<p>Damn, that OP is discouraging. I guess Caltech “isn’t for me” :).</p>
<p>Message to OP: there are two MIT admits in my BC Calc class, and one got a B on the midterm while the other got a B minus. I got a C+, but I may not be as far behind as you think :). Granted, MIT is not caltech, but I think you’ll agree that the two schools are at least equally prestigious. Message is: be careful of the assertions you make. You may have had some problems with the math classes at my high school.</p>
<p>To OP and everyone else - can you please characterize what a “good fit” is for CalTech besides what’s listed in the opening post? I ask because while I have the scores, and the love of math and science, and research, etc, I for one feel that I am definitely not a good fit for CalTech, and I think this is proven in that I was rejected from CalTech this past EA round. On the other hand, I got into MIT. I’m not bitter or anything, but I think this thread could be made more helpful for prospective applicants if you talk a little bit about that. There is obviously more to CalTech admissions than top test scores and a passion for math and science.</p>
<p>Mike Woods doesn’t post here anymore, but I think that his original post is pretty good in terms of “chances”. I’m not really sure what you want us to add to it. I think Caltech admissions is pretty straightforward and is based primarily on grades, research experience, recommendation letters, and passion for math and science. As I did not read your application or discuss it with admissions officers (nor did anyone else on this board) I can’t speak as to why you in particular got rejected. </p>
<p>If you feel you’re not a good fit for Caltech, then it shouldn’t matter if you got in or not. </p>
<p>Good luck at MIT!</p>
<p>I suppose I meant just to emphasize that grades/research/etc alone should not be seen as a guarantee of admission, that’s all.</p>
<p>Sorry for the misunderstanding. :)</p>
<p>I’m almost done! 
Hooray!</p>
<p>Hi Tom!</p>
<p>-shrugs- Admissions is tough, we only have so many spots, and there’s so many talented people. Some people just slip through the cracks. Don’t worry though, if you’re really passionate about math and science, you’ll end up where you want to be one day. Not getting into Caltech or MIT doesn’t necessarily mean the end of your science career.</p>
<p>And for sure, Caltech and MIT look for different things in their admitted students, and even at Caltech, the things they look for are changing, you can tell by looking at the student body, it’s changed a lot in the four years that I’ve been here.</p>
<p>Use your essays to your best advantage. Mine were excellent, and they made up for my complete lack of math/science extracurriculars. I attend a pretty good HS where there are tons of math/sci clubs and competition opportunities, but I didn’t join any until senior year (when it didn’t matter anymore).<br>
And I do have a friend who didn’t even take a math class senior year (and he only took Calc AB his junior year). He got into MIT.
Point is, your personality and passion matter, even at ‘tech’ schools like MIT and Caltech.</p>
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<p>Can you be more specific? What has changed?</p>
<p>Well, there certainly seem to be more pre-meds now (especially with the start of the UCSD-Caltech Medical Scholars thing).</p>
<p>I would say that Caltech has become less socially awkward, more main stream. There’s still hardcore nerd culture here, but it’s not nearly as bad as when I was a freshman. Just people are becoming more well rounded, than funnily lop sided (though we still do have plenty of those.) That’s just my general observation, people can feel free to disagree.</p>
<p>Haha. This is the best time of the year for a lot of senior Techers, we’ve finally sent off our grad apps, and now we’re just chilling and having fun, and having the results roll in, and it’s so exciting to hear where everyone is going. And it’s nice at the same time, because despite how tough it is, and how many times we wanted to give up on that damn problem, we didn’t. And now we see the results. And it feels awesome! </p>
<p>I always feel like it’s this time of year that I’m reminded of just how great this school is. When the seniors start getting their grad school results back, and you look around and see how many people get into such phenom. places. Like several of my friends have already gotten into top notch institutions, and I’m totally stoked for them. Ahh, life is good. It also helps that I’m studying abroad this term, and thus, away from the real stressing that some people are probably going through. </p>
<p>Anyways, that was more than you needed to know probably. And no one really asked a question about it. Damn, it must be really late, and I must be really tired. </p>
<p>Right now, I am so incredibly thankful to be a student at Caltech.</p>
<p>Hmm… I don’t know about less main-stream. We’ve seen in our 3.5 years people get more and more easily offended. I do agree we’re trending away from “super-nerdy” dungeons and dragons type stuff, but not to normal… more like to just plain “quiet, shy, plays the piano” type kids. </p>
<p>I’m more jealous that Benji is studying abroad than anything :P</p>
<p>Ok, to the lizzardfire and other Caltech adcoms…</p>
<p>Are you seriously telling me a B in a math/science class can make a difference in your admissions? Because that’s what it looks like to me.</p>
<p>I mean how could grades determine if a person is truly talented in math or science? I got some of my Bs because I hated the teacher and refused to do some of the ridiculous homework.</p>
<p>I’m asking because this senior year I got two Bs in AP Chem and AP English, and two Bs last year second semester in AP Physics and AP Stats…I don’t want those Bs from keeping me away from Caltech…</p>
<p>Grades don’t necessarily determine if a person is truly talented in math and science; like you say, it’s perfectly possible to get below an A for reasons other than not knowing the material. Two problems though:</p>
<p>1) If you expect to never have to do “ridiculous homework” at any competitive college, you are mistaken.</p>
<p>2) How is an admissions officer supposed to tell that you’re good in a class if you don’t get an A?</p>
<p>Ok, but realize that you’re competing against other students who have straight As in everything. Why should you get in to Caltech over them? If there’s something else in your app that answers that question, then fine. I know people who have gotten in without straight As, even in math/science classes. (Personally I had a B in history). But there’s no way of knowing whether you’ll be one of those students, and the OPs advice is still solid. It’s difficult to get into Caltech with straight As. It’s even more difficult without them. So what. Your application will still be evaluated for what it is, not just for your grades.</p>
<p>IMSAgeek hit the nail on the head. Adcoms only get so much data…</p>
<p>This is just a subtle <em>bump</em> to a very relevant topic after I had some recent high school students asking about their chances at Caltech and elsewhere.</p>
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<p>Thanks for bringing this thread up again. For all those interested in chances, please read post #1 in this thread by Michael Woods. Even though posted in Dec 2007, it is still very relevant today, given the questions that have been recently asked.</p>
<p>In response the discussion on B’s, I got in with a 3.88 GPA when applied and graduated with a 3.85, and yes, some of these B’s were from math and science courses (algebra 1, geometry, and IPS). I did, however, have a 4.0 at the local university in 18 courses over 2 years for math and physics courses.</p>
<p>I about this “passion” and EC stuff; I’m plenty passionate about math and science(physics) I mean weirdly passionate. But I’m an international student whose in a prestigious school which is weak in clubs and activities(in sciences&math practically non-existent) even for a foreign country. But I’ve been reading a lot on math and physics and did some research (on nickel electroplating and current and time parameters for optimal roughness(or lack of) and thickness). My question is how can I show my readings(which has given , I can confidently say, a much much better and much much more in depth grounding than almost all of my peers here and in the lines of a good undergraduate student in a respectable university) in the application because I really don’t have any “official/organized” oppurtunities to show it. Thanks in advance</p>
<p>write a paper and submit it to a local science talent search in your country or region. Send that paper to Caltech also for they will have a faculty evaluate it. Contact a local university if they will allow you to do some reserach in that area.</p>