<p>Decision: Accepted Stats:[ul]
[<em>] EA/RD?: EA
[</em>] SAT: 800M, 770CR, 790W
[<em>] SAT IIs: Math 2, Physics, US History: 3x800
[</em>] GPA: 97.2 (we don't really do 4.0 scale)
[<em>] Rank: 1/330ish, UW
[</em>] AMC/AIME/USAMO: 132.5 AMC; 5 AIME; USAMO not for me
[<em>] Other Olympiads: I guess I did okay on USNCO; I think I got the thing for being in the top 200 or so
[</em>] Other stats: AP: 10x5 (Calc BC, Comp Sci AB, Stats, World H, USH, Euro H, English Language, Physics B, Physics C, Chem)
[<em>] EC's: Science Olympiad, various math teams, violin, a couple leadership positions?
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[</em>] Essays: Essay 1 was not particularly good, although I don't think it would be too bad if read in the context of Essay 2, which I though was quite good. 1 compared the stack of pocket protectors in the Caltech bookstore to a snow-capped mountain. 2 was about being on a game show and getting pwned.
[<em>] Teacher Recs: The humanities one was quite good, but not amazing. Absolutely no idea what the math/science one was like.
[</em>] Counselor Rec: Should have been pretty good, as it was among the first the counselor wrote, and I have by far the most rigorous courseload.
[<em>] Hook (if any): I did some research, but I think a lot of people do that. I also took calc BC in 9th grade, but that's not as uncommon as I thought it was. Um, being on a game show? But that was in 7th grade. I also started a math team.
[/ul] Location/Person:[ul]
[</em>] State or Country: NY (Rochester-area)
[<em>] School Type: public, suburban
[</em>] Ethnicity: Asian (Chinese)
[<em>] Gender: M
[</em>] major strength/weakness: Strength: idk, being good at math/science? Weakness: bullets? not taking very many math classes?
[li] why you think you were accepted/rejected/defered: I tried to make my essays witty? Also, probably my math/science stuff.[/li][/ul]Other Factors:</p>
<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>] EA/RD?: EA
[</em>] SAT: 1470 (780M, 690V)
[<em>] SAT IIs: 800 Math IIC, 800 Biology M, 740 Math IC
[</em>] GPA: 4.5, 4.0 UW
[<em>] Rank: 1/~270
[</em>] AMC/AIME/USAMO: 98.5 AMC (Started the program at my school)
[<em>] Other Olympiads: USABO Semifinalist
[</em>] Other stats: AP Tests- Calc BC 5, Chem 3, Eng Lang 5, Span Lang 4, USH 3, Psych 5, Env Sci 3, Biology 5
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[<em>] Essays: Phenomenal
[</em>] Teacher Recs: I think they were wonderful.
[<em>] Counselor Rec: Amazing
[</em>] Hook (if any): Small school, passion for math/science (obviously), Multivariable Calculus and soon to take Differential Equations
[/ul]Location/Person:[ul]
[<em>] State or Country: Kerman, CA
[</em>] School Type: Public
[<em>] Ethnicity: Russian
[</em>] Gender: M
[<em>] Major strength/weakness: Exceptional at biological sciences, research with UCSF-Fresno Biomedical Summer Program
[</em>] Why you think you were accepted/rejected/defered: See above
[/ul]Other Factors: Congrats to all who get in. I am shocked right now. Don't give up on your dreams because you never know where your passion for science can take you. Thank you Caltech! I'll be visiting soon!</p>
<p>ACCEPTED!!!! Wow, I definitely thought Caltech was a reach for me. </p>
<p>Here's some stats:
Indian male from Aurora, CO</p>
<p>SAT: 2320
SAT II's: 800 in Chem, 800 in Math IIC, 790 Bio M
GPA: 4.0 unweighted
ranked 1 out of 609</p>
<p>i think my hook(s) were: nationally ranked chess player (tons of community service chess stuff too), SSP last summer, cancer research sophomore year, national ap scholar (7 5's, and 1 4)</p>
<p>anyways, I'm kinda dumbfounded right now. i mean caltech is awesome, but they seem to keep this aura of uber-smart olympiad winners, or siemens-westinghouse winners. ill tell you that i didnt win any of those and i got in. so for all the regular people out there, there's still hope</p>
<p>Decision: Accepted **
**Stats:[ul]
[<em>] SAT: 2340 (740/800/800)
[</em>] SAT IIs: 800 2c / 800 Physics / 720 Lit
[<em>] GPA: 4.0, uw
[</em>] Rank: -
[<em>] AMC/AIME/USAMO: 132.5/10/-
[</em>] Other Olympiads: Various math competitions.
