While I know that Caltech students are top notch, my life’s been a bit unusual compared to most high schoolers and that impacted my (predominantly) freshman grades. Parents had a rocky relationship and they lost custody over me, so in 9th grade I was shipped around from relative to relative until I settled in with my aunt at the end of freshman year. Because I moved around so much, I couldn’t take that one test or that one final and that led to a couple zeroes on tests which brought my grade down. To make up for some of my bad grades, I took some college classes at my local community college and am close to getting a Certificate of Proficiency. I’ve wanted to go to Caltech since I was in elementary school and I know that I have a passion for science and physics. All I want to know is-- what are my chances?
I don’t know what to put, so i’m just gonna put my entire transcript.
Don’t read it if you don’t want to, I just want an honest opinion because I really really really want to get into Caltech.
Freshman Year
(“1st sem grade” / "2nd sem grade ")
Latin I-- B / C
English I-- A / B
H Biology-- A / B
Orchestra-- A / A
H Geometry-- B / C
AP Human Geography-- B / B
(AP Test: 5)
JV Academic Decathlon
1st in County for Indv. Writing/ Essay
2nd in County for Indv. Speech
3rd in County (as a team)
NASA International Space Settlement Design Competition-- 3rd in national finals
Science Olympiad
Science Bowl
Gold Presidential Volunteer Service Award
Debate Team–
2nd in National Forensics League nationals
Junior Classical League
Latin Certamen team-- 3rd as team in Southern California
CompSci Club
STEM Club
Community College Night Class:
Algebra II-- A / A
- Recommendation from Professor
Sophomore
Latin II-- A / A
H English 2-- A / A
(Self-taught myself AP English Language; AP Test: 5)
H Chemistry-- A / A
Orchestra-- A / A
H PreCalculus-- A / A
AP World History-- A / A
(AP Test: 5)
Varsity Academic Decathlon
(3rd sophomore to make varsity in school’s 45 year history)
1st in State for Indv. Science
3rd in State (as a team)
NASA International Space Settlement Design Competition-- 2nd in national finals
National Science Fair finalist
USAMO qualified
Science Olympiad
Junior Classical League
CompSci Club
Co-Founded Coding Club
Apple Developer
College Summer Classes:
Math 3B- Analytical Geometry & Calculus II-- A (summer classes are only one semester)
Junior
H Latin III-- A / A
H American Lit-- A / A
AP Chemistry-- A / A
(AP Test: 5)
AP Computer Science-- A / A
(AP Test: 5)
AP Calculus BC-- A / A
(AP Test: 5)
AP US History-- A / A
(AP Test: 5)
Siemens Semifinalist (Group), presented project at Caltech
“Captain”, Varsity Academic Decathlon
1st in State for Indv. Essay
1st in State for Indv. Speech
2nd in State for Indv. Science
2nd in State for Indv. Math
3rd in State (as a team)
NASA International Space Settlement Design Competition-- our high school team was selected to represent North America, tied for 2nd with Team India and Team Russia in the International Finals
Science Olympiad
State Science Fair, finalist
(Couldn’t go to Nationals because of scheduling issues)
USAMO qualified
Junior Classical League
CompSci Club
President, Code Club (Code it Right)
College Summer Classes:
Math 24- Differential Equations-- A
CS 26E- Discrete Computer Mathematics I-- Pass (only P/F available for CompSci classes)
Started co-authoring paper about Three Body Problem, WiP
SAT-- 2300 (M: 800, R: 800, W: 700)
ACT-- 35
SAT Math 2-- 800
SAT US History-- 760
SAT Chemistry-- 800
Senior (current)
AP Latin IV
AP English Literature
AP Physics
AP Macroeconomics
AP US Government
AP Statistics (I’ve exhausted all other math courses)
“Captain”, Varsity Academic Decathlon
NASA International Space Settlement Design Competition-- team became North American representative, international semi finals in January 2016
College Summer Classes:
Math 38- Linear Algebra-- A
- Recommendation from Professor
SAT Physics C-- 720