Chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z California Institute of Technology
1

<p>Hey! I’m going to apply to Caltech this fall (my DREAM school!!!), and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions before I submit my application and possibly give me an idea of my chances.</p>

<p>Probable major: APh/Ph</p>

<p>I’m a male from a public school in a pretty good public school district in New York.</p>

<p>Stats:
SAT: 2190 (800 Math, 750 Writing, 640 CR, 8 e)
SAT II: 800 Math 2c, 760 Physics, 770 Biology M
ACT: 34 (36 Math, 35 Writing, 34 Science, 29 Reading)
AP’s: 10th: Calculus BC-5, Physics M: 5, Physics E&M: 4; 11th: Statistics: 5, Geography: 5, Physics E&M (retest): 5
AMC 12: 111 (10th), 102ish (11th)
AIME: 2 (10th), 6 (11th).
GPA: 4.0 uw (high school courses)</p>

<p>Math/science high school coursework:
9th: Precalculus, Biology, Physics
10th: AP Physics, Chemistry
11th: AP Chemistry, AP Statistics
12th (planned): AP Biology</p>

<p>I self-studied AP Calculus BC sophomore year.</p>

<p>College-level coursework (local community college/ local public university, and grades):
9th: Number Theory 3.6, Linear Algebra: 3.5
10th: Multivariable Calculus: 4.0, Discrete Mathematics: 4.0, Statistical Analysis: 3.7<br>
11th: Differential Equations: 4.0, Algebra: 4.0
12th: not sure</p>

<p>Summer Activities:
9th: Tested out of required classes
10th: Pre-college camp (CTY type)
11th: Research with physics professor in NYC.</p>

<p>Research:
-This is probably one of most important things. Since the middle of my junior year, I have been working with a professor in NYC on improving circuit designs for use in optical technologies. I’ve won my local science fair, placed in the top 10 in the my regional science fair, and went to ISEF, winning a organizational award. I will also be sending my paper to Siemens and Intel.</p>

<p>Other Extracurriculars:
JV Swimming: 9-11
Varsity Swimming: 12
Concert Band: 9-12
MUN: 10-12
Math/Science Club (VP 11, President: 12) : 9-12</p>

<li>Can I put just my top AMC/AIME scores down instead of all of them? Similarly, do I need to put both of my Physics E&M AP scores down?</li>
<li>Should I retake my SAT and ACT?</li>
<li>Any other suggestions?</li>
</ol>

2

<p>your SAT's are pretty good and don't need to be retaken. (the CR score seems a little low but i doubt it will hurt you.) overall, you seem to be a pretty strong candidate. so are you applying EA or RD?</p>

<p>(i'm a caltech hopeful too.)</p>

3

<ol>
<li>Just put your top scores. This is no time to be modest. :)</li>
<li>Don't retake. Your scores are perfectly fine.</li>
</ol>

<p>And I'd say you have a pretty good shot. Good advanced coursework, plus some ECs. </p>

<p>Make sure your essays convey your inner scientist!! I think the essays are really the determining factor.</p>

4

<p>Don't listen to thomaskurian89; your SATs will be a negative and your CR score is well below the 25 percentile mark for admitted students. Why not retake?</p>

<p>Otherwise, you should be fine.</p>

5

<p>Is a CR score really that important? I know plenty of undergrads here whose grasp of English is tenuous at best. SAT scores look fine to me, but I never sat on admissions...</p>

<p>I'd be interested to hear more about your research, given that I work in an APh/EE lab (I'm a EE major).</p>

6

<p>I dunno- avg. ACTscores and SAT a bit on the lower side. Reading is def. the weakness, so get that up if possible.</p>

<p>Nothing really stands out other than ISEF- you should really play up your research. I'd say you got 50/50 chances. Good luck!</p>

7

<p>You don't retake your standardized tests. Sleep in, and then do something fun instead. Honestly, do you think 640 or 29 CR is going to keep him out of Caltech? I've talked to plenty of kids here who based on their English, definitely didn't score higher than that.</p>

<p>You other stuff looks good. Your research work is nice. You have a very reasonable chance.</p>

8

<p>"11th: Research with physics professor in NYC."
w8, whats NYC? Or is it supposed to be NYU?</p>

9

<p>WOW
your 9th and 10th grade work amazes me...I'm going into my sophmore year now, and the only AP class I'm taking this year is global history, and my school won't let me take AP bio with chem, so I'm only taking chem. I took AMC in my freshman year and got in ARML, but didn't do that well...I feel like I'm behind =&lt;/p>

<p>Also, I've been wondering. Does is increase your chances to get in Caltech if you put that your older sibling got in?</p>

10

<p>Eh, dura-dura... =)</p>

11

<p>wow danik you still go on this site?
yea, by "older sibling" i mean hriundeli</p>

12

<p>On a more serious note, look the through decisions threads [url=<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/california-institute-technology/431849-class-2012-ea-decision-thread.html?highlight=decisions%5Dhere%5B/url"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/california-institute-technology/431849-class-2012-ea-decision-thread.html?highlight=decisions]here[/url&lt;/a&gt;], [url=<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/california-institute-technology/312212-rd-decisions.html?highlight=decisions%5Dhere%5B/url"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/california-institute-technology/312212-rd-decisions.html?highlight=decisions]here[/url&lt;/a&gt;], or [url=<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/california-institute-technology/157236-official-decisions-thread.html?highlight=decisions%5Dhere%5B/url"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/california-institute-technology/157236-official-decisions-thread.html?highlight=decisions]here[/url&lt;/a&gt;] to get a feeling of what kind of applicants do or do not get in, as well as learn about different programs or other activities that you can take part in to 'enhance' your application. But, as I told you before, whatever you do, don't do it solely for the sake of getting into a good college (with the exception of SAT, of course).
Oh, and relatives as current students/alumni barely if at all help you, at least here at Caltech.</p>

13

<p>The 750 on W despite the 8 on e means you can easily bost it
to 800 by preping on the essay. Improve your CR as well by
70+ points and your chances would have improved significantly.</p>

<p>ISEF from NY public is impressive.</p>

14

<p>How important are the CR/WR scores? I did poorly on the essay, so I wasn't sure whether I should be worried about that. I'm retaking it anyway.</p>

15

<p>Essay score counts for a minute 30%. Even with a 79 mc, it's hard to get an 800 with a 12 essay. Unlike the other way around, where you can get a 800 with a 80 mc and an 8 essay.</p>

16

<p>I meant how much do they matter to Caltech admissions. Do they look more at the SAT Subject tests?</p>

17

<p>Selena:</p>

<p>A couple of years ago, I asked someone in admissions if they give legacy credit. The answer was an emphatic NO. In fact, they had just turned down the grandson of a major donor.</p>

18

<p>"In fact, they had just turned down the grandson of a major donor."</p>

<p>lol, and ofc, they did it just so they could brag about it. jk ;)</p>

<p>I think people stress too much about that SAT. At least the non-math/science part. It really doesn't matter if you've got strong the rest of the application. If you suck in school and suck in life, and have no time to do some kick ass project, then warm up the chair and give a month of your life towards pulling 2400 on the SAT. That will show that you tried, and prepare a good explanation why you sucked in school so far. But, imo it's much better to devote that month you would spend preparing CR to some project that will knock them from their feet..</p>

<p>here is a repeat of a very good thread from the last year cause it really answers a lot of question that people keep asking, right? :D</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/california-institute-technology/442418-anyone-wanting-know-their-chances-getting-into-caltech.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/california-institute-technology/442418-anyone-wanting-know-their-chances-getting-into-caltech.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>