chances at caltech

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey, I'm white male who goes to a moderately small yet competitive public
high school on Long Island, NY, I was just wondering what my chances may
be at some of these schools (interested in math, physics, or astrophysics
major)</p>

<p>Caltech - thinking of applying early here
Stanford
Harvey Mudd
USC
UCLA</p>

<p>Penn
Duke
Virginia
Johns Hopkins</p>

<p>Chicago
NYU
Binghampton</p>

<p>Stats:</p>

<p>97 W avg, 93 UW: 15/184 rank
SAT: 800 M 640 CR 650 W
SAT IIs: 750 Biology 660 MathIIc (definitely retake, also taking physics)</p>

<p>9th grade
H World History
H English
H Biology
H Algebra
H Latin
Math Research (LI math fair gold medal)
Science Research
Intro Engineering
(Summer: International Diplomacy course for National Student Leadership
Conference)</p>

<p>10th grade
AP Euro (3)
H English
H Chemistry
H Geometry
H Latin
Math Research (Gold medal at LI math fair)
Science Research
(Summer: Number Theory course at Stanford)</p>

<p>11th grade
AP English (4-5)
AP US History (3-4)
AP Biology (4-5)
H Phyiscs
H Precalc
H Latin IV
Math Research (Gold medal at LI math fair)
(Summer: High energy physics research at Brookhaven National Laboratory -
Part of ATLAS project)</p>

<p>EC's/Sports
JV Soccer -9,10 (starting)
V Golf - 9-11 (#2 and co-captain)
LI baseball team - 9-11 (starting catcher)
Ultimate Frisbee Club - 9-11
LI Challenge Club - 9-11 (4-person Trivia Team, Captain of B team)
Mathletes - 9-11 (Top team in division)
After the Bell - 9-10 (Community service for children afterschool, 100hrs
9th grade)
Rugby Club - 11
NHS - 11
Mu Alpha Theta - 11 (President next yr)
HBMS Math Team - 10-11 (LI math team that competes in competitions such as
HMMT, was top scorer on team this yr for algebra and geometry sections,
probably president nexy yr)</p>

<p>I am also good at solving the Rubik's cube, creator and president of
Rubik's cube club in 11th grade, have competed at a few international
competitions...
held the North American record for a 3x3x3 speedsolve of 14.08 sec (world
record is 12.11 sec), currently 5th in the world and 3rd in North America,
also internationally 6th for one-handed 3x3x3 speedsolve (40.65 sec), 13th
4x4x4 speedsolve (1 min 33 sec), 6th 5x5x5 speedsolve (3 min 18 sec), and
6th 2x2x2 speedsolve (7.xx sec). I also plan on organizing and hosting an
official tournament at my school this fall - how much will colleges
consider the cube? (caltech has top cube club in the world)</p>

<p>Although I still need to retake and improve my sats (including math 2c
which should have been 800), what do you think my chances are at some of
these schools? Should I expand or refine my search? Thanks!</p>

2

<p>I don't know about that rubik's cube thing...sounds impressive but I have no idea.</p>

<p>For the most part, your rank & SAT will make most of the schools on your list reaches. Stats at Caltech are a must, and that not only includes your SATI/II math but your verbal as well. A 640 CR is VERY low for Caltech.</p>

<p>Harvey Mudd, USC, NYU appear to be the only matches on your list. Binghampton appears to be the only safety. UCLA & Virginia would be matches but you are out of state.</p>

<p>Is Caltech willing to take a chance on somebody who will help out their #1 cube team? Maybe, but I have truly no idea.</p>

<p>Definitely find some more matches and safeties. I'm a little iffy on science schools...so maybe someone else can help there.</p>

3

<p>What sticks out at me is the 660 Math IIC. That is incredibly low for Caltech (whose average score is like 785), and I think that the admissions committee would only accept an applicant with such a low Math IIC if something else about the application was very compelling. I don't see that here...</p>

<p>Basically, you need an 800, or very close to it.</p>

4

<p>yea im not sure what happened there on the IIc. my lowest practice was a 770 and then i somehow ended up with that, so im thinking i may have messed up part of my scantron after i skipped a question or something stupid like that. what would my chances look like after i retake it and get an 800 or at least close to it? (if i dont then i wont apply to half of these schools) am i dreaming or are these at least realistic reaches?</p>

5

<p>apply and see what happens. but make sure you raise the IIC drastically</p>

6

<p>bump......</p>

7

<p>I hope I'm wrong but I think you are aiming too high. Your class rank is good but just in top 10% and your verbal scores are low for these schools. </p>

<p>Big reach: Caltech, Stanford, UCLA (out of state), Duke, Penn
Reach: Virginia (o-o-s), JHU, Chicago, HMC
Match: NYU, USC (might even be reach-match)
Safety: Bing</p>

<p>Of course if you can bring up your scores your chances would improve, but I see your list dominated by schools that are the hardest in the country to get accepted to. Plus being a male from LI doesn't help.</p>

8

<p>You know, it seems so silly that one test matters so much, but the IIC will for you at Caltech and the other top and tech schools.</p>

9

<p>Retake SAT I & Math IIc, - you need 750+ on all 3 SAT IIs & all components of SAT I; and try to raise your rank.</p>