Chances / EA versus better SAT II score

Colleges and Universities A-Z California Institute of Technology
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<p>I realize I'm not the strongest applicant, so be honest :D</p>

<p>ACT w/o writing: 33 (English 33, Math 32, Reading 31, Science 35), retaking this month with writing, hoping to bring up the math score.</p>

<p>GPA: 4.16 W, rank ~5% of 215, 4.0 UW.</p>

<p>SAT II Math IIC: 760, Chemistry: 800 </p>

<p>3 APs Junior year: Chemistry (5), Calculus AB (5), Microeconomics (5)
4 APs Senior year: Physics, Calculus BC, Statistics, Macroeconomics</p>

<p>Overall I have taken 6 years of math and 5 years of science.</p>

<p>-Founding member and leader on FIRST robotics team, and I have participated in it for 4 years
-2 years of science bowl
-1 year of Intel Science and Engineering Fair
-Selected "Chemistry Student of the Year" at our school Junior year
-Worked as a software developer for my parent's small business last summer, after learning programming through the local community college and self-teaching</p>

<p>Nothing special otherwise....white, male, from Oregon.</p>

<p>Aside from chances, I was also wondering if there is any benefit to applying early action? I was going to, but I am wondering if it would benefit me to retake the math SAT II (I'm pretty sure I can pull it up, probably to an 800) and apply regular decision?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

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<p>Hehe, well. You're a much stronger applicant than I was, for what it's worth. Nothing is a sure thing of course, nobody can tell you (or anyone) that you will definitely get into Caltech. But what you've done with regard to engineering outside of school is more than I've done...uhm, in my life.</p>

<p>And I still got in.</p>

<p>Focus your energy on presenting yourself accurately and well in your applications and just hope for the best, I guess.</p>

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<p>Thanks for your response, Zoogies.</p>

<p>Anyone else want to weigh in? Especially on the higher SAT II Math v EA decision?</p>

<p>So far I think I might just apply EA, but take the SAT II math also. If I'm teetering on the edge of acceptance (to the point where that extra 40 points would make a difference), I assume they will just differ me to regular admissions and then my SAT IIC would count anyway. By applying EA if I am outright accepted or rejected at least I will know early....</p>

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<p>I would say apply EA....760 or 800..don't matter that much. If it was 670..that's anotehr story.</p>