Caltech Requirements

Colleges and Universities A-Z California Institute of Technology
41

<p>My dad's an electronical enginneer and he has his own small business. If I include work that iIve done at his company over the summer, would that be looked at as a big plus?</p>

<p>Next year, my courses will include AP physics, Mutlivaribal calc and AB Compsci. Would this help my chances a lot?</p>

<p>Do you have any other recommendations for how I could improve my application?</p>

<p>BTW, I have heard that you can apply to Caltech a year early. Would you recommend my doing so?</p>

<p>Again, thanks a lot!</p>

42

<p>Working with Dad a "big plus" -- no, unfortunately, not quite as good as having a job outside the family. You're going to have to make sure to show us (by sending some actual proof of accomplishments, projects, etc.) that you did actual work. Otherwise it might seem like you got a cushy job in the family business, no matter how false that is. And don't include a recommendation from your dad.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Next year, my courses will include AP physics, Mutlivaribal calc and AB Compsci. Would this help my chances a lot?

[/quote]
Not at all. 90% of our applicants have pretty much those exact courses. If you want to distinguish yourself at Caltech, that isn't going to do it. And, not to be snarky, but you should also probably check your spelling when you write your actual application -- there's no better way to look dumb than by making really big writing errors.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Do you have any other recommendations for how I could improve my application?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>See my post above yours... and don't repeat roughly the same question that was answered before.</p>

<p>
[quote]
BTW, I have heard that you can apply to Caltech a year early. Would you recommend my doing so?

[/quote]

You can apply pretty much everywhere a year early, and no, I don't recommend it, unless you're really amazing. In your situation, you will be competing with people just as smart and smarter than you who also have a year of extra experience and accomplishments compared to you. That is a contest you'll probably lose. Wait a year.</p>

43

<p>About the SAT, would a low score on the verbal really hurt me? I'm asking this because English is sort of like a second language for me; I speak Farsi in the house. (I say sort of since my English is stronger even though I learned Farsi first).</p>

<p>Also, can you rank these summer programs? RSI, SSP, NASASharp, and any others you might know.</p>

44

<p>
[quote]
Would a low score on the verbal really hurt me?

[/quote]
Well, yes, of course. Depends how low. 600 would hurt you, though you still might get in if you're really a superstar in some field (which it doesn't seem like from your stats post). 700 would be less of a problem, assuming you're scientifically good enough.</p>

45

<p>Ranking summer programs:</p>

<p>RSI far and away the best, SSP & NASASharp are next-tier and still very good. That Texas Aerospace program is pretty good, though you're probably not in Texas. Ask me about specific ones if you want to know where they fit in.</p>

46

<p>Do the state-given exams count when applying to college (CalTech)?</p>

47

<p>Hello Mr.Ben I am an international student from India.I would like to know if I have a good chance to be admitted to Caltech.
My stats are:-
My stats are as follows:-
GPA - 3.9/4 (school does not weight as every student takes the same difficulty)
SAT I - 2320
maths-800
verbal-750
writing-770
SAT II
Math II -800
Physics -800
Chemistry -780</p>

<p>school does not rank but top 2% (as told by counsellor)
Will get good recco's as I have good relationship with my teachers.</p>

<p>Awards
1st National Cyber Olympiad (state level)
8th i.e. silver merit National Cyber Olympiad (National level)</p>

<p>Participated in an International Computer Olympiad COFAS (70+teams) all four years of high school. (Have won programming in C++,a jingle competition and a Software competition here)</p>

<p>Participated in an International Computer Olympiad sponsored by microsoft in Delhi called MODEM.This too al four years of high school (won programming,Digital video editing and group discussion)</p>

<p>Techno computer whiz Kid 2002-2004 till date (for four consecutive years winner of this award which checks knowledge related to computers)
Here,in my grade 9 I defeated all the students in high school (yes all 10,11,12 graders)</p>

<p>Activities
Co-Founder (2002) and current president of the computer club of my school
School captain (just 1 out of only 16 in whole high school of about 2500)
Debating Society Panel Member
School Magazine Editorial Board
School Choir-Lead Singer (since 8 grade)
Participated in a grand musical Peter Pan in grade 11</p>

<p>Research projects
Devised a programme for graphing an exact speed of a moving motor on a computer screen using C++.
two researches to be completed by the time of applying</p>

<p>work experience
Store Technician at reliance web world (since Dec 2004)abt 6hrs a week.
Pro gamer and have started own league for training pro gamers while charging little fee from them.</p>

<p>Community Service
Tuitions for underpriviliged children during school holidays
In the summer did my school SUPW with mentally underpriviliged children.
Raised a fund for the financiall weak/orphan childrens education.</p>

<p>help will be appreciated.</p>

48

<p>Mine is never paralleled to yours... Anyways, are you gonna apply for Caltech this year?</p>

49

<p>shikharsaxena -- your stats are about average in the pool of international applicants, hard as that may to be belive. Most people who get in have gone to the training camp for the International Computing Olympiad, IMO, etc., even if they did not make the final team. It is very competitive. As it stands, if you require financial aid, I'd estimate your chances at less than 30%. With at least one national-level olympiad camp, etc., it would go up to roughly 60%.</p>

<p>Hope that helps.
Ben</p>

50

<p>Mr. Ben,
Can you throw some light on the International Computing Olympiad.I know about the Math and Sciences but this one is new to me.
What is tested in these olympiads.</p>

