<p>For those of you who read either the MIT or Harvard boards, bear with me as you have already seen most of this info. </p>
<p>I'm trying to see what people thing my chances at Caltech would be in the RD round. My application is done, and I just need to hit the "send" button. My stats pretty much suck, but I'm hoping that my extracurricular accomplishments will make up for that fact. What do people think (including any admissions folk that may be reading this)?</p>
<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>] SAT: 690M/690V/700W
[</em>] SAT IIs: 740 Physics, 740 Chem, 680 US History, 710 Math I, 690 Math 2
[<em>] GPA: 3.4 UW
[</em>] Rank: School Does Not Rank
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[<em>] Essays: Excellent
[</em>] Teacher Recs: Excellent
[<em>] Counselor Rec: Excellent
[</em>] Hook (if any): Homemade nuclear fusion reactor (see my website: <a href="http://www.brian-mcdermott.com%5B/url%5D">http://www.brian-mcdermott.com</a>), I was featured in a feature-length documentary movie about the "end of oil" and "energy of the future" which will air on TV or in theaters in the spring, had data subtantiated by professors at MIT and other universities.
[/ul]Location/Person:[ul]
[<em>] State or Country: Massachusetts
[</em>] School Type: Public
[<em>] Ethnicity: White
[</em>] Gender: Male
[/ul]Other Factors:[ul]
[<em>] Extracurriculars: Fusion (see above), Dept. of Energy National Science Bowl, National Ocean Science Bowl (2nd place nationally), Science Olympiad (captain), Amateur Rocketry (computer designed and simualted fuel and engines), Hiking/Outdoors, National Student Leadership Conference
[</em>] Other thoughts: It was the combination of a C+ in a freshman class and a few errant B's and B+'s that brought my GPA down to a 3.4. It is probably 0.2-0.4 points lower than where it needs to be.[/ul]</p>
<p>No, not at all. I have 7 other schools lined up that are just as good and I have a good shot at. I just would prefer an undergraduate experience that, in my opinion, few mainstream colleges can offer. Hence MIT, Caltech and Harvard. Those are my 3 "reaches." </p>
<p>Undergrad, to me, is a time to establish a good, broad knowledge base and make connections that will be important and perhaps crucial later in life. The three schools I mention are phenomenal from this standpoint, in my opinion. My "real education" is going to come from grad school anyway, as I plan on getting a PhD. And when I say real, I mean the one that will mean the most for the rest of my life.</p>
<p>Brian, I can't say anything about your chances except I can't really figure out how you got a 690 Math IIC/Math SAT I and still did what you did. I like your projects a lot, though, and I'd suggest retaking the SAT I and the II's in math just to score a little higher.</p>
<p>I should also say that I got a 31 on the ACT (composite).</p>
<p>I just don't seem to do well in math in timed, high pressure situations. A test at school is one thing, but I think the SAT is more of a speed/endurance test than a skills test.</p>
<p>Well, I just sent in my application. I'm pretty pleased with my essays, I must say. I also mailed in a few photos and newspaper articles about me, as well as a short report I wrote with the layman in mind. </p>