Caltech RD 2023 Applicants

one more week!!

Chill out guys. It’ll all happen. No need to count the days.

imma freak out anyway i’m so excited
6 days!!!

Soo like… How do we know it’s the 9th?

6 days.
Caltech!!

@jiwonie11 Its always the weekend before MIT’s decs.

Im hopeful for my son since its his (slightly) first choice (just above Harvey Mudd), but I won’t hold my breath. He is Questbridge which should give him concrete/acceptable reasons why he didn’t do competitions and research papers, but I don’t think Caltech is as holistic as a liberal arts college. Best of luck to everyone here!

@ThatKidsMom Being a Questbridge applicant doesnt mean the app is barred from competing in competitions and/or doing research. I get that there might be financial reasons regarding competitions due to the fee of enrolling, but there are many schools doing it for the students, especially as a waiver. There are competitions having no fee at all as well (though I admit they are hard to find).

Regarding research, I get it regarding the monetary value of going to publications and applying to internships. But again, there are some publications/internship options having free of cost applications/attendance costs (maybe RSI is one? Im not too sure, but its cost of attendance is free, and thats just an example).

But doing research through school, or approaching local institutions/firms for research doesnt seem like a money matter.

Caltech cares about the time you spent and how meaningful it was, not necessarily the outcome (as an award/result) from it.

There were many opportunities that are specifically designed or just exist for apps who cant afford the costs. All one has to do is look.

Regardless, an absence of competitions and/or research doesnt mean a rejection, and again, if the time on the apps hand was spent wisely (mainly relating to STEM in Caltech/any tech schools case), there shouldnt be any ‘disadvantage’ in the admissions process.

Again, being Questbridge cannot be a reason for not doing STEM related activities which are ‘high-end’ like the ones mentioned. There are many QB apps who still go thru and pursue these activities no matter what the outcome.

I kinda know I’m not getting in, but I just like opening decisions…
…FIVE DAYS!

@TheGuy1 Sometimes its the money, but a lot of times its just that he can’t stay at school or go somewhere. His dad died a few years ago and Im a widow/single mom that has to work so he has to go along my schedule unfortunately. The school closes at 5 and I can’t pick him up til 8pm after work. Not only that, he is on the autism spectrum so hasn’t learned to drive yet. You could think of him as a few years younger than his 17 year old self due to the autism. A few years ago one of his teachers asked if he was a prodigy because he seemed so young (and smart). But lack of EC’s is his issue. Its too bad but whatever school he does go to will have the opportunity to work w a super smart kid (36act/4.0gpa) and he’ll finally get the research experience he wants. So far he’s been accepted to UCI w honors and same w UCSC. No big hopes on Caltech but he’ll find the right home…

@TheGuy1 PS he took all stem and science, calculus AB/BC related classes/AP’s in his high school , maxed them out with A’s…so he’s done his part. If anything the failing is mine since I couldn’t get him to after school things.

ThatkidsMom, I rarely,post on this board anymore, as my son graduated years ago. I just don’t like hearing the guilt in your voice. You can never predict what makes a certain student appealing. Mine was the first ever accepted from his HS. Having ECs and going to,competitions is much related to the school. Many students work or babysit after school. They don’t have time for ECs.

Listen to students who are enrolled at Caltech, not an applicant. And best to your son.

@ThatKidsMom It’s ok. Don’t blame yourself for that. Get glad. I believe that you have already provided the best for your son. Wish for the best.

@ThatKidsMom Fair point. It sounds like the applicant has done everything in his capacity, but then again, thats for the adcom to decide, especially for an overdemanding school like caltech

These severe circumstances will help a lot if conveyed to the adcom regarding any matter of the application.

All I would like to say is:

“If all the best you could possibly do within the circumstances is done, then all will be well”

Thank you for the kind words @TheGuy1 , @A20180825 and @bookworm . I do believe he’ll get into the right college for him whether its Caltech or another. And yes TheGuy1, my son’s essay told his story of as a kid loving science and his fathers illness and death and his own diagnosis of autism. Im glad he could be so honest, an AO will know whether they are the right fit for him or not. Im trusting a higher power at work through this process, for all of us.

@ThatKidsMom

Honestly speaking, and by having a logical outlook, unique perspectives such as what you mentioned are very much looked at positively in terms of admission by many, if not all, schools.

And its been proven too. Top colleges recruit athletic superstars, academic superstars, kids who’ve done unique things in certain fields, and people with unique perspectives on life.

Sounds like your son definitely falls into the last one, at the least.

Academic superstars dont just mean great numbers/scores, so there’s a bit of gray as to what exactly constitutes one.

I guarantee you, and anyone else can count on finding the right home for UG studies. The adcom is trained to see and predict these things in most/almost all cases.

@ThatKidsMom After ages of lurking, I finally created a profile because your post really struck a chord. Like you, I’m a single mom to a QB kid with dreams of Caltech. In our case, I terminated his father’s parental rights when my son was still in elementary school because it was made abundantly clear that the most effective way for my ex to get rid of any obligations was to get rid of the source. I completely appreciate the frustration of not being able to afford and/or have transportation to all of the ECs. I can afford precisely one car (the same beater I’ve driven since 2003), we’re rural, and public transportation … well, it isn’t. He’s done what he can (hooray for bikes and a willingness to walk) but there are limits. The number of times I’ve felt on the edge of a big, black hole because I couldn’t provide him with advantages. However, since that kid was in fourth grade and his first science fair project was classified as physics - my son has loved the field. Public libraries helped raise my child. He has been voracious about learning more and even managed to show me, a died in the wool social sciences blowhard, that there is real beauty in equations. The first time he suggested such a thing, I thought he was nuts. His passion and eloquence in explaining what he meant finally won me over. After his fifth grade teacher for whom he still has mad respect mentioned he wanted to be invited to his graduation from Caltech, my son started studying the school and that has been his dream school.

Will he get in? We’ll see. It’s a reach for everyone. I think they’d be nuts not to accept him but will confess to a bit of bias. I’ve been explicit in telling him that regardless of where he lands, I respect him and am tremendously proud of who he is and that is NOT defined by what school he attends. Still, sometimes I kick myself for not being able to provide the tutors/transportation to ECs/extras to supplement whatever. What if those things made the difference?

The thing is, he is a solid young man. He’s someone I genuinely respect, irrespective of him being my son. He works hard, he has integrity, he’s smart, he’s a damn good cook, helps around the house, and that guy has a wicked sense of humor. Caltech would be fabulous and they would benefit from him just as he would from them. However, neither of the two will wilt and die without the other.

And you know what? I’ll bet the same can be said for your son. That is in no small part thanks to YOU. So when your child blooms wherever he elects to put roots, pat him on the back but also allow yourself a victory lap. You’ve earned it.

Sorry for being so wordy. I really am a liberal arts nerd.

@ThatKidsMom @Brayden2010 Your sons are obviously wonderful young men. I hope they’ll meet my son at Caltech, but if not, they’ll do great anywhere. If you live in California, you have amazing public options, especially for STEM. I wish them luck.

@Brayden2010 I love hearing your story. Thank you so much for sharing. And yeah I feel a sense of solidarity with you. We did the best we could. Hey I didnt even find out there was such a thing as an SAT Subject Test until last summer, just in time for the last sign up. It was a lot of up hill learning just to get my son ready for this horserace. I hope our kids meet at Caltech, if not that, then I hope for each of our kids here, that they may have the perfect right school, that sees their gifts and their worthiness.