<p>P.S. I don't take parts in olympiads coz I'm not the types who like to bang their head for months on a set type of problems but I like to do something more interesting such as sitting with my PC and working on a potential big application through C++.I also like to get into more research work and all.</p>

51

<p>Oops, I messed up, of course. I was talking about the IOI, the International Olympiad in Informatics. Details here: <a href="http://olympiads.win.tue.nl/ioi/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://olympiads.win.tue.nl/ioi/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>In the united states we call our qualifying round the USACO -- the USA Computing Olympiad.</p>

52

<p>well that's sometime in june next year.So I'll give the exam in January for the qualifiers.</p>

53

<p>Is that guy's stat "average among international pool"...?
Then, I'd rather not try applying Caltech... cause mine is much inferior...</p>

54

<p>hey, hey! don't give up! at least you can try
besides, you still have time to win some international competitions ;)
be an optimist, man! :)</p>

55

<p>Due to age limitation(I am in 12th grade), I cannot attend any of international competition provided for high school students.</p>

56

<p>As helpful as Ben is, having been on the admissions committee recently, I'm very glad that I didn't come to a site such as this before applying to Caltech. If I had, given my stats amongst everything else, I'm sure I would have been told to give up and try for a state school. I'll grant you, that I'm nowhere near the top student in my class here. As a rising Caltech senior, I'm working nonstop to simply not be kicked out of my major. I was at the bottom of the sophomore level physics class that our dear Ben here aced as a freshman. </p>

<p>Nevertheless, despite never getting a 5 on an AP test and never having done research, I got in to Caltech and I'm glad that I did, and that I came. </p>

<p>What Ben is giving right now is a reality check that anyone that comes here is going to receive. Right now, you all think that you're awesome - the best of the best in what you enjoy, and to an extent you probably are just that. But EVERYONE ELSE here is as well. No matter how great you are in the outside world, around here you're going to be average, or even mediocre like me. Caltech isn't for everybody. There's something to be said for not just struggling to survive, or for going to a school that offers something besides math and science, ever. Even our humanities classes involve math. </p>

<p>If you think this is really a place that you want to go, then go for it. If you really know right now that you want to dedicate your life to math and science, then go out and do something related to math and science. Join clubs, or get a job, or do research, or tutor little kids. If you actually like it, then you should do things in it. </p>

<p>You may notice, reading back through the conversation, no one has a guaranteed "in" to Caltech, and I'm pretty sure that I'd prefer someone that doesn't to someone that does. It's nice to go to school with people that actually leave their rooms and interact with someone other than labmates and professors.</p>

<p>I guess the moral to this long shpiel is that you should apply if you want to apply, but don't be too heartbroken if you don't get in. This isn't necessarily the best school in the world, and chances are pretty good that no matter where you end up, you'll adjust to that place and fit in just as you would have here. Even if you are just a "mediocre" student like me - struggling to survive - give it a try, if that's what you want. It's an awesome place, where you can learn a lot, and meet up with a crazy and amazing set of people.</p>

57

<p>Hi Ben. I'm trying to decide whether or not to apply to Caltech, and your perspective would be appreciated.</p>

<p>I have: 800s on SATM/IIc/Physics/Bio E; 5s on BC/Stat/Phy C (both); taking mvar, lin alg and intermediate quantum mech next year; wrote USAMO (didn't place, but 13 on AIME and 146.5 on AMC12); taught several physics courses (thermodynamics and AP Electricity and Magnetism; teaching E/M, waves and optics next year); captain of math team; captain of National Science Bowl Team (3rd in New England). But I haven't done any research of any sort. During the summers, I've taken biology, computer science, math and cognitive psychology courses from JHU. I have all the typical extracurriculars, an intramural sport, a fairly intense instrument (cello, about 12 hrs/week) and my verbal stuff is about as strong as my math (pretty much equivalent credentials in that area); however, I want to do the physics. Do I have a shot? Oh, and my high school doesn't rank, but probably 1-5/370.</p>

<p>Thanks for your time.</p>

<p>-Ben</p>

58

<p>Ben,</p>

<p>As you said before, RSI is far and away the best summer program to be in. However, I did not know about that until know, but c'est la vie. Anyway, the Texas Aerospace program you talked about...Is it the Texas High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS)? I was a part of that program until i was selected to be in NASA SHARP. I had to choose between programs and chose to take SHARP for this summer(rising senior). What can I say on my application about both programs, seeing that I nearly completed HAS to take a job at Mission Control for SHARP?</p>

<p>Thanks alot and we all appreciate you taking the time to answer our questions.</p>

59

<p>
[quote]
If you think this is really a place that you want to go, then go for it. If you really know right now that you want to dedicate your life to math and science, then go out and do something related to math and science. Join clubs, or get a job, or do research, or tutor little kids. If you actually like it, then you should do things in it.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Amen. Excellent post, 42penguins :)</p>

60

<p>blendecho -- no reason to beat around the bush, you have an excellent shot. All told, pure intellect combined with effort impresses us more than anything else, and "13 on AIME and 146.5 on AMC12" shows a pretty serious supply of both. Even in the pool of the top Tech schools (i.e. Caltech/MIT) those credentials are rare. </p>

<p>Your other activities show a solid dedication and demonstrate that you pursued your passions during your free time. Your resume demonstrates exactly why people shouldn't be all that worried about research. You can show passion and initiative in plenty of other ways.</p>

<p>Emphasize your apparent love for physics and math, write good essays -- don't assume you're a shoo-in, that would be bad. But if you submit an application that shows effort and an interest in Caltech, I would put a lot of stock in your chances.</p>