Hey everyone 
I was wondering whether or not Caltech regularly accepts applicants without doing official research in high school. My math and science test scores are high (well, not by Caltech standards, but I’m still in the 99th percentile) and I’ve shown an interest in STEM through a few of my activities, but I haven’t conducted any official research. I understand this will hurt my application, but to what extent?
I did a science fair and through that wrote a paper describing the project. It wasn’t official research with a lab and a professor, but research nonetheless.
Caltech wants to see your passion for math and science. There are limitless ways to do so, and official research actually often sounds boring and staged on most applications. Do something fun and on your own that will show them you truly love science.
I got accepted to Caltech and MIT, btw.
Also got into both tech schools, did absolutely zero research unless you count my 7th grade science fair project about microwaving plants and had decent scores, BUT make sure your essays are top-notch cause they really like people with personalities and not just Nobel Prizes
I didn’t do any research and got into Caltech EA! I didn’t have many significant ECs in general.
@dsi411 what were your stats like to get into Caltech?
@SuperAlex I posted them in the results thread: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/20121241/#Comment_20121241