Chance me for CalTech/MIT?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm a Junior right now and I'd like an idea about whether or not I'm on the right track for one of these two schools.</p>

<p>Background:
Born in China. Chinese was my first language, but I speak English better. Low-Middle Income. Skipped a grade and went to school early, so I've always been 2 years younger than most people.</p>

<p>Stats: </p>

<p>GPA:
4.41 W, 4.0 UW</p>

<p>Rank:
#1/400 or so</p>

<p>AP Classes:
Human Geography(5), World History(4), Calc BC(now), Chemistry(now), US History(now), Lang and Comp(now), Computer Science(now), Psychology(planned), Biology(planned), Literature(planned), Economics(planned), Calc 3(college course). All my other courses are Honors, except for Speech and Spanish (my school doesn't offer Honors for some classes).</p>

<p>Tests/Exams:
ACT-36. (8 on the essay)
SAT-Haven't taken yet, projected to be anywhere from 2200-2300.
SAT II-Haven't taken yet, planning to take Math 2, Chem, and English Literature</p>

<p>Extracurriculars (including what I'll do next year):</p>

<p>Golf (4 years, 1 year Varsity)
Tennis (4 years, 2 years Varsity)
Band (4 years Concert+Marching+Pep)
Key Club (2 years)
SciMaTech (3 years, 3 years Officer position)
Science Bowl Team (2 years)
Debate Team (3 years, 2 years Varsity)
Student Government (3 years)</p>

<p>MathCounts (3 years in Middle School, took 1st in State during 8th grade)
Platteville Math Contest (4 years)
Math Scramble (4 years)
AMC 12 (2nd place in school my freshman year, 1st place when I was a sophomore, have yet to take it yet this year)
ARML (4 years, unless scheduling conflicts arise)
HiMCM (2 years, results pending)</p>

<p>Attended a regional conference on marine and coastal protection. May have the opportunity to go to a national conference in March.</p>

<p>No work experience because of my age. Have done volunteer work though, but I don't have my transcript with me (my Key Club advisor keeps track of our hours).</p>

<p>I'm looking to major in Aerospace Engineering (or possibly Mechanical Engineering, with Aerospace as a minor). I'm hoping to find a job with NASA.</p>

<p>This is all I can think of right now. Do you guys think that I'm on the right track? What else can I or should I be doing to try to get to one of these schools? I really want to go to CalTech because it's home to the Jet Propulsion Laboratories. </p>

<p>So, can you guys chance me? Also, could you provide some other more reachable schools that offer good programs in Aerospace and are relatively close to NASA centers?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

2

<p>Overall solid. You will probably have somewhat better chance than average applicants, but not much.</p>

<p>Since you want to major in AE/ME, you should take AP Physics C in your senior year.</p>

3

<p>I’ll chance you for MIT.</p>

<p>GPA and ACT you’re obviously fine on. Don’t mention mathcounts, since it wasn’t during high school.</p>

<p>Your ECs aren’t incredibly amazing in comparison to many that apply to MIT. Try making AIME this year, I think that might help a little bit, but, aside from that, I don’t see focus or extreme passion.</p>

4

<p>how many people are at MIT? how many people in the US are valedictorians with a perfect SAT/ACT?</p>

5

<p>@PC, Thanks for the tip, and I totally would but my school doesn’t offer it. Honors Physics is the highest you can go.
@engarde, I realize that EC is definitely my weak spot, but I’m trying to sign up for some camps this summer. Do you think those would help?
@humfle, Thanks, but I’ve read on CalTech’s site that they look at ECs a lot more than grades and such, just because it’s almost a given that if you’re applying there, then you’ll have good grades.</p>

6

<p>Have you considered trying to self-study physics C? I think it’s still important, even if your school doesn’t offer it. </p>

<p>I think you have great chances at those two schools. If you qualified for the AIME then mention that, even if you didn’t do well. Doing well comparitively at your school might not be so great depending on its depth, not to take away from your accomplishment. You probably represent the “typical” admittant to those two schools in your stats and accomplishments, so make sure to put some extra time on your essays. I’d appreciate if you chance me as well.</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1436858-theoretical-chance-thread-tippy-top-schools.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1436858-theoretical-chance-thread-tippy-top-schools.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

7

<p>Okay Hue, I’ll see if I can try to self-study Physics C starting near the end of the school year. I do have a old physics textbook my teacher gave to me, but I’m not sure how helpful it’ll be.</p>

<p>Anyway, thanks for the advice! I’ll definitely try to get into AIME this year. And I chanced you back in your thread, so you can check it out there!</p>

8

<p>PC doesn’t know what he is talking about. You have a far better chance than the average applicant. I would be surprised if you didn’t get accepted.</p>

<p>Also, EC’s are not the most important according to the Ivy League books (written by admissions officers) that I’ve read. Grades come first and foremost, and no–not everyone applying to Cal Tech and MIT has great grades. A perfect SAT score and valedictorian status should seal the deal IMO.</p>

9

<p>Alright thanks! Hopefully I can do well on the SAT.</p>

10

<p>What are you taking the SAT for? You already have a perfect ACT score.</p>

11

<p>You have perfect stats, and your ECs seem really strong. The only thing missing is awards I think. You mention you scored highest in your school for AMC12, but no mention of AIME/USA(J)MO? If I were on an adcoms and saw that I’d think your school is weak in math or something, which leads me to believe that the 4.0 UW may be artificially inflated due to easy courses. Then again you did get 1st in state mathcounts and unless you’re from a weak state, that should’ve meant you started AIME in 7th or 8th grade.</p>

<p>Still, even now your stats will probably place you with a good chance into the schools. Having some awards and good essays will shoot you over the top.</p>

<p>To counter what engarde said, your EC’s aren’t weak, they’re actually really good. In fact if you had one major award (Think Siemens/Isef/Journal publication) you’d probably have a good chance getting into MIT with a junior year application.</p>

12

<p>Alright thanks for the responses everyone!</p>

13

<p>I know you’re being supportive, but MIT is actually a very competitive school that takes a hollistic approach meaning they look at everything. Sadly there have been people with perfect test scores denied by MIT. </p>

<p>My 2 cents for jsun would be to really prepare for the interview and show that you are truly excited to be a candidate for MIT. You’re in really good shape, all you need to do is show them you are trying to make a difference.</p>

14

<p>Okay NCorral, thanks!</p>

<p>I’ve heard that CalTech is even more selective (they only accept like 250 freshman), so I’ll try and work on my ECs.</p>

15

<p>No problem, im not trying to be a downer and I apologize if I am. You’re a great candidate.
I applied to MIT EA and i got deferred. My brother applied with an 1830 SAT and 5/450 rank and he got in EA, so whoever said MIT looks just at scores and rank you’re wrong sorry.</p>