<p>Heh. So how should I go about selecting a major? Maybe Caltech isn't the place for me....or college for that matter. I can never decide on anything (important; the unimportant stuff is easy).</p>
<p>Come January 1st, I'll post what I put in the box...</p>
<p>I am not the person to tell you how good of a choice Caltech is for you. Do you like rigorous coursework? Do you like being pushed to your academic limits and then a bit further? Do you really really like math and science? If so, Caltech may be for you.</p>
<p>I ended up with something pretty, but I'm not crazy about it. Oh well.</p>
<p>Do you have to like Caltech and working hard to go there? Or is it like asparagus, which I don't particularly enjoy, but tolerate anyway because I know it's good for me?</p>
<p>Hmm... my theory: if you're not pretty excited about the idea about doing a lot of hard physics and math before coming to Caltech, you probably shouldn't come here. A lot of very bushy-tailed, bouncy, excited frosh have to work hard to find the energy to make it through and succeed... if you don't have the inner drive to begin with, it probably isn't worth it. An asparagus level of motivation is unlikely to be enough for Caltech ;-)</p>
<p>Are those excited frosh brutallly honest with themselves? Or do they entertain romantic ideas of college?</p>
<p>In addition to what Ben said, I would imagine admissions officers will know if you are really passionate about Caltech or not... I wouldn't waste my time doing the app if Caltech was my asparagus. Fortunately, Caltech is my hot tea... relaxing and stimulating at the same time (hot liquid = relax; caffeine = stimulate). Mmm... hot tea. Luckily Pasadena is like my home town in that it's usually not necessary to quaff hot beverages... Orlando for the win!</p>
<p>How is it possible to know if you like 40+ hours of homework if you've never had that much before? Should I not apply to Caltech if I like going to a movie with a friend more than doing problem sets?</p>
<p>No, that shouldn't be a reason not to apply -- I think most of us would share that particular ranking of activities. But you should think of pushing your academic limits as something you are eager to try. Like, "Oh, finally I'll get the challenge I've been seeking all these years, rah." Not "Oh no, four years of very hard work... I guess it's worth it for the diploma."</p>
<p>Ooh, I guess it's not bad that that's one of the things I focused on in essay 1, then! Yay!</p>
<p>Wanting a social life doesn't disqualify you from being a good student here. Many of us have rather active social lifes. Before I got elected to my current office, I managed to leave campus and do something fun at least once every weekend (except for midterms and finals). </p>
<p>I think a better question is not whether you're willing to give up your social life, but whether you're able to keep working when you've spent 8 hours on a set and you know you're not even half done. This is by no means a common occurence, and it won't happen during your frosh year, but you'll probably run into at least one class where you're spending 15-20 hours a week, on top of the work for the other 3 or 4 classes you're taking. There will always be some who are smart enough that no class will ever be that difficult for them, but you won't know you're one of them until you get here. </p>
<p>Don't worry about intelligence -- the admissions committee takes care of that pretty well. Worry about perserverance and how you hold up under stress. Also, realize that you may have to make some sacrifices. I managed a social life and slightly above average GPA, but when I ran for an office (and a rather time-consuming one at that), my GPA slipped noticeably and I had to give up some of my weekend nights. Almost no one can have a social life, perfect GPA, and be active in clubs/student government here. You'll have to prioritize and it will hurt. </p>
<p>Also, just because you've never been active in clubs or student government before doesn't mean you won't be here -- I'd never run for a single office before I came here, and now I'm VP of ASCIT. Remember that a small college makes it very easy to get involved, and the environment means that a lot of people too shy to do so before are comfortable stepping away from the wall and taking up leadership roles.</p>
<p>I still don't quite understand. I should apply to Caltech if I've been eagerly seeking a challenge and want my academic limits pushed?</p>
<p>If I truly looked forward to doing work, wouldn't I just pursue self study and have already learned all of the undergraduate material just by borrowing one textbook per week from the library? If I'm not already testing my limits and studying 40+ hours per week, is that not normal?</p>
<p>Or is it more of a "I want to learn and do the neccessary work, but I don't want to take initiative and do it on my own," kinda thing?</p>
<p>Sorry for wasting your time with stupid questions. I occasionally fail to comprehend the obvious.</p>
<p>I think if you are this curious about what it takes to apply to Caltech, etc., you should probably apply just for the heck of it and then think hard about whether you want to go if you get in. This dilemma might be easily resolved in that you don't get in, or you realize that someplace else is JUST PERFECT for you and all else will fall away. No need to agonize unnecessarily before the decision is really life-changing. Applying hasn't ever cost anyone more than ~$60 and some effort.</p>
<p>I think a pretty good indicator is this: if, by the time you get to senior year of high school, there are textbooks you actively want to read or wish you had read more deeply, you would probably thrive here. Or if some part of your high school education seems particularly shallow and inadequate and you want to dig much deeper. In particular, if you have read extra textbooks or dug much deeper already, obviously you're well suited for Caltech. But even wanting to is enough, because Caltech will give you plenty of chances. If all of this business about digging deeper and reading textbooks seems like a terrible bore to you, then go to USC, as the girls are very hot.</p>
<p>In any case, it's not like there's a magical quality of mind that makes you perfect or completely unfit for Caltech. As the decision gets closer, you'll kind of start to get a feeling for whether you fit. Until then, maximize your opportunities by applying everywhere that intrigues you somewhat, and then you'll almost certainly have a range of choices to your satisfaction.</p>
<p>Ok. That sort of clarifies it. I think. I do regret not learning, but I'm too lazy to actually resolve it.</p>
<p>Slorg
I suspect you are in a panic because application is due soon, and you are wondering if the empty box is scaring you, then will the work at caltech be too much. Personally, I find your asparagus analogy rather funny and apt. I suspect you could probably come up with many more such themes, and present in a comic book fashion. PLEASE--I'm not suggesting you actually do an asparagus, cauliflower, beets theme for your box, but trying to say that you have some humor, and if you relax, you will think of someting that depicts who you are and is interesting to others.</p>
<p>Am I the only one that enjoyed the box question? It was the easiest thing I had to do for college apps.</p>
<p>I greatly enjoyed it. Tomorrow I would be more than happy to share my submission.</p>
<p>I enjoyed actually creating the object I scanned for my box, and doing the photoediting, but I didn't enjoy the process overall because I didn't think my original idea was that good :-/ The sharing of boxes tomorrow should be interesting, though!</p>
<p>Hmmm... Does Caltech allow you to apply one day late? Just kidding.</p>