<p>Wow, tintin, you're like a better version of me (see my stats on post 141) and we both got deferred.</p>
<p>I have no chance.</p>
<p>most of the deferrals shock me. your stats seem better than mine yet somehow i got accepted. admission decisions seem so fickle. i would be even more surprised if you didnt get in through regular admissions. im surprised you didnt submit your paper since you were a semifinalist. i think you could still send it in. caltech doesn't do interviews tho so no worries there.. i noe on my acceptance letter they specifically commented on my research (which didn't even qualify for semifinalist status), so im guessing sending a paper that DID qualify could help you. although im not saying that research is absolutely necessary for admission, but since you have it.. it couldnt hurt.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Wow, tintin, you're like a better version of me
[/quote]
</p>
<br>
<p>_> people don't come in versions, generally. There was that guy who tried to name his kid "[his name] 2.0" though...</p>
<br>
<p>
[quote]
admission decisions seem so fickle
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Which is why admissions is done via a committee instead of processed through a stat-analyzing machine. :)</p>
<p>Hm...</p>
<p>You know, this makes me a bit depressed. I still haven't received anything yet. It's not that I'm hopeful--my stats are terrible, my senior schedule is weak, my teacher recommendations were probably lacking (I've had a very rough senior year), and my essays were rushed and unedited, so there's really less than no chance of anything other than a rejection. But...I kind of want the rejection in my hands to put it out of my mind.</p>
<p>I'm really hoping it just shows up tomorrow. My worst fear is that it was misdelivered, and I'll end up having to call and get the rejection by phone or something, in person...</p>
<p>I come in versions! :)</p>
<p>JNT congrats!!! what campus did you go for SSP?</p>
<p>Thanks. Socorro =D</p>
<p>I still haven't got a letter! Does this mean what I think it means......?</p>
<p>Decision: Deferred</p>
<p>Objective:
*-GPA: 3.77/4.00 UW, 4.364/5.000 W
*-Class rank: 25/640
*-SAT (superscore): 680 CR, 800 M, 660 W
*-ACT: 34 Composite, 31 E, 36 M, 35 R, 34 S
*-SAT II: 800 Math Lvl. 2, 800 Physics, 790 Chem
*-AP: 5 Physics C Mech, 5 Physics C E&M, 5 BC Calculus, 5 AB Calc (subscore), 5 Chemistry, 4 AB Comp Sci, 3 APUSH
*-AMC/AIME: ??,99/NA
*-Senior yr courses
*-AP Stats (audit)
*-PHY 350 E&M (audit)
*-ENG 102H English II Honors
*-PSC 111 American Government
*-MTH 281 Multivariable Calc
*-MTH 286 Intro. to Diff Eqns.
*-MTH 288 Linear Algebra
*-ENG 315 Intro. to the Eng. Lang. (it's a linguistics course)
*-MTH 311 Numerical Analysis
*-MTH 358 Abstract Algebra
*-MTH 381 Analysis
*-MTH 424 Probability Theory
</p>
<p>*-Extracurriculars:
*-Research:[indent]
*-Ind. research relating to the connection between Hamiltonian systems and complex functions
*-Research regarding super-Arrehnius behavior of transport processes in glassy systems
*-(Just started this so I still have to notify Caltech) Research regarding solutions of diff eqns. that contain functions defined at only a finite number of points.
</p>
<pre><code> *-Independent Study:
*-Complex Analysis
*-Quantum Mechanics
*-Those are the only big two, although there's tons of other little stuff. I didn't really list most of this on the app anyways.
</code></pre>
<p>
<em>-Tutoring
-Standard math/science club stuff.
*-Latin club/convention.
*-Job at Subway 20 hours/week for 2 and a half years. Not very prestigious, but man is it a *</em>** working 20 hours per week with school.
[/indent]</p>
<p>*-Awards:
*-Three top 15 placements at state Science Olympiad.
*-Three top 5 placements at regional Science Olympiad.
*-Just mediocre placement in state math competitions (best was 16th in state).
*-Invited to be on state ARML team.
*-Several top 10 placements at state Latin Convention (one of those was first in the state).
*-A couple "best in school" or "one of best in school" awards pertaining to math and science, particularly physics.
</p>
<p>Subjective:
*-Recommendations: Hmm. Well my academics are under par for caltech (see GPA/class rank), so when I wrote my letters to those I was requesting recommendations from, I asked them if they could stress my passion instead of my academic achivements. I don't know if they did this, but if they did it should bolster what I wrote in my essays. I'm sure they we're above average, but not amazing. I also asked if my counseolor could somehow explain my situation with my job. That is, I need my job becuase I pay for the most part everything I need, with little to no parental help.
*-Essays: I basically tried to show that I live for what Caltech stands for (i.e. math/science). While being very me, unfortunatley I probably came off as very cliche and not very impressing.</p>
<p>Comments: I was expecting a deferral, so I'm not really happy or sad. I'm just thankful I wasn't rejected outright.</p>
<p>Accepted (!)</p>
<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>]SAT: 2150 (740 verbal, 720 math, 690 writing)
[</em>]SAT II: 800 Math II, 760 Chemistry
[<em>]ACT: 35
[</em>]GPA: 4.0 UW
[<em>]Rank: School does not rank.
[</em>]Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): AP Calculus AB: 5, AP Chemistry: 4
[/ul]
Subjective[ul]
[<em>]Essays: They commented on my common app essay at the bottom. I really loved most of my short answers. I spent the longest on my Caltech app and turned it in the latest.
[</em>]Teacher Recs: I'm going to guess excellent.
[<em>]Counselor Rec: Probably more personal than usual.
[</em>]Supplementary Material: Research abstract, letter from research advisor.
