<p>My son applied for Caltech RD and just received a letter offering school free posters. I wander if everyone who applied will receive such a letter.</p>
<p>You don't even have to apply :) They send that letter out to everyone, I think, including people who took the PSAT and didn't even indicate an interest in CalTech. And perhaps people who didn't take the PSAT. And perhaps cats. (Not to make you feel un-special, but...) ^^</p>
<p>Actually it's a super secret hint that even before reading the application they already want to admit someone...</p>
<p>They call it a pre-cognative acceptance mechanism, that's a technical term. ;)</p>
<p>(I joke, I joke... I hope no one feels offended by this...)</p>
<p>I thought it was some guide, not a poster... I took PSAT as soph - 213.</p>
<p>Hmm.. I didn't get a poster nor a research journal. =</p>
<p>my son hasn't received a thing from Caltech since he was admitted EA. MIT, on the other hand, calls or sends him something every 2-3 weeks urging him to come. Interesting contrast.</p>
<p>I haven't gotten anything since I was admitted EA to Caltech. =</p>
<p>All I have gotten was Financial Aid related stuff.</p>
<p>To all those who are admitted:</p>
<p>MIT's admission staff is something like twice as large (per student - i.e. 10 times as large) as Caltech's. They're known to have one of the best admissions departments in the country. Michael Benke (sp?), whose a bit of a legend in the admissions world - now at Chicago - was the one who put it together. They certainly really have their stuff together. We also have a new director this year, who is really great, but is still working on bringing us up to snuff. Our previous director basically had us frozen in the stone age for like 10 years. So it takes a little bit of time to catch up.</p>
<p>That said, you should have gotten a call from us (a student) if you were admitted EA... I donno, a month or so ago? </p>
<p>Galen</p>
<p>I got a phone call from a student after being admitted EA, which was pretty cool. What financial aid info have you received, CWatson42?</p>
<p>I got the phone call, and a nice congrats card from an alumnus who teaches at the local university... As far as the financial aid, I already received the conditional statement, which I returned sometime last week.</p>
<p>simfish, </p>
<p>Actually, I'm pretty sure they didn't get your PSAT score, or anyone's for that matter. I was talking to an alumnus friend of mine the other day, and she mentioned that the Alumni Association is considering new (hopefully more effective) ways to help admissions. One of the things she said they were considering was buying the list of PSAT scores, so they must not have done so already.... Also, if you'd rather not be on the mailing list with that email address, I'm sure you can respond to the email and ask them to change it.</p>
<p>alleya - Do you know how Caltech sends mail? Most of the mail I get is due to PSATs, but I've gotten some from Caltech, and I'm curious how they got ahold of my address.</p>
<p>No idea, sorry. I'll try to remember to ask someone when I go into work tomorrow.</p>
<p>
[quote]
We also have a new director this year, who is really great, but is still working on bringing us up to snuff.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>things like greeting cards and phone calls are nice, but the big glaring thing that sets Caltech apart from the other schools it is competing with imo is the lack of an overnight program in the dorms. This is really easy to set up thru the admissions office of many schools competing with Caltech, including Harvard and MIT (not Stanford). I could understand that Caltech students are too busy to be hosts to just anyone with a casual interest who might want to spend the night, especially since the majority are going to be rejected. But the fact that accepted students can't even get an overnight in the dorm seems really unusual. (I even know of someone from a previous year who was admitted, offered an Axline, but then denied an overnight in the dorm). Many students find that spending the night in the dorm is far and away the most useful part of a campus visit. Caltech has such a unique culture, I think an overnight would be particularly important there, and many students would prefer to visit outside of prefrosh wekend for one reason or another. I hope the new admissions director has this on his or her list.</p>
<p>I think this brochure and poster giveaway is sent to many. My son (10th, PSAT 226) got one. A free poster is a free poster, no matter how you look at it. The school is on his short list as well.</p>
<p>Texas, we do have an overnight program -- it's called Prefrosh weekend. As for outside of prefrosh weekend, we're working on it. Part of the problem is keeping the students occupied. During prefrosh weekend we can have organized programs and lots of choices of activities for the students. When there's only one or two students coming at a time, that's not possible. I work with admissions on the Caltech in a Day program scheduling activities for students who want to come from 9-5 on a single day, and believe me it's hard coming up with ideas for time-fillers. I can't imagine trying to schedule 24 hours worth of time.</p>
<p>I've met some other frosh that were not able to come to prefrosh weekend (due to a scheduling conflict), and the school made arrangements for them to be able to visit a few weeks before (or after, I forget) prefrosh weekend.</p>
<p>Alleya, what's the Caltech in a Day program? I'm visiting Caltech in March, and I'm going to meet with a few professors, but other than that, I have the rest of the days to roam about, if I choose to. What else is there on campus that you (or anyone else) would recommend that visitors (especially people like me who can't make Prefrosh weekend) do/see?</p>
<p>tanman, </p>
<p>Well, that's part of the problem that I'm running into. Everything that's worth attending happens at night. During the day, students are sleeping, going to class, or frantically finishing sets due at 5. </p>
<p>For every student who comes, I set up:
1) an appointment with the assistant admissions director for the students region,
2) a lunch with a current student with either a similar interest or the same major,
3) a tour with another current student
4) I pick out a couple classes I think they might like. </p>
<p>If you're going to be at Caltech, definitely call the Admissions office and let them know. If nothing else you can get a free lunch with a student here. When you call, let the person you talk to know what you've already got set up with professors, and anything specific you'd like to do while you're here, or any specific types of classes you'd like to see. If you'd like, you can have even more input on your schedule, either by emailing me or the admissions officer for your region. (If you want my email address, just send me a personal message).</p>
<p>Michelle</p>