<p>Caltech seems to be pretty much the coolest school ever! I have the SATs/grades/etc., but I'm wondering if athletics will give me much of an edge in the admissions process. Im a serious athlete, and I could probably play at all but the very best D1 schools. Would I be able to get a Caltech coach to "officially support my application?" or is Caltech's admission process solely academic-minded.
Thanks.</p>
<p>I heard that Caltech does not recruit period, but I may be wrong.</p>
<p>Caltech's coaches do try to recruit- they go and meet athletes and try to get them to apply here or come here once they've been accepted. However, athletics are just like any other activity when it comes to admissions- it's nice that you've done it and helps show who you are, but it's not more important than the other parts of your app.</p>
<p>The coaches are so delighted that a candidate is athletically and academically talented that some high school students may mistakenly think they are being recruited because the coaches lavish attention to them. But no, it's the strength of your academic profile and math/science achievements that gets you into tech.</p>
<p>In my soph year, I received a lot of track programs/info which were eventually followed up with calls but I am not a science/math person so I pleanstly told them that I wouldnt be a fit at Cal Tech but the coaches conducted themselves in the same way that the Ivies, Williams, UChicago and other academic schools that recruited me did. I would assume that it can only help you in admissions.</p>
<p>Caltech doesn't recruit. Or rather, recruiting has no effect on admissions.</p>
<p>The swimming coach first wanted to make sure I got into Caltech before anything else and didn't contact me until after my decision (EA) was made.</p>