[<em>] Other stats: 36 ACT, Sent research paper.
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[</em>] Essays: One was bland/boring/average. One was written for MIT and slightly changed. One was good (the box.)
[<em>] Teacher Recs: Didn't read. Probably average.
[</em>] Counselor Rec: Not very good, new counselor this year.
[<em>] Hook (if any): Math competitions? Nothing else really.
[/ul]Location/Person:[ul]
[</em>] State or Country: MI
[<em>] School Type: Large Public
[</em>] Ethnicity: White
[<em>] Gender: Male
[</em>] major strength/weakness: Scores/Math vs. lack of hook.
[li] why you think you were accepted/rejected/defered:[/li][/ul]Other Factors:</p>
<p>congrats to all those accepted. I was differed but it was really the best I could hope for I am not over the top at all so just keeping my fingers crossed for a little luck (if there is such a thing) that my science and math passion shines through and I get accepted on April 1st.</p>
<p>Decision: Deferred Stats:[ul]
[<em>] SAT: CR770, M760, W650 (12 on Essay)
[</em>] SAT IIs: 800 IIC, 740 Bio, 710 Lit
[<em>] GPA: 4.192 (weighted), 4.0 (unweighted)
[</em>] Rank: 1/299
[<em>] AMC/AIME/USAMO: none
[</em>] Other Olympiads: none
[<em>] Other stats: tutoring other students, computer tech job for district, heavily accelerated math curriculum (compared to my peers in the district, not the US)
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[</em>] Essays: above-average, I'd like to think, but I'm not so sure
[<em>] Teacher Recs: Stellar
[</em>] Counselor Rec: Stellar
[<em>] Hook (if any): nothing spectacular
[/ul]Location/Person:[ul]
[</em>] State or Country: CA
[<em>] School Type: Public, 1,700 students
[</em>] Ethnicity: Asian/White
[<em>] Gender: Male
[</em>] why you think you were accepted/rejected/defered: I think I walked the line of the 'average applicant' pretty well. So naturally I wouldn't be accepted or denied in the early round. Time to start working for RD.
[/ul]Other Factors: Nothing really much more to speak of.</p>
<p>While I suppose I have to say that I'm 'disappointed' with being deferred instead of accepted, I know it would have been a fluke to be accepted to a place like Caltech in the highly competitive Early Action round. I have my hopes up for a good RD read, and I'll be submitting some additional information (along with some other recommendations from alternative sources, etc).</p>
<p>Congrats to those of you who were accepted! It sure must be exciting!</p>
<p>[ size=+1][ color=Red][ b]Decision: Accepted!!![ /b][ /color][ /size]
[ <em>] EA/RD?: EA
[ b]Stats:[ /b][ list]
[ *] SAT: 790m, 800v, 770w (I took it twice, old then new)
[ *] SAT IIs: 800 math 2, 780 chem, 780 physics
[ *] GPA: 4.08 UW
[ *] Rank: No rankings, but probably about 3 or 4 out of 250
[ *] AMC/AIME/USAMO: uh. AMC- 103, AIME- ?? (So badly they didn't tell me?)
[ *] Other Olympiads: oh tons. *sarcasm</em>
[ *] Other stats: 5s on my AP Calc AB and Physics B
[ /list][ b]Subjective:[ /b][ list]
[ *] Essays: Fun! Coded something in RSA for the rectangle thing...
