<p>GPA: 3.98/4.5
11 AP classes/tests by end of junior year. 9 5s and 2 4s.
Taking 5 APs this year. By the end of senior year, I will have taken literally every AP class offered at my school + a college course (Calculus D/Linear Algebra)</p>
<p>ACT: 36
SAT: 2260 (may not send)
SAT II:
Math II 800
Chemistry 800
Physics 780</p>
<p>Awards:
National AP Scholar
AIME Qualifier
City Chamber of Commerce Scholarship
Gold Presidential Volunteer Service Award (250+ hours/year) x2</p>
<p>ECs:
Participated in a well known summer research program this summer (submitting to Siemens/ISEF)
Research at local university previous summer
Founded a tutoring club at my school that has blown up; got the principal and admin involved, is now fully school sponsored and is almost a part of the school system now
Vice President of a school for mentally challenged children, have been volunteering there for 4 years
Co-President of the local chapter of an international nonprofit student run organization. Last year, organized a sleeping bag drive for the homeless in my city, raised nearly $2000.
Member of Academic Decathlon, league champions for 2 years straight
Science Olympiad for 4 years, couple of regional awards</p>
<p>I've logged nearly 1000 hours of volunteer work over high school. It is a large part of my life.</p>
<p>Clearly, my high school career is basically dedicated to research and community service, which I think will be advantageous for my essays and letters of rec since they will be very focused and specific</p>
<p>California Resident
Low income <$40,000
First gen</p>
<p>I think my letters of rec will be solid; both teachers know me well and like me
My counselor letter should also be pretty good. She is very involved with my tutoring club and has helped it grow</p>
<p>Hi there. I’m a Harvard alum and have interviewed Harvard College applicants for 20 years. Here are my thoughts:</p>
<p>Your grades and scores can’t be much better. (I’d just send the ACTs, btw.) </p>
<p>What will turn it for you is how good the research you did was, which summer program you were in, and how good a letter you get from your adviser in that program. If you did great work there and your adviser there says so in a letter, I would say your chances are great at both schools. If that letter is bland and average… well…</p>
<p>My experience with MIT is that it really does matter to them that you are coming from a lower income household. That will help you there. I have less experience with Caltech.</p>
<p>With what you’ve provided, and not knowing more, I would guess you probably get in to MIT. </p>
<p>I can’t say about Caltech. It’s harder to get in there, and I have less personal experience with them. </p>
<p>@GregB77777 Thanks for the feedback! really appreciate it. Do you think it would seem off if I didn’t include a supplemental letter from the research mentor? Regardless of how good the letter is, if I just didn’t send one, would it look bad?</p>
<p>To me, yes, it would seem odd that you didn’t have a letter from your research mentor. That’s standard procedure. I mean, the only reason I would not include one is if you KNOW it will be bad. </p>
<p>Well California is by no doubt a very competitive state a lot of my friends living there got into Caltech being more qualified than you are. But you definitely are very well qualified for MIT. </p>
<ol>
<li>You’re well qualified for both, but many others are too.</li>
<li>The notion that you’re “very well qualified for MIT, too low for Caltech” is absurd.</li>
<li>Your volunteer work may be very helpful. When you write about it, be sure to stress your impact over your “hours”.</li>
<li>Good luck!</li>
</ol>
<p>Agree with ^^^@tryhardalay ^^^ for Caltech, since that SAT score is not “perfect” which is what Caltech likes to see. When you get the essay prompt for Caltech, answer their question. Don’t use a prewritten essay, answer their question.
Caltech is different. They know exactly who they want, so that’s why it is so tough to get in!</p>
<p>No, your ACT is extremely good! I think they (adcoms) compare the SAT score with your ACT, that’s why there is a pause, but everything else is good. My son will be starting Caltech next week. His GPA and stats are similar. The only difference I see between the two of you is sports, and his Eagle. </p>
<p>Son is an Eagle Scout with something like hundreds+ of hours spent in food banks, homeless shelters, churches, and “study buddies” tutoring, which is where the both of you are similar, but his Eagle project blew away the maintenance crews and secondary Principals in his school district. (He drew his own building design on CAD and made a “building” and foundation with stairs for his team). He got tons of awards and exceptional letters of rec for it. </p>
<p>He’s been captain of most of his teams whether academic or athletic. This is similar to your leadership ECs.</p>
<p>Funny thing is he got waitlisted at MIT, but accepted to Caltech-go figure! Oh, the interviewer for MIT kept canceling and rescheduling, so that may have had something to do with it; he wasn’t the one canceling these but it happened often and he became frustrated at never knowing if it was going to happen.</p>
<p>Go for it and try your best! Remember to answer the question prompt.</p>