<p>Hi! I'm Ben, a current sophomore in HS, and I'm wondering what kind of stats one really needs to get into Caltech as a junior.
As of now I have a 4.0 Unweighted (our school doesn't weight, but if weighted I believe it would be around a 4.6/4.7 or maybe more).
I have basically taken all honors courses (our school is Pre-IB, so not really any APs offered) with the exception of AP Calculus. Next year I will be dual enrolled for mathematics, taking all IB courses, and three IB sciences.
I am VP of Model UN, Prez and founder of Spanish club, and secretary of Stu. Gov.
Also, I have some (over 50) volunteer hours, and I do Youth Symphony.
I haven't taken ACT/SAT, but assuming I keep my GPA up, what do you think my shots are at Caltech?
Also, I'm interested in the Caltech/UCSD Medical Scholars program. Have many people done this, and do you have to have a resume made out of gold to get in? Thanks</p>
<p>Why not wait till you wrap up HS?</p>
<p>If you're a sophomore, I think it's a bit too early. Finish up this year and next year, and then worry about applying to Caltech.</p>
<p>For getting admitted during your junior year, it's not about "stats" and more about whether or not you have a good reason to not spend another year in high school. If you have taken all of the advanced courses at your school, that may be good reason. On the other hand, taking classes at a local college (particularly advanced math/science classes), self-studying science APs, or doing research will not only increase your chances of being admitted, but also leave you better prepared for the curriculum at Caltech. Keep in mind that the Med Scholars program is very competitive too, and having the stats to just be admitted to Caltech (it's hard to say if you do) is not enough to get accepted into that program.</p>
<p>The major flaw that I see with your application right now is that you don't seem to have done any math/science/engineering activities outside of the classroom. Having great SAT scores and a great GPA will not make you stand out. This will probably hurt you, especially since none of your other ECs look insanely time-consuming. Even if your school doesn't have a math team or science olympiad team or whatever, there's probably a university somewhere near you where you can at the very least do some research during the summer. You could take the AMC 12 and AIME or you could always just work on an independent project in something you find interesting (programming, engineering, math...) If none of these sound very enjoyable, you probably wouldn't enjoy life at Caltech very much.</p>
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<blockquote> <p>Hi! I'm Ben, a current sophomore in HS, and I'm wondering what kind of stats one really needs to get into Caltech as a junior.</p> </blockquote>
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<p>I did: GPA 4.0, SAT 2390, published in Science, AIME 7, USPhO semifinalist, USChO semifinalist, Siemens AP Scholar after sophomore year. Not a very representative case; I also got a full ride.</p>
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<p>You should go build up your application a little more before you apply, you look like a smart well-rounded kid but a few more credentials couldn't hurt :) And it's not getting in that matters, it's not flaming once you get there. If you spend another year in high school you'll get to take a lot more college courses and build up your background and maybe even end up ahead of the game once you get here. Remember, it's way easier to learn hard scientific concepts in high school when you have more time and aren't as stressed. (And keep in mind it's not uncommon for Techers to have had multivariable, linear algebra, and/or differential equations before we get here, so basically you need every bit of advantage you can get.)</p>
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<blockquote> <p>Also, I'm interested in the Caltech/UCSD Medical Scholars program. Have many people done this, </p> </blockquote>
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<p>6 per year :)</p>
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<blockquote> <p>and do you have to have a resume made out of gold to get in? Thanks</p> </blockquote>
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<p>The only guy I know who did this is really good at word games and does all his problem sets three days before they're due. Dunno how his resume was.</p>
<p>As a student who has finished the IB and participated in MUN for 3 years, done student govt. etc. in other words quite similar to you I can say quite confidently to stay in school till you graduate. First off don't underestimate Clatech. Unless you have already or plan to study a lot outside of class you'll need both years of IB to be prepared. I'll be the first to admit that technically much of the sciences and math could be covered in less than two years, but the experience and familiarity you build up are immensely helpful. I've taken IB Phys, Chem and Math HL and can speak for the fact that you need the second year to build up background. I've read up on most of the options and most of Bio SL and can say the same for those. </p>
<p>If you insist on trying, take at least math and one science HL preferably both. For math make sure you take the whole syllabus and the Option: series and differential equations (i think its #10) If you want to go into Chem then make sure you cover the whole syllabus and preferably the option for further organic. IB Phys is a bit less challenging (for me at least) and you could I think catch up any missed knowledge more easily. Any way I would personally more worried wether I was ready than if I could get in. In any case its probably better to wait till senior year and apply early action (it takes the pressure off and you don't have to panic, plus you go to tech knowing youre up to speed). If it really seems too easy, spend time doing a really great EE, do additional research, and do extracurriculars in excess of CAS requirements, in any case take it easy. </p>
<p>As for my advice, I know the chem sylabus has changed and I think Phys and Math may have too, but the substance of what I said should stay true. Finally as a further example of my point I had a classmate that finished Math HL in 8th grade, Bio SL in 10th did a full IB on top of that, has at least 2 very strong languages (maybe more), did extensive theatre and other extracurriculars, got 2400 on the SAT I nearly 800 on various SAT II's had skipped a grade when he was younger, was an all around good guy and he waited to apply till he graduated, and didn't regret it at all. In summary enjoy highschool while you can. What's the rush?</p>
<p>"Enjoy" may not be the appropriate term, but I agree with everyone else that it doesn't sound like staying in high school is glaringly inappropriate at this point. Get as much as you can out of high school, including using the freedom a light workload may give you to independently explore an interest in math or science in more depth, before coming to Caltech; you'll end up in turn getting a better education from Caltech.</p>
<p>Like fizix2, I came to Caltech as a junior, but my reasoning was that (a) there was no good reason to stay--I'd finished the coursework the high school offered, found that courses at the local college proceeded at a very frustrating pace, competed in some science competitions, and realized I was ready to move out of my parents' home; and (b) there was a good reason to leave--the intellectual isolation was doing some active damage to my mental state.</p>
<p>Were it not for the latter problem, I would have probably stayed despite the lack of coursework and spent a year teaching unofficially, reading, working, and trying to pick up social skills. Leaving early was in retrospect clearly the right choice. But for this to be the case there really needs to be a "push" away from high school--not just a lack of attachment and a "pull" to Caltech.</p>
<p>With the caveat that most normal people will feel a slight 'push' away from most high schools, and so you should really be looking for an exceptionally strong push, one which seems uncommon among your acquaintances..</p>