Cal Tech - no hope...but why not?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I know i have no hope of ever going to cal tech but i just want to apply. Most people say that i would be wasting money (and i agree) but even if one guy says that its even a reach (or less) for me, i will apply.
My first preference is GA Tech where i am an ok-ok candidate. just asking here czz i want to know.
American Permanent resident, Indian Citizen, Indian Education.</p>

<p>---------------------ACADEMICS------------------
SAT - 2100
CR - 650, Math - 790 (got 1 damn question wrong), Writ - 660</p>

<p>SAT 2 - Physics - 800
Chemistry - 730 (will retake it though it decembre with Maths IIC)</p>

<p>Class XII - First Term - Total (P,C,M,E,PE) - 84%
PCM - 82%
Class XI - Overall - 72% (Indian high school is quite tough)</p>

<p>Class X - 9.2/10 CBSE board (for those of you who know Indian education pattern)</p>

<p>TOEFL - 99 (bad i know)
---------------------------EC----------------------
1. French, A2 grade in class 10. Studied 5 years (6th-10th)
2. Volunteer Work - 1
3. Volunteer Work - 2
4. Schools Senior Basketball Team member.
5. Ex-Football Team member ( no certificate or anything nor i have mentioned it in CA but my counselor has written it in her evaluation)</p>

<p>---------------------------Other----------------------</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Got 2 recommendations from physics and maths teachers. They should be pretty good i will say. The physics one is better as i have done quite a few projects in Physics ( usual stuff like automatic glow in the dark bulb, light tracking robot critter etc, kind of research work) </p></li>
<li><p>In my essay i wrote about my struggle with Maths and how i overcame my fear of it and now how easy it has become for me. </p>

<h2>(didn't write it but i love calculus and trigonometry, i have done high level study in maths and physics, from what i reckon my brother says that with my high level study i shouldn't have problem in first 2 years of college at least.)</h2></li>
</ol>

<p>That's it folks. Sorry for any typing error.
Please tel me if i have any chance there?
Please dont beat around the bush and say it to my face if i have 0% chance.
Thank you.</p>

2

<p>Well, since you asked for honesty… In my opinion, you have 0% chance at Caltech. Your SAT is very low by their standards, your grades are average, and your ECs are very typical. I’m not sure how your status as an international student changes things, but if you were a regular American high school student, I’d say that you have absolutely no chance there. For international applicants, I’m pretty sure that the competition is even tougher.
That being said, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with applying there, if your financial situation allows you to. That’s up to your parents to decide. At least if you get rejected, you’ll know that you did everything possible. If you don’t apply, you’ll always wonder whether you had a shot or not. So no, I do not think that Caltech is a reach for you, I think it’s out of reach, but you can still apply if your parents don’t mind the extra $100.</p>

3

<p>You had a good curve on the math section of your SAT. My son missed one and it dropped him to a 760! 790 is the highest single miss score you can get, 760 the lowest.</p>

4

<p>I agree with what you have said.
You’re an ok-ok candidate for GA Tech and almost no chances at Caltech. </p>

<p>I supposed it can’t hurt to try though… Good luck</p>

5

<p>if he missed 1 andd got 760, them the paper must have been easy. It depends upon the paper</p>

6

<p>when paper is easy, curve is much steeper, ie, one wrong can land you in 760s because the paper is of moderate to easy level. But if paper is tough (-er) , curve is much more stable and as such less marks are cut.
Anyways, SAT Maths is the easiest i have seen in my life so far, whats the use talking about it. IF YOU WANT REAL COMPETITIVE MATHS LOOK FOR ‘JEE - ADVANCED’ PAPERS ON NET</p>

7

<p>SAT is killing you. EC’s are common. Being honest-CAL Tech is too much of a reach.</p>