<p>I am a current highschool senior and have decent SAT scores. I scored 740 in the Math and 710 in Verbal. I was wondering how important SAT scores are when a student has a strong class list. I am either currently taking or have taken Calculus I,Calculus II, Multivariable Calculus, Vector Calculus, Physics with Calculus, Astrophysics, Modern (Particle) Physics, Advanced Chemistry, Advanced Biochemistry, Advanced Biophysics, Microbiology, Microbiology of Human Pathogens, AP Biology, Genetics, Molecular and Cellular Biology, and Scientific Research. I attend select boarding school for Math, Science, and the Arts that enables us to take those classes. I have currently have A's or received A's in all of those classes except for Calculus I and Advanced Chemistry in which I received a B. Do I stand a chance compared to the other CalTech applicants? Please let me know.
- Trey</p>
<p>Your SAT math score will not look good. I wouldn't recommend that you retake the SATs, exactly, because it really depends on your SATIIs, now, since it seems like you've focused a lot on math.</p>
<p>So the SAT scores are more important than the course load you have taken? That sucks because the SATII math is stuff like preCalc. which I hardly remember. :(</p>
<p>Yep, they do want people who can do precalc as well as the advanced stuff. but I think your SATs are fine, just bump it up by doing the rest of the application well.</p>
<p>Thanx for the info. I have a bunch of ec's like AAU National Long Jump/100 meter dash/200 meter dash champion a few times and various other sports/school functions. I will make sure my application goes well along with my rec letters.</p>
<p>If you think you would do better on your SATs, take them again. Our median score is 1510 or so, so you are probably in the bottom 25% or maybe even bottom 10% of our admitees with respect to the SAT, so it certainly isn't going to help you. That said, a couple mediocre numbers aren't going to entirely scuttle your chances. </p>
<p>Galen</p>
<p>hey guys ..im an indian student ....gave the new SAT..aggregate score of 2030 ...770 math...620...c readin....640 writin ..and 10/12 in my essay..where do i stand??</p>
<p>To quote Ben Golub (an alum and ex ad com):
"there is no difference in caltech's eyes (or mit's or anyone else's) between a 780 and an 800, or for that matter a 750 and an 800. the difference between these scores is one or two arithmetic mistakes, and i made more than that computing my total at the restaurant half an hour ago."</p>
<p>I personally have a sneaking suspicion that the math classes you've done well in easily take care of the 740. Again just my gut/opinion, but I think that Caltech math SAT's are high as much because Caltech looks for that as because Caltech looks for things that tend to go with it - like putting forth the effort to, oh say, take Calculus I,Calculus II, Multivariable Calculus, Vector Calculus, Physics with Calculus, Astrophysics, Modern (Particle) Physics, Advanced Chemistry, Advanced Biochemistry, Advanced Biophysics, Microbiology, Microbiology of Human Pathogens, AP Biology, Genetics, Molecular and Cellular Biology, and Scientific Research.</p>
<p>Great quotation from Ben; that's a keeper.</p>
<p>I don't think the 740 is really going to hurt you. If you can get A's through Calc III, vector, particle physics, etc.... The SAT I and II is what, alg II, precalc? I think they can see that you can do math. You just got careless with a few problems, that's all. It happens.</p>
<p>I'd say you're in the running. Aonkan, it's a start, but I think adcom looks at way more than that. Read some other chances threads and decide for yourself.</p>
<p>Well, how many times have you taken the SATs? If you've only done it once, and got a 740 in math, don't worry. That's like what, two or three questions wrong? A couple careless mistakes? Happens to the best of us, don't worry about it. I think around a quarter of the incoming class gets 740ish or less, and clearly Caltech had no problem admitting those people.</p>
<p>Thats the same score I got.. But I had a 12 in the essay thats all.. How much did ya get in SAT 2 math btw?</p>
<p>From what I gather, there's a strong SAT score correlation (in math) and interest in math/sci etc, so naturally the people who do well in math/sci will tend to have a strong SAT math score.</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure your scores are fine. Your other stuff is incredibly more indicative of you actual ability and interests. Simply having high SATs is simply an indicator that you're possibly prepared for Caltech, but isn't that strong of an indicator. I had a friend who scored very well on his SATs but weak other science math pursuits, so failed to get in. You on the other hand, have extremely strong class loads and ECs. </p>
<p>Also, I know you probably don't check this anymore, since the last post from you was almost two months ago, but the stuff on the SATII is stuff you use everyday in advanced math classes and presumed to be common knowledge, except for stuff like law of cosines which I still have to wikipedia for. You probably won't have any problems doing well on it.</p>