I’m not sure when I should apply. I know the Early Action deadline is coming up soon, but should I even bother applying?
I want to go into Chemical Engineering
SAT: 1820 (superscore 1850)
ACT: 28
SAT Subject tests: Math 630, Bio E 600, Chem 570
GPA: 3.92 (4.45 on a 5.0 scale)
I’ve only gotten 3 B’s in my high school career (two in freshman geometry honors, one in junior IB Econ SL)
TONS of community service
Job experience
Tennis (4 year varsity; team captain this year)
Lots of school clubs
Idk what else to put. If you need more info let me know.
PLEASE HELP!!!
I feel like with your standardized test scores your chances would be very, very, very slim. But follow your heart. There is no set cut-off for scores.
Can I ask why you even want to go to Caltech? It is one school known for studies and rigor so why you want to get into situation to fail? I am not saying you will fail but chances are low at Caltech that you will enjoy the college.
You seem quite naive to what it take to get into a top 10 engineering school like Caltech. Do you have Naviance at your school? Have you looked at the 25% - 75% numbers for a school like Caltech? And the students in under 25% range usually have some ‘hook’ that the school needs; do you have one of those hooks (URM, Athlete, a disability, from a unusual state)? And even if you are ‘hooked’ do you want to be in classes with people who are natural mathematicians (possible Einstein’s) who teach themselves calculus in fifth grade? The classes will be much faster pace than high school and probably faster than 95% or other colleges. With your grades and test scores even if you are a URM you would have a better chance graduating with a high enough gpa to get a job by looking at schools rank lower - nothing in the top 10. Maybe one or two reaches in the top 25 and then two or three in the top 50 and then two or three in the top 75 and one or two in top 100.
Realistically, you don’t have the test scores for Caltech.