<p>I am a junior, and I have a question for those who are attending Caltech.</p>
<p>Why do you think you got in?
What's your major/area of focus?
Do you have any advice for a high school junior hoping to apply in the fall? (If so, what?)</p>
<p>1) Well, the admissions office sometimes makes mistakes...:-P
2) EE
3) Take advantage of all your opportunities! Oh man...don't do what I did, and sit semi-idly just since there weren't screaming opportunities beyond the HS curriculum placed before my face. If there really aren't any...make some...or learn something...do something useful with your time :D haha. </p>
<p>I guess those don't really apply to writing applications, but probably developing yourself is more important than developing any application.</p>
<p>1) Recommendations and classes.
2) Math.
3) Don't apply here. I wish I hadn't. (Yes, I'm bitter).</p>
<p>What's wrong with Caltech? What do you know now about Caltech that you didn't know before you attended?</p>
<p>Since I'm a math major, that might affect me a bit. Does the reason you regret going to Caltech have anything to do with being a math major?</p>
<p>Hm, a lot of people seem to be bitter. But, IMHO, Caltech is a very awesome place to be, in many ways. Sometimes it feels like more work than I can handle, but at the end of the day, I'm glad I'm here. For what it's worth.</p>
<p>1) No idea, maybe because I play tennis? lol
2) CS
3) I'd second zoogies, I wish I didn't watch so much television and actually sought out opportunities (internships, contests, scholarships etc).</p>
<p>I'm glad I picked Caltech and I feel like I've learned so much here, but there are times when I wish Core didn't have so many requirements, especially for physics.</p>
<p>No, math doesn't have anything to do with it. </p>
<p>I was actually bitter before I came here, to put it in perspective. I never quite fell in love with Caltech in the first place. I applied because it contained the words "Institute of Technology" and because my uncle said it was a good school. I enrolled because my first-choice college didn't give me financial aid. </p>
<p>Not the greatest reasons for picking a school.</p>
<p>Wow...switch of scene from what neapol1s was like before.</p>
<p>Optimization, I would suggest you apply if you're interested in science, and the if you get in, come visit, after which if you feel you don't fit in, don't come.</p>
<p>For sure don't go somewhere just because of the name or your uncle said so. Figure out your own way of life, and especially don't take advice you read on the net too seriously, mine included.</p>
<p>1) Scientific research and dedicating lots of time to extracurriculars
2) Chemistry
3) In addition to taking advantage of the opportunities your school gives you, learn on your own, just for fun. The internet has a wealth of information on it - you can start [url=<a href="http://www.math.gatech.edu/%7Ecain/textbooks/onlinebooks.html%5Dhere%5B/url">http://www.math.gatech.edu/%7Ecain/textbooks/onlinebooks.html]here[/url</a>] or [url=<a href="http://ocw.mit.edu/index.html%5Dhere%5B/url">http://ocw.mit.edu/index.html]here[/url</a>]. :) Also, take some classes at whatever university/college is closest to you. Don't waste away your summer!</p>
<p>In addition to what Llama said:</p>
<p>Although I don't go to Caltech (I'm just a hopeful applicant), I also have Caltech textbooks for 1st year Chemistry, Calculus 1-3 w/ Linear Algebra, and Physics in ebook. I've been using these to study independently to hopefully test out of some first year classes of the college I'll hopefully be attending next year (too many 'hopefully's, I know). Using these sources along with</p>
<p>which has links to all Caltech problem sets and their solutions, you can really get a lot accomplished. If you want the ebooks, PM me with your e-mail account. And I'll back up Llama's comments: don't waste time. Bored? Take a class or, alternately, pick up a number theory or abstract algebra textbook and study thoroughly. I'll also expand and tell you not to do something you really don't want to do just to get into college -- I picked up some ECs and hated them, and really wished I hadn't done them in the first place. Be active -- but only in the things that you really want to do.</p>
<p>Wow. Thanks so much everyone. </p>
<p>Considering I live so close to the campus, I will try to visit it this weekend or next weekend. I definitely agree. I've just heard so many incredible things about it, and I think it is worth a shot to go and check the school out, and I will definitely think carefully prior to applying. I'd like to know if it is "the school for me," and I will, undoubtedly, not apply because it is considered a good school (but I will check it out for that reason :P)</p>
<p>Thanks so much. All of your advice has been really helpful.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Hm, a lot of people seem to be bitter.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Random question: Are all of you Caltech people from the same house/social group? You seem to be very friendly with one another in general...And that might explain the shared bitterness.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Random question: Are all of you Caltech people from the same house/social group? You seem to be very friendly with one another in general...And that might explain the shared bitterness.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>No, not that I know of... I don't believe I've met neapol1s in person. Well, probably have, but without recognizing him. :-P Not sure how that would explain shared bitterness, though...that said, not <em>everyone</em> is bitter.</p>
<p>Optimization, I'd recommend you also visit sometime during the school week as well, it's a different vibe.
I don't really know of the Techers on here, although I've probably talked to all of the ones in my class at somepoint. Bitterness is somewhat universal since we're all still at the same school and have to take the same classes (although some houses are more bitter than others).</p>
<p>I certainly know a lot more really happy people than bitter people, though this might just be due to variation in House culture or my particular choice of social group. Also, a phenomenon I have noticed a lot here at Tech: amount whining does not always correlate with actual unhappiness. A large segment of the population seems to find complaining about how impossible the sets are or yelling, "OH DEAR GOD, PREFROSH, GET OUT WHILE YOU STILL CAN! SAVE YOURSELF!" good ways to let off steam. ;)</p>
<p>Optimization,
while you're on campus this weekend or next, take time to go see "The Winters Tale" its in Ramos Auditorium at 8 pm Fri and Saturday and 2 on Sunday (though I think next weekend on Sunday its at the Huntington). Its a student/community production - go see what else students do besides study. This is a shameless plug from a mom whose freshman is in the production. Yea he's the kid with black hair. (shock to mom). If he has time for rehearsals, etc, the problem sets can't be that bad. Last weekend the audience was very small so you other Caltech students - go see the play.<br>
He's planning on doing the math option. He loves caltech (as far as I can tell). What he did to get in: attended PROMYS & HCSSiM, Berkeley Math Circle & took math at UC Berkeley. He was also active in theater productions in High School.</p>
<p>oaklandmom, can I PM you????</p>
<p>CountingDown, feel free to PM any time or send an email - I just sent you a PM with my email address.</p>
<p>1) really wanting to go here
2) EE
3) Visit!</p>