I got a B in freshman honors chem and a B in sophomore honors advanced pre calc, but As in everything else with taking AP calc, AP US history, AP environmental geoscience, AP physics, AP physics again, AP lit, AP gov, and honors linear algebra (other honors classes too but that one is basically an AP because its for accelerated math students and is a college level class.)
My SATs are 2400 with a 790 in math ll and a 790 in physics. I plan on majoring in computer science, and I have already taking a couple of cs classes over the summer at CMU.
For ECs I have done MUN, science bowl&club, and I did a research paper/project at Pitt with a professor over the summer.
I know 3.9+ UW GPA is important for Caltech, but could I still get in with two Bs on my transcript?
With 2 B’s your UW GPA should still be marginally above 3.9. Looks like you only took 9 APs which is a little low for a school such as CalTech. What was that AP calc? Hopefully BC?
I consider it a low reach.
@uclaparent9 Yeah the AP calc was BC. I also took honors organic chem but like honors linear algebra it is the difficulty of an AP or even college class but college board doesn’t have AP exams for those two so they only count as honors classes. Will Caltech or just colleges in general recognize/know that those two are such difficult classes? Also do you know how important essays are for applications? I am a very strong writer so would that help my chances?
I think it’ll make little to no influence on what the admissions officers ultimately decide. 2 B’s in your freshman and sophomore years are practically meaningless, especially since you have great test scores and good grades in everything else.
In response to your question in post #2, actually Caltech expects extra advanced math and science courses passed by its applicants (especially advanced maths) and is very unique in that sense among all elites.