Chances (sorry guys, I just couldn't resist)

Colleges and Universities A-Z California Institute of Technology
1

<p>Class rank: 26/634
W GPA: 4.364/5
UW GPA: 3.8/4
SAT (I just took this last saturday so scores should improve): CR-680, W-630, M-760.
SAT II: Math Lvl 2-800, Physics-800, Chem-790.
ACT: Comp.-34, E-31, R-35, M-36, S-34.
AMC: 99 (11), ?? (9)</p>

<p>Previous APs:
AB Computer Science (4), BC Calculus (5), Physics C Mech. (5), Physics C E&M (5), Chem. (5), American History (3).
Senior coursload (at Cleveland State University):
1st semester: MTH 288 Linear Algebra, PSC 111 American Government, MTH 286 Intro. to Diff. Eqns, MTH 281 Multivariable Calc., ENG 102H English II Honors.
2nd semester: MTH 311 Numerical Analysis, MTH 424 Probability Theory, MTH 358 Abstract Algebra, MTH 381 Analysis, ENG 315 Intro. to the Eng. Lang. (it's a linguistics course)</p>

<p>Awards:
Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Awards (its given to 1 junior each year, in my case, I was chosen out of 634)
Outstanding Physics Student of the Year (it's actualy award from the American Association of PHysics teachers, but that is misleaind because it is actually the principal physics teacher who chooses who gets the award. 3 people in the school (2600+ students) are chosen by the teahcer each year)
Several state placements at science olympiad
Only mediocre placements at invitational math olympiad (like top 20 in state)
Several State placements at Latin Convention (although Caltech prob does not care too much about this)</p>

<p>Misc. Hooks:
Massive amounts of independent studies (Complex Analysis, and QM are the big ones I spent a lot of time on)
Reserach in Reaction-rate theory this year w/ professor at CSU.
An insane amount of passion for math/science.
Worked at Subway for over 2 years now 20 hours per week. I realize Caltech may not care too much about a job like Subway, but this actually really made it difficult to do well in school. For example, I recieved a B in physics my sophomore year when I was working like 5 days a week because I was so exhausted all the time.</p>

<p>Things working to my disadvantage:
Poor AMC score.
Less than perfect grades (I thinksomething like 10 Bs in all of HS).
Never honors english until senior year.
Only several placements in science/math competitions (hopefully this will be overlooked because I dind't have much time to spend with these thigns because I was working a lot).</p>

<p>What can I do to help improve my application?</p>

<p>And just out of curiosity, will all the math courses I'm taking senior year really signify a huge passion in math because while I am certianly not the only person I know from my HS who could have taken those course, I am the only one who ever chose to do it because of my insane passion, so I'm hoping this might stand out.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance guys!</p>

2

<p>Also, sorry I forgot to list that I am studying independently to take the AP stats test in may.</p>

3

<p>So uh, I'm a senior at Caltech. I'd say my application was a lot worse than yours in most respects. No research experience (I'm from the sticks), got to the AIME (barely) but totally blew, bombed the SAT II corresponding to my major (if you squint, 600 kind of looks like an 800...), worked in a pizza parlor ~10hrs/week, etc. The courseload you're taking this year is also a lot better than mine: I took only two classes in my future major that year, and only one was through a college. My college classes were also mostly at a community college. My school didn't have honors anything, no olympiads to participate in really... My scores and grades were a little better (not much), but yours would be too if you had nothing else to do but sit and watch the corn grow.</p>

<p>I think you'll get in. You should play up the research, even if you've only just begun. (Look up "Axline".) I would dump the Subway job and work in the lab if you can manage it financially. You could also use the extra time to apply for scholarships once you're done with the college admissions thing: Caltech used to be a sweet deal, but it's becoming more middle-of-the-road and you can't count on the Axline.</p>

4

<p>Well that's the thing. I can't really manage it financially. To take the college courses I'm in a program that pays for the courses but there's a limit on the credit hours I can take and I'm going over that limiit by 4 credit hours which is oging to cost me like 1500 dollars. Plus, I want to keep the books from the math courses and those will prob be at least 100 each. My parents said they'd pay, but it'd come out of my college fund so I'd rather just pay for it by myself now. It's okay though. It's worth it for those courses :).</p>

