<p>Hi CC'ers,
I am interesting in Caltech, mainly for it's focus on math and science and smaller community. However, I am an international student who has lived in the US for 8 years, so I would like a realistic guage on my chances to Caltech.
I am planning on applying early action, and without aid.
Class
Rank 1/~600
2 IB's soph, 8 junior year, 6 senior year +leadership (semi manditory for a school club that has ~100 people...organization and all)
Organic Chemistry
Test Scores:
SAT I 740/800/730
ACT(34E/35R/36M/36S) Composite:35
SAT II Chem 800
SAT II Math 800
SAT II Physics 800
SAT II US History 770
5's in AP Physics C, Calc BC and Chem
EC's
400+ Hours of chemistry research at local university
Summer Science Program Socorro '08
President of a science/math club at my school.
Assorted State Chess 1st, 2nd, 3rd from 8th grade to 12th.
2nd in Regional science bowl-team captain, 2nd in state science fair in chemistry
some other random EC's that aren't science and math related</p>
<p>And I think my recommendations will be good.</p>
<p>So could anyone with some free time tell me my chances? I'd be interested to know because I'm not sure how being an international student will effect my chances.</p>
<p>Being an international student will certainly make it harder. 400+ hours of chemistry research? That sounds interesting, could you tell us more about it?</p>
<p>Well the chemistry project I am working on focuses on extraction. identification, and testing of chemicals within the bark of a certain plant. I've worked extensively on this project, doing the extraction, running HPLC (high powered liquid chromatography), purifying the extract, trying to react it with different chemicals(hydrolyzing it), testing it for certain useful properties etc. I received guidance from my research mentor and I needed help with getting FT-IR and NMR spectra (mainly because I don't know how to operate the instruments) for my extract, but I am the only one working on this project full time(and am in the process of writing a paper).</p>
<p>homie i am saying that u have a good chance but that international status is gonna hurt dawg. Also your grades/ scores are good but maybe the EC's are lil lacking. I say u have a good chance as everyone but now its all up to luck and essays. At this point we can't really say ur chances cos u defintaly qualify for cal tech but u never know.
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
Socorro buddies homie.</p>
<p>Hawkbane, that is what I was looking for. I would definitely emphasize this research as your main EC (it didn't really stand out in your original thread) and you should have a pretty strong application. The project sounds interesting--is the bark meant to have medicinal properties?</p>
<p>It's fortunate that you aren't asking for aid. That improves your situation quite a lot. Probably your chances are similar to those of a strong domestic applicant.</p>
<p>well, mainly I was just wondering how much being international hurt my admissions chances. I'm also applying to a bunch of other schools but the only one that I'm really interested in is Caltech, (maybe MIT is a distant second) so I decided to post something in the caltech forums.</p>
<p>Anyways, thanks, for the chances people, I'm going to get started grinding away at those essays, homework, and research papers.</p>
<p>Good luck to anyone else applying the Caltech!</p>
<p>I think your chances are quite good, as long as your essays and recs are strong. International status does make it more difficult, but your app sounds strong enough to stand out even in the international pool. Just make sure you rock the essay and get the right people to recommend you!</p>