[<em>]Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): I'm really not sure on this one- I never believed this would happen for me.[/ul]
Personal[ul]
[</em>]Location:Louisiana
[<em>]High School Type: Public Residential Elite
[</em>]Ethnicity: White
[<em>]Gender: Female
[</em>]Applied for Financial Aid: Submitted the PROFILE[/ul]
Other[ul]
[<em>]Extracurriculars: Class president, MAO, Science Quizbowl, French Club, Honor Code Court, Research, employed when I was at home.
[</em>]Awards:Graduation with Distinction, National Chem Olympiad, National French Exam, National Merit, ACS exam
[*]Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?: This is, by far, the most wonderful thing that has happened to me. My entire school has been waiting for this day alongside me, and to open that letter in front of everyone was...well...I just started crying and couldn't stop. The only word I can use to describe this feeling is validated. I feel like all these years of work, competitions, classes, leaving home, stress, and more classes have finally paid off. My efforts have come full circle and it's time to reap the rewards. I could never thank Caltech enough for what they've already given me- this wonderful feeling after four years of longing and months of painful waiting. See you all at CALTECH!!!![/ul]</p>
<p>congrats jordan!
but then... aww... so you are not going to MIT? i dont want to be the only one from louisiana!</p>
<p>College Class Year: 2012
White Male from Florida
ACADEMICS
High School: Fort Myers High
GPA: UW: 3.97 W: 5.23
Class Rank: top 1% of 5500+ Lee County Snrs
AP/IB [5]: 5 Calc AB, 4 Calc BC, 4 English Lang, 4 Microecon, 3 Micro, 3 Us hist, 3 Euro Hist, 4 IB Econ
SR YR AP/IB: HL English, Math, History of Americas, SL Bio, SL French, TOK
SAT I: 2230 (780M, 700V, 750W)
SAT IIs: IIC: 790 US History: 680 BIO/M:690
OTHER: Duke TIP 3 years</p>
<p>EC
Key ECs: Florida Youth in Government State officer, Mu Alpha Theta, Math Team, Varsity Baseball, Boy Scouts of America, etc.</p>
<p>Leadership positions: Math Team Captain, Boy Scout Troop Leadership, County, Region Leader in Boy Scouts as well; 2-year Supreme Court Justice in Youth in Government</p>
<p>Athletic Status: Varsity Baseball Captain, 4 year baseball player</p>
<p>Volunteer/Service Work: Math Tutor, Boy Scouts Service, Mu Alpha Theta Volunteering</p>
<p>HONORS AND AWARDS
Eagle Scout; Vigil Honor (Order of the Arrow); USC RHP admittance,</p>
<p>Reccs: Math and English, Supplementary recc from Employer at Engineering firm</p>
<p>Hooks: Eagle Scout, 2 year summer intern at large Engineering firm</p>
<p>OTHER:</p>
<p>...Also being recruited for baseball...</p>
<p>Caltech recruits kids for sports?</p>
<p>No, they don't.</p>
<p>While athletics doesn't get any special consideration in admissions as it does in other schools, coaches can and do try to encourage prospective athletes to apply to and come to Caltech.</p>
<p>IBAboveIB- If you can retake the Math II SAT and get a higher score before the RD deadline (I don't know if there is still time to do this), you will have a much better chance of getting in regular. If I were on the admissions committee (which I'm not), that score would be quite worrying (esp combined with the 4 on the Calc BC, but you can't do anything about that now).</p>
<p>@jdhutchin: jdhutchin's SAT Math II is high enough (790). US history and Bio are less than 700. His social science related APs are relatively low (a few 3's). I am not sure what he can do.</p>
<p>@jdhutchin: sorry, I mean IBAboveIB's SAT .....</p>
<p>Aww, thanks Tong. Well...I mean, nothing's set in stone yet. None of my brothers went to college so all this is pretty new to me. My opinions about the two are based on a lot of impressions and not always hard fact. I want to spend the next few months collecting everyone's two cents (all of yours included) and just trying to make the best decision for myself. That said, this is certainly the best dilemma I've ever been in: Caltech or MIT? Hah! Who'd a thunk it? </p>
<p>Besides, aren't you headed for Princeton? ^_^</p>
<p>Again, thanks everyone...This day has been...wonderful.</p>
<p>I believe I haven't posted on Caltech's yet...</p>
<p>Accepted</p>
<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>]SAT II: Math Level 2 790, Chemistry 720, U.S. History 770
[</em>]ACT: 35
[<em>]GPA: 4.0 UW
[</em>]Rank: 1/~430
[<em>]Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): AP Chem 5, AP U.S. History 5, AP Calc BC 5, AP Physics B 4, AP English Lang 4
[/ul]
Subjective[ul]
[</em>]Essays: I liked them<br>
[<em>]Teacher Recs: should be awesome (didn't see)
[</em>]Counselor Rec: should be great (didn't see)
[<em>]Supplementary Material: scientific research abstract
[</em>]Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): none?[/ul]
Personal[ul]
[<em>]High School Type: public
[</em>]Ethnicity: Asian
[<em>]Gender: female
[</em>]Applied for Financial Aid: yes[/ul]
Other[ul]
[<em>]Extracurriculars: Editor-in-Chief of school newspaper, Varsity Tennis Captain, Science Olympiad Captain, Flute (area symphony orchestra, all-state band), Volunteer @ science center, Freshman Mentor, school chem lab aide/French assistant
[</em>]Awards: Sigma Xi Scientific Society Interdisciplinary Research Award, Sigma Xi Associate Member, National Merit Semifinalist, Science Olympiad 1st places, some others
[li]Misc: I do post-secondary at our state university and I attended M.I.T. WTP this past summer. [/ul]</p>[/li]
<p>Yay!!!!! Agree with lsmsa...Caltech v. MIT (v. UChicago) is the best dilemma I've had.</p>