Chance?

Colleges and Universities A-Z California Institute of Technology
1

<p>Stats:
Indian (Asian) male, goes to competitive school in Michigan</p>

<p>SAT I (by section): 2250 (800 M, 750 CR, 700 W)
ACT:34</p>

<p>APs: Chem(3), Physics C (5), Stats (5), Calc AB (5), Calc BC, Biology, and European History</p>

<p>GPA (UW, W): 3.75 uw (HUGE upward trend: 9: 3.2, 10: 3.8, 11: 4.0)
-(4.16 UC gpa)
Rank: School doesn't rank</p>

<p>Academic Honors/Awards:
- National Merit Finalist
-Honor roll 10-12th grade
-All State honorable mention Jazz bass performance
-Medalist at regional Solo/Ensemble festival
-Ranked 6th in NorthSouth foundation National essay competition (2012)
-Ranked 12th in NorthSouth foundation national public speaking competition (2012)</p>

<p>ECs listed on app:
- Jazz Ensemble (4 years)… First chair/Section leader
- Pit Orchestra (4 years)…First chair/Section leader
- Model UN (3 years)…Made school team that competed at prestigious regional conferences
- Robotics (1 year)
- Orchestra (7 years)…First chair/Section leader
- JV tennis (number one team in state): #2 doubles, undefeated, conference champions, won 4 tournaments, etc.</p>

<p>Job/Work Experience: Internship at local pharmaceutical company, youngest ever hired
Essays: Great
Teacher Recs: Good
Counselor Rec: Great
Applied on (EA?):
Hook (if any):</p>

2

<p>Your stats are not quite up there with the most competitive Caltech applicants and your extracurriculars do not suggest a passion for math and science, even though you may possess one. On the other hand, you could probably get into the University of Michigan, no sweat, which is a large state research university second to none. You no doubt will have lots of other good options as well, at both universities and LAC’s, and there is no reason not to apply to Caltech. You never can tell.</p>

3

<p>Your chances are hard to predict - your scores are acceptable, but not phenomenal. Your ECs are great by many standards, but Caltech really looks for those with ECs or proven interest in scientific pursuits. The only EC that is sciency on your list is one year of Robotics. If you can explain a true interest in scientific areas in your essays, that’d be a big help. It doesn’t have to be research; it could be a quirky thought about why slinkies like to twist, why Rubik’s cubes appeal to kids, or why the Mars Rover fascinates you. While you still have a reasonable chance, it is not a “shoe-in”. Practically no one is a shoe-in, yet many “regular” types still get accepted!</p>

4

<p>Eh, no reason to say that you’d be outright rejected but it’s an uphill battle.</p>