a crapshoot. </p>

<p>As for physical and mental health issues, Caltech is very understanding and it will not count against you as long as, with reasonable acommodations, you can succeed here.</p>

<p>Now let me give some extremely unsolicited general advice. You are a very intelligent and accomplished young person, and you don't need to make excuses for yourself. Making excuses is the worst part of your situation by far. It makes me worry seriously about your ability to deal with pressure and failure and challenges, which is the central aspect of Caltech. Everyone gets dealt a hand in life, and most people have unique problems to deal with, but you don't need to justify every tiny failure with a reason why you would've done better if only this or that. Just relax. </p>

<p>You will be very powerful if you can just put your accomplishments out there and let them stand on their own, without excuses.</p>

3

<p>Honestly, I wasn't attemping to make excuses. I've done significant tutoring in Calculus AB and Physics B and to every tutee I have, they always have higher math SAT scores than me, and they and I wonder why it is. It comes down to this issue every single time. I don't see any other reason why I would be able to get 5s on APs and get mediocre scores everywhere else either.</p>

<p>In any case, thank you for your advice. Despite gaining a new worry (that is, that I'll come off weak for trying to make excuses, which I'm not trying to do at all), your comments have been very helpful.</p>

4

<p>I'm glad my comments were useful -- let me just clarify a little bit what I meant because I don't think I expressed myself clearly enough.</p>

<p>Maybe you're not so great at multiple choice tests. Your brain is wired a little differently and it's just not the best at that. The point is that you don't need to explain that when you tell people what the score was. Just say "I got a 35 on the math ACT" and there's no need to mention the pre-algebra question. That counts as an excuse or at least some kind of silliness in my book. A 35 is good enough that it requires no further comment whatsoever, and trying to explain the extra point makes it seem like you are unable to put a trivial failure in perspective. </p>

<p>All I'm saying is, try to develop the kind of mentality where a 35 on the test (or even a 670 on the math SAT!) is fine from your perspective and you can move on in life without pointing out that it was the pre-algebra question that got you or the multiple choice format. The accomplishments that will characterize your life don't have anything to do with such trivia, and it's completely baffling why you'd waste any of your time contemplating it.</p>

5

<p>You're right. It's an unnecessary excuse. Caltech's 25-75 percentile SAT I Math (770-800), has always been intimidating, though, and a 780 would put me almost at the 25th percentile, making me look almost dumb (of course, comparing oneself with Caltech students is difficult, no matter who you are). </p>

<p>Thus, it's been a search for excuses ever since I applied. I didn't put this in the application, fortunately, as I think I was a lot more confident at the time I applied.</p>

<p>The college application process really wears down one's confidence, and I seem particularly vulnerable to it, although I'm sure a lot of people are nervous. In any case, it's probably one of the things I should build up during my college experience, or perhaps it's something I need to work on BEFORE I arrive at college so I'll be mentally mature enough to matriculate into whatever school I'll eventually go to (hopefully, Caltech).</p>

<p>Once again, thanks for your insight.</p>

6

<p>Your mature replies to my prodding show you've already gone a long way in this respect. Best of luck to you :). Maybe I'll see you at prefrosh weekend.</p>

7

<p>You know, for about six months after I became interested in Caltech, I was kind of like you - always trying to make excuses to myself about my 640 SAT math score. Then, I spent an hour or so each day for the first month of last summer studying SAT math (a research paper enveloped the second half of my summer). I re-took the SAT and scored a 770 on math, and raised my overall score from 2010 to 2220. I felt so proud of myself, until I logged onto CC and saw everyone else bragging about their 2300s and 2400s.</p>

<p>Then I realized that it didn't really matter. SATs aren't crafted by God, and they aren't the final word on anything (contrary to the words of some CCers who seem to connect SAT scores with some sort of ill-defined "innate ability"). If you put enough effort into it, you might very well score perfectly but... why?</p>

<p>I like to think of it this way. Any ability, including mathematical ability and/or the ability to survive at a top university, is an N-dimensional quantity (N>>1). The SAT I math test is a projection of mathematical ability into a single dimension. High SAT scores (like yours) indicate that, when viewed from some arbitrary angle determined by the College Board, your mathematical ability is sufficiently well-developed to place you within the group of student Caltech deems mathematically able enough to survive there. So, forget about scores, and work on extending yourself into higher dimensions - something you're clearly good at.</p>

8

<p>phuriku, I hear you. I did very well on the SAT, but my best friend in high school got a good 50 points more in both verbal and math. I didn't resent the verbal score, but it STILL makes me cross about math. I was taking calculus and she bailed at Algebra 2! So not fair!</p>

9

<p>I think the kids who quit around algebra do best on SAT I Math. At least, that was my experience, anyway -- I took algebra and the like in the fourth and fifth grades, and had consequently forgotten most of it by the time I got anywhere near the SAT-- got 770, and only on a second try. Another kid in my class is more or less flunking out of calculus, but he took algebra and such a lot more recently than I did. He had an 800. </p>

<p>SAT Math is a bit skewed that way!</p>

10

<p>I think this website in general is deteriorating to any body's but the most perfect student's self esteem and even then we can't do everything perfectly.</p>

<p>It's refreshing to read threads like such. </p>

<p>But I'm curious as to what Caltech Admissions would do to a student that didn't take Algebra or Geometry at all and still is stuck in Calc.</p>

11

<p>The majority of students we admit (probably 60% or so) haven't taken any math beyond calculus (usually BC). As for what you did before calc, it's not really a big deal as long as you're doing fine in calculus.</p>