5

<p>Yeah I see what you mean! I got lucky, in my old state the school district pays the whole price to send HS students to college courses when the district doesn't offer a comparable course. So whether I was taking the course at community college ($12/credit hour) or the local private college ($300/c.h.!), I didn't pay a dime. I think it's wise to go with CSU though, instead of a comm. college - the courses will be much higher quality.</p>

6

<p>Not to mention the highest math my local community college offers if Diff. Eqns and they don't even offer it every semseter. After that I didn't even check out the physics department. CSU was the obvious choice.</p>

7

<p>Wow you guys are so lucky. My school does not pay for hs students to take college classes at all and my local community college does not offer anything beyond calc I. last year I took at Harvard Extension school but Harvard extension doesnt' offer beyond linear algebra, and UMASS Boston costs like 2X as much. so i'm self-studying math...</p>

8

<p>Okay so my SAT scores didn't improve nearly as much as I hoped they would have.
CR-640, M-800, W-660</p>

<p>This scares me. So far I have seen only like 1 person accepted who did not have a 2200+ (actually, i think they were waitlisted, I don't remember) and most ppl had 2300+. All these ppl did have other amazing stats though, so maybe it wasn't the test scroes. I've also heard that Caltech doesn't put all that much weight into CR, and W, as long as the M is good. Does this severly hurt my chances? If I were bordlerline accept/waitlist, waitlist/deny would this push me down a notch?</p>

<p>Actually, regardless of whether it means automatic deny, I should probably just not worry because there is nothing I can do anymore. O well.
Apps go out for EA in a couple of days. Good luck to everyone!</p>

9

<p>We aren't admissions officers (most of us at least). We can't accurately tell you what your chances really are. We only have a very limited set of data to work with in performing our analysis hoping we can predict the entire pool of applicants and accepted students.</p>

10

<p>Well, that's the thing - SAT's, as far as I was told, were used only for the first cut. After that, the score did not matter much. So, hypothetically, if you are on the verge of being accepted/deferred, deferred/waitlisted, waitlisted/rejected, etc. and the AdCom chooses the second option, it won't be because of your SAT. Plus, you can't really know if you are on that borderline, anyways. :)</p>

<p>That said, my CR was 580 (both times I took SAT), so I don't think you'd be denied right away. With all that, good luck to you! =)</p>

11

<p>Who got in with less than a 2200? I did. I don't see why Tech would even care what you got on your writing score, as long as you didn't bottom out on it or anything. When you think about it, despite your "low" reading score, you've been taking all these college math courses and doing just fine. I think you'll be just fine.</p>

<p>But I'm not on admissions, so w/e.</p>

12

<p>I think working to pay your tuition and books, despite the courseload, is a HUGE plus. Hope you are mentioning this somewhere in your essays (or had your GC do it). Initiative, maturity, time management -- these will serve you well no matter where you are accepted, and as a parent, I would be VERY proud of the level of responsibility you have assumed. Good luck!</p>

13

<p>Well, I mentioned the fact that I am paying for credit hours (just 4 though) and books to my GC. Plus ECN 202 which i took over the previous summer to satisfy graduating requirement. That's just probably a little over 2k, so it's not like I'm paying full tuition or anything. I figured it would be a much better idea to have her say something than I, as it would probably sound much more believable, however, going that route I am risking her not writing about that in her recommendation. In general, if you suggest something to GC or any other recommdner, is it likely that they'll mention it? My thinking would be yes, espeically with my GC because she easily has probalyb a couple hundred students and quite frankly doesn't know much about me besdies what I told her. Would it be best to mention on this on the app, or just hope my GC mentieond it in her letter?</p>

<p>Thanks for all the help guys :)</p>

14

<p>Mention it somewhere in the additional information--then you are covered. You cannot count on GC's mentioning everything. Some have caseloads of 400-500 students and this time of year can be terrible for them in terms of getting everything done.</p>