<p>Hi everyone,
I am a rising senior who would love to go to Caltech. However , judging from my statistics, things do not look good. I have a 3.71 GPA (4.5 W).
I took Multivariable Calculus as a sophomore and got an A in it. However, I got B's in Precalculus and the AP BC online course I took. I took Bio Hnrs and Chem Hnrs as a freshman, and got B's in both. I took AP Bio and Phys Hnrs as a sophomore, and got B's in both. I took AP Physics as a junior, and got an A in it. I took courses in Differential Equations and Linear Algebra at a community college, as a junior, and got A's in both.
Here are my standardized test scores:
Math Lvl 1- 770 (7th grade)
Math Lvl 2- 800 (8th grade)
SAT I-2200 (8th grade)
ACT-32 (8th grade)
Biology E-800 (10th grade)
Chemistry-800 (11th grade)
Physics-800 (11th grade)
French-800 (11th grade)
SAT-2380 (11th grade)</p>
<p>Extracurriculars:
Participated in Scioly for 2 years
Won gold medal at states sophomore year, was on 1st place team
Won multiple gold medals at states junior year, golded individually at nationals
Participated at Scibowl for 1 year, went to nationals
Placed at States for NOSB
Qualified for USAMO junior year
Semifinaled in USAPho and USABO
Tiered in Mandelbrot for 2 years
Participated at PuMaC and HMMT
Was Treasurer of Math Club Junior Year, have been elected for Senior Year as well
Have been elected Secretary of Science Club
Tournament-level chess player: USCF:1550</p>
<p>I am well aware that my chances of rejection are more than high, even with EA.
Can anyone recommend some schools that are within my range?</p>
<p>Your B’s are gonna hurt you for Caltech and do you have any idea of your class ranking? More than 90% of Caltech students are usually in the Top 1-10% of their class. However you might still apply and if you manage to show your passion for sciences you might get in</p>
<p>These 2 threads are really valuable for any Caltech Hopeful:</p>
<p>USAMO in junior year but you got Bs from Precalculus and AP Calculus BC?
Semifinaled in USAPho and USABO but you got B from honors Bio and honors Chem?</p>
<p>To be fair, I qualified for AIME my frosh year when I got a C in Algebra II but that was mostly because my teacher couldn’t read my handwriting (nor could I :S).</p>
<p>What’s the point of mentioning 8th grade SAT/ACT scores you are obv. not gonna submit? And yeah, there’s a mismatch between your accomplishments and grades. But 3.71 gpa doesn’t cut it for cal tech.</p>
<p>Also, you guys are being a bit harsh. Caltech isn’t looking for grade-grubbers, its looking for the future scientists of the world. Success in USAMO, USPHO, and USABO is much more indicative than grades in a typical class (also note his grades in much more advanced (and probably more theoretical) math classes).</p>
<p>Lol guys, your surpise is understandable. The fact of the matter is I messed up. Badly. I bit off more than I could chew freshman and sophomore year, and I paid dearly for it.</p>
<p>I think you have a chance. You utterly destroyed standardized tests, showing high proficiency in math and science. Of course competitions would help, but you seem to have an interest in math/science, which is what Caltech wants. Your ECs are also very science based so I don’t see why you wouldn’t have a chance. </p>
<p>The issue is that Caltech is very small, so your GPA may hurt you, but I don’t personally think it’s that bad.</p>