[ *] Teacher Recs: Wonderful (I'm guessing)
[ *] Counselor Rec: Probably saying nice things... But he doesn't know me.
[ *] Hook (if any): none??
[ /list][ b]Location/Person:[ /b][ list]
[ *] State or Country: New Hampshire
[ *] School Type: Public (alternative... artsy-ish, we call teachers by their first names)
[ *] Ethnicity: White
[ *] Gender: Female
[ *] major strength/weakness: No clue. I rocked the SATs/Haven't had the opportunities some people have...
[ *] why you think you were accepted/rejected/defered: I have absolutely no idea. It's completely beyond me... But I'm wicked happy!!!
[ /list][ b]Other Factors:[ /b]
mangopeachie is online now</p>
<p>[ size=+1][ color=Red][ b]Decision: Accepted! [ /b][ /color][ /size]
[ *] EA/RD?: EA
[ b]Stats:[ /b][ list]
[ *] SAT: 2260 (740vr/800m/720w)
[ *] SAT IIs: 800 Math2c, 800 Chem, 800 Physics, 800 Korean, 790 World History
[ *] GPA: 4.0 uw
[ *] Rank: -
[ *] AMC/AIME/USAMO: 130/-/-
[ *] Other Olympiads:
[ *] Other stats: 5 on AP BC Calc, Chem, PhysicsC (both), Stat, English lang, Psych, World History, and 4 on NSL
[ /list][ b]Subjective:[ /b][ list]
[ *] Essays: Fine
[ *] Teacher Recs: Amazing.
[ *] Counselor Rec: Amazing.
[ *] Hook (if any): finished all math courses last year at high school
[ /list][ b]Location/Person:[ /b][ list]
[ *] State or Country: Rockville, MD
[ *] School Type: Public
[ *] Ethnicity: Asian
[ *] Gender: M
[ *] major strength/weakness: NIH Summer Research Program Internship / No Olympiad scores
[ *] why you think you were accepted/rejected/defered: See above
[ /list][ b]Other Factors:[ /b]
Congrats to all that got in! I was quite surprised... :] And good luck to everyone for RD.</p>
<p>I got deferred, so what should I stress in my new teacher recs? I'm the best sprinter at my school and play the trumpet in 4 bands, so should I stress that or should get recs from math teachers and such?</p>
<p>Decision: Accepted!!! Stats:[ul]
[<em>] SAT: 790m, 800v, 770w (I took it twice, old then new)
[</em>] SAT IIs: 800 math 2, 780 chem, 780 physics
[<em>] GPA: 4.08 UW
[</em>] Rank: No rankings, but probably about 3 or 4 out of 250
[<em>] AMC/AIME/USAMO: uh. AMC- 103, AIME- ?? (So badly they didn't tell me?)
[</em>] Other Olympiads: oh tons. <em>sarcasm</em>
[<em>] Other stats: 5s on my AP Calc AB and Physics B
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[</em>] Essays: Fun! Coded something in RSA for the rectangle thing...
[<em>] Teacher Recs: Wonderful (I'm guessing)
[</em>] Counselor Rec: Probably saying nice things... But he doesn't know me.
[<em>] Hook (if any): none??
[/ul]Location/Person:[ul]
[</em>] State or Country: New Hampshire
[<em>] School Type: Public (alternative... artsy-ish, we call teachers by their first names)
[</em>] Ethnicity: White
[<em>] Gender: Female
[</em>] major strength/weakness: No clue. I rocked the SATs/Haven't had the opportunities some people have...
[li] why you think you were accepted/rejected/defered: I have absolutely no idea. It's completely beyond me... But I'm wicked happy!!![/li][/ul]Other Factors:
mangopeachie is online now</p>
<p>mtb70mph -- math/science recs will help you more at Caltech than band, etc. make sure your other accomplishments are clear, but math/science passion will really tip the scales, so try to get a rec that reflects that.</p>