They allow Score Choice but “strongly recommend” sending all scores. I really don’t know what that means. I sent my 1600 SAT already (and 800 Physics and 800 Math II) and got deferred. I took the SAT twice, and could send the lower score, but it just doesn’t seem like that would help me. But then again, I don’t know if only sending one score is the reason I got deferred.
Does that make sense to you? Do you think a score choice school would gain anything by deferring a student on the basis of sending on only one set of scores. No. Many students get deferred and eventually get in.
The reason you got deferred is that Caltech is very selective and very small, so they cannot accept all qualified or even outstanding applicants.