Chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z California Institute of Technology
1

<p>I’ve finally succumbed to posting another chances thread, but that’s a bit of what CC’s for, right?</p>

<p>Rising senior (What! I’m graduating in a year! I’m not that old, am I?), Attend a good NE prep-school
GPA is 5.3/6.0 UW, which places me in the top 10% (school does not rank)
My math/science GPA is 5.7/6.0 UW (to put this in perspective, if this were my overall GPA, I would probably be ranked 1 or 2)</p>

<p>Courses already taken-
Math through multivariable calculus
AP Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Introduction to Spectroscopy
AP Physics
Biology Research
French through third year (diploma requirement)
English through third year (diploma requirement)
Philosophy: Human Nature (diploma requirement)
Some other diploma requirements</p>

<p>Courses to be taken senior year-
AP Computer Science
Honors Math Seminar
Advanced Mechanics
Relativity and Quantum Mechanics
More diploma requirements</p>

<p>My counselor would probably describe my course load as very challenging. (By the way, since I’ve already taken a lot of advanced courses and since I have a bunch of requirements left, my course load next year will be a bit easier. How will this be taken?)</p>

<p>School Awards-
Maynard Prize in Analytical Geometry and Calculus
Wadsworth Prize in Advanced Physics
School Science Bowl Winner</p>

<p>EC’s-</p>

<p>Math Club (captain next year- a possibility)
126.5 on AMC, 6 on AIME
Top 20 in Massachusetts Association of Mathematics League (MAML)
Top ten in HMMT (Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament) Calculus
Eastern Mass ARML team, Division B site winner</p>

<p>Science Club
National Science Bowl – 2nd place in state
National Ocean Science Bowl – top 12 in state</p>

<p>Computer Science Club
2nd place in ACSL (American Computer Science League) competition</p>

<p>Cross Country, Track (Lettered in track, I think)</p>

<p>Testing-</p>

<p>SAT I-2270 (740V/770M/760W)
SAT II’s- 800 Math IIC, 800 Chemistry, Physics in October
APs- 5’s in BC Calc, Chemistry, Physics C</p>

<p>Other-
I think my essays will be good, if not great
My rec’s should be great (my math teacher for Calc and Multivar has already told me that I am the strongest he’s seen in ~13 years of teaching)
I think I’ll submit my Biology research paper on DNA-Based computing even though the results weren’t exactly conclusive
I know Caltech doesn’t admit by major, but my fields of interest will be Computer Science and Astrophysics (Is it humanely possible to double major in those?)
Original Solution to Fermat’s Last Theorem [Note to self: Find solution before posting]</p>

<p>And now…. Drumroll please, ….. the question:</p>

<p>What is the meaning of life, the universe, and everything? </p>

<p>The more relevant question: what are my chances at being admitted to Caltech? I’ll be applying EA, so what are my chances of getting an Axline for Christmas? (hah I wish)</p>

2

<p>Chances: Ask me a year from now.</p>

<p>Meaning of life: If one approximates life as an isothermal sphere with velocity dispersion sigma, then the meaning of life can be expressed as a function solely of alpha and sigma, where alpha is a parameter which must be determined experimentally. Although this has been an area of active research for some time, no experiment has yet been devised for directly measuring alpha. There are some recently-proposed methods for indirectly measuring alpha within two orders of magnitude or so (which is pretty good considering that we are talking about the meaning of life). Expect preliminary results within the next year.</p>

<p>Of course, that's just the meaning of life. We will probably have to wait another decade for estimates on "the universe, and everything" - and that's assuming everything can be realistically extrapolated from the universe.</p>

3

<p>I don't really know about your chances. I mean you certainly look fine to me. My guess would be you'd get in, but I don't see an Axline coming your way.</p>

<p>
[quote]
National Ocean Science Bowl – top 12 in state

[/quote]
Hah, in my state (Colorado), we never had more than 12 teams for NOSB...yeah. Then again we didn't have an ocean either. </p>

<p>
[quote]
my fields of interest will be Computer Science and Astrophysics (Is it humanely possible to double major in those?)

[/quote]
Don't come here counting on that, that's for sure. I'm sure there are a handful of students here could do it, but for all intensive purposes, I'm going to just say it's not possible. Astrophysics is one of the hardest majors in terms of requirements (everything a physics major has to take + other classes), and it doesn't overlap with CS at all.</p>

4

<p>Thanks for the info. Just one last question: do I stand any chance of getting in EA? Because then my dad would owe me a trip to Pasadena over spring break. :)</p>

5

<p>Your stats look quite similar to mine; I got in. I also don't have an Axline, but then again I didn't have any research under my belt. I doubt EA admission is far-fetched, and spending some time on campus (for me) was definitely a great investment in terms of figuring out where to go to school. The campus was beautiful, the atmosphere was friendly and relaxed, and it really felt like somewhere I could belong. It didn't hurt that a planetary science professor took a group of us on a tour and showed us moon rocks, a meteorite from mars, some US Geological Survey stuff, etc. that really opened my eyes to the fact that this is the place to be for science.</p>

<p>edit: I don't think there's any reason you wouldn't want to submit your research paper. Even if the paper makes you look like a blathering idiot, it still shows that you like science enough to apply yourself to it and hammer out a paper.</p>