Caltech Class of 2020 EA Results Thread

Colleges and Universities A-Z California Institute of Technology
21

Deferred

Stats:[ul]
[]SAT: 2290 - CR 800 Math 760 Writing 730
[]SAT II: Math II 800 Bio-M 800 Chem 800
[]ACT: none
[]GPA: 4.75
[]Rank: none
[]Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): none
[/ul]Subjective[ul]
[]Essays: Went over them with counselors extensively. Nothing exceptional, but they were solid.
[]Teacher Recs: I’m told they were really quite good.
[]Counselor Rec: I haven’t been told anything, but the counselor likes me.
[]Supplementary Material: None
[]Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): Does surviving a major illness count?
[/ul]Personal[ul]
[]Location: Pakistan
[]High School Type: Private
[]Ethnicity: South Asian
[]Gender: Male
[/ul]Other[ul]
[]Extracurriculars: Teacher Assistant, head of a student run organization, programming internship, selected (not voted) into student government
[]Awards:Nothing really worth mentioning
[]Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?: Unsurprised. My application was good but not exceptionally so. [/ul]

22

Accepted

Stats:
SAT:2380 (one sitting)
SAT II: 800 Math 2, 800 Chemistry, 750 Physics
ACT: N/A
GPA: 4.523 weighted
Rank: 2
Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): AP Chemistry (5), AP Statistics (5), AP English Lang (5), AP US History (5), AP World History (4)

Subjective
Essays: Just tried to be really honest about love for competition and science and pursuit of knowledge. The “three STEM experiences” short answer and the “how will Caltech help you realize your dreams” were probably the clincher for me. And I joked a bit!
Teacher Recs: My physics teacher gave me a pretty solid rec, I think. My APUSH teacher told me he went all out though!
Counselor Rec: My counselor wrote a really long recommendation. I think it was good.

Supplementary Material: N/A
Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): Student from disadvantaged region of US

Personal
Location: GA
High School Type: Public
Ethnicity: Chinese
Gender: F

Other
Extracurriculars: Aquarium volunteer, math tutor, leadership positions in NHS, Student Gov, Academic Decathlon. Did a lot of State Science Fair stuff and research on my own!

Awards: State Science Fair Fourth Honors, regional Science Fair best in categories in computer science, AP Scholar, just a lot of regional/state small things

Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?: Definitely with the essays, I wished I’d taken more time to write them, because I could’ve developed them further. And I’d only take up until precalculus when I applied, so I thought I was pretty much done for. But the main thing is to give admissions a clear idea of the person you are. Talk about your passion for science, talk about what makes you geeky and nerdy and be completely unabashed. Congratulations to all who got in, and may everyone else get into other great schools!

23

I’m an international applicant and get admitted!!! Sooooo excited!!

24

Hoping that regular turns out well. Anyone have stats on deferral prospects for rd?

25

10%

26

Not doubting it, but can I ask for a source? @Ballerina016

27

You can find it on your deferral letter under FAQ.

28

S2’s stats:

Accepted

Stats:
SAT: N/A
SAT II: 800 Math 2, 800 Physics
ACT: 36(36,36,35,35)
GPA: school doesn’t report (one B+ in 10th history, otherwise mix of A-, A’s, A+) School gives out very few A+'s and has no grade inflation.
Rank: school doesn’t rank
Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): US Physics Olympiad Semifinalist, AIME Qualifier; AP US History, AP Latin, AP CS, AP Calc BC, AP Physics 1: all 5 except 4 in Latin. Taking AP Chem & AP Physics C
Subjective
Essays: Good enough?
Supplementary Material: Research paper
Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): support letter from coach
Personal
Location: CT
High School Type: Private
Ethnicity: white
Gender: Male
Other
Extracurriculars: Summer Intern w/ college professor, Swim captain, Water polo, Lacrosse, Science Olympiad A team, Head of Computer Science Club
Awards: Siemens Semifinalist, US Physics Semifinalist, NMSF, AP Scholar w/ Distinction, Latin Gold Award
Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?:Probably had a really good recommendation letter from Math teacher since he let him skip two years of math and has taught him college level math (Number Theory, Real Analysis…) for past two years. He is the definition of ‘naturally’ gifted mathematician. As a mom I am super proud of him!

29

Deferred
Main stats:
SAT: 2380 (one set)
SAT II: math 2:800, Physics: 800
Usajmo, usamo qualifier, Usapho semifinist, Siemens semifinist

30

Asian

31

Accepted

Stats:

  • []SAT: 2350 - CR 800 Math 780 Writing 770. One Sitting
    [    ]SAT II: 800 Math II 800 Physics
    []ACT: N/A
    [    ]GPA: 3.89 (unweighted)
    []Rank: N/A
    [    ]Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): 97.5 AMC 12, AP US History (4), AP Capstone Seminar (3), AP Physics 1 (5), AP Statistics (5), AP Psychology (5). Currently taking IB Math HL, AP Physics C, AP Economics, AP Capstone Research, AP Chemistry and AP Computer Science.

Subjective

  • []Essays: Really good. Probably what got me in
    [    ]Teacher Recs: Didn’t see, but I know both pretty well and they’re both known for writing good recs.
    []Counselor Rec: Spent a ton of time with her over the past few years. Probably really good.
    [    ]Supplementary Material: Research paper and patent documentation
    []Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): None

Personal:

  • []Location: Shanghai, China (International School)
    []High School Type: Private School
    [    ]Ethnicity: Asian
    []Gender: Male

[ b]Other:**

  • []Extracurriculars:Independent Research Project (ISEF finalist, patented), Varsity Track and Field (3 years), Varsity Cross Country (2 years), Science National Honor Society (PR), Math Honor Society, Ultimate Frisbee Club (PR), Boy Scouts (Eagle Scout)
    []Awards: ISEF finalist, Conrad Spirit of Innovation Challenge Finalist, Patent (if that counts), National Merit Semifinalist, Local Science Fair Awards (Best of Fair, 2nd place Team Project), Coach’s Choice Award (Cross Country), Various school-level awards (Principal’s Award, high rank in school math contest).
    [    ]Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?: Caltech’s been my dream school and I’m unbelievably happy right now. Can’t stress the essays enough: I started working on them halfway through the summer and put tons of time into them: I think it’s really important to show why you would belong in Caltech’s unique community as opposed to anywhere else.
32

@wasd680
Hi there, could you please put up your academic and co-curricular profile so that international students (like me) can understand the type of intl. applicants admitted to Caltech?

33

Got admitted to MIT