<p>Apparently, I was chosen for this award, but I don't really know how much it will affect my chances at admission. I never heard of this award before today, so I don't know much about it. Do you guys know how many people get it in the country? And how are people picked for the award?</p>
<p>I understand that it is awarded by Caltech, but does it help for admissions to others schools also? Any info would be appreciated, thanks.</p>
<p>I saw about 5% of Caltech applicants who had it when I read folders. It is awarded by local alumni in recognition of outstanding accomplishment. It shows our alums respect you, which counts for something both at Caltech and elsewhere, but it's not a huuuge deal (better than best science student in high school but less good than a national science competition semifinalist).</p>
<p>wait! so how do I get this award? my school is called Adrian Wilcox, Santa Clara, CA. I don't think they are familiar with this award......what do I do??? I really want TO BE ABLE to get this award. I'll do wahtever I can.</p>
<p>Ok, question for Ben Golub and other Caltech Admission officers.</p>
<p>I also only have one science / math activity (but other non-science activities)
the science activity is volunteering in a museum (The Tech). </p>
<p>My school has no science and math club. Does that put me at a disadvantage?????? </p>
<p>Do I have to enter a science fair to show that I am interested in science??</p>
<p>How would you know if someone is interested in science/math anyway?</p>
<p>Any other things I can do? Any suggestions?</p>
<p>some who is interested in math and science would go out of their way to find opportunities and use them.
science fairs
math competitions
science and math olympiads
robotics teams
classes at community colleges
research
internship
VERY rigorous science and math classes at school</p>
<p>Interest in math and science can easy be seen through the awards and honors you had in an area. But can also be seen in many other areas.</p>
<p>I thought the Caltech medalist, or whatever it's called, is one per school.</p>
<p>Ashwin, i think you are focusing too much on the name of the awards and what to do to get into college rather than focusing on what you are passionate about. If you are really passionate about something,then you wouldn't be fussing over what awards you could get. Do things you like and want to do, then see where it will get you in 2 years. If you keep worrying and trying to collect specific awards, not only might you miss the big picture, but also might have very miserable high school years.</p>
<p>Be true to yourself, and take all the opportunities you can (make opportunities if you can't find them. Not everything is going to be handed to you, if you want to make something happen (lets say a math or science club) YOU have to make it happen.) By taking all your opportunities and doing what you are passionate about, a lot of things just sort of falls into place.
And also, later years, you'll probably be competing for officer positions in clubs with other students, if you really spend the time, you are going to get what you deserve. </p>
<p>ONE of the ways I show interest in math and science is through self studying.
I love to learn new concepts, but the school's pace for math and science is always very slow(i think a lot of people would agree with me on this) since there are a lot of repeats from previous years. In 7th grade I was only in the second highest level of math the school offered for 7th graders because I couldn't pass the placement test since my English wasn't good enough to read the word problems. While others are learning Algebra, I was stuck in accelerated pre-algebra learning the things i already knew. While others are going to Geometry Enriched after learning algebra, i still needed to learn algebra if i want to be in the highest level of math. my only choice was to pass the test for algebra before school starts. Over the summer I got the book and self taught myself a whole year worth of middle school math. I know the concepts of algebra I is really easy, but i did thousands of problems to really get and understand each part (since i know a lot of things are going to be based off of it, so i better with comfortable with it. furthermore, a knowledge is not yours till you can use it). I derived the quadratic formula instead of just using it ( I know it's easy but just making a point). I passed the test (only 1 other form my school passed, some people who spent $800 on summer school didn't come close). In 8th grade, I just did Geometry Enriched with the other top 1/4 of the grade. In 9th grade was algebra 2/trig, I did well and saw another chance to challenge myself. So I bought a brand new copy of the pre-calc book from amazon for $8 (super great deal!!!) and self taught pre-calc as i took this NASA robotics course ( this time i got lazy and didn't do many problems XP) so by 10th grade I was taking Calculus BC. I really enjoyed that class. I loved how everything from algebra 2 and trig just suddenly make sense. Anything from the deriving the formula of the area of volume of a circle to infinite series, I can solve with calculus. Since the pace was no longer slow, I really enjoyed and learned a lot the class. That only a small portion of how i show interest. There is also a lot of EC.</p>
<p>Just, iono, do what YOU are passionate about (not what you think colleges wants to see), and if that doesn't get you into the college you want, then maybe you don't really fit in that college (btw, fit != good enough)</p>
<p>(even with the best ECs, you still need good grades and decent scores)</p>
<p>I see. Thanks a lot for that answer. I will try to focus on what I think is best for me. thanks a lot. By the way, I am also interested in math and stuff. I almost won the AMC 10 (just 3 questions right) as a freshman.....and I do agree with the fact that high school math courses are slow. Thanks!!</p>
<p>We got perfect scores on the AMC at my school like every year (at least for the past 2 years)
you only got 3 questions right on the AMC 10 ? are you sure? how did you almost win it then?
yeah hs math are slow, you make them faster by self teaching, don't settle only with what is available at school. (looking out for more opportunities shows passion)
i liked math and stuff since i was lil. I enjoyed problem solving when i was in 3th grade( i was following with the Chinese olympic math curriculum till like 3rd grade >.<) . When i moved to America in 4th grade i got too busy with catching up on English and just getting caught up on the trivial grades, tests, and stuff, i didn't have time to further my actual problem solving skills. but that still got me to AIME since 8th grade, however , i am yet to get close to the USAMO cut off.
I also participated in other math contests, now if i search my name on Google, the ones that aren't some random PhD person are my math contests results! XP</p>
<p>Just make sure your other stuff are decent, and focus on what you like.</p>
<p>Sorry, I ment I need 3 questions right to become semifinalist. sorry. my bad.</p>
<p>there is a semifinalist for AMC? You mean 3 more right?
what did you get on AMC?</p>
<p>102 on AMC 10A</p>
<p>Btw, which was the hardest / easiest math competition you entered?
Did you by any chance write the Rice Math tournament? How was Santa Clara's math tournament?</p>
<p>by semifinalist I mean being selected to write the next test after the AMC. If you want u can call it winner or something.</p>
<p>i think he might mean qualifying for the aime. but thats not impressive imo. 3 more questions right on the amc10 means 102ish.</p>
<p>winner means top score in the school, but if your school doesnt have aime qualifiers then i guess your score is better than if you went to a school that has like 20 aime qualifiers.</p>