Chances at Caltech?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I am a junior in North Carolina, at a competitive residential high school
Male, Asian, a little younger (2 years) than normal for grade</p>

<p>THE STATS</p>

<p>SATI: 1500 freshman year, looking to retake new SATI this year
SATII: None at this moment
AP: 5 in Calc BC, will be taking chem,
PSAT: National Merit Semifinalist status (233)
GPA: Not very impressive, 3.5 (school does not assign GPA, this is calculated), but with drastic improvement this year (1 B) and straight a's freshman year...I know this is going to hurt and I'm working (very hard) at it
Rank: School does not provide
Currently enrolled in AP Phys C, AP Chem, Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra, the rest are standardized for all students in the school. All classes are as high as possible</p>

<p>EC's</p>

<p>Math: AIME Qualifier 2 years, USAMO hopeful this year (working almost 3-4 hrs a day this year, 4 hrs/day more than previous years ;))
Mandelbrot Competition National Individual Leader
USAMTS gold medalist
Many local awards as well</p>

<p>Research: I have a patent pending for this, and applying to RSI this year. The project has been going on for almost a year, will enter in Siemens, Intel, etc.</p>

<p>Band: Played Clarinet, a few local awards, quit this year (after 6 years) because of intense schedule</p>

<p>Did some volunteer work for library and park district, paid job as a tutor</p>

<p>And I also believe I have a genuine passion for math and science.</p>

<p>My schools so far (remember, I'm only a junior) are</p>

<p>Caltech
MIT</p>

<p>Cornell
Rice</p>

<p>UNC Chapel Hill
UIUC</p>

<p>What do you think?</p>

2

<p>As I look at this, I realize I left out one important thing: I started a pool club at my school which is chartered, i.e. receives funds from student council. </p>

<p>My school is also very different from ordinary public schools, as it is residential. We do not have some programs, such as NHS, etc...</p>

3

<p>Yeah I'm glad your a junior so I don't have to compete at Caltech and MIT (my top two choices) against you.</p>

4

<p>Samp0320: Thanks, but I think you are overestimating me a little bit...good luck with Caltech and MIT, I hope you get in :)</p>

5

<p>The low GPA will hurt you and probably no research will, also (although your project might off-set that; other than that, you're a very competitive candidate. Good luck with CalTech and MIT.</p>

6

<p>That is research :-D</p>

7

<p>1500 fresh year? wow, thats amazing</p>

8

<p>i don't understant why you would take it in your freshman year especially if you are 2 years younger than the rest of the grade. I think you have a good chance, if you are in a really competitive school, low GPA is O.K.
MIT and Caltech are a little different in their selection of students than the rest of the nation. SInce you since to excel in math and technologies, you should be a solid candidate.</p>

9

<p>USAMTS Gold medalist? BC Calc and AP Physics C? hm, I think you're fine... probably would have gotten in if you applied this year for the class of 2009...</p>

10

<p>SAT required to apply to high school</p>