Chance at Caltech?

Colleges and Universities A-Z California Institute of Technology
1

<p>Hi everyone I am currently a senior and am wondering what my chances would be for entering Caltech. Feedback is appreciated ^_^.</p>

<p>Planing to Major in Physics</p>

<p>Ethnicity: White
State: CA
Gender: Male</p>

<p>Courses: (Including only ones that are relative; excluding things such as freshman success, ect...)</p>

<p>9th Grade:</p>

<p>Alg 2 Trig (H)
Biology (H)
English 1 (H)
French 1</p>

<p>10th Grade:</p>

<p>AP European History (5)
AP Chemistry (5)
AP Computer Science A (5)
Honors Precalculus
French 2
English 2 (H)</p>

<p>11th Grade:</p>

<p>AP US History (5)
AP Physics C: Mechanics (5)
AP Calc BC (5)
AP Lang (4)
French 3 </p>

<p>12th Grade:</p>

<p>AP Government/Economy
AP Biology
Multivariable Calculus
AP Lit
AP French Lang</p>

<p>Self studying: Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism</p>

<p>Class Rank : 1,
GPA Unweighted: 4.0
GPA Weighted: 4.8</p>

<p>SAT : 2300 [800 Math, 800 Writing, 700 Reading (suck at reading)] first sitting
SAT II : Math II (800), Chemistry (800), Physics (800)</p>

<p>EC: MuAlphaTheta 3 yrs (Pres. 11th Grade and 12th Grade), Chess Club 3 yrs (Pres. last two years), Vice President of Science Club 3 yrs, NHS 2 yrs, CSF 4 yrs, Math Club 2 yrs (Founder and President), Dolphin Pride 3 yrs (school service award/program), FIRST Robotics 3 yrs (Co-Programmer), Lacrosse 3 yrs (Varsity 11th and 12th grade), Nationally ranked for Golf, Club Hockey 11 years (had to quit do to injury; long story), Tutor, Speed Cubing for Rubik's Cube (25 seconds avg.), Hockey coach at local Ice Arena (If you can't play, coach ).</p>

<p>Awards: </p>

<p>School: National Merit Finalist, National AP Scholar, AMC 10 school winner (10th Grade), AIME X 2, USAMO X 1</p>

<p>FIRST Robotics: Regional Winners X 3, Regional Chairmans Award X 1, World Championship X 3</p>

<p>Athletics: (Only Hockey) State Champions 3 years, Regional Qualifier 1 year, Captain of one of my teams 1 year, Alternate Captain of one my teams 1 year</p>

<p>Community Service: 500 + hours from tutoring, coaching hockey, CSF, and NHS</p>

<p>Research: none </p>

<p>So, yeah, what do you think about my chances? Please let me know it will be greatly appreciated!</p>

2

<p>Solid chances.</p>

3

<p>A lot better than average, for sure. But Caltech chances? IMO you likely will not get in. USAMO is not that hard to make - hundreds of people make it every year, and only qualifying once won’t help you. Where is the USAPHO? Not even semifinalist?</p>

<p>Your courses are decent, but nowhere near outstanding. How in the world do you have a 4.8? </p>

<p>AP scores are ok, but anything less than all 5s is not that great (this is a very small deal though).</p>

<p>2300 on the SAT is average.</p>

<p>ECs are probably below average.</p>

<p>Sorry if this seems harsh, but it is the reality for schools of the caliber of Caltech. Actually, as the poster above said, your chances are pretty solid. I know someone with stats similar to yours, and was accepted to Caltech. Essays and recommendations are a big factor as well. Your app is not outstanding, but it just may be enough.</p>

4

<p>@ezvcpg What would you suggest then?</p>

<p>and 4.8 was last year sorry for confusion.</p>

5

<p>More olympiads or research. You can’t do anything now, anyways. However, without those you won’t stand out. Even qualifying for the USAMO two, three, or four times possibly won’t make you stand out. You have solid everything. But unless you have olympiad success or research success, then you are far from guaranteed to get in.</p>

<p>Also allow me to also link an excellent post by gibby from a Harvard thread: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/14957719-post5.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/14957719-post5.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Your “character” is very important. I almost replied with some version of gibby’s post in this thread, but retrospectively I could never have expressed my thoughts as well as gibby did.</p>

<p>Anyways, I disagree with the line “ECs do not tip the scale one way or the other.” They definitely do. Yours are pretty good, but not amazing.</p>

6

<p>Ok just for feedback’s sake, what type of ECs would have made me “stand out”? Also what other olympiads are out there besides AMC and regular science olympiad? and lastly, I didn’t even know you could do research :P.</p>

7

<p>@silkybuns - please take the feedback on any public forum with a grain of salt. You are a strong candidate and you can change nothing at this point. Make sure you continue to have strong grades, write good/great essays, get the best recommendations you can and just move forward.</p>

<p>Do make sure you visit Caltech before you make your final decision. </p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

8

<p>Your application looks dangerously like mine (had same exact stats/subject tests/very similar ECs too):</p>

<p>White/male 800M 700CR 800W 800IIC 800Physics 800Chem. Valedictorian. </p>

<p>I was waitlisted by Caltech.</p>

<p>For the record I’m at Harvard now, so don’t sweat it.</p>

9

<p>In response to one of the posters above, I’m confused how qualifying for USAMO does not equate to olympiad success. Out of ~80000 or so, 270 qualify for the USAMO (about 0.34%). Qualifying for the USAMO in itself is an incredible achievement. </p>

<p>OP, while USAMO doesn’t guarantee admission, it certainly does make you stand out!</p>

10

<p>I think you have a great shot!</p>

11

<p>From ezvcpg’s old post:</p>

<p>“For example:
mediocre: qualifying for USAMO, getting into Harvard, …”</p>

12

<p>On paper you look stronger than my S, a white male, who is a freshman at Caltech this year. He did slightly better on the SAT, but his grade point average was considerably lower, and his only relevant EC was interning two summers at a chemistry lab at a local research university. IMO, you have a really good shot at getting in if you convey a passion for math and science on your Caltech supplemental essay. It is that important. Hint: be genuine. Good luck.</p>

13

<p>Dude you’re bound to get into an ivy so don’t sweat it.
And your application kicks azz. making USAMO is pretty legit, dont let that guy say otherwise.</p>