Briefly Chance me PLZ!

Colleges and Universities A-Z California Institute of Technology
1

<p>I am currently an incoming senior and was wondering if you guys can give me some advice/ analysis? Here is me in a nutshell (includes the important stuff)</p>

<p>Class of 2010 (my school's transcripts gives TWO GPA's, both 9-12 and 10-12 , does caltech emphasize freshman year too?)
GPA 9th-12th (unweighted): 3.97/4.0 GPA 10th-12th (unweighted): 4.0/4.0
GPA 9th- 12th (weighted): 4.76/5.0 GPA 10th- 12th (weighted): 4.92/5.0</p>

<p>RANKING (Yes our school gives TWO ranks as well)
Grades 9 - 12: 5 out of 566, Top .88%
Grades 10-12: 3 out of 566, Top .5%</p>

<p>Sophomore Classes: ("/" indicate 1st and 2nd semesters)
AP World Hist:
AP Biology:
Algebra Trig 3/4 Honors :
English 10 Honors:
French 102 (city college):
Engineering 1/ Computer Science 1 (non weighted)</p>

<p>Pre-junior summer
Math 138 (Pre-calculus at City college):
Hist 100: </p>

<p>Junior year:
AP Computer Science
AP English Language:
AP Physics B:
AP Calculus BC:
AP Environmental Science:
AP Macro and Micro Economics: </p>

<p>Senior Year :
AP Chemsitry
English 110
Advanced Engineering Physics
ROP FIRST Robotics
Political Science 101 (city college)
Multi-variable Calculus (MATH 200)
Differential Equations (MATH 220)
IB Economics HL</p>

<p>SATII's: Bio/m:780 (I need two more already taken in June), expecting 800 in Physics and 800 in Math II</p>

<p>SATI: CR: 750 Writing:720 Math: 790 (do schools such as MIT and Caltech weight Writing section much?)*
SAT total: 2260 (hoping to score 2300+ in october)</p>

<p>ACT: (unknown, taken in june as well) Hopefully a 35? How much better would a 35 be compared to my current SAT score?*</p>

<p>APs : Biology 5 World History 5 (I took 6 more APs this year, I am expecting all 5's in those too) AP Calcu BC, AP Physics B, AP Environmental sci, AP Macro econ and AP Micro Econ, and AP English Language. Is it important to get all 5's. I mean you don't send AP scores until you are accepted INTO a college right?</p>

<p>Awards/ EC: (roughly grouped into Academic Subject types)</p>

<p>Westmont High School Math Competition:First place team for the Team Written Test in years 2008 and 2009. Overall team winner in 2009. (4 people per team people)</p>

<p>Capital Markets Contest (a state wide contest sponsored by the California Council on Economics Education)- ever team gives a presentation after six weeks of economic analysis. We got first place and won $500 each and a trip to New York, where we will ring the bell at the Stock Exchange floor. (4 people per team)</p>

<p>California State Economics Challenge Championship (of 200 participating schools): First Place team in Adam Smith Division for state of California. (4 people per team)</p>

<p>Economics Challenge West Regional (next level after state): Second Place Team for Adam Smith Division in the west region of the United States(out of 7 States).(4 people per team)</p>

<p>Kern County Regional Science Bowl: First place team out of 32 competing teams. We then qualified for nationals. (4 people per team)</p>

<p>National Science Bowl: Third Place on Team Challenge of Bromery Division was the only thing we accomplished. Year 2009 Alumni. (4 people per team)</p>

<p>National Merit Semi-Finalist : got letter for possible eligibility in may (got 219 in California which qualified last year, so hopefully for this year too )</p>

<p>National AP Scholar:Already have 8 AP's done total, probably all 5's</p>

<p>Certificate of Merit (2006,2007,2008,2010): Piano achievement. Involves testing in theory, repertoire, sight reading, and ear training. </p>

<p>School of Modern Language Certificate of Excellence: awarded from Santa Barbara City College for performance in French Course 2008. </p>

<p>Play on HS tennis team for 4 years: Most Improved Player for years 2007 and 2008.</p>

<p>Student of the Dos Pueblos Engineering Academy: Part of the FIRST Robotics Team (only seniors, so I start next semester )</p>

<p>8th grade: (Does this EVEN COUNT?!?!!?!?)
1st place in County Science Fair for Physics
3rd Place in State Science Fair for Electrical</p>

<p>Clubs:
President of a Sustainability Club.
Treasurer for Math club.
Vice President for Science Bowl Club.
Vice President of Ping Pong Club (yes I know very asian).</p>

<p>Over 250 hours of community service for Cottage Hospital. Not a huge big deal</p>

<p>THIS SUMMER'S ACTIVITIES:
I am interning at the Electrical Engineering Department at UCSB this summer with a professor who is well known in the Semiconductor Device field. Working with to apply Gallium Nitride (a semiconductor) into solar cells.</p>

<p>I am also trying to intern with a UC Santa Barbara economics professor as well. Collecting data on change of income over time for individuals and economic data from many countries around the globe.</p>

<p>Long list, but I hope you guys can read all of it and give me feedback!</p>

2

<p>Well, if it’s any comfort, I thought that Caltech was a far, far, FAR reach for me (I’m expecting to be rejected, especially since I’m international). I think this post woke up - now it’s more of an impossibility :D.</p>

<p>Don’t, in way, take this as credible advice. I repeat, I KNOW NOTHING!</p>

<p>I think that you’d have a very good chance if you can show them that you’re devoted to maths/science (or economics, depending on what you’re interested in), and show them a passion or two (something you really enjoy) outside of that. From what I’ve read, it’s best to show a strong passion/commitment to a few activities you really like (I think you’re going to have a tougher time trimming down the list than applying :P).</p>

<p>I think your SAT scores are fine/above average. 800s in physics/maths II will definitely help. I’d check about submitting both for Caltech if I were you (I’m pretty certain MIT will consider whichever makes you look better).</p>

3

<p>“RANKING (Yes our school gives TWO ranks as well)
Grades 9 - 12: 5 out of 566, Top .88%
Grades 10-12: 3 out of 566, Top .5%”</p>

<p>How is that possible…?</p>

4

<p>Well rank is based on GPA. And our school shows two GPAs on our transcript. One for only grades 10th to 12th, (without freshman year) and another WITH 9th grade to 12th grade.</p>

<p>So our school ranks us by comparing GPAs of the student body with two ranks…am I missing something because that seems quite possible to me.</p>

5

<p>Hmm you have decent stats but where is the true science?
Do you have any research experience? You seem to be active in a lot of clubs and competitions but those do not really mean much in terms of science. Caltech wants to see individuals who are focused in the pursuit of science and/or math. I was accepted and Rick Bischoff the admissions director wrote a personal note saying that my research work was interesting.</p>

<p>You will probably have a better chance than the class of '09 since 2009 was the peak of HS grads.</p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

6

<p>Thanks…
Yea I am gonna do research with a UCSB professor this summer, along with an Econ professor as well.
Hopefully I can talk about both in my essays :)</p>